Is a mediteranian cruise good for seniors?

[emsachs]

I am planning a cruise for may wife and our parents (82 years old).

I have heard that a Mediteranian cruise is not the greatest for seniors?

 

We just did an Alaskan cruise and they loved it!!

They now have their hearts set on a Europen Mediteranian cruise next June 06.

(We thought about a Panama canal cruise, but they really want to go to Europe)

 

My question is this.

Our parents can only do short walks but they won't be able to do hard walking or ALOT of stairs. (some stairs OK).

 

Is it feasible for them to do a Med cruise and would they be able to really enjoy it?

Would they miss too much by not being able to walk alot?

 

 

Can anyone help me with this? Is it true? Not true??

 

Any advise for seniors would be helpful.

Thanks

[kitty9]

There are a couple of issues at work here. First of all, I'm disabled and walk with a cane so I can appreciate any physical problems senior citizens might have. The first issue is when you'll be cruising in the Med. It can be terribly hot and humid unless you go in May, very early June or October. Elderly will tire much quicker in the heat and humidity. The second issue is accessibility. No matter where you go in the Med, there's always a ton of walking involved if you want to see the sights properly. Yes, you can do some things via bus, but then you miss so much of what the Med is all about. Most tour buses cannot get to a lot of sites in some of the Med cities and therefore you will have a lot of walking to get to places from where the bus drops you off. In places like Rome, buses cannot get close to Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, and other famous sites. It's the same with Florence. I've been there twice and the tour buses drop off their passengers quite a walk from the famous museums and points of interest. While many places try and make things accessible, meaning not a lot of stairs, there are always stairs and accessibility issues with the older, and most popular sites.

 

There are some things you can do with your parents. One, avoid the ship sponsored tours. Those move very quickly and involve a lot of walking. Hire a private car and guide in the cities you're most interested in visiting. Yes, this will be expensive, but it might be your only option. Second, have them use wheelchairs or electric scooters. Those things are great for those with mobility problems. If your cruise includes places like Rome or Florence, just remember that the docks for those two cities are at least 90 minutes one way to the city center. Those long bus rides can be hard on older people.

 

Can they do this kind of cruise? Only you and your parents can decide. It will take a lot of planning plus being realistic on what your parents can and cannot do for tours that are usually quite physical in terms of walking.

[TWOFERTWO]

I agree with every point that kitty9 posted.

 

Unless there is a specific reason for taking the cruise in June, I would would recommend May or October. It will be cooler and far less crowded. May has less of a chance for rain. MHO :)

[emsachs]

Thanks for your replies regarding seniors.

I am not that concerned WHEN we cruise. (May would be fine).

I am more concerned with the walking aspect.

If we would be unable to see the sights properly, it may not be worth it.

Kitty 9,

As you mentioned you walk with a cane. Can you recommend a better cruise destination that would require less walking. (besides the Carribean).

Thanks

[goldminer1951]

It is feasible for seniors to really enjoy a Med cruise. It may take using private guides to help with ground transportation and special access to some of the sites. The pavement can be irregular and bumpy to walk on, so some care and time is needed. We just did the 11 day eastern Med on Galaxy, and had a great time. There were many folks in their 70's and 80's on the cruise. Some stayed onboard and enjoyed the ship, and others went ashore for day trips. Here are some details to help guide you-

 

Mykonos/Delos: There is some walking on Delos on old stone paths, and the longest walking part is from where the Delos boat drops you off back on Mykonos to get back to the bus that takes you to the cruise ship. It is about a 1/3 mile walk on good pavement and there are many hours before the ship leaves port. There are places to stop along the way for a rest or drink.

 

On Santorini, it is a short flat walk from the tenders to the cable cars with a few stairs. On the top, the view can be enjoyed without walking far and places to eat are close at hand.

 

On Rhodes, there are cabs close to the end of the dock (about a 500 ft. walk) that can take you around or you can arrange for a guide. Old Town is a longer walk from the boat (about 1/2 mile or further if you explore). Lindos on Rhodes involves a lot of walking and stairs, and it could be very hard for them.

