CurbCut

It took me a while to get this blog post out because I really couldn’t figure out which story I wanted to tell. Jason and I have been so blessed to see so much of this world and in our travels we have learned that together there isn’t much we can’t accomplish. I know it’s sentimental and a little cheesy but it’s true. My last Travel Tale is about our visit to the Embera Indian village in  Fuerte Amador Panama. We had been assured before hand the tour would feasible with the wheelchair, and as I normally do, I trusted the tour operator.

Our guide met us at the pier and we all piled into our bus. We were about an hour away from the 45 minute boat ride which would take us to the tribe’s small village. We hadn’t realized the small boat we would be taking was an Evinrude powered canoe, but with Jason in first and the rest of us lined out behind him we hunkered down for the ride. While we were still a ways out the tribe brought out their instruments and greeted us with a warm welcome song. The chief and some of his men helped Jason get into his chair and up the small dirt packed hill to their newly roofed meeting tent. The tribe told us a little bit about their history, culture and family dynamic and then fed us a traditional lunch. After lunch they danced and sung a few of their customary songs. All in all it was an interesting experience, but what really made it a special day was the chief. He noticed Jason and was hanging around him a lot. Our guide said in all the years he’d been bringing people out to meet the tribe this had never happened. The chief and our guide talked back and forth for a while and finally our guide let us know the chief wanted to heal Jason. He believed Jason’s spine was being gripped by an evil spirit and with the right medicinal items he could restore Jason’s ability to walk. He also said he saw a lot of kindness in Jason’s eyes. We were honoured and flattered, but graciously declined. The chief asked us to keep in touch and if we were ever in the area to come visit again. I suppose one day we might.

While we had been eating lunch a thunderstorm had started and torrential rain had started. I’ve only seen rain like that in Thailand and knowing we had one more stop at a local waterfall to go before we returned to the ship I worried we would be damp and grumpy. I was so wrong about the grumpy part. As soon as we were back in the canoe and heading down one of the small side arms of the lake Jason’s face lit up. It was that smile I see when we’re seeing or doing something he’d though he might never see or do. It was the jungle and the rain. He never thought he’d see jungle like this up close, and even though we have rain in Vancouver it wasn’t anything like this. When we arrived at the spot for the waterfall we let the group go off and we sat and took in the sights and sounds of the Panamanian jungle. It was so peaceful and just perfect.

30 minutes later our fellow tour members re-joined us and we made our way back to the ship. We were freezing but laughing and smiling the whole way home. I look back now and I realize how difficult that situation could have become in an instant. But like so many of our amazing travel experiences Jason simply said – let’s do it.

I’ve done a review on getting around Rome in a wheelchair, but I thought I would tell you about our first cruise to the Mediterranean. It didn’t start out so smoothly but ended up being a heck of an adventure!

One day while I was at the office Jason received an email about a Mediterranean cruise. It was such an unbelievable price he messaged me immediately. I’ve always been fascinated with Egypt so we knew we couldn’t pass up this chance.  Until then our cruising had been relatively tame and we had only begun to lift the curtain on adventure travel.  My boss acquiesced and only asked that I bring back a few photos. Because we were heading into our busiest season at work we decided to fly in the day of the cruise. We would arrive 5 hours before the ship left port in Barcelona. Our flight path was an easy one – Vancouver to Calgary, Calgary to Frankfurt and finally Frankfurt to Barcelona. It should have been simple. 

