I had a mild case of polio as a child and had no problems with mobility for many years. However, in my late 40s or early 50s I started having weakness, first in my left leg and later in my right. As time has passed (I am now 64), I have progressed from having to use my husband’s arm to steady myself to, first, one cane, then two canes, then a Rollator (walker with four wheels) and finally a scooter.
ITN asked for those who are mobility challenged and enjoy cruising to write in (Feb. ’10, pg. 68).
In St. Petersburg, I highly recommend the independent-tour-guide company DenRus (Ligovsky Pr. 73 Office 608-610, St. Petersburg 191040, Russia; phone +7 [812] 572 4511 or, from the US, 561/459-5534). My husband, Lou, and I used DenRus during our 3-day cruise stop there, July 19-21, 2009, staying on the ship at night.
I went on the 15-day “Romantic Rhine” cruise aboard the Viking Sun, Nov. 7-21, 2009, with Viking River Cruises. With a discount offered by Pennsylvania Travel Service, my cost was $3,520, land only.
In 2001 I enjoyed a similar itinerary with another company. I booked this 2009 cruise-tour because the splendid variety of 20th-century art museums in Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, Amsterdam and Bruges demanded repeat visits.
The Viking Sun’s anchorage for Basel was a 15-euro cab ride from the city.
My husband and I phoned Elegant Cruises on March 31, 2009, and booked a two-week Adriatic cruise on the ship Monet for Nov. 4-18, 2009. On a total of $9,270, we sent a deposit of $1,500 that day by check. The company accepted our last payment on Aug. 4.
On Sept. 22 they phoned to inform us that they would not be sailing. A follow-up e-mail said, “due to the current economic situation, we have been forced to lay up the ship for the rest of the season of 2009. A full refund of your cruise will be sent, and we would also cover the cancellation fee on the airline ticket.”
On a 32-day cruise aboard the “Tahitian Princess” (now called Ocean Princess), Oct. 18-Nov. 19, 2009, my husband, Bob, and I did the following on our shore trips.
by Beth Habian, ITN
(Part 3 of 3 on Egypt)
by Lynn Remly, Hudson, OH