Tender Ports

[Yellowlily]

Hello,

We are doing a British Isles cruise next summer and there are several tender ports on the itinerary.  We are sailing on the Regal Princess out of Southampton.  My husband now has a travel power wheelchair (folds compactly) and am curious if we could take it ashore via the tender ports.  He is semi ambulatory and can make the stairs, albeit not easy, with a cane.  He is not confined to the wheelchair but would not be able to go very far on foot.  

Also, I have looked into Princess wheelchair accessible excursions as well as other outside shore excursions sites.  We do not a lift, per se, but definitely would need a place for storage of the power wheelchair (again, foldable for stowing).  More importantly, we are just curious our best way to get ashore, particularly in the tender ports.  Thank you in advance for any help!

[FOPMan]

The ability to go ashore is always at the captain's discretion. Concerns include safety, not only in getting off the ship, but also in returning.

 

If the excursion is using a tour bus, often (but not always, and you won't likely know until you are at the bus) the bus driver can store mobility equipment where the luggage usually goes. Your husband would still need to be able to ascend/descend the bus stairs.

 

Additionally, you will need to consider the nature of each excursion and whether there is an accessible path/route. Sometimes, when lunch is included in the tour, the facility used may not be wheelchair accessible unless so noted in the description. The excursion desk aboard ship is unlikely to have significant derails.

 

Safe travels!

[kokopelli-az]

The Princess website states:

 

The goal of Princess Cruises is to provide a safe comfortable cruise experience for all passengers. If you will be using a mobility device during your sailing we strongly recommend you travel with a person physically fit to assist with your needs both onboard and ashore.

Embarking and disembarking can be challenging for those with limited mobility. Many major ports of call provide easy access for wheelchairs and scooters. However due to various conditions; steepness of the gangway, weather, shore-side facilities, tidal and sea conditions, passengers using mobility devices may be required to transfer to a stair climber or be precluded from going ashore. Princess staff will make every effort to assist but are not allowed to individually physically lift more than 50 pounds (22 kg).

Some ports of call require the ship to anchor off shore. Passengers are then taken to shore by small boats or tenders. When tendering is required, passengers using mobility devices will not be transferred into or out of the tender, if lifting in excess of the above limitation is required. Many tender ports do not provide wheelchair access so even if the passenger can board the tender they may not be able to disembark ashore. Again the shore-side facilities, movement of the tender, weather and tidal conditions can also preclude tendering.

The decision to allow any passenger to board a tender or disembark the vessel will be made by the Captain on the basis of the safety and welfare of all involved and is final.

If passengers are unable to tender or disembark because of circumstances outlined above there will be no refund or credit for missed ports. While Princess recognizes your disappointment the safety of both passengers and crew takes precedence.

 

[shadow 123]

2 hours ago, FOPMan said:

The ability to go ashore is always at the captain's discretion. Concerns include safety, not only in getting off the ship, but also in returning.

 

If the excursion is using a tour bus, often (but not always, and you won't likely know until you are at the bus) the bus driver can store mobility equipment where the luggage usually goes. Your husband would still need to be able to ascend/descend the bus stairs.

 

Additionally, you will need to consider the nature of each excursion and whether there is an accessible path/route. Sometimes, when lunch is included in the tour, the facility used may not be wheelchair accessible unless so noted in the description. The excursion desk aboard ship is unlikely to have significant derails.

 

Safe travels!

Good advice. You can also call the ship's excursion department and they will gladly give you all the information. They'll tell you which tours will take the mobility equipment. They'll tell you if there are stairs or/and  if the path is rocky.  I do this all the time. @FOPMan is correct, he will have to be able to get on the bus in most cases. I was on an excursion once where a person was able to drive right up a ramp on to the back of the minivan with their scooter. I only saw that once and it was in Bermuda.

 

Edited July 21 by shadow 123

[Nic6318]

Hello

 

There will almost certainly be times when you may not be able/allowed to use a tender with a powered mobility scooter. 

My main observation and experience is more the fact that in many ports of call, there are many obstacles to using a mobility scooter once you are on land. Uneven sidewalks, or none at all. No ramps to get on the sidewalks. Other obstacles on the sidewalk, even, just crowding. 

What I would suggest (if at all possible), bring (instead of or as well) a folding wheelchair. It allows the user to more easily get up walk up or down or around something and get back in a chair, and can most always be brought on a tender.

 

have a great cruise

[Yellowlily]

Thank you. It is a wheelchair, not a scooter  It’s powered and folds in half compactly. 

[Nic6318]

28 minutes ago, Yellowlily said:

Thank you. It is a wheelchair, not a scooter  It’s powered and folds in half compactly. 

 

Hi

 

If that is the case, you will more likely be able/allowed to do the tendering process. The main concern is the weight of the chair. Your husband will need to take the step from the cruise ship onto the tender boat, and then one of the crew would carry the chair or pass it over that same threshold. So, if it isn't too heavy, they shouldn't have any problem.

[Yellowlily]

That’s fantastic, thanks so much for replying. That sounds like it will work out great. Thanks again!