Take a gondola ride in Venice; walk in the footsteps of gladiators at the iconic Colosseum in Rome, or get your taste-buds tingling with a savory slice of pizza in Naples. Pretty much the entire area of the Colosseum that is open to tourists is accessible for wheelchair users, with the exception of a small area on the lower level where there are a few steps to go down and then back up to the other side. Here, you'll see some of the most stunning Gothic-style architecture in all of Europe. The men were quite happy to help them onto the camels, walk them around a little, and take pictures of them with a pyramid in the background. Having made its maiden voyage back in 1995, the Legend is one of Royal Caribbeans older ships. Our driver felt awful and made numerous phone calls trying to get someone to come out including a phone call to the Greek Ministry of Tourism, but the timing was just bad. So, we picked up a tourist map of the area and made our way into town. Thanks to limited days at sea, if any at all, you get to hit up a different port of call each day of your cruise vacation. The better entrance for wheelchair users is off of Via Dei Fori Imperiali, which is the busy main road that travels alongside the Forum and the Colosseum. Parts of the pathways were dirt or fine gravel and quite manageable, while other parts consisted of huge, uneven stones that only the most determined wheelchair users could go over. Once inside the parking lot, we walked back towards the main entrance to the terminal building where we found a young man from the tour company holding up a sign with our name on it. April 15, 2023: 15-day cruise from New York to Rome (Italy) on Norwegian Cruise Line. The ruins of Pompeii have since been excavated and have become a popular tourist attraction, but unfortunately, the site is not wheelchair accessible at all. Royal Caribbean is typically ahead of the game in terms of accessibility, so I was very surprised to find this problem in our stateroom. Italy and Greece are countries steeped in history with a treasure trove of ancient sites and scenic beauty. 19952022, The Independent Traveler, Inc. No prices currently available for this sailing. We had one hour at the end of the tour to spend walking around the Old Town shopping for souvenirs and grabbing a bite to eat. There is also a very modern elevator that will take people from the main floor to the upper level. Upon exiting the Vatican Museums, we made our way along the outside walls of Vatican City to St. Peters Square, which was probably about a 10-minute stroll. I did not find a lack of curb cuts to be much of a problem because most of the streets were more like back alleys, so I spent more time just wheeling along on the roads than I did on actual sidewalks. Youd rather have an extra day exploring than a fancy chocolate on your pillow at night. They arent really sure what happened in my case, although they did intend to investigate to ensure it doesnt happen to other guests. The Sphinx is located directly in front of the Pyramid of Khafre. He appeared to be either one of the tour bus drivers or possibly a guide, and he immediately went over to the security guard and clearly told him in Arabic that he needed to let us through because the main entrance is not accessible. There was everything from chess sets, to Egyptian pottery, to gold jewelry. Once in Amalfi, we had about an hour to walk around town and grab some lunch at one of the many sidewalk cafs. Although it is difficult for a wheelchair to get around in much of the Forum, there is certainly enough to see to make it worthwhile, such as the spot where Julius Caesars body was reportedly cremated and buried following his assassination. Take a leisurely drive across Spain's gorgeous Costa del Sol to Gibraltar. Steal away in Venice for a classic Italian caf experience. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean is one of the few cruise lines that have wheelchair accessible tenders. So, we had no idea what to do. After experiencing numerous old cobblestone roads in Italy and Greece, it was refreshing to sit in a nice wheelchair accessible vehicle and enjoy a smooth drive through the country. I cant imagine the disappointment that someone would have if they were in Athens on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and the lift did not work. Visit Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas), Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Funchal (Madeira), Malaga (Spain), Monte Carlo (Monaco) and Florence (Italy). They brought out several plates of appetizers, followed by bread and chicken and beef kabobs, all of which were quite good. After my previous visit to Athens for one day in 2006, I wanted to make sure that this time we were given ample time at the Acropolis to tour around on our own. The weight limit is only 230 kg (507 pounds), which is pretty much exactly the total weight of me sitting in my wheelchair. Voted "The Caribbean's Leading Cruise Line" 2013-2021 by World Travel Awards, This website uses cookies. A day later, maintenance was by to take measurements, and in no time I had a custom-built ramp to solve the problem. Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores) and Cadiz (Spain). Perhaps, you want to make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy or walk the red carpet in Cannes, France. Experience iconic architecture in Mykonos. Not much of it remains now though. With a population of approximately 20 million people, Cairo is one busy city. