Accessibility & Medical Requests

MSC Cruises and its staff have always been attentive to the needs of their guests, and constantly strive to offer the best possible service, meeting international accessibility standards.

For information on the assistance provided on board and at our port terminals, please consult the sections below.

 

You can also find information related to Accessibility and Medical Requests in the General Booking Conditions, the Conditions of Carriage and in the FAQ section.

 

 

Informing us on any mobility, medical and dietary requirements



Guests can inform MSC Cruises of any special requirements by filling in the relevant form Accessibility and Medical Requests Form available online and at all accredited travel agencies. Please email the completed form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com . This information should preferably be provided at the time of booking, or, no fewer than 30 days before departure. This allows us time to provide the best possible service for our guests, which depends on the facilities and resources on board each ship. If we are notified after this deadline we will do everything in our power to provide the services requested, but this may not be possible at such short notice.

Guests will only be prevented from booking or embarking in exceptional circumstances, and only in the event of a serious or urgent threat to the safety of the guests or the crew.

All personal data provided by guests will be treated in a manner that fully conforms to our privacy policy. For further information on the services offered on board, on how to inform us of any accessibility and medical requests or other requirements not expressly mentioned in this section, please get in touch with your travel agent.

Pregnancy

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 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 should be consulted before setting off on a cruise to evaluate whether the guest is fit to travel.

Cabin Facilities

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

Accessible cabins, fitted out especially for guests with disabilities and/or reduced mobility, are available on every ship in the fleet. Guests requiring an accessible cabin can request it at the time of booking.

The accessible cabins are larger and offer more space for movement than regular cabins, and come with extra facilities and equipment to Accessibility and Medical Requests.

 

Check the facilities available on your preferred ship: MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Divina, MSC Euribia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Lirica, MSC Magnifica, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa, MSC World Europa.

Reduced Mobility

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

All decks, public areas and tenders are designed to be as accessible as possible for guests with reduced mobility. There might be ports or tender services you may not access with a mobility device. In addition, there are varying numbers of specially fitted-out cabins available on each ship in the fleet. For safety reasons, guests requiring assistance may be requested to travel with a carer, depending on the specific route.

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.

For detailed information on the ports of call and excursions suitable for passengers who experience mobility problems, read the relevant pages in this section, and once on board check the accuracy of the information provided.

Visual Impairments

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia have Braille signs in public areas, in lifts and at the entrance to the cabins; all the ships have deck indicators in the lifts and fully accessible public areas, decks and tenders. For their safety, and depending on their level of disability, guests may be requested to travel with a carer or guide dog.

 

For detailed information on accessible shore excursions, read the relevant pages in this section, and once on board check the accuracy of the information provided.

Hearing Impairments

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

Passengers with partial hearing disabilities can travel alone, only if they request the installation of a TDD System kit in their cabin. This kit, available in limited numbers on all ships, includes light and vibrating devices, a text phone and an analogue alarm clock.

 

Service Animals

Certified Service dogs are permitted to sail if all required documentation is provided.  Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to
specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com  30 days before sailing.  Documentation that is required includes but not limited to:

 

  • A brief, written explanation of what specific tasks the animal has been trained to perform must be provided. This can be added to the notes section of the Accessibility and Medical request form.
  • Veterinarian certificate stating that animal is healthy.
  • Department of Agriculture permits
  • Documentation as required by each port of call. Please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel for further information.

Dialysis

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

Guests undergoing peritoneal dialysis treatment can travel as normal, bringing with them all medicines and equipment that may be required during the cruise.

 

Equipment and machinery for haemodialysis treatment will only be carried on board by specialized independent companies on certain routes. For further information on this service, please contact your travel agent or our contact center.

Allergy and Food Intolerances

MSC makes every effort to accommodate our guests' dietary requirements whenever possible. We keep special dietary needs in mind when planning our menus and serving our meals. 

MSC is aware that some foods may cause an allergic reaction in certain guests due to intolerance of some ingredients such as the 14 major recognized allergens. Guests are requested to inform the Company of any such allergy at the time of booking but not later than 30 days before sailing (by duly filling out section 4.1 of this form). We further ask guests to report such allergies or intolerance to the reception, guest service, and the Maître d’hôtel in the main dining room upon first boarding the ship and prior to consuming any food or beverage onboard. 
Although there are several options at our various restaurants, our main dining rooms are best equipped to handle food requests and reduce the risk of cross-contamination. We strongly advise guests with allergies to consider taking their meals in the main dining rooms, where our dining staff are best able to assist.
Despite our diligent efforts, we cannot exclude the possibility of cross contamination between foods.
In case of doubt, the guest is advised to confer with the Maître d’Hotel, chef or bartender to know more about the ingredients.

We recommend our guests who have known allergies or intolerances to bring any emergency medications including those prescribed by their doctor aboard in order to be able to react in case of any allergic reaction. Guests with allergies and intolerances visiting our private islands (Ocean Cay) and private beaches (Pomene and Sir Bani Yas) are strongly advised to take their meals onboard the ship in the Dining Room where dietary requests can be better accommodated.

