Reduced Mobility
For guests who primarily use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, we highly recommend reserving an accessible cabin . These cabins are specifically designed with enhanced accessible features, including handrails for support, ramps for easy balcony access, lower shelves for convenient storage, spacious wet-room-style bathrooms, and wider entrance doors for smoother navigation. These thoughtful features are incorporated to cater to the unique needs of individuals with reduced mobility, promoting a more comfortable and independent experience. We require our guests to complete the Accessibility and Medical Requests Form 30 days prior to sailing if an accessible cabin is required.
Wheelchairs are available on board our ships, for the use of guests during embarkation and disembarkation only, or in case of emergency. Guests that require constant use of a wheelchair or any other form of support must bring their own equipment with them. It is the responsibility of the guest to check with the relevant producers/suppliers that this equipment is safe to take on board and use on a cruise ship, and to organize both its delivery to the departure terminal in good time for embarkation, and its collection at the end of the cruise.
Pregnancy
Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form no later than 30 days before sailing.
The medical facilities and equipment on board may not be technically adequate to deal with a birth or pregnancy complications. Therefore, for safety reasons, we cannot admit women on board who will have reached or exceeded their twenty-third weeks and six days of pregnancy by the end of the cruise. Regardless of the stage of pregnancy, a doctor's note is required with the following information:
- Passenger's name
- Passenger is fit to travel with no immediate access to specialist obstetric or neonatal care.
- Expected date of delivery must be written: “Confirmed by ultrasound”.
- Pregnancy is low risk.
Cabin Facilities
While standard cabins may be suitable for guests with minor mobility impairments or those who do not require a wheelchair to move around the cabin, they are not suitable for guests who rely on a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. Since availability of reduced mobility cabins are limited, and requests will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis, it is important to request at time of booking. If an accessible cabin is booked by a guest who does not require it, they may at any time be moved to a non-accessible stateroom. If you choose to book a standard cabin, you are acknowledging that you can stand for a brief ime, take steps without a mobility device and can access the bathroom area without additional supports (a shower stool can be requested, if needed). If you use a wheelchair or scooter, it’s essential to verify that your wheelchair meets our size restrictions.
Visual Impairments
Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form at least 30 days prior to sailing. Guests with visual impairments will find braille signs available at the entrance of the cabin door. Moreover, majority of the onboard elevators' signs are in braille with the addition of the audio call signal on our newest ships. For guests with partial visual impairment, the digital daily programs and menus can be available in large print versions, upon request. Service dogs are welcomed onboard our ships. Please refer to the dedicated information under "Service Dogs".
Will the onboard staff offer assistance to a guest with visual impairments?
While our onboard staff is committed to providing excellent service, it's important to note that they are not specifically trained to provide daily care or assistance with personal tasks such as eating, dressing, or personal hygiene, nor can they offer a 24/7 guiding service. Upon embarkation day, an orientation tour of the ship can be offered upon request together with a meeting with our staff to provide a general overview of the ship’s program and entertainment activities.
Are there signs for passengers with visual disabilities?
All MSC cruise ships are fitted with Braille signage in public areas, in lifts and at the entrance to cabins. There is also a voice system in lifts on Fantasia and Musica class ships that announces the floor in English.
Service Animals
MSC Cruises provides a relief area with mulch but the guest, undertakes to be personally responsible for the custody, nutrition and general care of the animal throughout the period spent on board and for the possible damage caused by their service dog. If the service dog's behavior creates a fundamental alteration or a direct threat to safety, the dog may be denied boarding or removed from the ship along with the owner at the guest's expense. Service dogs are permitted to accompany the person with a disability in all public areas, including dining venues. While in public areas, dogs must be on a leash, harness, or other restraining device. Due to health regulations, service dogs are not permitted in recreational water facilities: pools, whirlpools, spray parks or Spa facilities. If the guest chooses to disembark the ship at a port at which the service dog must remain onboard, the guest must make arrangements to ensure that the dog is cared for. Note that the ship's staff are not available nor trained to care for the dog, nor can the dog be left in the cabin unattended.
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