 

The ship provided two day tour of Istanbul did not involve a lot of walking as you are dropped off close to the sites. The longest walk was about 1/4 mile at the Topkaki Palace, but well worth the walk to see the treasures of the Ottoman Empire. The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia involved shorter walks from the bus and back. The Grand Bazaar involves a 1/4 mile walk each way from the drop-off point, and I thought it was not that interesting unless you want to buy lots of jewelry. The lunch served on day two was very good.

 

Ephesus involves a lot of walking on very rough ground. The people of Ephesus had to have long legs based on the size of their stairs and steps. Ephesus is probably too long and rough of a walk, but is really interesting. A private tour guide may have a way to see some of the sites (library and amphitheater without the walk over rough ground, and a side trip to the House of the Virgin Mary and the ruins of St. John's Basilica would not be difficult for them to navigate.

 

Athens could require a private guide. I heard that there is an elevator at the Acropolis for handicapped persons, but I did not see it. If an elevator is not available, then it is a semi-hard climb to get to the top that involves rough steps. An easy car tour around the city, lunch and a stop at the National Museum could be done instead.

 

We did the walking tour of Pompei, and it involved a fair amount of walking on some rough surfaces. There are plenty of private tours in the area that may be able to cater to their needs, including some boat tours to Capri and the surrounding area, and coastal drives. There are long stairs in the entrance to the ship terminal, but there is an elevator.

 

Rome and the Vatican can be easily seen by hair-raising cab rides and short (one or two block) walks. Hope they get to go and see most of the sights.

 

If you have long flights to get to the port, make sure they get up and walk around once every hour or two on the airplane to avoid leg blood clots (DVT).

 

'Miner

[wander]

In my opinion, it depends on what your parents, or was it in-laws, want to do/see once there. For example, for me the sail into Malta is the highlight of the visit. The rest of the visit is fine, but not significant. For the Greek Isles - just strolling around the waterfront gives one a great experience and feeling. Of course it is fun to explore other parts of the islands, but we can't all do that. Maybe for them strolls along the waterfront, resting in a waterfront cafe, etc. would be enough. For the cities, private tours are certainly a good option, although from some bus tours you still get to see a great deal of the city without getting off.

 

Now, the real issue might be for you and your wife. Are you willing to compromise what you would like to see/do to accomodate the parents? Assuming you are physically healthy, I would suspect that there will be things you would want to do that your parents cannot do. In some ports this might be easy to resolve it the ship offers any tours your parents could do by themselves. However, such tours my not meet their interests and/or they may not be comfortable with such.

 

. Oh yes, I concur with the timing of your trip. It can get very hot, humid and smoggy that time of year which detracts from the enjoyment for many people, not just seniors. Go early or late in the season in my opinion.

 

Just some thoughts

[Ships R Great]

Uh-oh. DH and I both have trouble walking but we have booked X tours in all stops except one. I guess he or I will be bringing up the rear, but I don't mind that. I can always sit and wait for them to pick me up on the way back. Whoops, again. I hope they come back the same way they went in!!!!!!

[kitty9]

emsachs, I personally feel the Western Med is much easier physically than the Eastern. What able-bodied persons might see as easy, those of us with physical challenges see as being difficult. I've been in Santorini and while it's a beautiful place, even taking the funicular is tough on those who cannot climb stairs---and you have to climb stairs, without the benefit of handrailings, to climb into the little gondolas. And if the funicular isn't running, like it recently wasn't, there's no other way to get up to Santorini unless you climb the 600 steps or ride the donkey. Plus, the pavement in Santorini is very uneven and not easy to navigate even if it is only a couple of dozen feet.

 

Here are the least demanding ports to visit: Barcelona, Nice, Monte Carlo, Ville France, Porto Chervo, Florence (if you get a private car) and Rome (also with a private car). Another area to cruise that's not too difficult is the British Isles. I just returned from a two week cruise in that area, and it was fairly easy physically. We went to Copenhagen---the cruise started there and it's a very nice and easy city to tour, Edinburgh---very easy to get around, Belfast, Waterford--touring the Waterford Crystal factory is one excellent tour, Dublin (a great place if you're physically challenged) and London.

