Mediterranean ports of call in a wheelchair

[torty]

I have MS and use a manual wheelchair. I have some limited mobility eg can walk a short distance pushing my wheelchair and climb a reasonable number of stairs providing there's a handrail, so am able to board a coach etc but generally am in my wheelchair most of the time. We're booked on 3 August Sea Princess Mediterranean Magic and wonder if anyone can give advice on shore excursions for the itinerary which includes: Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome and Naples. We are particularly interested in accessibility for a wheelchair user in Rome and also in Naples where there's an option for a Boat trip to Capri or a visit to Pomepii, both of which appeal greatly. Can anyone give some advice?

[katisdale]

We took the European Explorer in May of 2004 with an itinerary from Rome to London. We did a pre-cruise stay in Rome. I use a walker (sometimes just a cane) and found Rome OK but tiring. There are occasional curb cuts but you may have to go back until you can find a place to cross easily. The most difficult experience we had was the Vatican museum. If you want to just see the Sistine chapel there is a "handicapped access route" that lets you go there without seeing much else but then you don't have to go up and down more and more stairs. The colleseum is OK and the stairs can be missed. The forum is almost impossible. St. Peter's is wonderful and easily reached if you don't want to go up to the dome. We did not go to Naples.

In Barcelona we took a Princess tour that gave us an overview of the city and had minimal walking (just the cathedral). We were going to explore Las Ramblas after the tour but it was pouring rain and we went back to the ship.

Lisbon was nice as well. We took the Princess tour and saw lots of the city and went to a very interesting maritime museum.

[katisdale]

We did the European explorer in May 2004 from Rome to London. I use a rolling walker (sometimes just a cane)and found Rome quite tiring as there were lots of stairs and distances between what we wanted to see. We did a precruise stay in Rome. The hardest areas to see were the forum - poor entry access and we ended up not going in, just looking from the street; and the Vatican museum. The museum has tons of stairs which just about did me in. If you would be happy just seeing the Sistine Chapel they have a handicapped route that you can use to get there with no steps. St. Peter's however is easily accessible and well worth the visit. The Trevi Fountain, Plaza Navona etc. must be walked to over cobblestone streets but there are occasional curb cuts. The colliseum has an elevator and you can go at your own pace. We did not go to Naples. In both Lisbon and Barcelona we took Princess tours that had minimal walking. The tour in Barcelona was for 1/2 day and we had planned to go to Las Ramblas on our own but it was pouring rain so we didn't. We did go in the Cathedral. In Lisbon we took a full day tour and really enjoyed seeing the maritime museum.

[Splinter]

Barcelona is fairly accessible. You can even get wheelchair accessible cabs there, all left over from when they had the Paralympics there back in the early 1990s. The Christopher Columbus museum is near the port and very interesting. You can get around the downtown area near Las Rambles easily, and the Picasso Museum is also accessible.

 

I would NOT recommend Pompei. We did it with a wheelchair and while my mother was thrilled to go, we were wrecks by the end. It is on top of a steep hill, the sidewalks are too narrow for a wheelchair, and the way the streets are cobbled makes getting around in a wheelchair VERY difficult. There is a long steep ramp to get in (with a number of steps) and 4 flights of stairs on the way out (we should have asked to go out the entrance!).

 

You can walk to the old crusade's era fort from the ship pier, and we also did some window shopping at the beautiful Galleria shopping area in Naples downtown. I would recommend either the Capri trip or a drive down the coast where you don't have to get off the bus. They may stop at a cameo factory, which might be worth getting off the bus, but for the most part is is just a lovely drive.

 

We have not been to Lisbon, but understand that the accessibility there is surprisingly good.

[DEL67]

We went to 3 ports a few summers ago and Lisbon in November. My husband is a full time wheelchair user so avccessibility is key for us.

 

As Splinter said, Barcelona is very accessible. In fact, I would do it on your own instead of a ship's excursion. Even most on-off tourist buses are equipped with ramps (note: take the line that does 3 or 3 loops as all their buses have automatic ramps as opposed to manual ones.) These buses take you to, or within a block or so of most of the major sites. And they provide commentary as they go. Sites that are completely or mostly accessible include the Picasso Museum, the Gaudi apartments, La Sangrada Familia and the Miro Musuem. Do not attempt the Parc Gruell. It is up a steep hill and the is only minimally accessible. And do not forget to visit the Ramblas where there is a bird market, a flower market and street performers.

 

In the other ports, I would strongly recommend hiring a car and driver. Buses have to use parking lots that are often a distance from the sites of interest. Yes, private tours can be expensive, but they are well worth it. They usually take you right to the site, tailor the tour to your interest and although they are not tour guides, the drivers provide a lot of information and usually help you with your wheelchair and any way they can. In addition, a private tour can actually cost less than a ship excursion if you can get others from your cruise to join you. Just remember to be back at the pier in plenty of time.