All along I had a nagging feeling something wasn’t going to go right on this trip. I thought the problem was going to be our luggage, so I was extra careful to split our cloths up and pack everything we would need to survive in a carry on.Vancouver to Calgary went smoothly and we breezed through the connection with ease. Once we were onboard our long haul flight to Frankfurt I had dinner and decided to try to sleep. Somewhere over Saskatoon there was a page for asking if there was a Dr on board. Jason and I just looked at each other and our hearts sank. Another page for a doctor. Then the captain announced we’d be landing in Toronto to medically evacuate a passenger. People on the plane groaned but honestly if it had been my family member I would have hoped they would have landed the plane. Fair enough we  figured, we’d get the passenger off the plane, refuel and be on our way. Not so much. We couldn’t fly directly to Toronto because our plane was full of fuel so we spent 7 hours zig zagging in Canadian airspace to enable us to safely land. By the time we had arrived no flight crew could be found to fly us out. That was it. We missed our cruise. Now what?! Air Canada did everything they could to make us comfortable. They offered anyone who wanted it a hotel room for a few hours and food vouchers for breakfast. Jason and I opted to stay at the airport since the flight out in the morning would mean coming back to the airport in just 5 hours. Jason called Aeroplan and got our flights sorted out. I sent emails out to the ship and to people who were expecting us letting them know we wouldn’t be joining them on the first few days of the cruise, but we would try to meet up with them for our tour of Rome. We then spent the next 7 hours Googling how to get from the airport in Rome to the port town of Civitavecchia. This ultimately resulted in us deciding we would hop in a cab, just to keep everything simple.  

Some wonderful staff in the Air Canada lounge took pity on us and kindly got us upgraded into first class for our flight to Frankfurt. That made the trip pretty manageable! Once we arrived the airline had arranged a stunning airport hotel with a private escort who was unbelievably warm and helpful. We chatted happily with our escort and she slyly asked for us to be upgraded at the hotel, the room was beautiful and we were grateful for the rest. We took off for Rome the next day and arrived early enough and well rested enough Jason decided we should try taking the train. Honestly at 130 euro to take a cab or 12 euro to take the train it wasn’t a hard choice. It was a single connection from Rome to Termini, or city center, station and then Termini station to Civitavecchia and we met some very helpful souls along the way who helped me with our two big suit cases so I could help Jason.

Civitavecchia was easy enough to navigate and we checked into a hotel quickly. The elevator couldn’t hold Jason, myself and the luggage so we made two trips and laughed when we got the one room with a door that couldn’t easily open. We ended up at a local pizza joint for dinner and in the morning, too early for a cab to help us, we walked 10 minutes to the pier.

With the NCL Jade within our view we waited eagerly behind the chain link fence for someone to come and get us. I’ll never forget hearing the Auzzie accent of an officer coming off the ship and the relief I felt when someone took my bags and whisked us up to checked in. The staff were wonderful and so helpful.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; we are the lucky ones. We get to see a side of humanity not many folks get to. Complete strangers blessed us on every leg of this journey. I don’t know who many of them are, and I’ll never see them again, but I will ALWAYS speak of them very highly.

The icing on the top of the cake was once we were checked in the staff rushed us back off the ship, knowing we were trying to connect with a non-NCL tour, and amidst the crowds of people a woman standing right in front of us looked at me and said “are ya’ll Amy and Jason.” Seriously. I hugged her and it took everything in me not to cry. We had a great day in Rome and after a 12 hour tour we re-boarded the Jade exhausted but grinning from ear to ear. 

All in all it was a wonderful trip, a great story and an awesome lesson for me to take into this role as a travel agent. We learned how to be flexible and roll with whatever we are faced with. We learned we could depend on each other in a tight spot and that we’re a great team – and that it doesn’t take much to make us laugh.

“Eee’s your brother?”

I had my first official webinar with the BC Paraplegic’s Association last night, once it’s edited and ready to go I’ll post it on here, it was so much fun. I love being able to inspire people to travel. To show anyone the world isn’t a “no fly zone,” even though it has radically changed. As I mentioned last week these webinars are what has inspired this month’s series of travel tales. Now on to the next instalment! This weeks destination is Bora Bora a place so nice they had to say its name twice. Yah, I said it.

One evening, a year before our long cruise, Jason and I were watching a nature show on Bora Bora. It was talking about manta rays and the way they “dance” to eat plankton and both of us immediately knew this was something we both needed to see. When the chance came for us to knock Machu Picchu and Bora Bora off our bucket list we knew we had to take it. Sadly, I will note I didn’t get the chance to see the manta ray’s dance – at least not on this trip.

We had connected with a group on CruiseCritic months before to voyage. They had set up and independent tour with a local group called Maohi Nui tours and it sounded like an amazing day. While adventure is something I crave, and being within a foot of a shark does qualify as adventure to me, it’s not something Jason is as in love with. I emailed the company directly and asked them if they would be able to work with us. To my surprise the owner of the company got back to me and told me he would be on hand to help us. While this was enough to assuage my concerns I’m not 100% sure Jason felt the same. By the time we had reached Bora Bora we had met two phenomenal individuals – Mike and Judy. Knowing we had them with us and Patrick as our guide we set out one sunny morning to explore amazing sights Bora Bora held for us.

