Princess Tender for Maui, Hawaii w/ Manual Wheelchair

My mom plans to use a manual wheelchair for tours on her upcoming Hawaii cruise on Star Princess. One of the stops (Maui) requires a tender. My mom is unable to walk. The Princess rep that I spoke with said that she should be able to roll onto the tender if the crew determines that conditions are safe for wheelchair users. However, from a few comments that I read posted on this board, it sounds like reality is Princess does not allow anyone who cannot walk to board a tender.

Can anyone who has sailed with Princess please confirm? We've sailed Royal Caribbean exclusively in the past and they allow passengers in wheelchairs to board tenders if conditions are deemed safe.

I understand the need to deny wheelchair passengers tender access if conditions are deemed unsafe. My mom does not want to try to roll across a gangway that is pitching and moving. My question is whether they will allow her on the tender if conditions appear to be calm.

Only of aware of HAL having w roll-on wheelchair tenders. Not aware that Princess has this type of tender . Nor does Princess' website clearly state that roll-on tenders are available on their ships.

Following is Princess' official position regarding tendering with mobility devices.

Thank you but the issue is the Princess policy doesn't answer my question and I am not sure the Princess representative gave me correct information. I assume my previous post wasn't clear about why I am asking this question so I will try to clarify.

I have a copy of that same Princess policy and found it confusing. I called and asked a representative whether my mom would be able to roll onto the tender in Maui. I explained that she uses a manual wheelchair and is unable to walk. The representative told me that if conditions were deemed safe, then she could do so. Mom has been able to roll onto a Royal Caribbean tender on past cruises so I found the answer plausible.

I read a post on this board while seraching for Hawaii excursions that said Princess does not allow any wheelchair or scooter users on the tenders, which contradicts what the Princess representative told me on the phone. I know the office staff do not always have valid information so I thought I would post here to see if I could get feedback from anyone with personal experience.

Can anyone who had travelled to Hawaii on a Princess ship and uses a manual wheelchair tell me whether they were allowed on the tender in Maui?

Given that Princess cruises is not known for having roll-on tenders it's very questionable that your mother will be able to tender while seated in her wheelchair.

Perhaps the customer service rep did not fully understand that your mother could not walk onto the tender. Instead the rep possibly may have given their reply thinking that a collapsable wheelchair was being used and that your mother could walk on with assistance ? Did you speak directly to the Princess Access office at 661-284-4521 ?

My only observations about tenders and wheelchairs was at Princess Cays, where there were two children in wheelchairs that were rolled on and strapped in. EM

She may very well be able to roll on and off the tender but it is going to depend entirely on sea conditions. Not to dash your hopes but the waters off Lahaina, Maui can be a problem for people with disabilities tendering.

On our Princess cruise to Hawaii I had taken my scooter and my wheelchair. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to tender into Maui. The sea was a bit rough, and I would not have been allowed to tender anyway unless I could have walked on. We did have a nice relaxing ship day watching whales in the bay, doing laundry and reading. On the Princess ships we have been on, I have never seen a roll on tender. The only line I know that has one is Holland America and the Captain still has to approve depending on weather and sea conditions. We still had a wonderful time and hope you do too!

The two times we have cruised to Hawaii on the Diamond and Coral Princess I had to walk onto the tender then my wheelchair was folded a put in a safe place. You also need to walk down a stair to get to the down stair seating( the upsair seating was up a narrow flight of stairs) I am an amputee and use the wheelchair for distance so this was not a problem for me. One of the times the sea was rough and others with walking issues did not go on the tender, I had to convince the crew I was stable enough to do so. It really is up to them, they have to feel its safe for them and for the passenger.

We were told that on the previous cruise the ship did not stop in Maui due to the very high seas. Both of my trips were in Feb. so I don't know about other months. We are taking the SF-Hawaii in March 2013 so I hope I can tender that time.

have a great cruise...we love it.

I was there in May on the Star Princess. I use a walker so I can sit when I need to. I had no trouble getting on the tender but another poster is corredt you have to step down a couple of steps to sit and then back up to get off. They just kept my walker open and locked on the open walking part of the tender. With their help you can walk on and walk off but you have to be able to walk. On the way back the sea was rough and he had a hard time tying up to the ship and had to make several stabs at it. With their help and me being able to step up to the ship with my walker right there I was able to make it. If I had known it was going to be so rough I would not have gone but in the morning it was fine. If your mom can not walk I really do not think she can safely go. If she is not stable on her feet even with a few steps it isn't smart to do so. Enjoy all the other islands with her.