Cruising Through Spring Break: Our First Cruise Adventure as an Accessible Travel Family

Cruising Through Spring Break: Our First Cruise Adventure as an Accessible Travel Family

Danny’s spring break was approaching, and the travel bug bit us well before the school bell rang for vacation. We had never been on a cruise before, so we figured—why not? Planning started late 2024, and by some stroke of luck (or travel magic), we found a cruise with one room left for the exact dates we needed. Challenge accepted!

I booked our go-to dog and house sitter, nailed down the flights (more on that rollercoaster later), and started researching accessible excursions. That’s when we discovered Disabled Accessible Travel—and wow, what a game changer. They customized an entire itinerary around our cruise ports, complete with top-notch drivers and guides who met us at the port, shared the history and culture of each destination, and made the whole experience smooth, informative, and enjoyable.

Cruising the Adriatic on the MSC Opera

We started our journey in Venice, Italy, and used Transferro to get from the airport to the cruise terminal. Their vans didn’t have lifts but fit Danny’s chair with the Firefly scooter attachment and all our luggage just fine. Spoiler: we ended up using Transferro multiple times because they were just that good.

Once aboard the MSC Opera, we were at sea for a day and a half before docking in Dubrovnik, Croatia. There, we met our amazing guide Silvija for an eight-hour adventure through the Valley of Konavle, Cavtat, Dubrovnik Old Town, Church of St. Blaise, Sponza Palace, and the Cathedral of Assumption. The Firefly scooter attachment saved us on those cobbled streets.

We did hit a snag—my charger wasn’t charging the scooter battery correctly. So I started pushing Danny when needed and made sure to conserve power where we could. Lesson learned: double-check the charger!

Next stop was Corfu, Greece, where we spent four hours with our guide Yiannis, another great experience. Then came Kotor, Montenegro, where we met Marijana for a six-hour excursion that went beyond our original itinerary. She truly went above and beyond to show us hidden gems, avoiding cruise crowds thanks to her insider knowledge.

I can’t recommend Disabled Accessible Travel enough if you're heading to Europe and traveling with a wheelchair. Every van was a brand-new Mercedes with lifts, comfy seats, and knowledgeable, kind drivers and guides. They made this trip what it was—amazing.

Flight Fiascos and Unexpected Train Adventures

Now… about the travel part. I booked flights through Priceline with a combo of United and Swiss Airlines—what seemed like the best option to get us to the cruise on time and back with a buffer day before Danny returned to work.

Well, Swiss canceled our return flight, and it took two weeks of bouncing between Priceline, United, and Swiss to sort it out. Or so I thought.

We flew from San Diego to Newark with United, then onward to Venice. No hiccups there. Transferro picked us up, we dropped off luggage at the port, and boarded the ship after a 20+ hour journey. Again, the scooter saved the day—boarding ramps were no joke.

Later that evening, we noticed Danny’s luggage was missing. Turns out it was confiscated. I had to go to a separate part of the ship and open the bag in front of an engineer who asked why we had “working tools” on board. I explained they were essential to fix Danny’s wheelchair after airlines manhandle it. The “tools”? A set of Allen wrenches. Thankfully, they let us keep them. Crisis averted.

Besides that and only having one working elevator on the ship, the cruise experience was solid.

A Beautiful Detour: From Bari to Zurich by Train

As the cruise wrapped up in Bari, Italy, I had an idea: instead of flying with a massive layover and doing airport limbo, why not take a train?

We showed up at Bari Centrale without tickets (I know, bold move), but thanks to Sola Blu, we got assistance and secured spots. We trained up the Italian coast to Milan, then transferred to a train that took us through the Swiss Alps at sunset to Zurich. Absolutely breathtaking. And hands down, so much better than flying.

If you’re traveling in Europe with mobility needs, take the train. Trust me. We’re doing that from now on.

We already had a hotel booked in Zurich. Word of advice: if you're using Uber in Zurich and traveling with a wheelchair, always book an Uber XL Van. Our “XL” arrived in a Prius… that didn’t go well.

The Return Home: Stress, Sweat, and Swiss Airlines

Our return flight was… something else. We got to Zurich Airport three hours early, but Swiss Airlines gave us the ultimate runaround. For 2.5 hours, we were bounced from counter to counter—“No reservation,” “flight not confirmed,” “wheelchair battery issues.” It was chaos.

Danny, frustrated and rightfully upset, shouted about being discriminated against and looked at differently for being in a chair. Eventually, boarding passes were printed, and we were told the battery had to stay with us—despite being told earlier it needed to be checked with the chair.

Whatever. At that point, we just wanted to board. We made it to the gate with zero time to grab snacks or use the restroom. As we got settled, a guy in a hi-vis vest found us holding the battery, saying we needed to carry it with us. We already knew—but clearly, the memo hadn’t reached everyone.

We landed in Chicago, flew back to San Diego, and found the wheelchair brakes all messed up from handling. A few adjustments later, we were back in business.

Final Thoughts

Despite some challenges—especially with air travel—we had a truly unforgettable trip. Cruising was a first for us, and we’re glad we did it. The accessible travel company made all the difference, the scooter was a game-changer, and the train ride through Europe? Magical.

Have you experienced similar travel hiccups while flying with mobility equipment? I’d love to hear your stories and tips—let’s help each other navigate this world a little easier.