Community Access Report: Cruise to Antarctica On The Sapphire Princess

By Kathy Dunn

We love hearing from our community members about their travels! Recently, Kathy Dunn reached out to share the highs and lows of her recent cruise to Antarctica. While the scenery was breathtaking, the accessibility of the ship and certain ports left much to be desired.

If you’re considering a trek to the Great White South, Kathy’s report is a must-read.

The Journey South: Smooth Skies with Delta

The trip began on a high note with the flights. Kathy traveled via Delta and reported a seamless experience with her folding power wheelchair.

Wheelchair Handling: Staff assisted with folding and covering the chair on the jetway.

Storage: On two out of four flights, Kathy was able to stow her chair in the onboard cabin wheelchair locker.

Arrival: The chair returned undamaged, and staff were available to help reassemble it and provide an escort.

Antarctica: A Pristine Experience

Cruising the Antarctic Peninsula lived up to the hype. Kathy enjoyed four days of incredible sights:

Wildlife: Plenty of penguins (both on land and swimming!), whales, seals, and diverse birdlife.

The Weather: Luck was on her side with three sunny days of blue skies and a rare, smooth passage across the notorious Drake Passage.

Pro-Tip: Bundle up! Kathy recommends merino wool and alpaca socks to handle the biting wind.

“The air was clear and fresh… we even sailed past research stations. The ship actually delivered pizza to the Italian station!”

Port Accessibility: The Good and The Bad

Accessibility varied wildly once the ship docked.

The Highs: Montevideo and Ushuaia were noted as being much more accessible and navigable.

[Note: For more content relating to Montevideo, see The Editor’s Substack]

The Lows: The Falkland Islands proved very difficult. Kathy found curb cuts to be nearly non-existent. Most shops and restaurants only offered stair access, and none of the penguin tours (ship-sponsored or private) were wheelchair accessible due to transportation or terrain.

An Honest Review of the Sapphire Princess

While the destination was a 10/10, the ship itself, the Sapphire Princess, presented significant hurdles. Despite being an older ship with several retrofits, Kathy found it lacking in modern accessibility standards.

The Major Challenges:

Deck Access: There were only three powered/ramped doors to the outdoor decks. On the Promenade deck, a broken powered door for 17 days meant Kathy had to navigate through the ship’s interior and struggle with heavy, manual glass doors just to see the view.

Cabin Issues: Beds in accessible cabins were 27 inches high, which may be a transfer challenge for many. While showers were roll-in, the bathrooms lacked sufficient grab rails and sink insulation.

The Buffet: Kathy reported it was “nearly impossible” to get staff assistance with plates, leading her to stick to the dining room.

Entertainment: Wheelchair seating in the showroom was restricted to the back row only.

Crew Training: Staff seemed inexperienced in assisting power wheelchair users on the steep gangways at various ports.

The Silver Lining: The ship did offer free laundry service for those staying in accessible cabins.

Kathy’s Sum-Up:

“Sadly, I would have to recommend that travelers with mobility disabilities avoid cruises on the Sapphire Princess, and in general consider avoiding Princess completely,”

Kathy says. For those looking for a similar itinerary, she suggests looking into newer Holland America ships instead.

1 thought on “Community Access Report: Cruise to Antarctica On The Sapphire Princess”

Gautam Kumar Chaudhury
March 6, 2026 at 9:36 am

Hello,
I am a HR Professional and I am a PWD from India.I am a Rotary foundation Alumni.I am interested to visit from India and be involved for India.
Gautam Kumar Chaudhury

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