Traveling with 88 year old Mom

[cc cruiser]

I am taking Mom on her first Med cruise in 2 weeks. She is 88 & uses a walker. I've been to Italy before, and I know most tours require a LOT of walking. (She wouldn't even be able to walk to the train station in Rome) Our ports in Italy are Livorno, Rome (Civ) and Naples.

 

What is the best option for my Mom to get a taste of Italy?

 

I was thinking a "Rome in limo" type excursion, but I've posted requests to share the tour under roll calls & no one has responded. We leave in two weeks!

 

Any affordable suggestions for any of the 3 ports?

 

Thanks!

[euro cruiser]

This isn't directly responsive to your question, but a suggestion to help make your trip enjoyable for your mother and you.

 

I frequently travel with my 87 year-old mother. In the past two years, we have begun using a travel wheelchair. It has made a tremendous difference for both of us. For her, because she doesn't get tired and me, because I'm not held back because of her physical limitations.

 

It did take a while for my mother to get over the "embarassment" of being in a wheelchair but, once she did, it opened up the world for us. Before our first European trip with the chair, I took it with us on a short trip to visit my nephew in college, so she could get used to it.

 

The chair I purchased was about $150, weighs very little, and folds in half. It's considered a "travel" chair, because she cannot self-propel in it; the back wheels are bigger than the front ones for stability, but are not the large ones on traditional wheelchairs.

 

We took a Med cruise last summer with nine other family members and my Mom was able to see and do everything that the rest of the group did, from the comfort of her chair (including traveling across all kinds of cobblestones, taking public buses in Naples and Barcelona, and trains throughout Italy and Spain).

 

An unexpected bonus for us was how helpful people were, and how many lines we avoided (at passport control in every single airport, as well as at security checks, we were escorted to the front of the line).

[texancruzer]

Well, there are so many steps, inclines etc. in Italy and they have never heard of handicap accessible.

 

I would take the ship tour in Rome......then find the nearest HOHO bus stop. This would give her a taste....... but some of the sites she would have to walk to. Trevi fountain comes to mind as it is back in a ways from the street and is pedestrian only as is many other areas. I would also agree to get a travel chair as the above poster suggested. This would (for lack of a better way to put it) "speed her up" a bit as you could push.

 

Livorno - if wanting to go into Florence again, as above. There is definately a walk with the "On your Own" tour but with a chair it is doable.

 

Naples - perhaps a trip to Capri via ship tour. I would not stay in Naples unless doing the Archeological museum. The Amalfi coast if gorgeous and the ride is beautiful but once in the villages there are many stairs and inclines etc. that would be difficult for her. Altho Ravello is not too bad and they have a beautiful square with a nice botanical garden very near.... don't remember steps.... Amalfi also fairly level ..... but Positano--- lots of up and down !

 

Hope this helps.

[cc cruiser]

Great tips! Thank you.

 

I'm going to check to see if I can rent a wheelchair. Mom has one at home (in the States) but she didn't bring it here (to Germany.) I think that would be best.

 

I like the idea if the HOHO bus for her. It would give her a good overview of Rome.

 

I appreciate all suggestions!

[helencw]

My mom has a bad back and can't walk more than a few blocks. I bought a lightweight transport chair from Amazon for about $125. If you can get a wheelchair, that would be easier to push on the cobblestones. My mom doesn't speak much English, and I also had with me my 9 year old son, so it was better for us to tour by ourselves rather than go with a tour group.

 

My mom had a life long dream of seeing the Vatican and St Peters (I had been there before) In Civitavecchia we took the train to San Pietro, then the 64 bus, then the 23 bus which took us very close to the entrance of the Vatican. I had prepurchased tickets to bypass the long line, but wheelchair visitors can also bypass the line. From the Sistine Chapel there is a door (saying for Tour Groups) which leads to St Peter's Basilica.

 

We then took a taxi to Piazza Navona, and another taxi to the Trevi Fountain, then electric bus 117 to see the outside of the Colosseum, and finally the metro to the Trastavere train station for going back to Civitavecchia.

 

In Livorno we took a taxi to the train station for the train to Pisa (I had been to Florence a few times before). At the Field of Miracles, I found out wheelchair visitors and their attendants do not need to pay admission for visiting the Duomo, Baptistry, etc after I had stood on line and purchased them, but I was able to get refunded.

