Kayelache

I've been told that HAL has a policy against putting any decorations on your cabin door, and that they are enforcing it? Has anyone an information about this???

Karen

Here's my experiences of three and four years ago with Grand Circle Travel on the Great Rivers of Europe and the Rhine and Mosel itineraries. We took busses a number of times, and the wheelchair folded up and was stored in the compartment under the bus. One does have to be able to get into the bus. The first year, my husband was able to do this without too much difficulty, the second time it was much more difficult, but with a boost, he was able to do so.

I've never experienced any times the wheelchair couldn't be taken on the bus. We used both a regular wheelchair (two big wheels) and a companion chair (four small wheels).

I've posted numerous times about my experiences with my husband in a wheelchair on two river cruises in Europe. Not only can it be done, it's not all that difficult.

And it certainly beats staying at home. Yes, there are cobblestones, and some places are not handicapped accessible. But the majority can be managed. I would recommend a regular wheelchair over the collapsible or "companion chair" types, mainly because of the cobblestones. We used the companion chair on the first cruise, and a regular chair on the second. We were able to negotiate some pretty steep places, and, in a couple of instances, out-did some of the able bodied passengers.

My husband enjoyed both trips so much, it made any extra effort on my part more than worth it. Be sure that the ship you choose has an elevator if your cabin is anywhere but the main floor, and also check as to whether or not there are steps between the lounge area and the dining room. We loved our balcony cabins, as we could sit outside and watch the world go by. We did almost all of the land tours, we were limited in one of the castles, where there were a lot of stairs. But we handled all the chair on all of the walking tours, and I can't remember a single one of the churches/ etc. that we were not able to negotiate. I think someone with a walker would have more difficulty than someone in a wheelchair.

I would say, go for it!

Be glad to answer any other questions regarding disabled travels and river cruising.

Karen Hahn

We always eat breakfast in the dining room except when we have an early shore excursion. Why go through a cafeteria line when you are being pampered. I like to be waited on! My very favorite breakfast dish is Eggs Benedict, with lox instead of canadian bacon. You have to ask for it, but HAL will always comply. A few capers on top of the Hollandaise. And, you can order an extra pitcher of Hollandaise on the side. To die for!

We have all our shore excursions booked for our Dec. 15 HAL cruise, Rio to Valparaiso except for Puerto Chacabuco. It appears that there isn't much near the port, and that to find handicrafts etc one needs to go to Coyhaique some 50 miles away. Portcompass has some interesting tours but there aren't enough people interested to get a group rate. The ship offers three tours, one is to a lake and features a lamb "asado" (whatever that is, lunch, I assume) and is pricey at $129 per person. It mentions going through Coyhaique but does not stop at the handicraft market. A less expensive one does visit the market, but, at $79 per person, I wonder if it would be possible to find local transportation (taxi?) at the port and go on one's own. Anyone been there, done that???

Karen in Arizona