 

I could also add that the Baltic, with the exception of St. Petersburg, is also a very nice and easy cruise. Norway and Sweden are very easy to get around and not too taxing. If you avoid the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, then that's not a bad place to tour either. I took a private car there, and saw some places that ship's tours don't get to. A company called Red October does a great job for those who are both able-bodied and physically challenged.

 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask and I will be more than happy to help.

[Jimsgirl]

I think that all areas have sites that "seniors" have to think twice about.

 

I am going on the Celebrity Hawaii cruise, but when I looked and read the shore tours, I realised that most required more walking than I could do, for instance the Honollulu Culteral Centre, which I have wished to see very much , is over 8 hours in length and involves walking and standing around listening to quides, so that is out for me

 

However I will still take the cruise, and limit my walking to "near the ship" or go to sites for which I can get a cab service.

 

Have to agree with the poster who pointed out that you may find your own enjoyment curtailed unless your parents are willing to stay on board alone or go their own way - at their own pace and leave you free to explore.

 

My regret is that I did not do some things when I was younger and fitter.

[AFT_LOVER]

we felt like grandchildren & we are 50+ with all the seniors aboard. To hear them scolding others for not keepin up was just to funny!

 

All I can comment on is to read the cruiseline's excursion page since they do decribe the walking, stair, flat surfaces, etc on them. So you can choose from them even if you choose to go with someone else.

[themirsk]

Maybe you and your parents would be interested in taking a Transatlantic cruise.......starting in Barcelona and returning to Ft Lauderdale. That would take in a week of touring and then a week of relaxing. Of course, the timing would be September, October, November.

[ger_77]

If you are interested in booking shore excursions for your parents, look at tours that are called "Panoramic Tour of ..." - they tend to be the ones with the least amount of getting on or off the bus and very little walking. We found out the hard way and certainly wouldn't book another one for ourselves. We love the walking tours offered, as well as exploring on our own in different ports, but maybe when we're older and not as fleet of foot, we'll look again a the Panoramic Tour section of the shore excursion brochure.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[caviargal]

I took my 73 YO mother on a 7 night Med cruise in July. She has arthritis in one knee and one wrist so stairs are a problem for her in general.

 

Kitty9 is absolutely correct about weather being a major consideration. It was way too hot for my mother and I planned daily itineraries to give her lots of room for breaks. We limited the museums due to stairs. There were some that offered elevators to the handicapped and this did help but not all do so research is required up front.

 

Also, there were a ton of kids aboard and they were annoying in general. This is another benefit to cruising shoulder season in the Med.

 

Private tours and private cars are the very best way to go. When I am on my own, I never consider private tours as I like to use public transport to get to the sites I want to visit. But with mom, it was quite different.

 

She had a great trip and we would do it again, but definitely not in the summer months. Compared to land based European trips, cruises are a bit easier on seniors IMHO.

[AndyPanda]

Just returned from the Med. 11 nites on the Galaxy.

Group of 10 in their late 50s to mid 60s. All very well fit.

This had a good bit of difficult walking. Some steep hills. Many steps. Many irregular footings. We didn't have any problems, but did work up a good sweat.

If you want to see this stuff, you gotta do it.

Otherwise you should really pick another itinerary.

[m61376]

I know you mentioned Europe- but a great alternative would be Hawaii. Did this last summer with my folks and kids, and my Dad is 80, Mom 78 with rheumatoid arthritis and the trip was amazing- lots for them to do with moderate exertion, and opportunities for sitting. Able to fashion the trip so that everyone, including my two daughters in their twenties, had a marvelous time. Cruises are great for this area (although I would not rec. the NCL line- the ship itself was a nightmare)- easy to island-hop, and although I generally like to plan our own excursions, it was good to be able to do some active tours with the kids and schedule a sightseeing tour for my parents that coincided.

[Druke I]

I also have some walking/endurance issues, but have found that "city overview" tours often involve very little walking and give a good flavor of the city/area. Works for me, while my wife often goes on the more physical tours.

