Benefits of Booking Your Accessible Cruise through Sage Traveling

The 6 Benefits of Booking Your
Cruise with Sage Traveling
www.sagetraveling.com/6-benefits-of-booking-your-accessible-cruise-with-us

After visiting 80+ European cities in my wheelchair, I can tell you
that there are many accessibility challenges but they can all be
overcome!
By utilizing our intimate knowledge of European port accessibility, the
accessible travel consultants at Sage Traveling make your trip easier than
you ever thought was possible!
www.sagetraveling.com

Our accessible trip planning services provide you significant benefits:
Benefits of Booking Your Accessible
Cruise through Sage Traveling
Sage
Traveling
1. Cruise Discounts and Promotions only
available to large travel agencies
2. Emergency support during your trip using
an extensive network of local accessibility
experts
3. Pre-trip consultation about accessibility
of destinations
4. Pre-cruise accessible hotel
recommendations based on first-hand
visits and inspection
5. Discounts on accessible shore excursions
6. Sage Accessibility Guides for your Ports of
Call
Another Travel
Agency
Direct with
Cruise Line

Benefit #1 – Cruise Discounts and Promotions
It’s pretty simple…buying in bulk gets you discounts. We have teamed
up with the Cruise Planners organization which is one of the largest
travel agency networks in North America. With Cruise Planners we book
group cruise space far in advance, and the cruise lines give us onboard
credits and other amenities…which we pass onto you! You can not get
these benefits by booking directly with the cruise line!

Benefit #2 – Emergency Support for Accessibility Challenges
We love getting people out a jam….and we’re extraordinarily good at it!
When you book your cruise with us, you get VIP access to our problem
solving specialists. With an extensive network of local accessibility
experts including tour guides, wheelchair repair companies, accessible
van companies, and translators, we are ready to solve any problems that
might arise during your trip. We have solved countless problems for
clients in the past, and we’re ready to do the same for you!

Benefit #2 – Emergency Support for Accessibility Challenges
If you plan the trip yourself, you will have to stop whatever you’re doing
on your trip to try to fix things. If an accessible travel specialist plans
your trip, you’ve got a personal problem-solver in your back pocket!
“I just wanted to thank you for an excellent experience in Paris. The
wheelchair was delivered exactly on time and we’ve been everywhere
with it over the last two days. It has really enabled us to get the most
out of our last few days in Europe.” – Suzanne Read more…

Benefit #3 – Pre-trip Consultation about Destination Accessibility
Accessibility at European cruise ports varies greatly, and our local
accessibility knowledge will help you make all the right decisions.
We have inspected accessibility at cruise ports throughout Europe
including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin (Warnemunde), Bruges,
Brussels, Copenhagen, Genoa, Helsinki, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Livorno,
Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Naples, Nice, Palma de Mallorca,
Paris, Rome (Civitavecchia), Sorrento, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn,
Valencia, and Venice.

Benefit #3 – Pre-trip Consultation about Destination Accessibility
On top of that, we have met with local tour guides from a variety of
additional cruise ports to educate ourselves on accessibility throughout
the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. We can tell you which of the cruise
itineraries are the most accessible! The list of ports that we have visited
increases every year, so contact us to see if your cruise port is on our
schedule!
“Just wanted to write an appreciation to you all for a saint job helping
disabled people around the world. My experience with Donna is so full of
compliments. I can’t thank you enough! Donna is doing all with such an
open heart and with so much willing to help. I wish this email will reach
the right people in this excellent company. Thousands thanks is not
enough for what you all do!!” – Shlomo Read more…

Q: What accessibility obstacles will I encounter on a European
cruise vacation?
Accessibility obstacles can pop up anywhere: onboard the ship with a non-wheelchair
friendly pool, on the cruise tender into port, and especially
when you get onto shore!
Cruising can involve steps to get off the ship, steps to get onto the tender, and steps
to get onto the excursion bus.
The ruins at Pompeii, the sand in Mykonos, the cobblestones in Rome, the bridges
in Venice, the hills in Istanbul, and the stairs at the Acropolis are just a few of the
accessibility challenges that come with European cruise travel.
With Sage Traveling, you’ll learn where the accessibility obstacles are located in each port so you
can easily navigate your way around them!

Q: How does Sage Traveling help me choose the best cruise
itinerary?
We help you choose your cruise according to the most important criteria
for an accessible cruise. Choose the wrong itinerary and you’ll say “I
stayed on the cruise ship in half of the ports”. Choose the right itinerary
and you’ll wake up every morning excited for the new accessible
excursion awaiting you!
Which of these itineraries is best for accessible cruising?
Our knowledge of both European accessible travel and cruise port accessibility will
ensure that you pick the perfect handicap accessible cruise for YOU!
Cruising with a disability doesn’t have to be stressful, frustrating, or disappointing. You just have
to utilize the expertise of people who specialize in accessible European travel!

