ragout

Dear Fodorites, You have always steered me in the right direction so keeping my fingers crossed that you can assist us again. We are planning a cruise in May around the British Isles May 14- 24.

My husband is mobility challenged. He can walk a few steps - say a city block, and a few stairs. Can get in and out of a plane/bus/car with no problem. Is otherwise healthy.

Our cruise stops in the following places: Plymouth, UK; Fishguard, Wales; Dublin; Belfast; Kirkwall UK; Newhaven (Edinburgh); Newcastle; UK . Looking at the available ships tours on offer we are contemplating getting our own car and driver for these stops so we can be a bit more mobile and can maybe go places a bus cannot.

Do you have any suggestions - say “Must see” in these towns? (Dublin will have friends caring for us)
But we have no plans for other places and of course Edinburgh will be a favorite stop!
Any suggestions, dining , sights that you feel are must see would be appreciated.

Trust you are all doing well. This is our first travel since COVID so it seems like it a big step!
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

janisj

Just very quick -- I suggest you bring a rollator whether you book the ship's excursions or private driver/guides. That way your DH can sit and pause a while - something like this https://www.your-medical-store.com/s...4aAnaCEALw_wcB

Unfortunately -- Edinburgh wil be one of the most difficult ports of call fo mobility challenged visitors. There will likely be more than a few passengers with similar capabilities as your husband so some of the ship's offerings may take that into account.

The Orkney tourist office lists all sorts of scheduled and private tours https://www.orkney.com/plan/tours

Seamus

ditto on janisj's rollator recommendation. On our recent London/Dublin jaunt we rented rollators for DH who has mobility issues and could not have done without them. If you already own one that is amenable to bringing with you, do so, but know that local rentals are easy. It may not be something available at every cruise stop, as the sources we looked at all required a one week minimum rental, but if you're spending several days in Dublin it's worth looking into. We booked through www.mobilityhire.ie/ and were absolutely delighted with them. You might want to inquire with your cruise line if they have something available in the way of rollators while you are visiting your ports of call.

ragout

Janis, Thank you for your speedy and helpful reply .
So very helpful, Will check with the cruise line to see if they have rollators for clients use. A very good idea
The Orkney link is wonderful. Most appreciated.
Will let you know how we do so you can pass onto others when I have a response.
Your help is so appreciated.

ragout

Seamus,

Thank you for these helpful suggestions.

Will check with cruise line and if not available will see if we can rent one in Southhampton where we are departing from and returning to.

Were you flying on your London/Dublin jaunt? Curious to find out how airplanes handle a rollator. Carefully or not?

Cheers and thanks for the great tips.

Seamus

ragout - never checked the rollator, have a great collapsible walker for use traveling including on the plane. It's made by Able Life and the flight attendants love it since it squeezes to fit down narrow plane aisles and folds up to fit in the overhead. They also make a similar product in a rollator that looks pretty cool. We purchased through Amazon IIRC.
The rollator at home is much heaver and not so collapsible so we have never checked taken it as checked baggage. No personal experience but have heard some negative things about damage en route. That's why we just rented locally in London and Dublin. Many museums have wheelchairs available, but having the rollator as an on demand seat was great in other places like department stores.

bilboburgler

Newcastle is based at two levels, new stuff down by the river which is great and way up on the top. Clearly don't push up that hill take a taxi.

There is a Grey's monument, who ensured that the Royal Navy closed down the slave trade.

ragout

Thank you Bilboburger
ook forward to checking out Newcastle Taxi it will be

Good for Grey. He must. Have been progressive!