We met Patrick, the owner of the company and the man who graciously made the day happen for us, at the dock. Jason and I shuffled into the boat, we put his chair in the front and head off to Shark City. Those of you who know me know that I have had a life long fascination with sharks. I love them. I don’t know why but I do. Patrick handed out our snorkel gear and simply said “jump in.” That was all I needed. With no concern for my personal safety I was out of that boat like a shot. I couldn’t believe what I saw. SHARKS! They were everywhere. Just lazily swimming around, minding their business. Jason says he’s never seen me so excited and after some assurance by Patrick that he could lift Jason back into the boat we got Jason into the water. I was in all of my glory – and almost crying into my mask. We gave Jason a mask and each held one of his arms and swam him around showing him all of the sharks. Honestly it’s one of the top five experiences of my life. After he was done snorkelling Jason held onto the pontoon of the boat and I duck dove to get a few photos. I wouldn’t have left the ocean if I didn’t have to.  

After about 45 minutes Patrick rounded us up, got Jason back in the boat as promised and we headed off to a coral garden for another snorkel. On the way Patrick picked up his ukulele and sang a few songs, it was the only thing that made our perfect absolutely epic. Jason opted out the second snorkel, but I couldn’t pass up another chance to get into the crystal blue water. After 30 minutes at the garden it was time for a French Polynesian style BBQ.  When we arrived at his private beach Patrick plucked Jason out of the boat and brought him to land, I followed with his chair over my head. The beach was hard packed sand and we were careful and avoided the crab holes but Jason got around just fine and there was even a bathroom for us to use. After lunch we headed back to the pier sunburnt and grinning from ear to ear.

We went into something relatively unknown, something that made us uncomfortable, but it paid off. The day could have been miserable, but it was something we were willing to try and we were delighted at the outcome. Sometimes the risk is worth it and sometimes it isn’t. That choice is up to you.

The Dream Team

Jason and I have seen some amazing things in our six years travelling together. I’m about to give my first talk at GF Strong, our local SCI rehab center, encouraging those who are newly  injured to eventually go out and see the world. I do think everyone needs to be realistic about their limitations, but I also feel like with a little out of the box thinking there are more opportunities than seen at first glance. I never thought Jason and I would see Machu Picchu,Venice, the Pyramids of Egypt, penguins in their natural South American habitat or the crystal clear waters of Bora Bora. I want you to know you have options. There are adventures yet to be had! I’ve been asked to share our Machu Picchu story, since it’s one of the more incredible tales of our travel. I thought I’d share it with you too. Glean from it what you will, but I hope it inspires you.

No guard rails here!

The first challenge was finding a cruise that stopped in Peru long enough for us to complete the trek up to Machu, once we had done that, and I resolved to leave my NPO job I knew I had a lot of research to do to make this travel dream come true. How were we going to get Jason up the mountain? Would he be ok with the thinner air? Would we acclimate well? Would we be able to get TO Machu? What about bathrooms?!  After some research we decided that we would need to hire extra hands to help out. We didn’t know at the time, but the general idea would be Jason would piggy back up to the Sun Gate on a Peruvian fellow’s back, and the second hired hand would take the chair.

The cruise ship docked in Lima and after a 15 minute ride to the airport we were ready to check in for our flight. I was really glad we had a Peruvian guide on hand who spoke some English since trying to check Jason in at the airport I was lost for a Spanish explanation that Jason had been in an “accidento,” he could still  *walking fingers* but did need the wheelchair. The check-in attendant was REALLY confused. Our guide came over, straightened us out and got us on our way. The flight took about an hour and a half and when we landed in Cuzco we both felt a little light-headed. Ultimately the elevation caused me to feel queasy, but nothing unmanageable. Jason was fine.

