Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Went on the Rhine last year with Viking. The ship seemed to be pretty accessible with elevators and accommodations on the tour buses, etc. There were a few people on the ship with mobility issues and they appeared to be doing fine.

This is a casual observation and not a detailed investigation. Check with the cruise line.

NotAnselAdams Loc: Pueblo, CO

You are going to love the "Chateau & Wine" trip. It costs a bit but take the extra "Truffles" tour. You'll be taken to a French farm and you help the trained dogs to hunt truffles. You then dine at the farmhouse. C'est fantastique.

xptom Loc: Concord, CA

Thanks for taking the time for all of the great advice.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

We just returned from Ama's Rhine River cruise (on the Amaprima). That ship had an elevator. Bear in mind that there are going to be a lot of bus rides for side trips, and there are going to be lots of steps and cobblestone streets. You'll have to decide if you're up for that. Our tour had three activity levels - gentle walkers, fast walkers, and bicyclists. Lots of great photo ops. I hope you're able to go and enjoy the experience.

ButchS Loc: Spokane, WA

Is anyone answering the post actually handicapped. I’d be interested in hearing from an actual “mobility impaired” person, as I am one, too.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

ditto fo rme

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

"Mobility impaired" is just one aspect of what most travel agents consider "people with disabilities". Even though my travel agent / owner wife has taken courses in disability travel, she prefers to refer her callers to agencies where there is an agent that specializes in such. AAA does have some agents trained such, but they are not the only agency that has trained agents. A good disability travel agent is the most reliable source of information. There are many levels of disability they have encountered over their years of experience that they have handled successfully. They are the ones that are worth their weight in gold to people with disabilities. When searching for one, add the words "for people with disabilities" in your search to see if it helps your search.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I did a quick personal check and found that all the Viking river cruises in Europe that I checked seem to have elevators, but not all of the ships have elevator access to all of the ship's decks. Some do not have access to the top observation deck and bottom deck. Many have access to an observation deck not at the top deck. I am not a travel agent, but I can assure you a good travel agent, specializing in disabilities, would already know to look for that with certain disabilities.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

In clarifying my first post regarding my experience with AAA: They were the first travel agency that I have ever used. I first used them because the travel plans we (two couples) were making became very complicated very fast since we live in two different parts of Virginia. The service is a part of our roadside assistance and I believe that their fee is paid by Viking/AA, etc. At least I haven't discovered any AAA added charges. Also, before I stopped price checking behind them AAA was getting me as good a price or better than anything I could get using the popular travel websites. AAA uses secret Ninja Travel Tricks to always get you the very best results! Again, the fares and the schedules of two couples traveling together could make your head explode!!! Whenever I did find better prices our AAA agent would point out that the layovers, hotels, etc. were usually horrible. I quickly stopped annoying her with hey, I think that we can save $25.00 if we miss our connecting flight or stay in a hostel. Grin. Two final things: 1. Our AAA agent has actually taken a trip that she recommends or someone she knows, or someone in her office has. 2. I have no financial ties to AAA. I first used them for their great roadside assistance. Now the travel portion of AAA is why I will always have them.
Smile,
Jimmy T (AAA Fanboy) Sends

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

We've also had good experiences with AAA Travel.

ButchS Loc: Spokane, WA

Thanks for the tip! I am an AAA member, and there is an AAA travel agency in my town.

lightyear

WE cruised from Amsterdam to Budapest on AMA waterways with excellent photo opportunities, Do not know if they have elevator, but going ashore was easy on level gangplank., some people had walkers. Viking ships require deep water in the rivers, and thier ships were tied up with their passengers taking buses to various edestinations using the ship as a hotel. Our ship had a flatter bottom, was able to get to Budapest. We learned that travel agents do not know about ship bottom differences, and when I talked to Viking about another river cruise, they said that if water levels were low, that buses would be utilized.

Stan

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

You are right, Stan, that not all travel agents will know about ship bottoms. But I can guarantee you there are some agents that have been agents longer than the Viking representatives have been alive and know more about the Viking ships because they have been on them during high water and low water. And it is nice when the river ships can dock to a pier and not another ship or two. In those situations, when they are tied together, the gangplanks may not be so level between ships and the distance to shore becomes a lot longer. You may not have seen this, but my wife even knows about this from her fellow travel agents. Just like with a professional photographer, one pays a travel agent for what one doesn't know. My wife has heard many stories of what can happen. Some are very funny and others can be very sad. The key here is one need an experienced and knowledgeable travel agent. In this case, one that deals with people with disabilities.