{"id":442,"date":"2017-09-05T09:59:58","date_gmt":"2017-09-05T13:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spintheglobe.net\/dir\/?p=442"},"modified":"2019-09-06T13:06:20","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T17:06:20","slug":"wheelchair-accessible-river-cruise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spintheglobe.net\/dir\/2017\/09\/05\/wheelchair-accessible-river-cruise\/","title":{"rendered":"My Wheelchair Accessible River Cruises in Holland and Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you think river cruises in Europe<\/a> were off-limits to you as a wheelchair user? Think again! I used to dream about sailing on a river boat somewhere in Europe, and I was disappointed every time I saw the beautiful commercials, knowing I wouldn\u2019t be able to get on or off the boat at ports of call as a power wheelchair user and a person who can\u2019t walk at all. So you can imagine my elation when Accessible Travel Netherlands<\/a> began offering the opportunity to sail on not just one, but two fully accessible river cruise ships through Holland and Germany! I’ve had the good fortune to sail on the Prins Willem Alexander<\/em> twice–once through Holland in April 2017, and once again on the Rhine River in Germany in September 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunset from the PWA’s sun deck in Arnhem, Holland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t your typical river cruise, however. The Prins Willem Alexander<\/em> is classified as a hospital vessel. Every single passenger cabin on the second level is fully wheelchair accessible, with two hospital-style adjustable twin beds, a small desk and chair, a closet, a TV, and a sink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All the doors also have push-button entry from outside and inside, with emergency call buttons and cords throughout. You can lock your door from the inside, but not the outside, and the safes are high up. Here is the full video tour of the ship and my Rhine River cruise experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n