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My uncle has downs syndrome and is on the severe end. He can walk, but he doesn't do stairs well and can't walk for a long period of time. He uses a walker to make him more stable and we uses a manual wheelchair ( he couldn't work a mobility scooter). He is rather large and we have an oversized shower chair and raised toilet with a grab bar at home. I have done a lot of cruises, but never with my uncle and I would like too take him in the next year out of LA or San Diego ( driving distance). He also needs pureed or finally chopped food. For these issues, would you recommend a particular cruise line or ship? Is there anything specific I should look into? I know I would need to message the assistance department before hand, but is there anything I need to think of or ask about? Trying to start planning and I want it to be a successful trip. Th a is for your advice!

I agree it was weird doing an interporting cruise, though we did it on another line 😮 Cruises that include Rome and Barcelona is very common. My exiting the ship around 9am in Barcelona was smoothing sailing unlike the OPs. Maybe a day to get a later start.

The Summit of the Americas is in town, (with a lot of dignitaries and the president,) they are closing roads and traffic is a nightmare so they are trying to avoid a problem by giving everyone a warning. We have had things cancelled LA because you just can't get anywhere, more than normal.

To avoid transferring luggage you can take a boat to transfer back to the airport and then take RCCL tranport. Another option is to take the boat from your hotel to the main hub - Piazza Romana and then take a bus, taxi, or train from there. Some movement of your own luggage required. Another option, Venice has a lot of luggage delivery services so I would look into one of those to take your luggage to the train or bus and then they could possibly help load it. Venice is not cheap if you can't handle your own luggage. Lots of bridges and steps to maneuver.

I have had guarantee rooms assigned six months before and as little as two day before, so prepare for a wait and be happy if you don't have to wait.

Lufthansa site: looks straightforward to me- you can use the proctored test kits “When entering Germany, Austria, Canada and the USA, you also have the option of using test kits with a video-accompanied and verified self-test, which are available to you as an alternative to our trusted partner laboratories. “

Check your airline because some wont accept it. Not flying them so not sure- look at their website.

On a related note- do you have to pay the overnight shipping? Isn’t there an option for less days? $60 for overnight was ridiculous - especially since we still have a month to go.

We haven’t rented the car yet, but we will probably just do local time- I hope it matches.

We also did this ship a few years ago out of Venice, when it went out of actual Venice. Very port intensive like yours so had dinner and saw maybe one show (might be the one we never saw any shows). We had kids so they were happy to hit the pool, minigolf and kids club on our one sea day. We enjoyed kid free dinners while they played in kids club and got them pizza at the nearly 24 hr place. I wouldn't want it for a transatlantic, but with your nice itinerary, you will only remember the fun like we do now from that trip.

If you have a car most Rite Aides and Walgreens will give a test, but we don't have the super rapid ones here in California. Most results take 24 hours or more though the benefit is they are free with most insurance. You would need to book in advance and I would do it 14 days in advance as soon as they come out. Get done as early as possible so if they take longer and use the port as a backup. Alternatively, get the sets from emed.

Funny you mention that, we decided last night to rent a car and drive it too!

I love your star dress!! Please tell me where I can find it!? I am enjoying your vacation fashion and review. We are on one of the trips leaving from Stockholm so seeing your trip gets us excited. My kids though had no idea what that telephone booth was behind you 😄... Kids these days. Congrats on your tenure!

Has anyone ever done the castle on their own using the train or bus from the port? Looks like there are about five trains a day but the bus goes every hour, much cheaper than the tours or transport options I am seeing. Any idea what a cab would cost? Is Uber or a similar service available!?