[QQRZZA]

All the warnings about staying clear of Europe during the summer season are true! The Med. gets very hot, and so do labor problems. We were on a round-the-UK cruise two years ago in July, and surprise British Airways had their "annual" strike. This left thousands stranded and locked out of the airport at Heathrow. Being prime summer vacation time, the usual heat wave, and so many displaced international passengers, the toll on the elderly was significant. SAS, as well as other quasi-government run carriers also have their annual labor issues which leave passengers stuck with no hotels, no options and lots of anxiety. These labor problens are common in Europe, particularly during the summer season when so many people depend on exact flights make connections. If a flight, or hundreds of them, are cancelled, re-booking is a huge deal. Your cell-tel doesn't work. The airport terminals may not be open to the public, and flights may be booked up for months. Having lived in Europe for 6 years, my advice, come during the "off season', the weather is better, the crowds are gone, and life is moving at a more relaxed pace. Labor issues tend to be less during the slower off-season. Be careful of booking airline reservations on carriers with a re-curring history of labor problems, particularly a carrier that has the vast majority of the business in the local market.

[susiesan]

Take your parents on a Viking River cruise. The boat docks right in the center of each town, and there are short walking/bus tours that are included in the price of the cruise. We did Nuremberg to Budapest last October and it was top notch. The oldsters on board got along fine. You can walk as litle or a lot as you prefer or you can just ride the bus.

[kitty9]

The riverboat cruise is a fantastic idea. You can do one on the 5 star Mozart, from Peter Deilmann cruises that's wonderful. It starts in Passau Germany and ends in Budapest. And like the previous poster said, the boat docks right in the middle of the towns.

[critterchick]

If your parents have their hearts set on a Med cruise, you should do it!:D I think it's totally doable for seniors if you pick your explorations carefully.

 

They don't have to see all of the sights to have a wonderful time, and I think each port that we stopped in on our Med cruise could be handled by people with walking challenges. When you look at the tours offered, look for the little man walking on flat ground.

 

We did Villefranche Sur Mer on our own, but I'm sure there are ship's or private tours that they can book that wouldn't require much walking - a trip to the Casino in Monaco, a drive to Cannes or Nice, etc.

 

We took a wine tasting tour in Livorno instead of going into Florence. The Tuscan countryside is simply gorgeous, and the only walking we had to do was off the bus into the vineyard, about 50 yards, if that. If they're not wine drinkers, they can still hear the guide's patter about what they're passing on the way and maybe make friends with the vineyard cats. Or there might be other trips to the more remote parts of Tuscany that are simliarly easy on the joints. They don't HAVE to see Michelangelo's David, although it is supposed to be magnificent (we spent 3 days in Florence & didn't see him:eek: ).

 

Rome would involve a lot of walking, I think. We had one man with a bad hip who was using his wife & me for crutches by the end of the trip. He recovered, but I felt badly for him.

 

Pompeii also involves walking, over some rough terrain, but it's at a leisurely pace, so it might not be too bad. THey could also visit Capri or Sorrento easily.

 

Malta can also be done with a minium of exertion. We also did a wine tour here. There were some steep steps down to the wine cellar, but otherwise it wasn't strenuous at all. We had a tour around the island with a few stops at really scenic places.

[emsachs]

Thank you soooo much everyone who replied.

 

Your insights are great and well appreciated.

I'm still not sure which one we are going to do, but we might also look into river cruises (something we hadn't considered).

 

My inlaws keep mentioning Greece and we can tell that it is something they are eager to see.

We may just go and do the best we can with private tours or those tours with little walking.

It would just be exciting for them to be there and I'm not so sure they would have to see everything.

As far as my wife and I go, we can always go back to see what we missed.

Our main goal is to spend time with our parents.

 

Thanks again EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

Ant other suggestions/info is appreciated.

[mountainmare]

If your patents have their hearts set on Europe then by all means do it!!!

 

My mother had her heart set on driving cross country. She got the OK from her doctor and we spent three weeks seeing the sites--from a car, but in her mind she got to see and do everything that she had ever dreamed of doing.

 

She died shortly after our return, but not before she was able to show her pictures to all of her friends and brag about spending mothers day in a cabin in Yellowstone.

 

This was the greatest gift that I could have given her.

