A review of P&O Cruises Arcadia

Cruising With a Mobility Scooter

by Alan Fairfax

Alan Fairfax says, “As you age, so in many cases your mobility decreases, but don’t let that put you off holidays especially cruises”. Alan has just completed his first cruise with “Sammy” his mobility scooter. Was it a good experience and would he do it again, read on to find out.

With the sun shining the taxi delivers me together with suitcase and “Sammy” to the Mayflower Terminal Southampton for 16 days cruising the UK aboard P&O Arcadia. Being the first trip with Sammy I was apprehensive but as it turned out I had no reason to be. Suitcase taken by staff who direct me to a special check-in area, then on through security, into a lift up to the boarding walkways and onto the ship. Next stop, my muster station to be registered and then to adapted cabin D137 on deck 5. With the kindness and professionalism of port and ships staff I don’t think in over 30 years of cruising I have experienced an easier embarkation.

The adapted cabin is well designed. Bathroom with spacious shower equipped with seat and rails that was easy to use, large balcony, slopes on either side of the sliding door allowing easy access for Sammy, the settee replaced with table and two comfortable chairs, and window blinds controlled with a switch by the bed. The only downside as a solo was opening the cabin door and keeping it open whilst trying to enter or leave on Sammy. However with some practice, I developed a way to do it.

Case delivered, unpacked, time to attend the sail away party at the Aquarius Pool area on deck 9 and enjoy a glass of “Fizz” as we move away from the terminal and make our way along Southampton Water to our first port of call in 2 days’ time, Cobh, Eire.

The following day is a sea day and time to explore the ship. First stop, the Crow’s Nest on deck 10 for the first Solo’s Meet, 31 attend of which only 3 are males, tea, coffee, shortbread biscuits were supplied and now a chance to meet other solo travellers. I am starting to appreciate Sammy as it is so easy to go from one end of the ship to the other without any problems. Passengers and staff alike are kind and considerate, holding doors etc when needed. It is also our first ‘Black Tie’ night. I am on a large table with 6 other guests. The food is well presented and tasty, a lovely change from cooking for myself.

Arriving in Cobh most passengers go ashore, and the ship uses a special gangway for scooters etc., again the staff are excellent. Cobh is an island with bridge links to Cork and became known as the last port for Titanic. A coach takes us on a tour of Cork, a beautiful city founded by Saint Finbar in the sixth century which has now grown to be the second largest city in Eire. Travelling on we visit the seaside town of Kinsale marking the start of the famous Wild Atlantic Way before returning to the ship.

The following morning time to try breakfast in the Belvedere Buffet on deck 9. After selecting my food a waiter appears, takes my food and leads me to an area reserved for those disabled. This is his sole function, to help the disabled, his apron reads “Can I help you”. If only all ships did this. We are berthed in Holyhead a town on Holy Island connected to the Isle of Anglesey which in turn is connected to the mainland of Wales. Many go on tours, but I decide to stay on board and enjoy the sunshine. 6pm, we set sail for our next port of call, Killybegs in County Donegal. The next day, a sea day and the weather has changed, wind has increased, rain has arrived and the temperature has dropped.

Arriving in Killybegs the rain is still falling and the wind has increased, not a good day to go scooter riding or on tour. From the ship can be seen many large fishing boats which help to make this Irelands largest fishing port. Situated on the famous Wild Atlantic Way it’s a port that can give shelter to shipping in very rough Atlantic weather. Early evening we set our course across the top of Ireland and head east to Kirkwall, Orkney.

Arrival in Kirkwall is greeted with overcast skies and a chilly 9c. A must visit is the site of the Italian Chapel. Built by 550 Italian prisoners of war brought to Orkney to help construct the Churchill Barriers who asked for a place to worship. They were given two Nissen Huts joined end-to-end and turned them into a beautiful chapel. The interior decoration, the frontage of concrete conceaing the huts shape, light holders made from corned beef tins and the font made from a car exhaust covered in concrete all made by the prisoners. Shortly before the war ended the prisoners were released but one, Chiocchetti, remained on the island to finish decorating the newly consecrated chapel.

Back in Kirkwall, St. Magnus Cathedral, Britain’s most northerly cathedral is not owned by any church but by the people of Kirkwall. The interior is magnificent with its ornate ceiling, wood carved pulpit, alter with miniature Viking long boat, flags and so much more. As we sail from Kirkwall the pipes and drums of the Kirkwall City Pipe Band play us away. A fitting way to say goodbye as we head to our next port of call, Lerwick.

Lerwick, capital of the Shetlands, a delightful town overlooked by rolling green hills where sunrise at the time of our visit was 3.51am and sunset not until 10.15pm, however we saw neither due to overcast skies. The Shetlands are the most northerly place in the UK situated further north than the capitals of Norway and Sweden

2 days later we arrive in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. On a coach tour with other solos, we discover the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris, occupy the same island. The southern part is Harris, famous for its Harris Tweed, the area is mountainous with lochs and glens and home to the Golden Eagle, Red Deer and Seals whilst Lewis covering the northern area is more fertile, home to the capital Stornoway, and boasts some of the most beautiful silver sand beaches in the world.

Next day is spent sailing the islands. The sun has arrived to make the area appear as a huge picture postcard as we sail towards mainland Scotland and Greenock.

Greenock boasts a new cruise terminal on the Clyde only 25 miles from Glasgow. Within easy reach are many famous venues, Stirling Castle dating back to the early 12^th century, Loch Lomond, Inverary Castle, Port Glasgow where they still build ships and of course the famous city of Glasgow.

Next day is Belfast. A tour of this magnificent city begins in the dock area with memories of Titanic, on through the city centre, areas where murals adorn the walls and finishing in McHugh’s pub with a display of Irish dancing made famous by Riverdance and of course, a pint of Guinness.

Today is the final port of call, Liverpool a city I always enjoy visiting and the sun has come out to greet us. Being the home of the Beetles ‘The Beatles Tour’ seems the obvious tour to do. Starting on the waterfront at the large statues of the famous four, it’s on to Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields followed by the childhood homes of Paul and John and other locations depicted in their chart busting songs of the 60’s. Back to Liverpool centre and Mathew Street, known as the cities ‘Cavern Quarter’, home of the ‘Mersey Sound’, sporting a beautiful statue of Cilla Black, location of The Cavern Club, Sgt Peppers, Liverpool’s Wall of Fame showing the No.1 hit records by Liverpool artists before travelling on to the ‘Beatles Museum’. Don the head set and listen to the commentary as you walk amongst studios, pictures, various sets and a mock-up of the Yellow Submarine, this is stepping back in time, certainly back to my teenage years. The following day is a sea day before arriving back at Southampton.

So, what was it like travelling with “Sammy the Scooter’, in a word, brilliant. Disembarking and embarking at ports was in fact easier than being an able bodied passenger as the ships staff took such good care of me. In Liverpool there is even a shuttle that loads you and your scooter/wheelchair into the vehicle and delivers/collects you from the exit of the visitor centre free of charge. Folding scooters are not a problem for tour coaches and coach drivers were always willing to assist.

At meal times you leave your scooter at the entrance to the MDR, on Arcadia at the buffet you have special tables near the entrance. The Palladium Theatre at the front of the ship has a reserved area for scooters and wheelchairs. If you enjoy good food, service and great entertainment and you are a scooter user like myself, don’t worry, go cruising and enjoy the experience, I did.

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