Please review the details below regarding different accessibility needs. This will help you to determine whether the accommodation we are able to provide is right for you and your party to travel safely and comfortably. Any accessibility or medical request can be flagged by completing the Accessibility & Medical Request Form available HERE and at all accredited travel agencies. This information should be provided at time of booking but no later than 30 days prior to sailing
- If you are pregnant, the information should be provided at least 2 weeks before sailing date
- For service dogs this is required at least 60 days before the sailing date.
- Note that due to the complexity of the Worldcruise itinerary, early deadlines apply.
This allows us time to provide the best possible service for our guests, which is determined by the facilities and resources on board each ship. If we do not receive timely notification, MSC Cruises cannot guarantee the requested accommodation. However, we will always strive to ensure every guest receives the accommodation they need to enjoy their time onboard. Due to the limited availability of accessible accommodation, guests are recommended to notify us as soon as possible as they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
if you booked through our website, the documentation should be sent to the following email address: specialservicesuk@msccruises.co.uk. However, If you booked your cruise through a travel agency, the documentation should be sent directly to your travel advisor.
1.1 REDUCED MOBILITY
For guests who primarily use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, we highly recommend reserving a stateroom for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility. These staterooms 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.
While standard staterooms may be suitable for guests with minor mobility impairments or those who do not require a wheelchair to move around the stateroom, they are not suitable for guests who rely on a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. Since availability of reduced mobility stateroom is limited, and requests will be accommodated in a first come, first served basis, it is important to request it as soon as possible and consider also the possibility of considering eventually a different sailing date. If you choose to book a standard stateroom, you are acknowledging that you can stand for brief moments and take a step 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.
The wheelchair should not exceed 50cm (20 inches) in width, have a weight limit of 45kgs (99 pounds), and, when folded, should not exceed 50cm (20 inches). These limitations are in place to ensure safe maneuverability and storage within the stateroom space. For safety and convenience, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and other assistive mobility devices must be stored inside your stateroom when not in use. They cannot be stored in the hallways. Please take this into consideration when booking a regular stateroom.
This policy aligns with International Safety Regulations and helps maintain clear and safe passageways throughout the ship.
Given the strict International Safety Regulations governing cruise ships and the limited capacity for carrying assistive mobility devices, it is imperative that you declare any wheelchairs or scooters you intend to bring onboard at the time of booking or as soon as you become aware of the need to bring them. This advance notice enables us to assess space availability and make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your device. Failure to provide this information at the time of booking may, regrettably, result in your device being denied boarding, a situation we are committed to helping you avoid.
To further support guests with reduced mobility, MSC Cruises offers a range of services:
- Mobility Aids: Guests are welcome to bring manual or electric wheelchairs or scooters, as well as other mobility aids such as canes, rollators, walkers, and crutches, which need to be stored inside the stateroom. Please be reminded to communicate it during your cruise reservation through the Accessibility & Medical Request Form. If you plan to bring an electric wheelchair or scooter, please specify the type of battery it uses (gel, dry, or lithium). For safety reasons, wet batteries are not permitted on board MSC ships.
Please confirm the dimensions of the specific vessel on which you will be sailing to ensure your mobility device comfortably navigates through the stateroom door.
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 onboard 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.
- Stateroom Amenities: Upon request, we can provide a shower stool in standard staterooms to enhance comfort and safety.
- Shore Excursions: MSC Cruises offers "Easy & Accessible" tours specifically designed for guests with reduced mobility. We recommend inquiring about the availability of these tours at the time of booking, as they may vary depending on the destination.
- Embarkation and Disembarkation Assistance: Please be informed that outside the cruise terminal assistance is not guaranteed. However, assistance is available from the ship to the pier and vice versa at ports of call, but once ashore MSC will no longer be able to provide assistance, and guests will need to be able to enjoy their visit autonomously.
- Airport and Flight Assistance: If you have booked your flights through MSC Cruises, you are requested to notify us at the time of the booking about any accessibility needs.
