Hello, Readers! I am back from my extended trip to Europe in which I cruised with the Princess Royal from Fort Lauderdale to Northern Europe by way of the Azores, vacationed with family for nearly two weeks in Ireland and England on our own, and cruised the Queen Mary 2 home. Traveling with disabilities was filled with challenges but worth it to see the Old World. Here are some tips I gained from my experience.
- Traveling by cruise to our destinations helped me to adjust to the time changes.
- When cruising, having a room midship and on a lower floor means less sea sickness, ease of getting to the lower floors if the elevators are packed, and was more central to the activities.
- Plan for and have cash in low denominations to pay for assistance with luggage helped to prevent fatigue. Moving bags totally wiped me out when I did not have help.
- Utilizing the wheelchair service saved me the confusion in the Chicago Airport and the energy I needed later in the day by not having to walk 10-15 minutes with my backpack between gates.
- Checking bags and paying the additional cost saved me energy throughout my day.
- Boarding during the pre-board option allowed me to get onboard and settled prior to the long lines that exhaust me quickly.
- Traveling with a seated, light weight cane gave me the option to sit at anytime during my travels allowing me the rest I needed to go on.
- When making reservations I requested disability assistance particularly on tour buses. One of the front seats was then reserved.
- Snacks were in my backpack to assure I did not have an energy drop.
- Additional time was added to my travel plans to allow for rest and fatigue days which I needed especially when changing from place to another.