A two-hour drive left us in a small square in a town called Ollantaytambo. Our driver pointed us to the Sacred Heart Café which offered wonderful home cooked meals. I had some of the best veggie soup I’ve ever had in my life and some coca tea to help with the elevation sickness. I’ll never forget the storm that rolled in while we were eating dinner. It was beautiful, and unlike Vancouver where it can rain all day the rain lasted about an hour and then stopped. After dinner we piled into a tuk-tuk, “piled” being a very accurate word,  we had Jason’s wheelchair and backpack in this incredibly small space. We couldn’t see where we were going, but we held on for dear life and laughed the whole way to the train station.

Feeding Percy

Train station means different things to different people, however, this particular train station was a hole in a fence and a line up that took up most of the street. Tourist’s lined the street and we ended up meeting a couple of backpackers who helped us board the train. Three more hours and we ended up in Aguas Calientes. A small town with train tracks running right through it. We stayed in a beautiful hotel for the night and when we woke up and rushed out the door to catch the bus with our guides we knew we were in for a great day. It was only a 15 minute ride to the entrance gate, and little did we know that our guides had decided Jason would be light enough, and the conditions were favourable enough, to carry him up to the Inca trail. Many people who are in wheelchairs who go up will not have the experience we did. Our guides

We did it!!

brought breakfast up with them and we sat at the top of the Inca trail on the outskirts of the city and had breakfast. The place was nearly empty and it was an exceedingly emotional moment for both Jason and I. That day we made our way around the ruins, our guide filling us in on facts about the sites. The last Machu stop of the day was hand feeding the lama’s residing in the mountain city. It was a day neither one of us will ever forget. To finish off the day we did a little shopping in the Aguas Calientes train market. It honestly was the perfect day.

We back tracked all the way back to the ship, and once back safely we called for room service and slept for hours. In total we spent almost 10 hours travelling in three short days, I lost 5lbs because of the elevation and my lack of appetite, but we came back with photos, some kitschy souvenirs, and an experience that will last us a life time.

I can’t believe it’s been a year. Honestly. Where has the time gone?!

I want to thank you all for your unwavering support in 2011 as I’ve transitioned from a Donor Relations Coordinator to a Cruise & Travel Consultant Specializing in Accessible Travel. 

The doors that have opened this year have not been by chance. I’m now working with BCPA and am getting ready to do my first presentation at GF Strong. I’m starting a new relationship with Angels Granting Wishes & Travel Foundation and am looking forward to what we can do together. I’m even waiting to see if I’m going to be able to run with Rick Hansen in May!

Add to that the huge blessings that have come from my new client base and I am one lucky lucky lady.

I just wanted to thank you, so much, for everything this year.

Blessings in 2012 wherever it takes you!

Jason and I have often commented on how many of our favourite cruises required us to fly VERY long distances with stressful connections. The last two big stops on our list, Africa and Asia, won’t be any exception. Between the stress of multiple and often short connections (It’s what you get when you book on points, I know), the physical strain of flying and the jet lag on arrival long haul flights can be a challenging way to start any vacation. Here are a few things we’ve learned along the way.

Travel light

As a travel noob I made the mistake of packing WAY too much, both for our flights and for our vacations. I could be seen lumbering through airports with two suitcases, a backpack, a Lululemon gym bag and a purse. I often wouldn’t even look twice at half of the things I had bothered to haul from one continent to another. Two trips ago I wised up and consolidated my travel gadgets into the one backpack. Now when I travel I know I only need a few things: my travel documents, wallet, passport, iPod, e-reader, tire repair kit for Jason, Advil, Gravol, socks and snacks. Jason and I also managed to fit two weeks worth of clothes into two small roller suitcases, which made getting around Venice MUCH easier. Although if you do this, please make sure you double-check if the ship, or destination, you’re bound for has laundry facilities – my bad.

Connect Smarter

Connections can be tricky and even for able-bodied people an hour at any given airport will be tight. But when you’re the last one off of a plane and you have to wait for your gate checked wheelchair to meet you at the aircraft door an hour connection can be nearly impossible. Consider carefully the airports you connect through. We would choose Frankfurt over Heathrow any day of the week, likewise if I didn’t have a lot of time I would take Calgary over Toronto. If you don’t know your airports to ask your travel agent. We usually have a good idea.