 

In Naples we took the hydrofoil to Sorrento and got on the little tourist train.

[euro cruiser]

finally the metro to the Trastavere train station for going back to Civitavecchia.

Just so we don't confuse people, I'm guessing that you took the metro to either Termini or Ostiense from the Colosseum, because Trastevere doesn't have a metro stop. If, for some reason, someone wanted to get to the Trastevere train station from the Colosseum, they could take the #3 tram, which travels along the eastern side of the Colosseum and deadends at the Trastevere station.

 

In Livorno we took a taxi to the train station for the train to Pisa (I had been to Florence a few times before). At the Field of Miracles, I found out wheelchair visitors and their attendants do not need to pay admission for visiting the Duomo, Baptistry, etc after I had stood on line and purchased them, but I was able to get refunded.

I've found this to be true often in Europe, but there's little consistency. Some places the wheelchair bound and the attendant were free, some places only the person in the chair.

[helencw]

Oops, Eurocruiser, you're right. We took the metro to Ostiense, and there was an underground passageway to the train station for the train back to Civitavecchia.

 

Thanks for help when you gave us advice for getting to the Vatican. It worked out very well for us.

[skisteamboat]

Check Special Needs At Seas for rentals. We rented both a scooter and an Oxygen Concentrator for my wife on our recent cruise of the Eastern Caribbean and were pleased with the quality of the equipment.

 

http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/

 

Cheers

[cc cruiser]

So much good info! I will check on the chair to rent or buy! I love the ideas for Sorrento & Pisa. Rome still scares me!

[Signdy]

Check Special Needs At Seas for rentals. We rented both a scooter and an Oxygen Concentrator for my wife on our recent cruise of the Eastern Caribbean and were pleased with the quality of the equipment.

 

http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/

 

Cheers

 

Great idea! First I've heard of it. I'd be interested in hearing from other cruisers who've used this service. Do you remember how much the scooter rental cost?

[cc cruiser]

"In Naples we took the hydrofoil to Sorrento and got on the little tourist train."

 

Helen.... was it the hydrofoil or ferry you took to Sorrento? Was it is to get to the terminal & back? Were the times convenient? I have booked the ship's transportation to Sorrento... but it leaves at 8am. That's going to be tough to get Mom dressed, breakfast & out by 8am. So a ferry might be more convenient.... and more fun!

 

Eurocruiser.... Is Ravello reachable by ferry? Is it doable with a wheelchair?

 

I am waiting on a reply from the wheelchair company.... I'll post the price when they reply.

 

Thanks again!!!

[euro cruiser]

Eurocruiser.... Is Ravello reachable by ferry? Is it doable with a wheelchair?

No, Ravello is inland. The main piazza is flat, but getting to it could be a challange. When I was there we didn't have a mobility issue, so it wasn't something I paid attention to. I'm sure someone else who has been there more recently, or paid more attention than I did, will respond.

[skisteamboat]

Great idea! First I've heard of it. I'd be interested in hearing from other cruisers who've used this service. Do you remember how much the scooter rental cost?

 

Scooter rented for $175 for the week. It was in the cabin when we arrived and we just left it in the cabin when we debarked. It had a long charge and recharged pretty quickly.

 

Cheers

[helencw]

cc cruiser, we took the hydrofoil from dock Beverello in Naples to Sorrento. The dock is visible from the cruise ship. It is about 5 minutes walk to the left when you exit the cruise ship terminal.

Here’s the website for the hydrofoil:

http://www.alilauro.it/orari.php?id_tratta=9:10&lingua=english&cartella=

Napoli (Bever.) – Sorrento

dal 15/06/2010 al 15/09/2010

09:00 - 11:00 - 13:05 - 15:00 - 17:15

Sorrento - Napoli (Bever.)

dal 15/06/2010 al 15/09/2010

08:10 - 09:45 - 12:00 - 13:45 - 16:25

It’s 10 euros one way for adults and 7:50 for children. You can buy tickets from the Alilauro booth at the dock.

When you arrive in Sorrento Marina Piccola, there is someone directing tourists to a booth for purchasing bus tickets for 1 euro. The bus takes you to the center of town on top of the cliff to Piazza Tasso. There is a friendly tourist desk there. Across the street is the tourist train which will take you all around Sorrento for 6 euros, 3 for children.

