Vacation ideas for after knee replacement (some mobility issues)

[5lilfish]

My husband had both of his knees replaced last year. He is recovered back to good day-t0-day form and no longer in the pain that he was in before surgery. We are a family that loves to travel and we are looking for our next adventure. We're big cruisers and obviously Disney people. We also have 5 kids, 21, 20, 18, 11 and 11. They're all great travelers too.

I need some ideas on where we can go that allows us to be a bit adventuresome but also allows my husband to pick and choose what he is comfortable doing. He can walk, but when we go to Disneyworld he uses a cart simply because of the amount of walking and the pace. Group travel (like tours) make me a little nervous because I don't want him to feel pressured to keep up at a fast pace. At the same time, we do enjoy active excursions...on a cruise my husband will come if he can or do something else for a few hours if he can't (often with our oldest who isn't quite as adventuresome as the other 4).

Any thoughts on places that are either very good for those with mobility issues. I'd like him to be included in as much as possible but it is ok if there are things some of us can do something and my husband would be someplace where he could still enjoy himself for the few hours we are off and running.

We'd like to venture away from US and the Caribbean (love both but done a lot of that). Places that have crept into conversation are Med Cruise, Paris (Disney there too), Galapagos, Greece, Hawaii (land and sea), China. We are pretty open to ideas and enjoy a variety of things. We can travel in August after Christmas.

Thanks,
Jess

 

[Christine]

I'm sorry I can't be helpful. My parents are facing this also with my dad's arthritis in his ankle. They always thought they would travel to Europe in retirement but everything they have looked at (and everything we've heard) talks about TONS of walking. I think many of these destinations are also not "handicapped" friendly. I just saw the pictures of my friend's trip to Santorini and a few places in Greece and I think it would be tough with mobility issues.

The only other option I can think of is those River Cruises in Europe. While the touring is still a lot of walking, I think you do have the ability to get to the boat easily. A lot of older people do those cruises because I *think* the walking may be less.

 

[5lilfish]

I'm sorry I can't be helpful. My parents are facing this also with my dad's arthritis in his ankle. They always thought they would travel to Europe in retirement but everything they have looked at (and everything we've heard) talks about TONS of walking. I think many of these destinations are also not "handicapped" friendly. I just saw the pictures of my friend's trip to Santorini and a few places in Greece and I think it would be tough with mobility issues.

The only other option I can think of is those River Cruises in Europe. While the touring is still a lot of walking, I think you do have the ability to get to the boat easily. A lot of older people do those cruises because I *think* the walking may be less.

Thanks… It is tough. Walking itself isn't necessarily and issue If we can go at our own pace and IF there are places to sit along the way. If my husband can use a cart, that'd be a bonus, but he can walk...just don't want him to feel pressured to keep up with a group tour. My 18 year old and I did a Gate 1 trip to S. Africa. It was amazing. A lot of what we did, my husband could have done, but the pace of the group/tour moving around would not have been good for my husband.

 

[Christine]

Thanks… It is tough. Walking itself isn't necessarily and issue If we can go at our own pace and IF there are places to sit along the way. If my husband can use a cart, that'd be a bonus, but he can walk...just don't want him to feel pressured to keep up with a group tour. My 18 year old and I did a Gate 1 trip to S. Africa. It was amazing. A lot of what we did, my husband could have done, but the pace of the group/tour moving around would not have been good for my husband.

That's exactly my dad's problem. He can walk, albeit he is slower than everyone and at the end of the day, he is hurting.

On our last trip to Disney, he did not rent a scooter on our Universal Day. He did walk all day and we did have to slow down for him and sit here and there, but at the end of the day he was feeling it. He was pretty glad to have the ECV on the remainder of the trip, but he did walk where he could (Disney Springs or late night quick visits back to Animal Kingdom).

I guess if they could find a tour group that was slow it would work.

 

[tcufrog]

I agree that Europe isn’t handicapped friendly. Think lots of walking, stairs and standing plus it’s really difficult to drive and park in many popular tourist areas. A lot of the historic sites are even worse for the disabled.