- Accessible transfers: Should you need to purchase a transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal and vice versa, please ensure you request an accessible transfer via your travel advisors or our MSC Cruises Contact Center.
Tender Service: In some ports, due to operational needs, the ship is anchored, therefore guests will disembark from the ship using a complementary tender service that runs from ship to shore for the entire duration of the ship’s stay in port.
If the cruise itinerary includes ports where tender boats are used for shore access, please be aware that guests must be sufficiently fit and mobile to embark and disembark from the tender without assistance. This means that guests must take into consideration the use of steps, the possibility of gaps, height difference between the platform and the tender, the potential sudden movement of the tender, the dimensions and weight of the mobility device. Please be informed that crew members are not permitted to carry wheelchairs or mobility scooters into the tender. In case of any doubt about the itinerary, please feel free to reach out to our MSC Contact Center.
To inform us of your reduced mobility need, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility & Medical Request Form
1.2 VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Guests with visual impairments will find braille signs available at the entrance of the stateroom door and safety instructions available in braille (on top of an English audible version). Moreover, majority of the onboard elevators' signs are in braille with the addition of the audio call signal on ships of last generation.
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 session in chapter 1.8.
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 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.
The more information is provided, the more we will be able to provide accommodation for your needs. For example, knowing the degree of visual impairment and the level of autonomy will help us to understand the level of assistance you may require and allow us to provide appropriate support.
To inform us of your visual impairment, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility & Medical Request Form
1.3 HEARING & SPEECH IMPAIRMENTS
In accordance with International Safety Regulations (SOLAS), guests with hearing disabilities will automatically have a TDD/TTY System kit installed in their stateroom. This kit typically includes light and vibrating devices installed under the mattress of the bed, a text phone to communicate with Reception-Guest Service, and an analog alarm clock to ensure you can receive important alerts and communicate effectively. As these kits are available in limited numbers on each ship, they will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.
For minor hearing impairments, a sound amplifier is available at the main Reception-Guest Service to increase the quality of communication with our staff.
Guests can also join a cruise with a sign language interpreter to further enhance communication access. A meeting with the onboard staff on embarkation day can be requested to have a general overview of the program of the ship and entertainments activities.
To inform us of your request for your visual impairment, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility & Medical Request Form
1.4 RESPIRATORY NEEDS
CPAP / BIPAP
If you use a CPAP or BIPAP machine, kindly ensure that your device is compatible with the ship's power supply, which is 120V/60Hz or 240V/60Hz. Outlets in guest staterooms accommodate both U.S.-style and Northern European-style plugs. We recommend carrying your electrical devices onboard as hand luggage to prevent any damage during transit. Complimentary distilled water and extension cords are available onboard; however, a charge will apply if the extension cord is not returned. For safety reasons, guests are not permitted to bring their own extension cords onboard. If you require any extension cords, please request them at the time of booking.
Oxygen
Please be aware that the onboard medical center has a limited oxygen supply, primarily intended for use by patients within the medical facility. Therefore, if you require long-term oxygen therapy, it is your responsibility to make arrangements for your regular oxygen needs while onboard.
If you require oxygen, please note the following:
- Oxygen Concentrators: Like any other electrical device, oxygen concentrators must be compatible with the onboard power supply. Battery backup is recommended, and concentrators should be carried as hand luggage.
- Compressed Gas Cylinders: Arrangements for oxygen cylinder supply must be made through a vendor. The maximum permitted size is E or M-24 size (680 L at 2,200 psi). For safety reasons, only one cylinder is allowed in the stateroom at any time, although additional secure storage may be available upon request. Secure cylinder storage is limited and should be requested well in advance of your sailing date. You are responsible for ensuring that your supply has been delivered and safely stowed before sailing. Please be aware that oxygen cylinders may be restricted on flights, so it is your responsibility to consult with the airline prior to travel.
- Liquid Gas Reservoir: Liquid oxygen reservoirs with a maximum weight of 55 kg (121 lbs) may be permitted if suitable safe storage is available onboard. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Safety Department. Requests should be made at the time of booking or as soon as possible. You are responsible for filling portable cylinders, as the ship's crew is not trained to do this.