[cc cruiser]

Yeah! Helen! You just saved us $120! And the ferry ride will be much more enjoyable!

 

Thanks!!!!

[helencw]

This is a hydrofoil, so it's very fast (about 35 minutes) and fun. My mom stayed on the lower deck, but my son and I enjoyed being on the open deck at the top. You'll get some nice photos of your cruise ship as you go past it, and of Mt Vesuvius, the coast, and Capri. We like saving money too!

[Signdy]

Scooter rented for $175 for the week. It was in the cabin when we arrived and we just left it in the cabin when we debarked. It had a long charge and recharged pretty quickly.

 

Cheers

 

Did you find it difficult to move on and off the ship at each port? Can it be taken on the tenders? Thanks so much for the info!

[skisteamboat]

Did you find it difficult to move on and off the ship at each port? Can it be taken on the tenders? Thanks so much for the info!

 

Occasionally we had give it a good shove over the hump in the ramp but always made it. Scooters are not allowed on the tenders, basically because of space issues. In tender ports we used her wheelchair.

 

No issues on board with maneuver room and getting in and out of rooms.

 

Cheers

[agabbymama]

This is a hydrofoil, so it's very fast (about 35 minutes) and fun. My mom stayed on the lower deck, but my son and I enjoyed being on the open deck at the top. You'll get some nice photos of your cruise ship as you go past it, and of Mt Vesuvius, the coast, and Capri. We like saving money too!

 

If it's a clear day, you'll get nice photos. When we were in Naples in Oct '08, you could barely see Naples across the bay from Sorrento. And Vesuvius was shrouded in vog. That's really what they call it, combination of volcano & smog.

[cc cruiser]

We heard back from "special needs at sea." A standard wheelchair was $235 for the week! We opted not to rent one. Mom will have her walker (rollator with a seat.)

 

This is what we have decided to do:

 

Palma: Embark by 1pm. Have lunch on board. Then do the HOHO bus.

 

Barcelona: HOHO

 

Monte Carlo: A ship excursion. Motorcoach and little walking.

 

Naples: Hydrofoil to Sorrento. Tour train & gelato!

 

Rome: Take the train to Trastevere (smaller station, less walking). Take the #8 tram to its' end and walk to the Pantheon. From there we will catch the HOHO bus.

 

Livorno: I've rented a car ($54USD, $75 with taxes.) I'm taking my GPS & we'll probably go to Pisa & Florence. Maybe Cirque Terre. I would never drive the Amalfi Coast or in Rome. But I'm confidant on the highways & country roads.

 

A day at sea to rest (YEAH!) and then disembark in Palma.

 

Thank you so much .... all of you! We leave next Saturday (the 21st of August.) I'm looking forward to making many happy memories with my Mom!

[skisteamboat]

We heard back from "special needs at sea." A standard wheelchair was $235 for the week! We opted not to rent one. Mom will have her walker (rollator with a seat.)

 

Really surprised at that price since a powered scooter only was $175 for us on a Eastern Caribbean cruise.

 

Must be more expensive overseas.

 

Cheers

[D4]

Really surprised at that price since a powered scooter only was $175 for us on a Eastern Caribbean cruise.

 

Must be more expensive overseas.

 

Cheers

 

I think everything is way more expensive in Europe!

[helencw]

Cc cruiser, I wish you and your mom a wonderful trip!

Just to clarify where to buy the tickets for the hydrofoil to Sorrento on dock Beverello in Naples, there is a window for Alilauro along the ticket offices on the street side (not the dock side).

At Monte Carlo there is also a HOHO bus where our ship docked for 17 euros (15 seniors). We didn’t take this though. We walked up along the water at the left for about 10 minutes and took the elevators up to the Oceanography Museum. We went on the little tourist train there called the Azul Express for 7 euros because their languages included Chinese for my mom.

[skisteamboat]

I think everything is way more expensive in Europe!

 

Only if you want it to be. :cool:

 

Cheers

[cc cruiser]

Thanks, Helencw.... we are really looking forward to it. I think mom will be happy & content whatever we do. I just don't want her to get TOO tired!

 

I really do appreciate everyone who has posted to help make our trip memorable.

 

Thank you all!!