Jul 25, 2014
Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook
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Passengers with mobility issues wanting to do a river cruise
should discuss their needs and limitations with the line before
booking to see if it is suitable for them. It is not as obvious a
choice as it may seem.
Some key factors to consider include:
Wheelchair access can be problematic on river ships. They are
restricted in length, height and width to pass under bridges and
through locks and so the cabins and bathrooms are compact.
Ships usually do not have specific wheelchair accessible rooms and
bathrooms. In port passengers need to navigate ramps on and off the
ships, which can be steep and narrow. Ships will also often dock
side by side and require crossing through or over other ships to
reach land adding to the difficulty of getting around.
Towns along the rivers are historic and tours involve walking on
cobblestoned streets and hills. You need to be able to
comfortably explore towns this way. Cruise lines like Uniworld
include “gentle walking options” for less mobile passengers and
transportation to the entrances of less accessible sites where
possible but what you can explore can be limited.