Just back from a 2 week Med cruise. I have MS and can walk a bit but used an electric scooter on board mainly due to size of ship. WARNING-Some people were told that electric scooters were not allowed on board and had to use wheelchairs which limited their freedom on board and on shore excursions. All areas of ship were accessable and crew were helpful. Ship was clean, staff very helpful, food mainly excellent, shows OK. Mainly no problems getting sunbeds and getting off ship easy and well organised. Going ashore using was easy. Shuttle buses were at most ports which had storeage space for scooter/wheelchairs to take into towns.
Ports visited and ease of access:
Playa de Rocha - Portugal: Tender to get ashore. Smooth ride along front but town mainly cobbled streets so uncomfortable to get about. So didnt try and just had coffee on front for couple of hours.
Lisbon Portugal: Took escorted coach journey round city which is very big. However tour buses have disabled access and powered ramps to allow scooters/wheelchairs to get aboard similar to Barcelona. Pavements look smooth and easy to ride on with good access to cross roads so I would say its an easy town to visit. How easy access to buildings is I dont know as the coach didnt stop in the city.
Vigo-Spain: Streets leading off port road into town very steep with lots of steps but we found a steep ramp to get into town and once in its easy to get about. Again we just cruised the streets and shops and didn't try and visit any public buildings. Using scooter up the ramp was OK but it would be a struggle to push a wheelchair up and down this ramp as it must have been nearly 45% incline.
Barcelona Spain. Lots of posts about this town elsewhere so no need to repeat.
Gibralter: Easy to get about, smooth pavements. Kerbs a bit steep in places but cars stop for you at zebra crossings. However couldnt use cablecar to get to top of mountain as it didnt take a scooter. Difficult to find tropical gardens so didnt have time to visit it but I was told there are some steps.
Citaveccia Italy. Easy town to get around with nice sea front and beach. Worth visiting if you dobnt want to go into Rome. Didnt try to get into buildings as most seemed to have steps.
Villefranch - France: Tender needed but no problem getting ashore. Toown very cobbly and uncomfortable using scooter with some pavements having no cutdowns. Took coach tour up the Corniches. Wonderful views. Nice looks very easy to navigate as pavements slope down to road and lots of flat walks.
That`s really interesting. You must have had a really great time. It`s my dream to go on a cruise. I have heard that some ships don`t allow mobility scooters and I`m interested to know how you managed to take yours. Who did you book with? We had 2 short breaks this year in the UK and 2 weeks in Spain and having used the scooter in the UK breaks I really missed it in Spain. Jet2 don`t allow them. Incidently, neither do some of the rail companies. They maintain that in the event of an incident they are difficult to move, which is ridiculous because they have a lever to disengage the motor so can be easily moved! I have only had my scooter since May and it has certainly changed my life by giving me a lot more independance and given my husband a break from constantly having to push me around. I will show him your posting to let him know that a cruise is possible for us. Thanks very much 
Hi Jax:
I have had to use a scooter for the past few years. I have been to Spain, Cyprus and 4 cruises with it and never had a problem. The only stipulation has been that on airplanes the batterys are dry cell types. Mine is a Whispa so its small and light and maybe there could be resistance to the large scooters. You have to keep pressing and dont take no for an answer or find airlines and cruises that allow scooters. I suppose it must be annoying if say Royal Carribean say scooters are not allowed, which is what they told a couple of people on the cruise, when they do allow them and their hand book in the cabin says they do if it is for medical reasons.
I don't know who we booked with for the latest cruise, my wife tends to do all that stuff but I will ask and let you know. I will also ask which airlines we used.
We have cruised with Fred Olsen, P&O and Costa Cruises as well and taken it on all the ships.
Good luck and keep trying.
I have had to use a scooter for the past few years. I have been to Spain, Cyprus and 4 cruises with it and never had a problem. The only stipulation has been that on airplanes the batterys are dry cell types. Mine is a Whispa so its small and light and maybe there could be resistance to the large scooters. You have to keep pressing and dont take no for an answer or find airlines and cruises that allow scooters. I suppose it must be annoying if say Royal Carribean say scooters are not allowed, which is what they told a couple of people on the cruise, when they do allow them and their hand book in the cabin says they do if it is for medical reasons.
I don't know who we booked with for the latest cruise, my wife tends to do all that stuff but I will ask and let you know. I will also ask which airlines we used.
We have cruised with Fred Olsen, P&O and Costa Cruises as well and taken it on all the ships.
Good luck and keep trying.
Hi we cruised on the Legend last year and took a disabled lady with us. We had no problems at all with taking a an electric wheel chair ( we also took a light weight manual one as well) All you need to do is inform RCI before you go. They will probably want to know the size of the chair its weight and what type of batteries it has. We found the Legend very accessible with automatic electric doors on the decks our stateroom was very large with accessible bathroom. We wouldnt hesitate in cruising on this ship again and the lady who went with us is now hooked on cruising and eagerly awaiting her next one . This time on the voyager of the Seas next summer. Pam
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