Q: How does Sage Traveling save me time planning my cruise?
If you really want to plan a truly accessible cruise, the process can be
exhausting. If you plan the trip yourself, you’ll need to:
1) Research accessibility at the cruise ports to figure out which ones meet your
accessibility needs (difficult to do through the internet…even with our cruise
port accessibility reviews which cover many ports)
2) Find handicap accessible cruise excursions in each port
3) Find a cruise sailing that meets your accessibility needs, itinerary
preferences, date availability, and price range
4) Figure out which cruise cabin to book
5) Research accessibility at your arrival airport
6) Figure out how you are going to get from the airport into the city
7) Find a truly accessible hotel that is centrally located
8) Figure out what are the accessible attractions in your embarkation city
9) Book transportation to the cruise dock.

If you plan the cruise yourself, you can count of spending 5 hours per
port researching accessibility, 5 hours researching cruise itineraries and
dates, and 10 hours researching accessibility of hotels, tours, and
transportation in your embarkation city. On a 7 port cruise, that’s 50
hours of accessibility research. EXHAUSTING!!!
Fortunately we love taking all the necessary steps to plan an accessible
cruise. We can’t wait to hear that you had a great vacation!
“Thank you so much for providing this service,
without it I don’t think we could have
undertaken such an adventure.” – Kara
Read more…

Q: How does Sage Traveling save me money on my cruise?
There is no cheaper way to cruise with a disability than our handicap
accessible cruise packages.We save you money in 4 ways:
1) We save you money by researching the various cruise lines, itineraries, and
dates to find the perfect cruise sailing for you. There’s no need to overpay by
booking a crowded ship when another less crowded ship has lower prices.
2) We save you money by giving you discounts on accessible cruise excursions. By
booking an Accessible Cruise & Excursion Package, you’ll get 50 euro off each
shore excursion (up to 150 euro off your entire trip).
3) We save you money by giving you discounts on pre/post-cruise packages. Many
cruises depart from fascinating cities and are worth spending a few nights
exploring before or after your trip. We waive our normal trip planning fee in
Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, London, Rome, and Venice among other places.
4) We save you money by giving you advice how to save money in one place so
that you can spend it on a great experience elsewhere. The money-saving
advice we provide is based on years I’ve spent traveling in Europe with a
wheelchair plus planning countless trips for other European disabled travelers.

Q: What if I have questions about my trip?
While planning your handicap accessible cruise, you will have numerous
decisions to make about the multitude of options you have.
For example:
• Which ports should I avoid due to inaccessibility?
• Which ports are best for inexpensive walking tours?
• Which ports are absolutely worth spending the money for a driving tour?
(Tuscany, cough, Tuscany)
• Which ports are worth a full-day excursion? Which ports only need a half-day
excursion?
• Which city should I use for my embarkation port?
• How many days should I spend seeing the accessible sights in my embarkation
port?
Your accessible travel consultant at Sage Traveling will answer all your questions
and use their expertise to help plan the best trip possible. In addition, we’ll advise
you on the questions you haven’t even yet thought to ask!
You’re spending a lot of money on your vacation.
Use our accessible travel consultants to make sure it’s a great experience!

Benefit #4 – Pre-cruise Hotel Recommendations based on First-hand
Accessibility Inspections
We have visited, inspected, and photographed more accessible hotels in
Europe than anyone else. No matter where your cruise departs from,
we’ve got you covered. Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin,
Copenhagen, Istanbul, London, Monte Carlo, Naples, Rome, and
Venice are some of the cities where we can recommend the most
accessible, most centrally-located, and most affordable hotel rooms.
“All of the connections were flawless. The hotels were in perfect
locations. My four friends were very impressed with the transfers,
guides, and hotels. We could go on and on but this was the best trip that
we could ask for. Our next trip planned will definitely be through you.”
– Glenn & Cindy Read more…

Q: What is included in the Sage Traveling pre-cruise accessible
city visit packages?
European cruises depart from some of the top tourist destinations in the
world, and we provide everything you need for an accessible visit to
these cities.
1) An accessible airport transfer will bring you from the airport to your hotel. If
you need a van with a wheelchair ramp we can arrange it, or if you need a
low-height 4 door car we can arrange that too.
2) An accessible hotel that I have personally inspected for accessibility. The hotel
will be located in wheelchair friendly neighborhoods with accessible dining
options nearby.
3) An accessible guided orientation tour of the city
4) My accessibility guide containing dozens of pages of essential accessible travel
tips, reviews, photographs, maps, and contact information (available for Athens,
Barcelona, Istanbul, London, Rome, and Venice)
5) An accessible cruise port transfer will bring you from your hotel to the cruise
terminal

I have personally inspected numerous accessible hotel rooms so that
we can recommend the best hotels in the best neighborhoods.

