Hi everyone… I’m heading out on a river cruise tomorrow with my mom. She already has some mobility problems, but yesterday someone accidentally stepped on her foot, and now it’s worse. She can still walk, but longer walks are going to be tough. I’m thinking of renting a wheelchair so I can push her during longer walks and give her a place to sit when we’re waiting in lines.
We don’t need it on the ship, just for excursions so she can enjoy herself without overdoing it. We’re starting in Prague and ending in Paris. Any advice would be super helpful. Thanks!
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Hi everyone… I’m heading out on a river cruise tomorrow with my mom. She already has some mobility problems, but yesterday someone accidentally stepped on her foot, and now it’s worse. She can still walk, but longer walks are going to be tough. I’m thinking of renting a wheelchair so I can push her during longer walks and give her a place to sit when we’re waiting in lines.
We don’t need it on the ship, just for excursions so she can enjoy herself without overdoing it. We’re starting in Prague and ending in Paris. Any advice would be super helpful. Thanks!
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I’ve dealt with something similar with a family member who has a progressive condition. When they used to need a wheelchair occasionally for long walks, we found thrift stores like Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity really helpful. We got a used wheelchair for about $25.
If you’re able to find one locally, it might make your trip easier since you’d have it for the whole time. And if you don’t want to keep it, you could always donate it back after the trip. Just an idea!
So sorry to hear this! Make sure to talk to the excursion desk about your plans. Some places on river cruises aren’t very wheelchair-friendly. If your mom can handle a few steps while you carry the chair, that might help, but you might run into some tricky spots on excursions.
@Zaid
I did a quick search, and I think you should call Viking right away. They have a rule that wheelchairs need to be arranged 30 days in advance and have specific issues with accessibility on river cruises, like crossing between boats when docked. You can find more details on their site.
@Zaid
Thanks for looking into it. She can still walk, just not far. Viking wasn’t very helpful when I reached out. I was hoping to find a wheelchair to use for walking on sidewalks, like getting to the Christmas markets. It’d give her a place to rest when needed and make the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone.