Cagent

Thanks for the feedback and information to all who responded to my query re the wheelchair friendly nature of Med cruising. From the responses it becomes plain that anything is possible if we can put up with the cost and discomfit that wheelchairs create. And, that is the very nature of wheelchairs regardless of where we are.

I read through a number of the threads on this disabled cruise travel board however not all my questions have been answered as yet.

I have receive some feedback already from the Princess cruise Board and I am repeating my post here in the hope of getting even more advise on wheelchair accessible tours through the Med.

My wife and I are booked on a Princess Mediterranean cruise for later this year (October 2018) from Barcelona to Barcelona via Greece, Montenegro, Italy, etc. . and one of us is virtually full time in an electric wheelchair. However the cruise line web site for shore excursions only lists one wheel chair compatible tour for the entire cruise and this is in Livorno for a tour to Florence.

The website indicates that the trip is in a motor coach for 40 people. Can anyone advise me how someone who cannot walk can get up the steps into a motor coach please? Or do they use a special coach that wheelchairs can drive into? from feedback so far it appears the latter is the case but I want a bit more confidence before I pay out several hundred dollars (non-refunable) per tour only to find out we cannot get on the tour of choice.

Also if any one has a similar mobility issue and has done this tour before any tourism advice on things to see and do and how to get around will be greatly appreciated. We particularly want to see Rome and Pompeii, however a bit of Greece and the other places would also be nice if we can swing it. Pompeii sounds like it might be a tough one.

Thanks for the information. it is appreciated.

We have had the misfortune to be one of the people man handled onto a Princess ship. At the Brisbane port there was a rail line immediately in front of the gang way and then a series of steps to get up onto the gangway. Three little men tried to lift the wheel chair plus occupant, if it had not been so serious and dangerous it would have been hysterically funny. In the end we boarded through the goods hold as it actually had a reasonable ramp we could move up without the rail line obstruction. It was a combination of a poor port facility combined with poor planning by the cruise line.

We had planned on the European cobblestones and I have been modifying the wheel chair with bigger wheels to accommodate the rougher terrain.

The heat in Greece does not phase us. Where we are from temperatures are usually in the high 30 to 40+ deg Celsius range.

My wife and I are booked on a Princess Mediterranean cruise for later this year (October 2018) from Barcelona to Barcelona via Greece, Montenegro, Italy, etc. . and one of us is virtually full time in an electric wheelchair. However the cruise line web site for shore excursions only lists one wheel chair compatible tour for the entire cruise and this is in Livorno for a tour to Florence.

The website indicates that the trip is in a motor coach for 40 people. Can anyone advise me how someone who cannot walk can get up the steps into a motor coach please? Or do they use a special coach that wheelchairs can drive into?

Also if any one has a similar mobility issue and has done this tour before any tourism advice on things to see and do and how to get around will be greatly appreciated. We particularly want to see Rome and Pompeii, however a bit of Greece and the other places would also be nice if we can swing it.

Fabulous video lagoon380[emoji106]

 

Am I correct in thinking at the moment only P&O Aus go to the Conflict Islands though?

 

 

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Nope, Princess goes there also. Princess is the upmarket P&O and I note that Princess is disassociating itself from P&O these days.

We’re planning an Australia/New Zealand cruise in early 2019, and we’d like to do a second cruise while we’re there. We have two options. The first is a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Sydney that visits three ports in New Caledonia and one in Vanuatu. The other option is a Princess cruise out of Brisbane that visits five different spots in Papa New Guinea. It’s very difficult to find info on line. From the photos I’ve seen, Papa New Guinea appears to be more beautiful, but it sounds as though it may not be that safe? And we all know photos can be deceiving. Our biggest passion is snorkeling. I’d love to hear your experiences in either location. Thanks!

My recommendation is to take the PNG cruise. generally the people are very friendly and it is a great place. If the cruise is out of Brisbane then Rabaul and the Conflict Islands are probably on the itinerary. great swimming great diving. great artifacts and a great cruise.

I am not that wrapped in Vanuatu as I consider the place has gone down hill in the last few years in the chase for the tourism dollar, Noumea is also a little over rated these days as well. However, I am biased. I grew up in PNG through the 50s, 60's and early 70's and loved it. Recently (2017) I took my family and did the Brisbane PNG cruise and it bought back so many memories. PNG is like anywhere else. If you keep your wits about you it is safe. If you flash cash and expensive items you are asking for trouble. Get some Kina ashore before you go and a quantity of notes, the island people will want to exchange the Aus $2 gold coin that accept from tourists for artworks for Kina. Bargin hard and give a fair deal of coins for notes and the people will love you for it.

Despite booking 15 months in advance we are unable to get a wheelchair accessible cabin on the RCCL Explorer of the Seas for my wife. As many cruise lines only have shower over bath we need to know if the regular balcony cabins on the Explorer of the seas have these type of showers or if they have walk in showers?

if the latter we need to cancel our booking before the penalty time kicks in.

Can any one help out with info on this please?

We are new to cruising on the Royal Caribbean line and in particular the Explorer of the Seas.

Our planned cruise is 22 days from Sydney (Australia) to Seattle USA. I have looked at the FAQ site for the line and there seems to be some confusion about laundry.

The prices on the site are astronomical for for basic laundry for the cruise line to do the washing. Other than the bathroom are there other ways of getting the laundry done that wont make me feel like I dropped a lot of cash at the casino?