The last thing you need to consider with connection is seasonal weather. Making a tight connection in summer might be ok, but in winter – let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend it to any of my clients. So what’s the best course of action? Try connections of 2 – 3 hours in bigger airports and at least 2 hours in smaller ones. This should allow you enough time to easily make those connections in rain, sleet snow or sun.

Be prepared

Have the phone numbers of the cruise line, airline and your travel agent on hand. Traveling with a wi-fi enabled device has saved our butts more than once. Jason and I had to re-route our flights to meet a cruise once, thankfully the airport we were stuck in offered wi-fi and we had an iPhone. We spent the hours trying to figure out how to get to the cruise terminal and what hotel to stay at when we arrived at our new destination. 

Rest

Once we arrive at our destination Jason will usually go for a “nap” which can some times last all night. I go out and rustle up food, wake him up, and once fed we’ll both rest. Allowing Jason this time to de-compress between flight and cruise seems to make a huge difference for him and can alleviate some of his physical discomfort. When we need to fly longer than 8 hours we always fly into our embarkation port at least one day early. This way we’ve got the time to relax and get settled.

What do you do to make your flights easier?

Cruising out of Bora Bora with friends a la Austin Powers

I love cruising – by now I’m sure that comes as no surprise to you. It’s easy, generally accessible and incredibly cost effective. But there are four questions you should know the answer to before you put your final payment down.

How old & how big is the ship?

I’ve mentioned this one before, but I cannot emphasize strongly enough the impact this will have on your experience. Ships built after 2006 have benefited from a legal case between Norwegian Cruise Line and a disabled passenger. This legal kerfuffle showed cruise lines their fleets needed to meet the needs of a growing accessible market. While many have refurbished their vessels to get them up to code we have found some of these attempts leave much to be desired. Newer ships have been built to code and this seems to make all the difference in the world.
 

I also want you to consider the size of the ship you want to sail on. We are living in the age of the mega ship. And I know that they look like fun, and they’re so shiny and new, but pushing or pulling the length of four football pitches just sounds like a lot of work to me. And can you imagine the waits for elevators when some 5,400 people are trying to get from point A to point B?! If you do decide to sail on a mega ship carefully consider your stateroom location – where are you more likely to spend your time?

How is tendering done? Which ports will I need to do it in?

Know which ports on your itinerary could or will require you to use a tender boat. Be prepared to miss those ports should you be unable to use the tender. I know this sounds harsh, and on seven different cruises we have only had one problem, at a non-consequential port, but it’s important. If the seas are rough or there is any danger you could be hurt cruise lines will not allow you to go ashore. This doesn’t strictly apply to people with disabilities, in every passengers contract with the cruise line they acknowledge the cruise line staff reserve the legal right to deny anyone access to shore.

The other situation you should be aware of is the actual tendering process on the ship you want to sail on. On one of our cruises Jason and I ran into a situation we had never encountered before: typically there is a second “accessible” ramp entrance to the tender gangway. Because of the age of the ship we were travelling on no such ramp existed. We were faced with an interesting set of options, the easiest of which was helping Jason walk down the stairs to the tender boat. I wouldn’t want anyone to “discover” this like we did.

Where is your stateroom? 

I did touch on this a little already, but I want to highlight a few more points about the location of your stateroom. Accessible rooms are typically located near elevators, which is a great thing and minimizes the amount of pushing/pulling you’ll need to do to get around the ship. We’ve never noticed any increased noise because of the room location and have almost always been delighted with our stateroom.  Personally I prefer staterooms located towards the aft, or back, of the ship. This is often where the dining rooms and the buffet are located. These areas, especially the buffet area, are more likely to be tiled instead of carpeted and can make getting around a lot easier. I do want to caution you against sailing in the bow of the ship – inside staterooms near the elevators are fine, but I have sailed in the most forward oceanview cabin available and even though it was billed as accessible I wouldn’t recommend it to any of my clients.

Tango dancing with a busker in Buenos Aires. One of my favourite days of travelling with Jason.

How much can YOU do?