Benefit #5 – Discounts on Accessible Shore Excursions
Sage Traveling offers more Mediterranean accessible shore excursions
than anyone else in the world.We have worked tirelessly with local
providers to design excursions specifically for disabled cruisers.
We can arrange 200+ accessible shore excursions across 60+ European
ports!
Because the cruise lines pay us a commission, we’re able to offer you
discounts on shore excursions! We give you a discount of €50 off each
shore excursion if you book your cruise with us! (up to €150 per cruise)

Benefit #5 – Discounts on Accessible Shore Excursions
We only provide discounts on accessible shore excursions to clients who
have booked their cruise through us. If you have already booked your
cruise, some cruise lines will allow you to transfer the reservation to our
name within 30-60 days of booking.
Contact us and we will check if we can transfer the reservation.
Otherwise it might be free to cancel and re-book.
“I wanted to let you and Mr. Sage know that we loved our accessible
tour of the Vatican. The tour guide (Viviana) was great….very
knowledgeable and personable and made the entire day a real pleasure.
People often neglect to write when someone does a good job but I
wanted you to know that this guide did a GREAT job. All four of us in our
group were thrilled with her.” – Rick Read more

Q: How does Sage Traveling provide me better accessible shore
excursion experiences?
Shore excursions provided by the cruise lines often don’t meet basic
accessibility needs. In many ports, the cruise lines only use buses with
steps to enter. And if they do offer an accessible excursion, it might just
be a 3 hour driving tour where you don’t even get out of the bus. There
are even some cruise lines don’t allow groups larger than two people to
go on an accessible excursion.
When you book a Sage Traveling handicap accessible cruise package
you’ll be able to choose from the cruise line’s excursions and our
world-class accessible excursions.We can arrange 200+ accessible shore
excursions across 60+ European ports!

Q: How does Sage Traveling provide me better accessible shore
excursion experiences?
During your shore excursions, you will avoid the accessibility challenges
that are not worth the effort and focus on the world-class attractions
that meet your individual abilities. Our shore excursions are proven to
meet the accessibility needs of senior and disabled travelers. Step-free
tour routes? No problem! Short walking distances? Absolutely! Vans
with wheelchair lifts? We’ve got you covered!
We provide wheelchair accessible van excursions at ports throughout
Europe.

Benefit #6 – Sage Accessibility Guides for your Ports of Call
The Sage Accessibility Guides may be the most important (and certainly
the most exclusive) benefit that we provide. NO ONE ELSE has ever
spent the time, effort, and money that we have to put together Port
Accessibility Guides that tell you everything you need to know to make
good decisions about what to see and how to do it. An accessibility map
of the port, an accessibility map of the region, accessibility descriptions
of the tourist attractions, and suggested accessible itineraries are all
provided to you.

Benefit #6 – Sage Accessibility Guides for your Ports of Call
It also includes Do It Yourself advice telling you in which ports you can
skip guided tours and private transportation thereby saving you
money!!!
“On board our ship, I talked with a man from Ontario who uses a
mobility scooter. He hadn’t known that there was a lift at the Basilica
Cistern, so he didn’t try to visit, though he would have liked to. That
made me even more grateful for your services.”
– Marilyn, Sage Traveling client & part-time wheelchair user

Q: In which ports are Sage Accessibility Guides available?
We have inspected accessibility at cruise ports throughout Europe
including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Berlin (Warnemunde),
Bruges, Brussels, Capri, Catania (Sicily), Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Genoa,
Helsinki, Istanbul, Izmir (Ephesus), Koper (Slovenia), Kotor (Montenegro),
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Livorno, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Naples,
Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Portofino, Ravenna, Rome
(Civitavecchia), Sorrento, Split, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn,
Valencia, Valletta (Malta), and Venice.

“Our cruise planning services are COMPLETELY FREE!!! The cruise line
pays us a commission when we make the reservation for you. On top of
it, we guarantee* that we will match or beat any publicly-advertised
cruise fare!
Q: How much do your services cost?

“Donna, I can’t thank you enough for organising our holiday!
Everything went perfectly: we got the airport assistance and transfers,
and we got a big stateroom with a balcony and a scooter waiting to go -
all much better than we expected. The guides were friendly and
knowledgeable; Nilay in Istanbul was exceptionally caring. All the guides
were happy to spend time in the places that particularly interested us
and skip the places that didn’t.
Simon was absolutely thrilled. It was the holiday of a lifetime for both of
us, thanks to you.”
− Dot, mobility scooter user who took an 11 night eastern
Mediterranean Cruise planned by Sage Traveling.

We look forward to making your accessible dream vacation a reality!
Call Us: 1-888-645-7920
Contact us at info@sagetraveling.com
www.sagetraveling.com/6-benefits-of-booking-your-accessible-cruise-with-us

Benefits of Booking Your Accessible Cruise through Sage Traveling

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