Bikes on Princess

[RMMariner]

not I asked on these boards about bringing a bike on Princess about five years ago after our first couple cruises. Bikes were still allowed then. Some people were very helpful, others were quite unhappy with the idea of a bike being on the ship. That thread definitely brought forward all the potential problems of bringing a bike. Mainly hogging elevators, inconveniencing or hurting other passengers, and generally having no room for the bike. I listened to the advice and in the end decided not to bring my bike. My wife was quite happy with this decision.

 

I know bikes are now a banned item on Princess. Funny because just before Princess banned bikes, Princess cruise magazine had an entire article on a couple of guys who had brought their bikes on Princess many, many times. I loved the article, and once again started thinking about bringing my bike. Then Princess banned bikes.

 

I am not going to argue that bikes should be allowed on. I wish they were, but I am sure someone abused the privilege, and thus the rest of us suffer.

 

I guess I have some questions about how Princess is handling the ban. Is it a complete ban or might Princess allow a bike if one of two things were agreed upon:

 

1) Be allowed to bring on board a folding bike that the passenger kept in a case. I think most problems must have occurred when people were moving their bikes on and off the ships at the ports or perhaps got grease all over their stateroom. If the bike was taken off the ship, set up and then refolded before coming back on the ship, it would be no more impactful than bringing a suitcase on and off. I am not wild about the folding bikes, but if that is my only option I would consider getting one if it could be used. I hate the quality and fit of rental bikes, and most ports do not even have the option. From an impact on Princess it would not be like not having a bike at all.

 

2) What I would really like to do is bring my touring bike. I would not expect to be able to use it at ports.  I would only bring it on at the embarkation port and remove it on the final port. I would like to, for example, take a cruise down the California coast and ride back to Vancouver. Also, although it is quite a few years until I can retire, and thus have the time do a longer trips, I think it would be fantastic to bring the bike on a trans Atlantic and then ride around Europe or a trans Pacific and ride around Australia. Then maybe takes the return cruise home. We have quite a few trans Pacific cruises leaving Vancouver each year. I have biked part way around Australia before and I really would love to get all the way around some day.

 

Does anyone have any experience dealing with bringing a bike on board since the ban? I am assuming in the end that we will not be able to do this on Princess, but I know some of the other lines still take bikes. 

 

Does have any experience with the other lines that do allow bikes? I think Celebrity does, but I do not know which other lines still do allow bikes.

 

Thank You.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2019 by RMMariner

[geoherb]

I would think that the ban would be enforced and wouldn't want to risk losing a bike even if someone from Princess gave you permission. It's probably easier to find places in the ports that will rent you a bike for a day. Or for a long trip such as California to Vancouver, just plan on buying a bike after your cruise. 

 

Our ship was docked next to an Aida ship in one port. They had crew members setting up bikes for passengers on the pier. Here's an article about their program: https://www.aida.de/en/aida-cruises/press/press-archive/newsdetails.24494/article/wonderful-prospects-for-racing-cyclists-with-the-aida-bike-camp.html

 

 

 

[RMMariner]

Had not heard of Aida. I knew that other cruise lines were more bike friendly. 

 

I guess by the silence on the boards no one is bringing bikes anymore. I will phone Princess directly and see if there is any wiggle room. Probably not.

 

Thank you for the information on Aida. It is a very interesting article.

Edited January 27, 2019 by RMMariner
typo

[floridalover5623]

I really think Princess is missing out of the opportunity of making a profit by renting bikes (electric & manual) at all the ports.

[bemis12]

On 1/27/2019 at 9:30 AM, RMMariner said:

Had not heard of Aida. I knew that other cruise lines were more bike friendly. 

 

I guess by the silence on the boards no one is bringing bikes anymore. I will phone Princess directly and see if there is any wiggle room. Probably not.

 

 

 

I'm guessing that the place where they say "prohibited" and "no exceptions" means there's no wiggle room.

Edited January 29, 2019 by bemis12

[flutprop]

Thinking about your plan to bring it on and then not off again till you disembark, I have a couple thoughts. I am not a huge cruiser, so don't know whether this would work. Could you ship the bike to your destination? Probably cost prohibitive for international, but down to California that may not be too bad. Or pack it in a shipping box and send it onboard with checked luggage? Do the cruise lines have luggage size limitations? 

