Princess Cruises LA--Pier 93 Access

I just came back from as Princess Cruise on Sapphire Princess. I encountered no accessibility problems at all until it came time to disembark.

I had a luggage tag which said I was in the first group after the "walk off" groups. Now it has always been my belief that the "walk offs" have to be able to handle their own luggage from the ship to immigration, down the escalator and through the terminal building, to the street.

I travel on my own Pride Victory (big) scooter. Princess provides me a walking escort if I ask, up to immigration. After that I'm on my own, which is fine.

I sailed through immigration, and wheeled to the only elevator, a small one at the right front of the upper level. It holds two scooters, two companions and a limited amount of luggage at one time, so it is a slow process if there are others waiting.

There were at least a half dozen "walk off" people with luggage waiting for the tiny elevator to go downstairs at disembarkation. When I asked the Princess Shoreside person why they were there, she said they needed the elevator. I said to her that it was my belief that the elevator was for handicapped people and that if one walks off they are suppose to be able to handle their luggage all the way out of the building. She said SHE decided they would be unsafe on the escalator and told them to take the only elevator, making the handicapped people have a longer wait. It appears that, if I am correct, and they should not be using the elevators, then the wording of Princess' walk off procedure needs to specifically state so (it doesn't), and the shoreside representatives need to know this.

Am I wrong to feel "entitled to get 'first dibs'" on the elevator? Once I reread the description of "walk off" it *didn't* say they had to use the escalator, or that they couldn't use the elevator. I addressed this on my survey and will see if Princess answers.

How do you feel about this? It was the only problem I had on the whole vacation (other than the people who hold on to the back of the scooter in the elevator) and it didn't ruin my vacation. Nothing does...

M.

Personally I think the elevators are and should be first come, first serve. I wait my turn in my scooter and only feel put upon when someone jumps the line. No one who would have any problem using an escalator should be forced to do so in my opinion, even if their problem was just being afraid of the escalator. Nor do I think that should prevent them from doing self assist debark. They were self assisting themselves by carrying their luggage.

You didn't understand what I was saying, or what I meant to say. The person who was carrying the luggage wasn't afraid of the escalator. The Princess shoreside person was concerned about the luggage carrier's ability to safely do a self-embark, as she was a short woman with two oversized suitcases. If they were, in fact, having difficully doing a self assisted disembark, then they shouldn't have done one, IMHO.

M.

Personally I think the elevators are and should be first come, first serve. I wait my turn in my scooter and only feel put upon when someone jumps the line. No one who would have any problem using an escalator should be forced to do so in my opinion, even if their problem was just being afraid of the escalator. Nor do I think that should prevent them from doing self assist debark. They were self assisting themselves by carrying their luggage.

Mindy, elevators and/or escalators can and should be used by ANYONE! Because your disembarking "on your own" is even more reason to need an elevator. Handling luggage/carts/walkers/etc., etc. can be very daunting and should NOT be a reason that you can not use a facility that facilitates your independence.

I think the fact that San Pedro [and, this is one of my favorite cruising terminals] has a significant need for more elevators is the entire problem. The elevator that they do have is way too small to handle the useage that it gets.

Poor planning on their part. It means that you and everyone else who would rather use an elevator or "must" use an elevator "must" also use great restraint and patience. ;)

Let's agree to disagree on this matter!