Cruise Lines & Ships
Cruises offer a convenient, easy way of traveling the world. In addition to destinations, cruises offer a wide range of amenities, including food and on-board entertainment in between destinations – and the demand is growing. In 2023, the cruise industry saw more than 30 million travelers and is estimated to grow beyond 40 million by 2028, according to Port Economics, Management and Policy. Despite the growth in cruise goers, the age demographic increasingly skews older, making it even more important to ensure ADA-compliant accessibility on every cruise ship.
Princess Cruise Lines – Emerald Princess
Featuring almost 900 staterooms and capable of serving more than 3,000 travelers, the Emerald Princess belongs to the Crown Class of cruise ships, and is a significant member of the Princess Cruise Lines family.
The Challenge: Theater Remodel
The age demographic of cruise goers skews older and the number of individuals living with disabilities who frequent cruises is increasing. As a result, ensuring ADA compliant access is all the more pressing. Furthermore, Princess Cruise Lines wanted a wheelchair lift that was both portable and customizable to match the aesthetic of their onboard theater to provide access to the stage.
Looking for Options
Ascension had worked with Princess Cruise Lines on previous projects but the Emerald Princess was different. For this project, Princess Cruise Lines wanted a wheelchair lift customized to match its newly renovated theater on the Emerald Princess.
Solution: Protégé 5442P Portable
Ascension built a portable Protégé wheelchair lift for Princess Cruise Lines’ Emerald Princess cruise ship. The portability of the 5442P Protégé enables its use at the theaters stage, as well as other locations throughout the ship if necessary.
The lift was customized with a custom color to match that of the ship’s theater. Furthermore, the windows of the lift were etched to fit into the Art Deco design. Finally, wireless stanchions were included to enable outside operation when necessary.
Implementation
While Ascension had worked with Princess Cruise Lines before, the Emerald Princess project was the first that featured meticulous customizations. As a result, Ascension sent out our Head of National Development Sascha Schmitt to see the ship and its theater firsthand. While he was there, Sascha, learned about the Emerald Princess, the theater remodel, where the portable wheelchair lift was to be stored when not in use, and exactly what Princess wanted. This hands-on approach enabled Ascension to deliver a wheelchair lift fully fit to serve the cruise line.
Conclusion
Ascension continues to partner with Princess Cruise Lines to provide ADA-compliant accessibility, ensuring that every cruise goer can enjoy trip to the fullest.
Ascension Wheelchair Lift Solutions
Protégé
The Protégé is an ADA-compliant wheelchair lift used in many low-rise situations. The lift’s low-profile and modern design enables it to integrate well into surrounding architecture. Portable options provide an easy method of delivering access to multiple locations, while its large window area serves to enhance rider safety, enable caregiver monitoring, and dispel rider anxiety.
Clarity
Like its siblings, the Clarity excels in ADA compliance and ease of use. The lift is compact and reliable, requiring little space for installation. Its modern appearance and enclosed design offer both safety and aesthetic value. The Clarity offers up to two-story travel, as well as pitless installation and rampless access, making the lift a top-tier accessibility solution.
Virtuoso
For the Virtuoso, safety is paramount. Fully ADA compliant, the lift also features an enclosed design to prevent falls, as well as 360° safety skirting to stop casual access to the underside. The Virtuoso’s user-friendly interface and quiet operation provide a seamless experience for all users, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a safe accessibility solution.
How Can Ascension Lifts Help You?
Ascension Has What You're Looking For
A place must be both accessible and good looking. Fortunately, that fits Ascension to a T.
Lifecycle and Support
Ascension was founded in 1990 and we offer the longest, most comprehensive warranty in the business, meaning; we’re not going anywhere. Ascension’s 10-Year Drivetrain, 4-Year Parts, 90-Day Labor warranty is a commitment from us to you that your wheelchair lift will run when you need it, where you need it, for a long, long time.