[RMMariner]

Florida Lover: I agree. Perhaps there is a liability issue, but I am sure it could be done in a way that made money for Princess. I know MSC does this.

 

flutprop: Probably what I would have to do, but the airlines are notoriously rough on bikes. I would quite happy if Princess would just take it and transport it as checked luggage.

 

Bemis: No soup for you.

Edited January 29, 2019 by RMMariner

[floridalover5623]

They used to lend bikes to the crew that wanted to us them and only collect a deposit for security.

[phabric]

I was on RC Symphony of the Sea last week.  Looking down from my deck 7 balcony, I saw 2 men with bikes getting on the ship.  I don’t know if they were crew or passengers.

[floridalover5623]

6 hours ago, phabric said:

I was on RC Symphony of the Sea last week.  Looking down from my deck 7 balcony, I saw 2 men with bikes getting on the ship.  I don’t know if they were crew or passengers.

The crew uses a separate entrance at ground level.

[satxdiver]

I was in a port on one of the Caribbean islands not too long ago where a HAL/Celebrity (can't remember which one) ship had a group of motorcyclists aboard.  I watched as they left the ship one by one on their motorcycles and later saw them return after a tour of the island.  Evidently some cruise lines allow it.  Personally  I hope that Princess does not allow it.  

[gatour]

Royal Caribbean does allow bicycles.   They can't be used onboard.

 

One interesting note, is that one of the Royal Caribbean captain actually has a motorcycle that he uses in the islands when he has some free time.

[RMMariner]

I don't want to take a motorcycle, and I  never expected to ride my bike on the ship. I want to take a folding bicycle. It will look like a suitcase until it is unfolded. I find it weird that Princess had a four page article featuring two guys who had brought their bikes on many Princess cruises, and then shortly after Princess banned bikes.

 

Like I said before, obviously there have been problems, and no doubt people have abused the privilege,  but I think both scenarios I put forward would pretty much minimize the impact to other passengers and staff. In reality, no one would even suspect that there was a bike on board unless they saw me setting up off the ship.

 

I started this thread hoping someone had found a way to have a bike on board without causing the obvious problems that caused Princess to ban them. 

 

I have now done some research, and many of the other lines allow bikes. Princess is our favourite line, but I will probably end up sailing on other lines when I want to bring my bike.

 

[floridalover5623]

I just saw a crew member walking his bike down the pier yesterday in Cozumel. I guess they were told not to ride them on the pier. 

[beg3yrs]

I've seen crew with bikes but never passengers with one exception. One non-crew member was a "special guest" of one of the officers and had his bike with him. Also, Captain Spinardi, currently on the Pacific Princess is an avid cyclist and has a bike on board. Not on the PA but on other ships, when taking the Ultimate Ship Tour, I've seen crew bikes stored near the I95/M1 corridor that runs the length of the ship.

[voljeep]

Dear Jan Swartz

 

I have a great idea for a new 'profit center' that could provide a benefit to cruisers and a profit to Princess

 

Please contact me at your earliest convenience

 

Sincerely

 

voljeep

[Cruise Raider]

On 2/1/2019 at 4:47 AM, satxdiver said:

I was in a port on one of the Caribbean islands not too long ago where a HAL/Celebrity (can't remember which one) ship had a group of motorcyclists aboard.  I watched as they left the ship one by one on their motorcycles and later saw them return after a tour of the island.  Evidently some cruise lines allow it.  Personally  I hope that Princess does not allow it.  

 

We were on a cruise with a motorcycle group as well ... it was on the Celebrity Equinox.  They opened one of the doors on the side and they were all able to ride off the ship, even before anyone else was allowed to debark at the ports of call.  We met up with some of these bikers onboard ... nice group that brought their own motorcycles onboard....and they were having a blast.  I don't see a reason why you wouldn't be able to do the same with a bicycle ... although, it may be limited to one of these group cruises.  I think Celebrity has an upcoming coastal cruise that starts in Vancouver and ends in San Diego in October ... and the opposite direction in April.  If it sounds good to you, it may be worth a shot to give them a call to find out if this is a possibility.  They obviously have a storage area down below the passenger decks where you could store your bike .. again, if you are comfortable with that idea.  

