Cruise Lines and Ships: The Emerald Princess, an Ascension Wheelchair Lift Case Study
Project Summary
- Challenge: Provide ADA-compliant, portable stage access customized to the ship’s renovated theater
- Solution: Ascension Protege vertical wheelchair lift with custom color, glass, and other finishes
- Result: A versatile, compliant lift that enhances accessibility and matches the ship’s aesthetic
Company Overview
The Emerald Princess is a Crown-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruise Lines. It features nearly 900 staterooms and is capable of serving more than 3,000 travelers. The vessel hosts a wide range of onboard experiences– meals, entertainment, and cultural events– for a diverse passenger demographic. Increasingly, cruise guests include older adults and individuals with mobility limitations, which makes accessible design and ADA-compliant accommodations a priority for cruise operators.
Challenge
While planning a theater remodel on the Emerald Princess, Princess Cruise Lines identified the need for a solution that would:
- Provide ADA-compliant access to the remodeled onboard theater stage
- Be portable so it could be used not only at the theater but also at other locations throughout the ship
- Blend with the luxury aesthetic of the renovated space
Although Ascension had previously worked with Princess Cruise Lines on other projects, this specific request required customization to meet both the functional need for portability and the visual demands of the ship’s updated theater environment.
Solution
To meet Princess Cruise Lines’ requirements, Ascension designed and delivered a portable Protégé 5442P wheelchair lift tailored to the Emerald Princess cruise ship.
Key aspects of the solution included:
- Portability: The lift can be used at the theater stage and moved for use at other locations throughout the ship, providing flexibility beyond a fixed installation.
- Custom color matching: The unit was finished in a custom color to harmonize with the ship’s theater aesthetics.
- Etched windows: Window panels were etched to complement the Art Deco design of the remodeled space, giving the lift a cohesive look within the environment.
- Wireless stanchions: Allow for operation and positioning outside the theater when operational needs require it.
This combination of functionality, flexibility, and tailored design allowed Princess Cruise Lines to offer dignified, code-compliant access while staying true to the ship’s design standards.
Results
The lift provides reliable ADA-compliant access to the theater stage aboard the Emerald Princess. Its portable design ensures it can be redeployed as needed in other parts of the ship, offering operational flexibility. Custom aesthetics ensure the lift integrates visually with the theater’s design, enhancing the onboard experience for all guests.
By combining mobility, compliance, and customization, Princess Cruise Lines can continue offering accessible entertainment experiences that accommodate the growing number of passengers with mobility needs.