Princess makes every effort to accommodate our guests with disabilities, but you can ensure a successful trip by working with us in advance.
Please notify Princess Cruises at the time of booking, in writing, of any physical or mental illness or disability. Also, if you require any medical treatment or you have a condition that may constitute a risk or danger to you or anyone else on board ship please let our Medical Department know. If you have a condition that requires special accommodation or you need to bring a wheelchair, power wheelchair or mobility scooter (referred to collectively in this section as wheelchairs) please notify our Reservations department on 0344 3388 663 as soon as possible or at time of booking. We advise guests using a wheelchair to travel with someone who is able to assist them both ashore and at sea. Some ports of call require tenders to go ashore any may preclude guests using a wheelchair from leaving the vessel; this decision must be made by the ship’s Captain and is binding. Guests must bring wheelchairs for their own use.
If you have questions about the programme, please call the Reservations department on 0344 3388 663.
All Princess ships have wheelchair-accessible staterooms, but we highly recommend collapsible wheelchairs, as the widths of the stateroom doors vary. You may bring your own, or you can pre-reserve a wheelchair and have it and other medical equipment delivered to the ship by contacting Special Needs at Sea at 800-513-4515 (outside the U.S. 954-585-0575) or by visiting specialneedsatsea website. Alternatively, you can contact Scottaround at 888-441-7575 (or outside the U.S. or Canada at 204-982-0657), email at webinquiry@scootaround.com or visit the scootaround website. Some areas on some ships are not wheelchair accessible.
Guests utilising mobility devices with batteries are advised that the batteries must be a dry cell type, and must be stored and recharged in the stateroom. Mobility devices of any kind, like any other items, may not be left outside the stateroom. Because of staffing limitations, we recommend you be accompanied by someone who is physically able to assist you both onboard and on shore.
Travellers with disabilities should check in with the onboard Tour Office to ensure all shore excursions can accommodate them. Not all port facilities are accessible for those using mobility devices. Ports may be accessed by a variety of methods including a ramped gangway, series of steps or by tender. In some cases, you may be able to access the tender, but the shoreside facility will not be accessible. Many ports of call use a mechanism known as a “stair climber” to assist guests up and down the gangway. Guests must transfer to a Princess wheelchair, which is connected to the stair climber and operated by the ship’s personnel. If you cannot transfer or your personal mobility device cannot be easily disembarked, you may be precluded from going ashore. With your safety and comfort in mind, the decision to permit or prohibit guests from going ashore will be made on each occasion by the ship’s Captain, and the decision will be final. Ports that normally use tenders to access the shore are noted on the itinerary.
The maximum weight of the wheelchair including guest cannot exceed 600 lbs. on transportation lifts. If you have purchased a Princess Transfer at the start or end of the cruise, be aware that lift-equipped transportation may not be available in your port of embarkation or disembarkation.
Please contact us or ask your travel consultant to notify us before your voyage of your wheelchair usage, mobility or special needs and/or requests to sail with a service animal such as seeing-eye dogs and hearing-assistance dogs. Emotional support animals are not recognised by the Department of Justice and therefore are not permitted on Princess ships or in our lodges.
Princess ships are equipped with “All-in-One Kits” with TTY that can be used in most guest cabins and at Princess wilderness lodges. Most televisions onboard provide closed captioning and most onboard theatres have assisted listening devices. Electric outlets in most staterooms are limited to one and it is helpful to travel with an extension cord for electrical equipment. Princess also offers JAWS Professional software with a KOSS-TD/80 headset on one terminal in each Internet Café on every ship.
Accessibility on the land portion of an Alaska cruisetour
Lift-equipped motorcoaches, accessible hotel rooms and seating on trains are limited and need to be secured in advance. Should you need a wheelchair, it is imperative that you bring your own or make arrangements for one to be provided.
You can pre-reserve a wheelchair and have it and other medical equipment delivered on land by contacting Special Needs at Sea at 800-513-4515 (outside the U.S. 954-585-0575) or by visiting the specialneedsatsea website. Alternatively, you can contact CareVacations at 877-478-7827 or the cruiseshipassist website.
For any special accessibility requests, please put your request in writing and speak to Princess Reservations on 0344 3388 663 at least 30 days prior to your travel.