[phabric]

I was on Celebrity Silhouette, January 2018 that had a motorcycle club on it.   It is a motorcycle club that organizes these cruises. They pay over $1,000 for their motorcycle and insurance with a limit of how many motorcycles.  They have to travel on each island with a police escort.  When they disembark ship at each island,  only one person can be on the motorcycle and meet the passenger on land.  One night, one of the motorcycle was in the lobby and people could take pictures.

[WYB!]

Hello, Just found this thread. Over the past 2 years, I normally bring my folding bike with me when I sail with NCL, but I have not sailed with Princess in 5 years.

I recently came across Princess's Prohibited items list and found bicycles on it:

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/pre_cruise/bring.jsp

 

Unfortunate policy, as I never had any problems on my last 7 NCL voyages, (I only use the bike in port and never while on board).

 

I hope princess changes this policy to allow bicycles.

Edited March 19, 2020 by WYB!

[Hlitner]

On 2/2/2019 at 6:25 PM, phabric said:

I was on Celebrity Silhouette, January 2018 that had a motorcycle club on it.   It is a motorcycle club that organizes these cruises. They pay over $1,000 for their motorcycle and insurance with a limit of how many motorcycles.  They have to travel on each island with a police escort.  When they disembark ship at each island,  only one person can be on the motorcycle and meet the passenger on land.  One night, one of the motorcycle was in the lobby and people could take pictures.

I believe that tour and other motorcycle tours were operated by a company called ETA, which just went out of business on March 15.  What is also interesting is that a very popular Celebrity ship Captain owns two Harley's and has been known to take one on some of his cruises.

 

Hank

[MissP22]

19 hours ago, WYB! said:

Hello, Just found this thread. Over the past 2 years, I normally bring my folding bike with me when I sail with NCL, but I have not sailed with Princess in 5 years.

I recently came across Princess's Prohibited items list and found bicycles on it:

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/pre_cruise/bring.jsp

 

Unfortunate policy, as I never had any problems on my last 7 NCL voyages, (I only use the bike in port and never while on board).

 

I hope princess changes this policy to allow bicycles.

I agree.

Maybe after all this virus confusion has settled they might have a change of mind in order to attract business once again.

It seems silly to outright ban something that really doesn't have anything to do with the other passengers.

[daisy-mae]

I just happened upon this thread while searching these boards.

 

A few years back we took our folding bikes -- by prior arrangement - on a NCL cruise from Boston to Bermuda. Both bikes were in suitcases stored under the bed until we removed them to ride around the island. Every crew member who we encountered, including some officers, remarked on the convenience of having our own mode of travel, and fellow passengers on tour buses would give us the thumbs up as they drove by. We did not hear a single negative comment.

 

As long as folks do not abuse the privilege, I don't see why there could not be some type of accommodation for cyclists who want to make the most of their cruise experience. As some have said, the cruise lines will have to be creative in order to attract new clientele while enticing past guests to return. Allowing bikes on board may be something to consider.

 

 

[donaldsc]

Maybe this is a good reason for bike riders not to ever cruise on Princess.  After all, there are very few if any ports that only Princess visits and there is basically no difference except perhaps for the Pacific Princess between Princess' ship and the ships of other lines.  If they lines do not treat you right, change lines.

 

DON

[WYB!]

Here's the thing, I don't believe cruise lines ban bicycles primarily becuase they may pose a hazard or for safety reasons.

I think cruise lines ban bicycles because they don't generate additional revenue for the cruise line.

 

My impression is that cruise lines think that people who bring bicycles take away revenue from the cruise line as they are less likely to book shore excursions (which in some cases they do).

 

Some cruise lines that ban bicycles also offer bicycles for rent from the ship, so people who bringing their own bicycles are in direct conflict with a revenue stream.

 

The situation is similar to why some cruise line ban bringing beverages on board. Yes it's for safety, but it's also for profit.

 

The thing is, I don't know even know how to start having Princess reconsider this policy.

Edited March 20, 2020 by WYB!

[BIG TIME CRUISER]

1 hour ago, WYB! said:

Here's the thing, I don't believe cruise lines ban bicycles primarily becuase they may pose a hazard or for safety reasons.

I think cruise lines ban bicycles because they don't generate additional revenue for the cruise line.

I was thinking the same thing but I can't really imagine that it would take away that much revenue.