Best Rome Accessible Cruise Vacations
By John Sage
Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway, or an extended vacation, an accessible Mediterranean from Rome is a great way to see some of Europe’s finest cities, experience fantastic accessible shore excursions, and relax knowing your cruise ship is waiting to take you to your next destination!
There are so many wonderful things to see in the Eternal City, so start your accessible cruise vacation in Rome and arrive early to spend a couple of extra days and see everything at your own pace!
#35 – Rome + 11 night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise
This 11-Night Cruise on the Celebrity Reflection is my top pick from Rome because accessible van excursions are available in every port! With two ports of call in Italy, two ports of call in Turkey, and three ports of call in Greece, you’ll get to experience a variety of sights and cultures. Many cruises only visit Santorini OR Mykonos…this one visits both amazing Greek islands!
- Civitavecchia (Rome) – Because this cruise starts in Civitavecchia, you’ll have the opportunity to spend a few days exploring Rome before your cruise…no need to try to see everything in the Eternal City in a one-day shore excursion! You can marvel at artwork in the Sistine Chapel, Borghese Gallery, and Capitoline Museums. You can view Renaissance and Baroque architecture at the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Basilica of the St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. You can take a trip through history with a guided tour of the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. Or you can sit back and enjoy Italian food and wine in scenic piazzas like Campo de Fiori and Piazza Navona!
- Santorini – The eruption of this volcano 3600 years ago may have possibly prompted the legend of Atlantis. What it definitely did is create the most picturesque of the Greek Islands (shown in the photo above on the right). You know that famous blue domed church you’ve seen in travel pictures your entire life? This is where it’s located. Be sure that your travel agent can advise you on accessibility of the cruise tenders, the two ports, the donkey path, and the cable car…otherwise you might miss this spectacular destination!
- Istanbul (2 Days) – With two days in Istanbul, you won’t have to miss sights like the Basilica Cistern & National Archaeological Museum…plus you can have an authentic Turkish dinner onshore! With skip the line access provided by some guided tours, you may be able to hop in and hop out of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. On the flip side, plan on spending at least 4 hours at the extensive royal, religious, and historical exhibits inside the Topkapi Palace.
- Kusadasi (Ephesus) – See the description in Accessible Vacation #32
- Mykonos – See the description in Accessible Vacation #32
- Athens – See the description in Accessible Vacation #32
- Naples – See the description in Accessible Vacation #32
- Civitavecchia – Your accessible Roman cruise vacation will end back where you started. If you have an early flight you can go straight to the airport. If you have a few available hours, you can visit Ostia Antica on the way to the airport. It’s the ancient Roman port…it’s like Pompeii but with fewer hills and without the tourist crowds!
#36 – Rome + 7 night Western Mediterranean Cruise
This is the same cruise as Accessible Vacation #33, but you’ll visit Rome instead of Barcelona before your cruise. You’ll be able to give Rome the attention it deserves…I recommend at least 4 days for first-time visitors. With the help of my 100+ Sage Accessibility Guide for Rome, you’ll have a much easier time navigating the hills, cobblestones, and inaccessible buildings in Rome.
#37 – Rome + 10 night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise in Winter Months
Most cruise ships spend their winter months in the Caribbean. The Norwegian Jade cruise ship is an exception as it stays in the Mediterranean during the winter. This 10 night accessible cruise vacation from Rome visits Civitavecchia, Katakolon, Piraeus, Izmir (Ephesus), Istanbul (2 Days), Naples, and Civitavecchia.
Most of these ports are described in Accessible Vacation #35 above. The one exception is the Greek port of Katakolon which is the gateway tothe UNESCO World Heritage site of Olympia. The first Olympic games were held here in 776 BC, and you can still visit the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, the 45,000 person stadium, the Ruins of the Philippeion (shown in the photo on the right), and much more.
If you want to spend Christmas in Rome, be sure to book super early…at least a year in advance!
#38 – Istanbul + 7 night Ancient Ruins Cruise
With this single 7 night Celebrity Eastern Med cruise, you get to visit four of the greatest ancient ruins in Europe! You’ll start in Istanbul where the Hagia Sophia is the largest remaining Christian church from antiquity. In Athens, the Parthenon is one of the best-recognized ancient ruins in the world (shown in the photo on the right) and with a reservation in advance, disabled visitors can use the elevator. Pompeii (and especially neighboring Herculaneum) provide disabled cruisers stopping in Naples the opportunities to view Roman life frozen in time since 79 AD. And you finish in Rome, where you’ll be able to visit the Colosseum, the ancient port of Ostia Antica, and the Roman Forum.
Along the way, you’ll also get to visit the charming Greek island of Mykonos, the fortifications built by the Knights of the Order of St. John on the island of Malta, and the most active volcano in Europe, Mt. Etna. On top of it all, you’ll be on the Celebrity Equinox which has the highest passenger approval rating of any cruise ship!!
Learn more about the Top 50 Awesome Accessible European Vacations:
1-6: London & Paris
7-11: The Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and more)
12-14: Baltic Cruises
16-22: Italy
23-25: Mediterranean Riviera
26-27: Ancient Civilizations
28-31: Europe-wide Vacations
32-34: Mediterranean Cruises from Barcelona
35-38: Mediterranean Cruises from Rome and Istanbul
39-43: Mediterranean Cruises from Venice
44-45: 3 to 4 Week Mediterranean Cruises
46-50: Luxury Mediterranean Cruises