http://www.travelsignposts.com/river-cruises/riverboats/river-cruising-for-disabled Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:14:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.travelsignposts.com/river-cruises/riverboats/river-cruising-for-disabled#comment-39 B. Graham Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:17:58 +0000 http://www.travelsignposts.com/river-cruises/?p=659#comment-39 I wonder how much walking is involved on the excursions. I can climbs stairs and walk well for short distances, but can't walk for distances. Does anyone know about this? I dream of going on one of these riverboat cruises. I wonder how much walking is involved on the excursions. I can climbs stairs and walk well for short distances, but can’t walk for distances. Does anyone know about this? I dream of going on one of these riverboat cruises.

]]> http://www.travelsignposts.com/river-cruises/riverboats/river-cruising-for-disabled#comment-11 Sil Nilsen Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:37:21 +0000 http://www.travelsignposts.com/river-cruises/?p=659#comment-11 Having just returned from a Viking Waterways cruise in Russia with my partially disabled sister, I would not recommend this type of holiday to anyone who relies on a wheelchair, whizzer or walks with canes. Even though the Cruise company will tell you that you can bring your wheelchair or motorised scooter on board, but there might be 'challenges', there are too many barriers for disabled people. No matter how accessible the cabin or the shower, getting on and off the boat is a nightmare, especially when two or three are moored alongside each other and one has to negotiate over raised doorways, gangways with gaps and steep steps and gangplanks. None of the buses used for our excursions were adapted for wheelchair users (no lift, ramp or hoist). Most of the palaces, churches, monuments, theatres etc are not accessible and do not have lifts (elevators). All have flights of stairs into the buildings and more staircases inside. Few of the towns or viallges we visted had ramps on and off sidewalks, at intersections or at pedestrian crossings. At some places - Uglich comes to mind - there were fights of steps leading up to the promenade from the pier -with no ramp for a wheelchair. Many places in Russia have cobblestones roads and squares (eg: Red Square) which are definitely not wheelchair freindly! Amawaterways are launching the Amakatarina next year and claim to have wheelchair friendly cabins etc. That is fine if you want to spend 10 days in a floating hotel but are restricted to the boat and are unable to enjoy the many excursions and tours included in the price. Having just returned from a Viking Waterways cruise in Russia with my partially disabled sister, I would not recommend this type of holiday to anyone who relies on a wheelchair, whizzer or walks with canes. Even though the Cruise company will tell you that you can bring your wheelchair or motorised scooter on board, but there might be ‘challenges’, there are too many barriers for disabled people.
No matter how accessible the cabin or the shower, getting on and off the boat is a nightmare, especially when two or three are moored alongside each other and one has to negotiate over raised doorways, gangways with gaps and steep steps and gangplanks.
None of the buses used for our excursions were adapted for wheelchair users (no lift, ramp or hoist).
Most of the palaces, churches, monuments, theatres etc are not accessible and do not have lifts (elevators). All have flights of stairs into the buildings and more staircases inside.
Few of the towns or viallges we visted had ramps on and off sidewalks, at intersections or at pedestrian crossings. At some places – Uglich comes to mind – there were fights of steps leading up to the promenade from the pier -with no ramp for a wheelchair.
Many places in Russia have cobblestones roads and squares (eg: Red Square) which are definitely not wheelchair freindly!
Amawaterways are launching the Amakatarina next year and claim to have wheelchair friendly cabins etc. That is fine if you want to spend 10 days in a floating hotel but are restricted to the boat and are unable to enjoy the many excursions and tours included in the price.

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