 

Spend time with your parents, plan and show them Europe. Let them brag to their friend that their children are taking them on a Med cruise. You can easily plan days with private drivers that will give them an insiders view of the world.

[new_cruiser]

We did an Istanbul to Athens trip in early June (7 day sailing starting June 4). That early the weather was good. Just warm enough that swimming was comfortable (at Bodrum), cool enough that I needed a wrap on for on deck events two evenings.

 

I agree with most of what goldminer said about the Greek and Turkish ports they visited.

On Delos there is almost no shade. We enjoyed the ruins there, but I think it would be too much difficult walking for your parents. Most visits to ruins are going to involve some walking over uneven surfaces. If they are going to stretch a bit to try it, I'd do it at Ephesus. There was more shade (from the walls mostly) and the ruins are in quite good condition so it was the most interesting site. Perhaps goldminer's guide went through different parts of the site, as I don't remember significant rough ground. The way we went, we mostly went down hill (the tour bus went around to pick us up from a the other side). I'm physically able, but I have short legs so I would notice any big steps.

 

In Athens, if the Acropolis is too much (and I also didn't see any elevator), there are lots of other ruins. The old Agora is a small site. The more modern Agora is really big so it might be too much. We enjoyed the Benaki museum. The National Museum is quite good, but it is mostly ancient sculpture. The Benaki had more of a mix of things including the sculptures. The cafe at the Benaki is really pleasant with a nice view and much better than usual museum food.

 

We loved Istanbul (we stayed there 3 nights pre-cruise. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was the Grand Bazaar - because it is covered it gets way too smoky and you go past shop after shop that are the same (because the shops are mostly grouped by type - overall there is a lot of variety but you have to walk a lot to see it). And I usually like markets. The spice bazaar was a much more manageable size and I prefer it. The inside is mostly spices and foods, but outside around it there are lots of other types of shops. There is also a small bazaar by the Blue Mosque. The mosaic museum entrance is in that bazaar and that was my favorite. The variety of the mosaics was amazing.

 

For non-walking activities, one can go to the Turkish bath. I enjoyed that in Istanbul. The one some of our shipmates did on a ship excursion (in Kusadasi or Bodrum, I can't remember which) turned out to be coed (which surprised me) so be sure to ask if that would bother you. You can also go to a rug store if that interests you. They will sit you down, serve you coffee or tea and start bringing out rugs. For the best selection, go to one of the large stores not the small ones in the bazaars. It wouldn't be a good place for someone that is too much of an impulse buyer, but otherwise it can be quite educational.

 

On Rhodes, our shipmates who took taxi tours were all quite happy with their drivers so that would be a good way to go.

 

On Santorini, The walk to the cable car is short, but traveling on a large ship, I suggest you time things to avoid the masses from the ship heading there. We were on a small (140 passenger) ship. One of the large ships came in in the afternoon as we were heading down and there were really long waiting lines for the cable cars and the donkeys.

[Ma Bell]

The Med cruises do have a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. You would probably be well advised to do your own tours so you can take your time and go where it's easiest for them to get around. It's such a beautiful cruise it would be a shame to miss it.

[joramrose]

I am booked for an eastern Med cruise next May -- and I am looking forward to it.

 

I use wheelchairs in airports, always carry a cane and I will be 81 during the cruise. I have been there before so I do know what to expect.

 

I agree that May is the best month for eastern Med. Delightful time, and the ships are not overrun with children then either.

 

I do pick my tours carefully. Before I book a ship's tour -- those coaches are hard to step in and out of -- I talk it over with the cruise counselors. Only once have they steered me wrong.

 

I usually end up hiring a car and private guide, with one two three other people. Splitting the cost makes it doable. And they are tailored to my limitations. I hate holding back a whole coach full of people, and I hate having to sit in the coach alone when I cannot make a site. This way is much better -- private car and guide. These are easy to find out about on the port of call boards. Also you can usually find someone at the pier just waiting to take you around. Make your deal before you put foot in their car, however. And have a good idea what price range should be before you get off the ship.

 

I love the islands of the eastern Med. I am so eager to see them again.

 

love

joan