Written by Julie, Have Wheelchair Will Travel, April 16, 2024
There is no better place to spend a lovely sunny day in Sydney than on the beautiful harbour. It’s the ideal spot to snap an insta-worthy photo of yourself with the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in the background or to get a sneaky look at the fancy harbourside homes of the rich and famous. I recently attended a function hosted by Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney on board the 78ft cruise Spirit of Migloo. It wasn’t until I was on the boat that I realised this beautiful cruising experience is perfect to share with our Have Wheelchair Will Travel community. It’s always a joy to be pleasantly surprised by access. I think the Journey Beyond Cruise will suit many people with a mobility restriction, or those using a wheelchair, so read on if you fancy a scenic harbour cruise with tasty food.
Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney review
Many wheelchair users will know all too well how difficult access often is on boats. Not many boats are designed with wheelchair access in mind, so I was absolutely delighted to see good accessibility as I wandered around the lower deck of Spirit of Migloo.
Of the three decks on the Spirit of Migloo the lower deck is the only one accessible to a wheelchair user or someone who has limited mobility and needs step-free access. This deck is lovely so it’s no consolation prize. Offering stellar views and areas with plenty of circulation space there’s even room for several wheelchair users, meaning this cruise is good for individuals but can also accommodate groups of wheelchair users looking for a suitable venue.
As we cruised from King Street Wharf under the Harbour Bridge, past the Sydney Opera House and further around the harbour we sipped on bubbly and ordered our meals. I would have been happy with any of the main meal choices on offer. These included pan seared barramundi, pumpkin ravioli and lamb rump, but I couldn’t go past the lamb and it didn’t disappoint. It was tender and bursting with flavour.
I’m a passionate rhubarb girl so I was very happy to see an apple and rhubarb tart offered as a dessert option. It was the ideal finale to fabulous lunch.
Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney – accessibility
Accessibility on the Journey Beyond Cruise of Sydney Harbour is good throughout.
The lower deck offers good viewing from the stern with plenty of circulation space for wheelchair users.
A fairly wide aisle runs both sides of the boat. Stairs are at the front of the boat so viewing is best done from the sides or back of the vessel.
Step-free entry is offered into the lower deck dining area and to the accessible bathroom.
Two bathrooms are available on the lower deck, one of which is a larger bathroom with easier access including grab rails.
As with most boats, the biggest challenge comes with the varying tides which alter the steepness of the access gangway. The ramp is quite short which makes it steep when the tide isn’t in your favour. In general King Street Wharf offers good access with gentle ramps leading to the gangway.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney and it’s a sign of how delicious the lunch was that I don’t have lots of photos from the cruise.
This is not a sponsored post, I just couldn’t wait to share the accessibility of the Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney with you all as I thought it might make a lovely special occasion cruise or a crowd-free way of enjoying Vivid.
Check the Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney website for cruising options.