At the end of the day it comes down to you and your accessibility needs. Cruise ships adapted wider door frames, roll-in bathrooms/showers, built-in shower chairs, lower toilets with stability bars and roll up sinks may not be sufficient for you. If you have any questions about the accessibility of a ship then ask. That’s what travel agents, and blogs like this, are for. If I don’t know the answer I will find it for you.

In the end you can only be so prepared for travelling but I promise, once you’re out there and seeing this world it is unbelievably rewarding.

Us in Rome 2011

“O Rome! my country! city of the soul!”
-Lord Byron

Lord Byron and I agree about Rome. It’s a city which keeps a piece of my soul. Some find the city touristy; others find the hustle and bustle comforting. For us it is beautiful – it is history wrapped in culture and accented by fantastic food. What more could we ask for. Whether Jason and I are wandering around the Coliseum or taking in an art market in Piazza Navona I am bound to have a smile on my face, food in my tummy and my eyes and mind delighted.

Rome’s port, Civitavecchia, offers well paved sidewalks, curb cuts and a scenic boardwalk which is bustling with skateboarders and sales people. Once you take the shuttle bus from your ship to the terminal main gate you’re only a 5-10 minutes stroll from the train station. Jason and I had taken the train from Rome to Civitavecchia before so we knew we enjoyed the ride. Ask for help getting on or off the trains at the stations, the staff are pretty accommodating. Accessible coaches are located at the end of the train and will be clearly marked. We bought our 9€ transit pass just outside the station – you only require one for a wheelchair and attendant – which is good for the train to Rome and the city buses for a day. It’ll take about an hour and a half to get to Termini which is the main transit station and the city center. Once we were at Termini we headed to the underground trains. We did need to call for assistance at stairs twice but the transit centers offer an electronic stair lift with clearly labelled intercom’s to call an attendant quickly to operate the lifts. We caught the underground to the Coliseum’s doorstep.

There was an extensive line for the Coliseum, but we hadn’t been able to see the inside of the massive structure last time we were in Rome. As we got to the front of the line to ask about an accessible entrance we were escorted right in and the entry fee was waved. This is something we’ve noticed, and appreciated, all over Italy. Wheelchair users and attendants are generally admitted into sights free of charge or at half cost. Some of the sights are quite expensive so this really does help with sightseeing costs. I think it’s a neat incentive to encourage those with disabilities to get out and see these historic and fascinating sights.

Rome in 2009

Once inside the Coliseum there were accessible washroom’s, located behind the normal ones, and a lift up to the second story where there is a cool little museum. Jason and I fully enjoyed just wandering around and people watching. Once we were done we caught one of the many accessible busses to Piazza Navona which is one of my favourite spots in Rome. The bus offers a ramp and an area for someone to buckle in their chair with buttons to notify the driver when they wish to disembark the bus. 

Piazza Navona

The cobble stone streets of Rome can be challenging to navigate, but we always manage. I just have to be extra attentive about where and how hard I’m pulling Jason. Instead of the Christmas market we discovered last time we were in this piazza there was a beautiful art market. We ended up buying a few small watercolour pieces we fell in love with and ate lunch with a wonderful piazza view. Honestly, happiness is a margarita pizza on a sunny day in Piazza Navona.

After lunch we made our way back to the Coliseum and then the underground train. We hopped back on the “fast” train to Civitavecchia and grabbed pizza at our favourite place, Grill King, which is on the left hand side of the street by the entrance to the port. It’s a small hole in the wall, but I swear the pizza is AMAZING. It was one of the reasons Jason and I were so excited to go back to Rome and it didn’t disappoint. Although it should be noted it’s not an accessible restaurant so I go and get the pizza.

Rome will remain as one for my top five favourite cities and will always have a place in my heart.  

Caio!

Barcelona was awesome. Between our beachfront hotel, the beautiful boardwalk, the people and the fantastic food I was more than impressed. The 1992 Olympics made a big impact on Barcelona and now over 85% of the buses, most of the underground trains, four of the beaches and many of the main sights are billed as accessible. Jason, my husband, and I had no trouble getting around on our own and we’re always happy when we can sightsee on the cheap.

