There are a lot of cruise websites, maybe start there. From what I've seen on 2 cruises, they are very accessible for people with little mobility and they allow one to be as active or not active as one wishes.

On one cruise I shared a small interior room and we were rarely in there. On my cruise alone (work cruise) I was in a larger room with a balcony and I spend much more time there. If your family is one to require everyone spend all the time together, I think a shared room might make you crazy.

There was access on both cruises, but it was occassionally spotty. You should be fine if you are in a port everyday.

When they were mobile and very active, my grandparents were on cruises and land tours with this company: [link] something like that may work for you all.

Somehow, I missed the tutu.

(work cruise)

The words make sense individually, but together...

Ginger, I think a cruise would be an easy way to go. They're very used to people with mobility issues. As for picking one, you should probably talk to a travel agent. I can talk to my husband's family -- they go on a lot of cruises, have difficulty walking, and like their food plentiful and blandish [in my opinion] -- to see if they have any recommendations.

I wonder if consumer reports has any recommendations? Let me check...

My company was doing a project with the cruise company, I had to go on the ship and train/educate the staff that would be marketing/selling the product. I was on the ship for 3 days of a 7 day "repositioning cruise" and it was relaxing, but not fun.

I have pondered the idea of proposing that they get a larger ocean-view room and my getting whatever the cheapest interior room is. My other theory is that I can spend a lot of time in a shipboard bar.

Ginger, to be serious, a friend recently went on a cruise with her mother. Now ... her mother is in excellent health and they get along very well together, so it's a different situation.

Would you like me to ask which cruise line? I do remember her saying that the median age on the cruise was older, to put it nicely.

Shipboard bars are awesome.

I remember internet access as being expensive on the cruise.

My only concern would be what is going on in the ports, relative to mobility. I imagine most would have some sort of bus tour available (for an additional price), but you should pay attention to that ahead of time.

That would be great, Todd. I've been looking at all this stuff online and feel, well, at sea.

Not a cruise, but my mom and her friends all love these kinds of guided bus tour thingies. [link]