Wheelchair Accessible Excursions with a Service Dog--Italy, Crotia, France, Barcelona

Traveling for us has always been complicated, between my husband's low vision and food allergies, and my Service Dog. However, I am now having mobility issues and have to use a wheelchair to get around. We are traveling on Celebrity Cruises in May 2018. I am trying to find shore excursions that will actually let us go inside buildings rather than just "drive bys." I have checked the places like the Duomo in Florence, the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's in Rome, Krka National Park in Split, and they are all wheelchair accessible. But the excursions I have been looking at are either not available for wheelchair users, or cost quite a bit for a private guide. I haven't even begun to ask if the Service Dog will be allowed on these excursions. Does anyone have any advice?

We are going to Barcelona, Sete (Carcassone), Cannes (side trip to Avignon), Florence, Rome, Dubrovnik, Split and Venice, with a train trip to Milan and Zurich.

I cannot offer any info regarding your service dog. However, I have been to some of the ports. We did things on own. If you are using an electric wheelchair, you should be able to do things on your own. If you require pushing, it could be tiring for the pusher.

Based on your itinerary, I assume you are departing from Barcelona. Barcelona is basically accessible; one of the best in Europe. I do not know if they completed up-grading all the metro stations, that you would have to check. Regardless, between the metro and buses you should be able to see and do everything. Look up their metro / bus to figure out how to get everywhere. Do some planning before go. In my opinion, the top items in Barcelona are: La Sagrada Familia (metro station across the street); Palau de la Musica Catalana (this place gets missed too much). We scooted to it, but there are buses that you can use. Funicular de Montjuïc will allow you to see almost everything on top of the hill. The lower terminal is in Paral·lel metro station. The other side of Barcelona is Park Guell. We spent a couple days in Barcelona, thus was able to see almost everything. We did not get to see the Font Màgica de Montjuïc because of the schedule and we did not get to Poble Espanyol de Montjuic (open air museum) because Mt. Etna delayed our flight.

Cannes we just wandered around.

Florence: Many people take the train from Livorno. The train station in Florence is close to the sights. Again, with some planning, you can see the majority of things on your own.

Rome: Another place you can take the train into town. However, to get to the Vatican, the easiest way might be a ho ho bus. I believe all the ho ho buses have one space for a wheelchair. We scooted from the Vatican to our hotel which was near the train station, but there were places we had to ride in the street. Also, you will have time restraints. Suggest you check out a couple of the ho-ho bus and their schedules.

For your trains, I'd suggest you book through Trenitalia, their Sale Blu (Sale Blu is for the handicap). A lot less expensive than Raileurope or Eurorail. At the stations, we reported to Sale Blu and was escorted to our respective trains.

Dubrovnik – This is a tender port. If you are using a manual wheelchair, you may be able to tender. If it is an electric wheelchair, it is very unlikely. If you can get ashore, you can easily tour the walled city on your own. That is where the tender takes you.

Venice – I toured it when I was able bodied however did take a cruise when HC. Do not remember if public bus was accessible or if scooter went in luggage compartment. I know it was with the luggage on the shuttle bus to the ship. Ruth toured Venice on her scooter, thus it must be reasonably accessible and she took the public buses then.

Milan – The cathedral is a must. I'm still trying to get there. Metro system was under construction, thus we could not get into the tourist area from the train station. Also, seeing “The Last Supper” is by reservation only and limited days.

I have not been to the other stops.

Have a wonderful cruise,

Betty

Thank you so much for all this wonderful information, Betty! I do have a manual wheelchair, so hopefully that will make things easier (though not necessarily for my husband;)). I really appreciate you taking the time to respond! love, Noni

Your are welcome. Hope that you are able to benefit by it and what others will share.

In Barcelona, you should not have to endure inclines. Taking Funicular de Montjuïc would put on top. Then you could just aim for Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes seeing the gardens and sights on the way. That would be a gradual way down the mountain. For Park Guell, we got off the bus at the top of the hill and entered the park at that entrance. They we wandered around going down hill to the main entrance where we departed.

Do not recall of any major hills in any of the other ports.

Goleta is not that big... did you happen to know Gert and Inge Jeppesen? My aunt and uncle. Their sons, Brian and Robert live nearby.

You have a lovely itinerary planned,.

Betty

T

 

We are going to Barcelona' date=' Sete (Carcassone), Cannes (side trip to Avignon), Florence, Rome, Dubrovnik, Split and Venice, with a train trip to Milan and Zurich.[/quote']

 

I also travel in a manual wheelchair. Barcelona is very easy to do on your own. We took a taxi to La Sagrada Familia and then walked back to the ship. It is a couple of miles, but we stopped at a couple of the Gaudi houses and for lunch before taking Las Ramblas (be sure to stop at La Boqueria) back to the square where you can catch the port bus (which has a wheelchair ramp) back to the ship.

 

For Florence, we booked a car with RomeInLimo to drive us back and forth from the ship. Its not cheap, but you are able to maximize your day. The city center of Florence is pretty compact, but the cobblestones are tough with a manual wheelchair. We started at the Accademia and ended at the Uffizi. Rick Steves has a walking tour that is easy to follow.

 

In Rome you might also consider a private car transfer because you take a lot of time going back and forth on the train. If you can find someone to share the car with you it helps with the cost. I would also recommend a guide for the Vatican - it s huge. We also used RomeInLimo for Rome. If you have a car service, it would be possible to get to the Colosseum as well. The sights in Rome are pretty spread out.

 

I purchased tickets in advance for La Sagrada, the museums in Florence and the Vatican so that we did not have to wait in line - once they saw I was in a wheelchair they refunded my money (without me even asking since there is free admission for the disabled).

 

I have not traveled with my service dog in Europe so I don't know whether he/she would be allowed.