Finding an accessible hotel in Barcelona was really easy; almost every hotel I contacted had a room available for us. Jason used his networking skills and got us an amazing deal on the W, and that was something neither of us could pass up. We had a sea/beach view room excuse me as I day-dream about it. It had a roll in shower and toilet which were separate, albeit the panes of smoked glass separating the room from the bathroom were a little disconcerting (we dubbed it the Cone of Silence), but it was an amazing hotel.

On the last day of our trip Jason and I had both woken up sick so we weren’t to keen on putting a lot of effort in to going and see Gaudi’s famous church the Sagrada Familia. Sniffles, coughs and sore throats aside it was a lovely, warm, stroll from our hotel to the metro station which was clearly marked. There was a lift to get to the proper platform and accessible entrances at all the gates. There are two different “accessible” signs on the metro map:

Accessible with Assistance

the normal accessible symbol or this one on the right. Jason and I needed to ride both the accessible and “accessible with assistance” lines. The difference between the two was boarding the train – Jason easily rolled right onto the accessible trains while the “accessible with assistance” trains had a ramp up to the train and a door that didn’t automatically open. Both options were simple, easy and non-intimidating, and I was impressed the city had differentiated between the two accessible options.

Once we got to the Sagrada we decided to have a quick McLunch (I know it’s a travesty to visit such an amazing city and eat McD’s) and then take a look at the church. At a cost of 15€ per person, a line wrapping around the block and no wheelchair line “cutsies” in sight we decided to simply marvel at this architectural wonder from the street.

That evening we went for a long walk down along the paved boardwalk, all the way to Frank Gehry’s bronze fish statue. The whole walkway was paved and very easy to navigate. By the end of our stroll I was pretty hungry so we found a little sports bar and ordered the final margarita pizza of the trip.

There is so much to see in Barcelona. Some of her sights are challenging like the very hilly Park Guell, and others are easier like the wandering Las Ramblas street. But with Barcelona being such a major cruise port we decided to take it easy on the sightseeing. We’ll be back some day, and I can’t wait!

Have you been to Barcelona before? What was your favourite sight?

 Those of you who know us well know Jason, my husband, and I had a rough time on the last Holland America Line (HAL) ship we were on. In all fairness we were sailing on an older vessel, in an oceanview stateroom in the very bow of the ship – while the bathroom rails were where they needed to be Jason wasn’t able to roll up to the sink, the shower drainage covers were wide slats that one could easily catch a toe in, the shower chairs were backwards and the room itself was so small Jason couldn’t even get his wheelchair beside the bed. There was no secondary platform for tendering and so Jason had to navigate stairs to get to and from the tender boats. The cruise line did offer to put him onto the tender boat when they let it into the water and then he could re-board the ship when they brought the last tender back up. For us, this was a less than desirable option.  If it weren’t for the wonderful food and overly friendly staff – a shout out to Billy, Raka and a few others who made us smile daily – I wouldn’t have been nearly as excited about our recent trip to the Med.

I made sure this cruise would be on HAL’s newest ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, and I was not disappointed. She is a stunning vessel with great accessibility.

 We decided to spoil ourselves and book a category VH, or a Deluxe Veranda, stateroom. It was spacious and with minimal furniture re-arrangement (a chair and small table) Jason was able to get around the room easily. The floor inclined beautifully to allow him access to the veranda and there was enough room outside for the wheelchair and for us each of us to have a lounger to watch the sea go by. The bathroom was large enough for Jason to turn around in, the roll in shower and its floor drains were much less hazardous, there were handle bars in all of the right places (toilet and showers) and even the shampoo dispenser was in a good location. Jason found the bed to be a little high, but other than that he had nothing but good things to say about the ship.  

All of the public areas had seating for guests with disabilities, and in the buffet staff were always on hand to help with plates. We found the carpet to be standard thickness which can be difficult for Jason to push on, but because we were in the back of the ship where almost all of the dining rooms are located so I didn’t have to assist too much.  

Jason didn’t go into Santorini which was the one tender port we were in, but I did confirm there was a secondary door to the sea level platform – this means tender access would have been MUCH easier.  

I have to admit, I was sceptical, but HAL won my heart. The staff was amazing – 6 of them even recognized us from our last cruise – and they made us feel special. The food was spectacular, the itinerary was incredible and I’m happy to report I will cruise HAL again.

Do you have a favourite cruise line?? Which is it?