River Cruising Series - Access to the City

River cruising is a means to enjoy the countryside for those who have accessibility challenges. The ships often dock in the heart of the city, so getting on and off is quick and smooth if you have trouble walking long distances. Yes, many people utilize the included walking tours at each stop, but you can invest in your own adventure. I'll explain some options.

Karyn Clay

4/10/20263 min read

One of the greatest gifts my father gave me was a river cruise for my sister and me to celebrate my 50th birthday. As our departure day drew closer, the tibial tendinitis in my foot was not improving and I started to become concerned. All that I'd heard about river cruising was how busy the walking tours are. They get you off the ship and into the local area nice and early and keep you walking through the day. How on earth was I going to do all of that with a medical boot?

Fortunately, I have a natural desire to stray from the norm, so it didn't take me long to start looking into alternative ways to enjoy France. I was able to drive much further than I could walk so much to my sister's chagrin, who prefers to stay on the beaten path, I decided we could drive through the countryside instead. We rented local cars through Turo and plotted some destinations where I could use a travel wheelchair, if needed. However, I was fortunate enough to be able to walk and trust that I could change the destinations if I had become less ambulatory.

For those who completely rely on a wheelchair for mobility, you are at risk of not being able to disembark at all ports due to two reasons. First, the narrow and potentially inclined (depending on the port) gangway can sometimes can be quite the uphill or downhill journey. If you have a manual wheelchair, and it fits the gangway's parameters, and you have a strong companion who can confidently push you up and hold you back when going down a steep elevation...it could work.

The second challenge is that the ships often dock alongside each other, creating additional obstacles for wheelchair users to get across. If the ships don't align properly at the lobby level, which is not common, they do send passengers up the stairs to the sun deck (which does not have lift access) and across a gangway between the two ships from there. Thinking about what works best for you, and your traveling style, is important when considering river cruising with accessibility issues. Personally, I am just as happy to take some time to relax on the ship and take in the views. However, not having that choice due to the lack of accessibility is a different thing entirely.

Having my sister there to advocate for me when the foot pain got the best of me was also very helpful. The kindness that was shown to me from airport personnel and Viking staff to fellow passengers and locals at each stop showed me that we often receive the kindness of strangers, as well, to help ease our path. I also ended up having some very funny conversations with our French speaking car lenders, as well, as we only speak the most basic of niceties in French. My sister was able to enjoy the adventurous rides, most of the time, and we experienced some beautiful off-the-beaten-path sites that were not offered through the excursions. A highlight was stopping off in both a lavender and a sunflower field for spontaneous photo shoots, thanks to the freedom that the car afforded us.

For those of you who may looking for a fairly accessible way to enjoy a region, I'd like to suggest giving river cruising a try. Being able to slip off and on the small ship to directly access a variety of communities, from small towns to big cities, is such a gift! I personally loved sitting on the outdoor terrace for hours, chatting with other cruisers and taking in the beauty while resting my foot. If you want to experience this for yourself, let's talk and find ways to make your river cruise just right for you!

Fascinating Pont du Gard

Our surprise sunflower field stop was a great photo opportunity!