My Historic Towns of the Rhine Cruise

Winter 2011: Sheila Webb, Coordinator of CRASH (Canterbury RA Self Help Group) NRAS Group

I spent a wonderful week in September 2011 on a 'Historic Towns of the Rhine Cruise' organised by a specialist holiday company, Accessible Travel and Leisure.

The holiday was tailor-made for those with mobility issues. Using a comfortable air-conditioned coach, provided by Flanagan's of Cheshire and specially designed to take wheelchairs and mobility scooters, we travelled via the Eurotunnel shuttle to Germany. In Düsseldorf, we boarded the MS Alegria ('happiness' in Spanish) and set sail up the Rhine to Cologne.

The MS Alegria was a former Dutch hospital cruise ship designed to accommodate patients in a barrier-free environment. All areas were very well laid out and accessible by lifts and ramps, even the sun deck! The MS Alegria has been attractively refurbished with a new lounge, dining room, bar and library. The captain was a friendly Dutchman who allowed a few of us into the wheelhouse to experience navigating the Rhine! Travelling upstream, we moored at Cologne, Koblenz, Boppard and Rudesheim with a choice of guided visits, wine tasting and free time.

We then floated downstream enjoying the vineyards and famous castles of the Rhine gorge and the swirling waters by the legendary rock of Loreley. The crew and Accessible Travel staff were very attentive and ensured that we were all well looked after. On each visit ashore there was detailed information on the accessibility of  the places of interest. I took my Brompton folding bike and enjoyed several bike rides on the excellent Rhine cycle path. My Klapp Rad (folding bike) was a good way of getting some gentle exercise, which helps to keep my RA at bay, while building an appetite for our German chef's excellent cooking.

One of the evening highlights was a classical music trio, La Strada, which entertained us with a brilliant concert on board. The Captain's dinner of five courses featured freshly baked Alaska desserts illuminated with candles!

There was ample time to relax, read, chat to fellow passengers and enjoy watching the barges, the vineyards and colourful German and Dutch towns as we floated past in the September sunshine.

It reminded me of a long-distance bike ride by the Rhine from Rotterdam to Lake Constance, en route to Italy with my youngest daughter, Sarah, in 2002.

On board, I had time to crochet a baby blanket for my imminent grandson before arriving at our destination in Rotterdam, welcomed by the stunning Erasmus Bridge, glittering in the night sky.
Our friendly coach driver returned us to Calais, to be shuttled safely back to Britain, after an excellent week's holiday.

The next Accessible Travel and Leisure cruise on the MS Alegria will visit the Dutch bulb fields in April 2012.

NRAS Members are offered a 4% discount on the cost of the cruise and a donation of 1% is made to the charities by Accessible Travel and Leisure. I would thoroughly recommend this holiday.

Email:  info@accessibletravel.co.uk
Tel no: 01452 729739

www.accessibletravel.co.uk