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. ecruising azamara Im not sure why none of the hotel staff pointed it out to us earlier, but it certainly would have been nice to know on Day 1 that there was a ramp available. Although he was a minor pharaoh in the grand scheme of history, he is famous largely because when his tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, it was the most intact tomb to ever be discovered in modern times. Fortunately, it turned out well. After lunch, we drove to nearby Giza to see the world-famous Pyramids. Altogether, the ship made stops at 7 ports in 4 countries. It wasnt easy, but it worked out fine. Following our third day at sea, the ship docked at our last port of call Corfu, Greece. From specialty dining experiences to live nightly entertainment and spa packages, find everything you need to make memories that last a lifetime. We were met at the port by a driver, a private guide, and a wheelchair accessible van. We had a choice between fish or chicken, so I opted for the chicken with potatoes and rice. They had a portable ramp that they used to get me in at the back, and although it was fairly steep, getting in and out of the van went quite smoothly with their assistance. santorini Choose the perfect place to begin your vacation and gain access to loads of historic sites, natural wonders, and breathtaking villages before you even embark on your cruise. There are also no wheelchair accessible washrooms in the museum. I immediately told him about my prior experience and double-checked the labeling on the lift to confirm the 230 kg weight limit, but he wanted me to give it a try anyway. Youll also visit Mycenae, where youll marvel at the arches, fountains, ramparts, and amazing masonry still standing. This time they were offering camel rides. Whether you want to sunbathe on the beach in Mykonos, stroll through the picturesque streets of Corfu, or order the calamari at a charming seaside caf in Santorini, Greece, you'll find it all and more on your Norwegian Mediterranean cruise to Greece. There are cruises from the United States to Italy. The only really bad road was the Street of Knights, which ran from the Palace of the Grand Master to the market area inside the front gate near the port. This is also where the tomb of St. Peter is located. There was also a large lineup of people waiting to enter St. Peters Basilica. We certainly didnt get this special treatment on my previous trip to the Colosseum. The choice is yours! The Pantheon is home to several tombs, including the tombs of a couple of Italian kings and the famous painter Raphael. mediterranean cruises trip round states united liverpool mary queen While we were there, we struck up a conversation with a really nice man who owned one of the shops, and he ended up handing me a free T-shirt. Next, we drove a little closer and parked between the center pyramid (Pyramid of Khafre) and the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or the Great Pyramid of Giza. The inside of the Pantheon is completely wheelchair accessible, and admission is free for everyone. and died at the young age of 18. The King Tutankhamun exhibit is completely accessible for wheelchair users. 2010-2022. Unlike my first trip to the Acropolis in 2006, this time our driver drove us right up the pathway to the entrance, which regular vehicles are not allowed to do. At the top of the dome is the Oculus, a large round opening that actually allows rain to fall inside the Pantheon. and seats 25,000 people. Cosmos offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. All rights reserved. Poseidon was the god of the sea in Greek mythology. I was a little nervous when I saw that everyone actually had to walk down several steps to get to the opening in the ship where they were loading people onto the tenders, but then one of the crew members directed me over to a small service elevator which took me down several feet to the bottom of the steps. It is an amazing experience to look around the Colosseum and try to visualize the emperors who once sat there, the gladiators who once fought there, and the Christians who were martyred there. thetravelbunny discovering travelbycruiseship My friends certainly couldnt pass that up! I have definitely learned a few things based on these two experiences. Our first stop was the House of the Virgin Mary, which many people believe was the home where Mary spent her last years. Visit Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal), Cadiz (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Valencia (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Cannes (France) and Livorno (Italy). galveston By the time we exited the Vatican Grottoes, it was late afternoon and we had pretty much-seen everything we intended to see at the Vatican. Once inside the museum, our guide walked us through some of the highlights on the main floor. No one before me was put out to the extent that they didnt go out onto the balcony at all. Given that my wheelchair and I are a combined weight of over 500 lbs., I was still a little skeptical, but everyone grabbed on to a different part of my chair, and up I went. RELATED CRUISES: 7-Day Mediterranean Cruise to Greek Isles 10-Day Mediterranean Cruise from Venice7-Day Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona. seabourn september october cruise odyssey august july cruises greece italy athens voyage days venice itinerary map deluxecruises There was a huge square (Spianada) in the center of the Old Town, and adjacent to the square was the Old Fortress a castle that was built in the 15th century. The other thing we immediately noticed as we drove to our first stop was how well-paved the roads were between the port and the Ephesus area, which was about a 20-minute drive. What if you didn't have to choose just one? There wasnt really much to see inside the fortress other than the Church of St. George, a small chapel that was completely accessible. Discover the Beauty of Southern Italy & Greece. athens mykonos crete While Marcus Agrippa originally intended the Pantheon to be a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, it has been used for a number of different things over the centuries, including as a church, which is what is still used for today. Visit Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Cadiz (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Alicante (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Cannes (France) and Livorno (Italy). However, our guide immediately went inside the museum and summoned several strong guys to come out and help lift me. mediterranean cruise europe times