Accessible Baltics

Lynde-Lee Opperman on 09 July 2019
Russia has always been on the top of my bucket list. I have explored many ways to travel and to see Russia, considering the difficulties that I would be faced with, the language, culture and behaviour, and then adding the challenge of travelling with a wheelchair. I decided to turn the word “challenge” into “opportunity” and then the planning got exciting and I created wonderful relationships with suppliers who were ready to assist and make Accessible Travel a reality.

You can travel anywhere if you are differently abled, you just need to open your mind and heart, as to the best way for you to travel. Planning and insight are crucial and this is where I can help you.

So, what did I eventually decide on? A cruise.

But of course, there is not just one cruise line in the area, so I needed to look through each cruise and find the one that best suited our requirements. As with able bodied people, choosing a cruise that is perfectly suited to you is a tricky task. I have had the opportunity to study cruising and learn about the various cruise liners and what they offer, so matching the perfect cruise to each of my customers is a passion of mine.

For us, the perfect cruise was Costa Cruises. I had many factors to consider when choosing our ship, namely the number of sea days (as my husband does not like being 'stuck' onboard a ship). Tender or docking, as a tender would not work with a wheelchair. A balcony cabin that is adapted, as even though we are only sleeping in the cabin, a balcony cabin is just wonderful – There is nothing quiet like waking up to the sound of the sea. And then, of course, the places we wanted to see, and how long the stop was in each place.

The adapted cabin on Costa was perfectly adapted for wheelchair use. From the shower chair in the shower, to the grab rails and the little ramp over the balcony door lip.

We opted for the unlimited drinks package which allowed us the freedom to enjoy the great Italian Coffee, Processo, water, juices, spirits and wines. This is very much recommended for a peace of mind cruise with no nasty bills at the end of your cruise.

Our Cruises started in Stockholm, and it sailed through the Baltics to Helsinki, Tallinn and St Petersburg.

In Stockholm I hired a Voi scooter to get around the city, and in Helsinki, a vintage bicycle. This is the best way to see the cities, as you can move around at your own pace, and both cities boast bicycle lanes which make it safe, even for novice scooter riders or cyclists. Stockholm first stole my heart, with its clean fresh air and beautiful scenery, and Helsinki went on to brag just how beautiful Scandinavia is!

In St Petersburg, we decided to be adventurous and to use the underground. I did do some research before travelling and noted the stations that had a wheelchair sign so planned our day trip around these. This was fun and adventure to the max! Note: The wheelchair sign at these stations, means there is someone to assist you in taking the escalator in your chair, down about 100ms! But, it was doable, and an exciting adventure!

St Petersburg is just beautiful. There is so much to see and do and the people are friendly and kind. This city deserves another visit.

Cruising is a wonderful way to explore an area, and you only unpack once! Another bonus is that while you cruise you can eat, catch a show and sleep and the next morning the ship sails into your next port of call giving you an opportunity to explore. It saves you time and the hassle of packing and unpacking. Finding a cruise liner with a well-adapted room for Wheelchair use, made it even more attractive.

Would I plan the same cruise if given the chance to redo this holiday? 100%!

I'm already looking at our next cruise.