Lifting Height
Many of our customers ask about lifting height, as they all have varying needs. Ascension offers low-rise capable lifts (Protégé), rise up to two stories (Clarity), and anything in between (Virtuoso). No matter where you need access, Ascension has you covered.
Outer Dimensions
Installing anything requires space and a campus has precious little to spare. That’s why Ascension wheelchair lifts feature small footprints. This enables each lift to fit easily into compact locations, while still supplying an ADA compliant inner platform. Ascension footprints include: Protégé: 52″ W x 61″ L, Clarity: 48″ W x 68″ L, Virtuoso: 52″ W x 64″ L
Operational Volume
Every Ascension wheelchair lift utilizes some version of a hydraulic drive system. As such, each system is both reliable, strong, and quiet. Descending, each lift is virtually silent. While ascending, each lift features a volume about normal conversation level (~60 dB).
Etched Windows
Ascension can provide etched windows on any lift to include facility or organization name and logo, scenes, and much more
Custom Paint Colors
Ascension offers choice in color so that your lift matches with you vision, at no additional cost.
Additional Industry Information
Additionally, Ascension provides several benefits that standout among our competition:
Pitless Design
Unlike many wheelchair lifts, Ascension lifts features a pitless design to remove the need for excavation or damage to a location during the lift’s install.
Towerless Design
Rather than the large tower used to hold lifting mechanisms common to wheelchair lifts, Ascension lifts feature a towerless design, made possible from housing the lifting mechanisms in the walls of the lifts. This enables each Ascension lift to maintain a low profile aesthetic and small footprint.
Flush Entrance
Each Ascension wheelchair lift features a flush entrance and exit without the need for ramps. Ramps require greater floor space to use and thus a larger area for a lift installation.
Window Space
Each Ascension wheelchair lift has been designed to maximize the clear window space present in order to prevent rider anxiety and allow caregivers to monitor the rider.
Fully ADA Compliant
Every Ascension wheelchair lift does comply with ADA, ADAAG, and ASME A18.1 requirements.
Tell Us About Your Project!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Ascension wheelchair lifts provide all applicable operating and safety requirements necessary for compliance with ADA standards.
All Ascension lift models come with a standard 10-year drive train, 4-year parts, and 90-day labor warranty, setting an unparalleled industry benchmark. Optional extended warranties are also available.
Just give us a call at (520) 881-3993 and ask for Ascension Sales; you may also use our Contact Us form or email us.
In general, we recommend inspecting the lift’s hydraulic fluid level at six-month intervals. For other specific questions regarding maintenance, get in touch with us.
Typically due to code requirements; however, some installation locations are better served with permanent modal wheelchair lifts instead of portable versions. Because states, regions, and municipalities throughout the US and elsewhere all adopt different versions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, a permanent wheelchair lift, rather than a portable lift, may be required by law.
All Ascension lifts may be used outdoors. For extended outdoor use, cold climates, and other harsh environments, an optional Outdoor Package is available.
The Ascension Virtuoso 5460 Model Series has a 60” maximum rise and the Ascension Protégé 5442 Model Series has a 42” maximum rise. The Ascension Clarity 16E features a 168” maximum rise.
Some Ascension models can interface with some full-height doors in some locations. Please contact us to get the answers for your specific application.
There are over 100 Ascension wheelchair lift configurations! Therefore, there are no one-size-fits-all drawings. For project-specific drawings, contact us to get appropriate configurations for your unique requirements.
Ascension wheelchair lifts are designed for use in public facilities, although they may be suitable for use in some home applications.
Ascension’s standard availability for portable models is two weeks after receipt of order. Permanent models are custom made; therefore, the lead time can vary from four to ten weeks.
Right here, of course! We sell direct as the manufacturer. Contact us today for a free estimate!
Yes! Ascension sells direct as the manufacturer in many areas worldwide.
Yes! The Ascension Virtuoso 5460P and the Ascension Protégé 5442P may be CE-marked for distribution in the European Union.