WC accessibility on Crown Princess/Santa Barbara

Not sure if anyone here can help, but I have a couple questions...

My friends and I are cruising on the Crown Princess in January. This is a 4 day cruise that travels to Santa Barbara and Ensenada. We have done Ensenada before with her and know we will have no problems there, but we have heard that we will have some problems with Santa Barbara, since it is a TENDER port.

Does anyone know anything about the Princess tenders and if they are accessible?? My friend in the chair has what I call "toddler legs" that are useless, so she REALLY needs the chair and can't function without it.

Also, we have heard that there are some areas on the ship that are not accessible.. Her cabin IS, but we are worried, as we are going on a group cruise and we may miss some events if not all the public areas are accessible..

Thanks for any assistance.. Just want to get all our "ducks in a row" before we travel..

Not sure if anyone here can help, but I have a couple questions...

 

My friends and I are cruising on the Crown Princess in January. This is a 4 day cruise that travels to Santa Barbara and Ensenada. We have done Ensenada before with her and know we will have no problems there, but we have heard that we will have some problems with Santa Barbara, since it is a TENDER port.

 

Does anyone know anything about the Princess tenders and if they are accessible?? My friend in the chair has what I call "toddler legs" that are useless, so she REALLY needs the chair and can't function without it.

 

Also, we have heard that there are some areas on the ship that are not accessible.. Her cabin IS, but we are worried, as we are going on a group cruise and we may miss some events if not all the public areas are accessible..

 

Thanks for any assistance.. Just want to get all our "ducks in a row" before we travel..

All most public area are accessible.There are a couple of areas that don't have elevators that she won't be able to get to. Some of the highest decks and the very bow require people to climb stairs.

I don't know whether or not Princess tenders at Santa Barbara, but I can tell you that Princess will not allow you to tender if you can't walk onto the tender. If you can walk onto the tender, they will allow you to put a manual wheelchair on the tender and sometimes will help with this. But unlike Royal Caribbean, the staff will not lift the passenger in the manual wheelchair onto the tender.

There is only one exception I have seen and that is in a couple of tender ports where the port's tender is used and that tender is the roll on tender. Those you can roll onto, but the only two places I've seen Princess use that type of tender in the past couple of years is Grand Cayman and Belize. We have not been to Santa Barbara, so I don't know what is used there, but Princess almost always uses their own tender boats, which are just their lifeboats--I assume to save money.

On several of the Princess ships, the santuary is not accessible. However, on the Crown it is wheelchair accessible via a lift from the deck below. You may have to have the Sanctuary personnel to show you where it is located. The Princess links (mini golf course) is not accessible as there are only steps to get to it. The spa pool area is not accessible from the outside, but if you go through the spa, you can get it it. However, there is no wheelchair lift at that pool or hot tub, so she would only be able to use the loungers. The thermal suite is not really accessible either. The loungers are too high to transfer, but if she can stand and walk a step or two, she might be able to use the lounger closest to the wall. The showers in the thermal suite or not accessible either. The theatre is wheelchair accessible, but the only wheelchair seating is at the back.

I suggest talking to the group leader to make certain that all events are held in the many wheelchair accessible public areas.

I don't know whether or not Princess tenders at Santa Barbara, but I can tell you that Princess will not allow you to tender if you can't walk onto the tender. If you can walk onto the tender, they will allow you to put a manual wheelchair on the tender and sometimes will help with this. But unlike Royal Caribbean, the staff will not lift the passenger in the manual wheelchair onto the tender.

 

There is only one exception I have seen and that is in a couple of tender ports where the port's tender is used and that tender is the roll on tender. Those you can roll onto, but the only two places I've seen Princess use that type of tender in the past couple of years is Grand Cayman and Belize. We have not been to Santa Barbara, so I don't know what is used there, but Princess almost always uses their own tender boats, which are just their lifeboats--I assume to save money.

 

On several of the Princess ships, the sanctuary is not accessible. However, on the Crown it is wheelchair accessible via a lift from the deck below. You may have to have the Sanctuary personnel to show you where it is located. The Princess links (mini golf course) is not accessible as there are only steps to get to it. The spa pool area is not accessible from the outside, but if you go through the spa, you can get it it. However, there is no wheelchair lift at that pool or hot tub, so she would only be able to use the loungers. The thermal suite is not really accessible either. The loungers are too high to transfer, but if she can stand and walk a step or two, she might be able to use the lounger closest to the wall. The showers in the thermal suite or not accessible either. The theatre is wheelchair accessible, but the only wheelchair seating is at the back.

 

I suggest talking to the group leader to make certain that all events are held in the many wheelchair accessible public areas.

We have spoken to the cruise organizers but they have not gotten back to us about this stuff, which is why I came here. My friend CANNOT walk even a step, as her "toddler legs" are USELESS, hence the wheelchair. Not really worried about the theatre, but more about the other smaller spaces (bars, other rooms where they would put smaller gatherings of 100-200 people). She will not go to the spa, etc. She will use the facilities in her handicapped room.

We were concerned about the tender in Santa Barbara, though, as she wanted to get off the ship, and from what it sounds like, she will not be able to, so none of us in the group will get off the ship, either.

Thank you for the information so far..

Pattimelt,

When I was on the Crown last I was using a 4 wheel rollator but some of the issues were the same. Theatre was accessible from one deck with a ramp to seating. Bars and dining rooms were accessible with wheels. Also casino.

If you do not have to tender, SB is very easy to get around with wheels.

Hope you have a wonderful time.

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Santa Barbara is definitely a tender port. Ships anchor 1.5 miles from shore and use their life boats to bring passengers to the Sea Landing. I have only seen Princess and Celebrity ships in the harbor, but I believe Crystal has stopped here as well.

Santa Barbara is very accessible if not arriving by ship, and a very beautiful city.