Mechanical ventilation
· For guests who require mechanical ventilation, it is essential to provide detailed information at the time of booking or at least 30 days before sailing. This information should include details about the ventilator type, spare battery capacity, and the caregivers who are able to operate the equipment. We do not recommend traveling on remote itineraries, including ocean crossings, specific regions such as Antarctica or Africa, itineraries with multiple consecutive sea days, or in remote locations where resources are limited in case of device failure.
To inform us of your respiratory need, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility & Medical Request Form
1.5 COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
To better anticipate the needs of our guests with cognitive, behavioral or mental health conditions, we recommend consulting with your doctor before your cruise and consider traveling with a companion for support in case of need as our staff cannot provide daily personal assistance.
- Our medical team handles emergencies, not daily care. Depending on local regulations, you might need a fitness-to-travel certificate.
- Be aware that the cruise environment has noise, crowds, and bright lights. Please take this into consideration together with the size of the ship in terms of guest capacity when choosing your cruise.
Please be also advised that children with autism are welcome in our Mini Club provided they are toilet-trained and independent, as our youth staff who are fully trained in autism cannot assist with personal care.
To inform us of your cognitive condition, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility & Medical Request Form
1.6 SPECIAL DIET & FOODALLERGIES, MEALS WITH GLUTEN-FREE INGREDIENTS, KOSHER MEALS & HALAL MEAT, VEGETARIAN & VEGAN MEALS
MSC Cruises S.A. makes every effort to accommodate our guests' dietary requirements whenever possible.
We keep special needs in mind when planning our menus and serving our meals.
1.6.1 ALLERGENS
MSC Cruises S.A. is aware that some foods may cause an allergic reaction due to intolerance of some ingredients such as the 14 major recognized allergens listed in the Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 which are: gluten, soybean, peanuts, lupin, nuts or treenuts, sesame, crustaceans, fish, mollusc, dairy product, egg, mustard, celery sulphite & sulphur dioxide; therefore, guests are advised to inform the Company of any such allergy at the time of booking but not later than 30 days prior to sailing (by filling out the Accessibility Form). We further ask guests to report the special diet needs to 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 special dietary requests and reduce the unintentional risk of cross-contamination, we therefore strongly advise guests with allergies to have their meals in the main dining rooms, where our dining staff are best able to assist.
Although MSC has implemented robust preventive measures, the risk of accidental allergen cross-contamination cannot be completely ruled out due to the limited space on the ship.
We advise our guests who are knowledgeable about allergies or intolerances to always carry their prescribed emergency medications as directed by their physician, enabling them to respond effectively in the event of an allergic reaction.
When booking a tour with a meal included, please remember to always communicate your special dietary need to the staff.
Please be advised that on private islands and private beaches, we have limited capacity to ensure full allergen control. Consequently, MSC recommends that guests with specific dietary requirements have their meals in the Main Dining restaurant on board.
1.6.2 MEALS WITH GLUTEN-FREE INGREDIENTS
MSC Cruises offers dedicated menus for meals with gluten-free ingredients (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in the main restaurants on most of its ships. Guests sensitive to gluten should always reach out to the dining supervisor.
Please be advised that on MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica guests are offered a limited selection of commercial, pre-packaged gluten-free snacks such as biscuits, croissants, sponge cakes and muffins.
Coeliac guests or guests with sensitivity to gluten should always reach out to the dining supervisor instead.
1.6.3 KOSHER MEALS
Kosher meals (pre-packaged breakfast, lunch, and dinner) may be available on board for an additional charge of €25/$30 pp/day. Kosher meals can be consumed in the main restaurants and must be booked at least 30 days before the ship’s departure. Considering the restricted selection of choices, please do not forget to always specify any allergy or intolerance.
1.6.4 HALAL MEAT
Halal products (beef, lamb and poultry) may be available on board following the former request of the guest at least 30 days before the ship’s departure. If we are notified outside this deadline, we will do everything in our power to provide the services requested, but this cannot be guaranteed at such short notice.