 

Rome: The driver first drove us around several of the hills of Rome past the Curcus maximus, and then onto the Appian Way. We stopped at the Catacombs which are not accessible, but my husband wanted my daughter and I to see them and tell him about them. Then we visited to the Colliseum and Partheon, both of which are accessible. Next we drove by the Spanish Steps and too many buildings and squares to name. Then we went to the Trevi fountain where the closest he could drop us was about a block away. Finally we went to the Vatican and visited the museum to see the Sistine Chapel (you have to go in the chapel exit) and then visited St Pauls Cathedral. St Paul's is accessible through an elevator on the side, but the Pope's tombs are not.

 

Naples: Our driver took us on a tour of the Amalfi Coast which was magniificent. We then went to Pompeii where my husband and another passenger who was sharing the tour waited in the shade at a restaurant while my daughter, the other passenger's son and I toured Pompeii for about an hour. It was one of the highlights of our trip, but it was VERY hot and would be extremely difficult for a wheelchair.

 

Lisbon: Like Rome, Lisbon is built on hills and very difficult for a wheelchair. In addition, even the Lisbon tourist board was not able to provide any accessibility information. So, again we hired a car and driver. Our driver was probably the most knowledgeable and interesting of all we have had. Note: we did not go to any museums because it was Monday and all the museums were closed. First we went Belem which was beautiful and then we went outside the city to visit Estoril, Cascais (sp?), the Westernmost point in Europe and Sintra. The scenery was beautiful and interesting. We saw the harhor, fisherman and their nets, areas of beach with high surf, hills, cork trees, castles, etc. We did not get out of van much, partially because of the museums being closed, but we did stroll around the harbor in Cascais, visit the momument at the westernmost point and walk around Sintra a little. Sintra was only minimally accessible due to cobblestones and the hills, but our driver pushed my husband's chair up to a great pastry shop and pointed out a fantastic art glass store. Then we went back to Lisbon where the driver drove us past most of the major sites giving us the history. We also we visited two interesting churches. I learned much more about Portugal in one day than I ever did in school!

 

Please feel free to contact me if you would like any more information.

[travelteam]

Del,

 

Where did u find the info to hire private drivers. We are in the planning stage for a transatlantic and are trying to find out how to see the cities.:) Sny info would be appreciated.

[cusyl]

Anyone done these ports with a rollator? I am going to purchase the new ones with the 8 inch wheels.

 

Venice, Athens, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Mykonis, Naples, Civitavecchi, Livorna, or Marseille?

 

Any suggestions for tours?

[DEL67]

travelteam:

 

I found the private drivers two ways: through recomendations on the Europe Ports of Call board and by searching the internet. Its been a couple of years since we hireddrivers in Rone, Naples and Florence so I would have to look to see if I can find who we used in those ports, but if you are going to Lisbon, I would recommend Tours for You. They provided excellent service and our driver, Josue, provided a wide breadth of information. Their website if toursforyou.pt.

 

On our recent transatlantic I could not find a driver for Alicante and the Malaga companies I found were more than I was willing to pay (500 to 700 Euros for the day.) However, it turned out not to be an issue. In Alicante, we took the free bus from the ship to the end of the pier. It was the first time we ever have been on a kneeling bus. We then walked around town and took a taxi to the castle on a hill overlooking the town. From their we took an elevator to the park at the base of the hill and walked back to the bus. In Malaga, we hired a cab at the pier for the day.

[Hebe]

Travelteam

 

We used the following company in Florence, Rome and Naples. They had no problem transporting a wheelchair. Since their prices are by the van - we had no problem finding people to share it with us from the Cruise Rollcalls. In Rome, one of the advantages of using a private tour driver is that they have special licenses that allow them to drive in the historic sections of the city. The cruiseline buses are too large to do this and we have heard that people must walk/roll long distances to get to the main attractions. For example, my husband was left off 5 steps from the Spanish Steps and could have throw a coin in the fountian from our van - we were that close.

 

We also used a private driver in Lisbon. I have two that I can recommend.

 

Hope this helps

 

http://www.driverinrome.com/

[pvmkmyer]

My wife uses an electric scooter. We had no problems at the vatican museums. In fact, all of the staff at the vatican were extremely helpful. There are elevators to bypass the stairs. Just ask the staff and they will escort you. Sometimes they are in out-of-the-way areas, but they get you there eventually and we saw all of the museum we wanted to see.

[shlee]

In June of 04 we did the Star Princess Med Cruise. The Pompeii shore excursion would be very difficult in a wheelchair. We commented that our mother would not have enjoyed Pompeii on the tour we took. Lots of curbs and ruts in the old streets. You would need to really check into this one. It sure didn't seem like it would be very accessible. We often got car and drivers throughout this cruise.

[travelteam]

Getting ready to book our transatlantic adventure for 2007. RCCL begins to sell cabins on the 20th of April. Our travel agent is ready to secure a HC for the Spring trip. Once we have our cabin secured and know which ship and what iternary, I'm going to be asking lots of questions about how to make this trip a dream rather than a nightmare. My guy is ready and willing to explore Europe any which way he can. I see from your threads, the best way is by private tour. I'm reading this board page by page.:) Great info, great sharing of resources and experiences.:D