I had knee surgery last fall and we went to the UK this summer for a month. There were many places where I struggled after months of physical therapy and I was in pretty good physical shape before my injury because I worked out at the gym every week. A lot of the historic sites had old uneven stairs which didn’t have a railing. A lot of places including the subway had stairs instead of ramps, elevators or escalators that would have been handicapped accessible at home because of the ADA. We rented a car for part of the trip. At some of the cities we had to park on the outskirts of town and either walk or take public transit in town.

At the advice of my doctor I took a short knee brace, prescription strength pain meds and a gel ice pack which I could only use when we stayed at apartments. I also took an ice pack you filled with ice but it was useless because none of the hotels had ice machines.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bilateral knee replacement three and a half years ago, and we did an EBTA on DCL May 2017, and partial Panama Canal cruise on Princess this January.

I did find tours I could enjoy in England ( Portsmouth and Dover) Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Iceland, Panama, Columbia and Grand Cayman. On cruises our group does split up according to interest and abilities.

We are heading to Hawaii later this month. We are taking RCCL from Vancouver. There are plenty of variety in the shore excursions in Maui, The Big Island and Kauai! We are staying in Aulani for a week.

I see Hawaii is on your list, and I think that’s a great idea.

I have been to Greece years ago, and that involved lots of walking.

I will use a cane on the excursions.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm sorry I can't be helpful. My parents are facing this also with my dad's arthritis in his ankle. They always thought they would travel to Europe in retirement but everything they have looked at (and everything we've heard) talks about TONS of walking. I think many of these destinations are also not "handicapped" friendly. I just saw the pictures of my friend's trip to Santorini and a few places in Greece and I think it would be tough with mobility issues.

The only other option I can think of is those River Cruises in Europe. While the touring is still a lot of walking, I think you do have the ability to get to the boat easily. A lot of older people do those cruises because I *think* the walking may be less.

I've done a river cruise. There are mostly older, retired types on those, since they are more pricey and the time involved in the trip requires the ability to commit to longer trips.

As to the "walking may be less", not necessarily. Every port stop (pretty much every day) there's usually an included tour. Many times those tours are walking. And on rough, cobblestone type surfaces. But, of course, you're not required to participate, but it's included in the price of the cruise. Many river cruise boats are not particularly accessible. Since they tend to be only 2 or 3 decks, there may or may not be an elevator (small) for those people unable to manage stairs. Plus, if rafted (as river boats often do), you may have to walk across other boats to actually get off your ship. That may require going up to the top deck and over steps to the next boat, and back down to that boat's exit to the dock. Sometimes you may cross up to 3 other boats.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH had both his knees replaced years ago, and has a bad back and ankle. We did a river cruise down the Rhine this summer and our travel agent arranged for a scooter, which was stored below deck when he didn't need it. The ship did have an elevator. This was on AMA Waterways, and when we had to go across other boats we didn't have to do any stairs.

You can also rent travel scooters on land in Europe, which can be delivered to your hotel, and folded down to go in the storage compartment of a bus.

FWIW, Viking doesn't allow electrical scooters.

 

[GreatLakes]

One of my best friend's father had both knees replaced and had no problem at Disney World. He says he feels like he did in his 20's are far as the legs go. I'm not sure how typical or atypical has recovery has been but he seems to have no limitations what so ever. I hope your husband finds the same once his recovery is done.

 

[Jennasis]

DH had a TKR last year in June and we did Universal Studios the following November, and Sea World/Busch Gardens/Discovery Cove the following May and have WDW this December. We take breaks where needed and go at his pace. The thing that challenged him most was water parks and having to go up all the stairs.

 

[5lilfish]

Thanks all...

My husband has done Disney World since his surgeries...a couple times (we just got back). He uses a cart at Disney because it is A LOT of walking and it allows us to move faster. He can and does park the cart as needed/wanted.

I'm looking for ideas on something new and overseas...that would satisfy our need to explore/experience new places/things and be a little adventuresome without my husband being left behind or struggling to keep pace with a 30 person tour group.