Accessible shore-day planning

A good port day starts with the access you need. Plan the entire journey: ship, terminal, transport, attraction and return.

We do not label a port “fully accessible.” Conditions vary by berth, ship, tide, vehicle and route. Every port guide includes port-specific researched access notes, an access checklist and a saved day planner.

Before choosing an excursion

Tell your cruise line what assistance you require for gangways or tenders. Ask about device restrictions and whether assistance must be reserved.
Give the operator your chair or scooter dimensions and weight. Confirm a lift or ramp, securement and whether transferring to a vehicle seat is required.
Request actual walking or rolling distances, steps, gradients and surface types. “Easy” and “suitable for everyone” are not access specifications.
Confirm accessible toilets, seating, shade, rest breaks and an alternative if the planned route becomes unavailable.
Discuss hearing, vision, sensory, cognitive and communication needs. Request written instructions or a quieter pace where helpful.
Get the agreed arrangements in writing and reconfirm before the sailing.

Choose a pace that works for you

For a lower-energy day, ask for one priority stop, a seated break and a prearranged return transfer. A private guide may allow flexibility, but access and availability still need confirmation.

Discuss my shore-day needs Choose a port and save a checklist

Using this website

Use the skip link to reach the content, Tab to move between controls and Enter or Space to activate buttons. The site respects reduced motion and browser text zoom. Save plans locally or print them from a port page. If a page or control creates a barrier, email accessibility feedback.

Do not include medical records in saved notes or email. Describe the assistance you need instead. Local plans are stored in this browser and can be cleared with the Clear saved plan button.

Find the access notes for your port

All 269 port guides now include distinct researched access notes. Each guide separates documented features and barriers from arrangements that still need confirmation. A named accessible excursion applies to that operator’s version of the tour; a standard tour with a similar name may use different vehicles or stops.

How to read these findings

Sources include port and public-land authorities, tourism organizations, attraction operators and excursion providers. Statements describe the particular entrance, route, vessel or tour identified by the source. Planning suggestions are our interpretation of those findings, not a booked or guaranteed itinerary. Published information was reviewed October 17, 2026.

Partial access can mean accessible galleries with other floors reached only by stairs, an adapted park route that omits features, or a vehicle requiring a seat transfer. A loan wheelchair does not establish that every part of a venue is accessible. Check scooter rules separately and give the operator your occupied device’s dimensions and weight.

Further reading: Cruise Ports’ wheelchair-friendly port guide. Its whole-journey approach is useful; the individual sources linked in our port guides support our specific findings.