How do able bodied persons handle accessible excursions?

[klfrodo]

We are a retired group of 6. One of us is in a wheelchair and the other 5 are not.

Of course, we want to hang together with our travel mates on an excursion, but seeing as how accessible excursions are limited in space, I don't want to take up valuable space and maybe someone who needs this service isn't able to because 4 able bodied persons are taking up space.

Does my question make any sense?

[kokopelli-az]

Is the wheelchair a foldable one?   Can the wheelchair person transfer or take a few steps?  

 

Or do you need an accessible vehicle where the wheelchair would be rolled/driven onto the vehicle?    

[klfrodo]

43 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

  Can the wheelchair person transfer or take a few steps?  

 

Yes

 

[kokopelli-az]

Whether the wheelchair is foldable is important because it may be able to be folded up and put on an excursion bus (underneath where the luggage is).  This would give you more excursion options.   If you are looking for a excursion that will accommodate wheeling (or driving) a wheelchair up a ramp onto the vehicle, they are harder to find.  Especially through the cruise line shore excursions.  

 

Plan B may be to look into private accessible shore excursions at your port stops.  If you are interested in private excursions, list your port stops because people on this board may be able to give some recommendations.

 

 

 

 

[Bob++]

When we did a Baltic cruise with the rest of the family, we did split up for some shore trips. It is pretty restricting for the able-bodied to be held back by a wheelchair.

 

In St Petersburg, I organised a whole day with a van that could take us all and the chair. This worked out well as we were able to jump the very long queues for the Hermitage. Access to the Faberge exhibition was a bit tricky, but we did manage. 

 

[Sail and Relax]

Since you have a party of 6, a private excursion would be the best option.  In many cases they use a van and as long as your wheelchair is foldable you would have no issues.  This way your party will also stay together see the same sites and sometimes more than what the ship offers.

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, Sail and Relax said:

Since you have a party of 6, a private excursion would be the best option.  In many cases they use a van and as long as your wheelchair is foldable you would have no issues.  This way your party will also stay together see the same sites and sometimes more than what the ship offers.

 

Ah, I was just going to post the same as this!

 

By the time you have 6 people, the economies of scale often make a private excursion/tour less expensive (or similarly priced) as 6 "tickets" on a regular excursion.  And the convenience is incomparable.  YOU get to decide, with the help of the guide/tour company, where to go and how long to stay in each place... and where NOT to go if it isn't interesting to you.

 

We almost always have private excursions for just the two of us, in good part so I can rest for a few minutes as needed, without falling behind or holding up a group of others.

When we consider the cost, for 2, it's more than 2x regular tour tickets.  But the cost to get a private excursion with a small mini-van or such... you may be pleasantly surprised!

 

We've also occasionally chartered a big catamaran (with crew) for an afternoon or day in a port, and then arranged for a few others to join us from the Roll Call.  There is *plenty* of room on those big ones. 🙂 

We've sometimes contacted tour groups and asked to take the "group" private, and then customized it.

This may end up being a very positive surprise for all of you.

 

GC