Children with Accessibility and Medical needs

Guests are required to submit a Accessibility and Medical Requests form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

 

Children with Accessibility and Medical needs have normal access to all on-board services and facilities. Although the entertainment staff do not offer a childcare service, they are trained to provide a wide range of entertainment aimed specifically at children.

 

All children, including those with Accessibility and Medical needs, are assigned to a certain entertainment area depending on their age. If necessary, children or young people with Accessibility and Medical needs  can be placed with a lower age group (with the agreement of their parents), or they can take part in specific activities, together with their parents if required.

Are vaccination and testing for COVID-19 required?

Thanks to the recent relaxation of travel restrictions worldwide, we are glad to welcome all guests back on board our ships without any testing requirements or concerns about their vaccination status.

Please remember that it is the responsibility of each guest to ensure they meet the requirements of any country they may be traveling through before, during, and after the cruise.

Does MSC Cruises offer assistance to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility?

Yes, MSC Cruises and its staff are constantly striving to provide the best service possible for all guests, including those of reduced mobility or disabilities.

Can I bring medicines on board?

Yes. If possible, they should be carried in hand luggage. We also advise our guests to carry the list of medicines they intend to take on board with them, to allow on-board medical staff to provide assistance in the event of a medical emergency.

How can I let MSC Cruises know about my special needs?

Guests can inform MSC Cruises of any special requirements by filling in the relevant form (Special Needs Form) available online and at all accredited travel agencies. Please email filled out form to specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com 30 days before sailing.

What medical service is available on board?

All MSC cruise ships have a well-equipped Medical Centre, supervised by a ship’s doctor and other medical personnel. The Medical Centre is open at the times advertised in the ship’s Daily Programme. Emergency services are available round the clock by calling the Medical Emergency number. Excluding emergencies, medical services carry a fee and prices are available on board. Guests who incur medical expenses during their cruise can ask their insurance company for reimbursement once ashore.

Do on board staff receive special training in providing assistance to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility?

All on board staff receive special in-house training that sensitizes them to the needs of passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, and which prepares them to provide any necessary assistance.

Are there excursions accessible to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility?

The majority of excursions are fully accessible, however we would recommend that all our guests to read-through the programme of available tours at the Excursion Office on board.

What is the deadline for notifying MSC Cruises of my special needs?

Guests should inform MSC Cruises of special needs at the time of booking, or at the latest 30 days before departure. After this deadline, we may be unable to provide the level of assistance required.

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.

Who will handle my special needs request and how will it be treated?

All requests are sent directly to MSC Cruises and reviewed internally. Some requests may require closer examination from a practical or medical point of view, which will be carried out by a specialized internal committee. In all cases, passenger details will be handled with absolute discretion, in accordance with our privacy policy.

How soon will I receive a reply to my special needs request?

If requests are received during working day, responses are sent out immediately. In some cases, however, closer examination may be necessary and replies may take several days.

Could MSC Cruises refuse my booking or deny me boarding?

Refusal of a booking or denial of entry would only happen in the interests of ensuring the safety of guests and the crew, which is of paramount importance.

Can a passenger with reduced mobility travel alone?

Yes, provided that they are fully independent.

Which areas of the ship are accessible to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility?

All decks and public areas of our ships are accessible to guests with reduced mobility.

Which areas of the ship are accessible to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility?

All decks and public areas of our ships are accessible to guests with reduced mobility.

Can I bring my mobility scooter/wheelchair on board?

Yes, you can. Scooters must be stored and batteries recharged in your cabin which is fitted with 110V sockets (US type sockets) and 220V sockets (German type sockets) avoiding to connect when using the hairdryer. Keep in mind that the scooter minimizes the available space within your cabin.

 

Due to safety considerations, wheelchairs and scooters cannot be stored in the corridors. Your personal scooter should be able to fit in a standard cabin with a limited entry doorway (58 cm on MSC Divina and MSC Armonia, 68 cm on MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera, 62 cm on the others). If your scooter is larger than the dimension reported for your chosen ship, you should book an H cabin or rent a smaller scooter. Segways and other similar vehicles cannot be operated on board. They shall be confiscated and can be taken off the ship to be used while in port. Also please note that the aluminium gangways used if the ramp cannot be operated are less than 80 cm wide

Vaccinations

Guests are advised to consult their National Health Service prior to the cruise for information regarding recommended vaccinations. MSC Cruises declines all responsibility for guests who do not adhere to the recommendations on the prevention of infectious diseases or do not have the appropriate vaccinations to enter a particular port during the cruise.

What do you need to know about MSC Cruises’ policy for travel to regions that have been declared affected by the zika virus?

The Centres for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) has issued guidance advising against travel in zones affected by the Zika virus for women who are pregnant and their partners as well as for women who are trying to become pregnant. 

In connection with this, MSC Cruises offers pregnant guests and the people travelling with her in the same cabin the opportunity to cancel free of charge their cruise to countries affected by Zika or rebook using cruise credit to another destination of their liking among the worldwide destinations that MSC Cruises offers to be utilized within a 24 month period. Guests should provide a copy of a medical certificate confirming their existing pregnancy.

Guests who wish to find out additional information about the Zika virus should either contact their health care provider physician or visit the CDC Website: 

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/pregnant-woman.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0801-zika-travel-guidance.html