Including mobility, medical and dietary requirements
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 preferably be provided at the time of booking, or at least 30 days before sailing.
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.
The documentation should be sent directly to your travel advisor.
At MSC Cruises, we are committed to ensuring that guests with reduced mobility can enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling cruise.
For guests who primarily use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, we highly recommend reserving a cabin for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility. 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.
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 cabin 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 cabin, 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 cabin space. For safety and convenience, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and other assistive mobility devices must be stored inside your cabin when not in use. They cannot be stored in the hallways. Please take this into consideration when booking a regular cabin.
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:
Please confirm the dimensions of the specific vessel on which you will be sailing to ensure your mobility device comfortably navigates through the cabin 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.
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
MSC Cruises is dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for guests with visual impairments:
Braile signs are available at the entrance of the cabin door, safety instructions are available in braille and in an audible version, majority of the onboard elevators' signs are in braille with the addition of the audio call signal on ship 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
MSC Cruises is committed to facilitating clear and effective communication for guests with hearing and speech impairments.
In accordance with International Safety Regulations (SOLAS), guests with hearing disabilities will automatically have a TDD/TTY System kit installed in their cabin. 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
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 cabins 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 extension cords are 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.
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 arrange for your regular oxygen needs while onboard.
For guests who require mechanical ventilation, it is essential to provide detailed information at the time of booking and 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, or itineraries with multiple consecutive sea days in remote locations with limited supply opportunities in case of device failure.
If you require oxygen, please note the following:
To inform us of your respiratory need, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility&Medical Request Form
MSC Cruises S.A. 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 Cruises S.A. 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 listed in the Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 which are: gluten, soybean, peanuts, lupin, nuts or treenuts, sesame, crustaceans, fish, molluscs, dairy product&meal, egg, mustard, celery sulphite&sulphur dioxide; therefore, guests are invited to inform the Company of any such allergy at the time of booking but not later than 30 days prior to sailing (by duly filling out theAccessibility&Medical Request Form). We further ask guests to report such allergy or intolerance 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 food requests and reduce the risk of cross-contamination, we therefore 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 efforts, we cannot exclude the possibility of cross contamination between foods. We recommend our guests who are aware of allergies or intolerances always bring with them their emergency medications as prescribed by the doctor to be able to react in case of any allergic reaction.
When booking a tour with a meal included, please remember to always communicate your allergy/intolerance to the appropriate staff. Please be informed that on the private island and private beaches, the local operational restrictions do not allow to handle allergens. Guests with food allergies should consume their meals in the dining room onboard our ships.
To inform us of your special dietary request, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility&Medical Request Form.
Besides guests with serious allergies to gluten or wheat, MSC Cruises acknowledges that some guests nowadays are opting for gluten-free options as part of a healthy lifestyle.
MSC Cruises offers dedicated menus for meals with gluten-free ingredients (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in the main restaurants on most of its ships. Please be advised that on MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia,MSC Opera and MSC Lirica guests can find only a limited selection of pre-packaged gluten-free snacks such as biscuits, croissants, sponge cakes and muffins. Coeliac guests are therefore advised to book a cruise on any other fleet ships.
On some ships, you might find a corner in the buffet area that displays dishes with gluten-free ingredients that can be suitable for guests who are not allergic to gluten or wheat but prefer to follow a gluten-free diet.
Coeliac guests should always reach out to the dining supervisor instead.
Kosher meals (pre-packaged breakfast, lunch, and dinner) may be available on board for an additional charge. Please consult your travel advisor for applicable prices. 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 allergies.
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.
Vegetarian and Vegan-friendly dishes are incorporated into our buffet restaurant culinary offer. Our menu in the dining room includes always a vegetarian and vegan option.
Guests with food intolerances, allergies and/or needs are requested to inform MSC Cruises of any allergy or special diet request via the Accessibility&Medical Request Form and, once on board, confirm their requirements at Reception-Guest Service and/or with the Maître d’hôtel.
For medical reasons or for infants, guests can specifically request some food to be blended onboard.
Guests can also bring their special sealed food on board, following written approval from the Company. Products to be taken onboard should respect EU food labelling / packaging regulations, should not have an imminent expiry date, once open should be consumed as per instruction on the label.
Inside your cabin you find a cooler, which is not a fridge, therefore it cannot be used for storing food. The onboard personnel are not authorized to store or manipulate (cook, heat, etc.) food that our guests bring on board.
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.
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.
Guests with special implanted devices (for example pacemakers) are requested to inform our security staff at the time of embarkation, so the staff can provide safe, alternative screening.
A service dog is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability. MSC welcomes service dogs on board its cruise vessels, provided they are in good health and in possession of all documents necessary for entry to the foreign countries visited during the cruise. For cruises including UK waters, the dog must be a full member of either Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).
Service dogs still in training, emotional support and companion animals are not recognized as assistance dogs, hence not allowed on MSC vessels.
MSC Cruises can provides a relief area with mulch but the guest, on his/her part, undertakes to be personally responsible for the custody, nutrition and general care of the animal throughout the period spent on board (with the help of a carer or fellow traveler if applicable) and for the possible damage caused by their service dog. If the service dog's behaviour 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 is not available nor trained to care for the dog, nor can the dog be left in the cabin unattended.
We do not offer the service of a vet on board and the ship's doctors are unable to assist. Due to the nature of some shore excursions, kindly note service animals may not be permitted.
It's the guest's responsibility to ensure that all documents related to the service dog are in compliance with all local regulations for each port of call of the itinerary and are submitted to the company at least 60 days prior to the start of the cruise.
Please note that for the Worldcruise, documentation needs to be presented to the company at least 6 months prior to start the cruise as its special itinerary calls more than 15 countries, and 50 ports, some of them very remote and with very strict bio-security requirements.
Hard copies of the documents must be provided at embarkation and to Reception-Guest Service once onboard.
Please be advised that in some ports of call the service dog might not be allowed to get off, according to local immigration rules.
The documentation and immunization requirements are established by government authorities and not MSC Cruises. Please note requirements are subject to change without notice, and travel plans/certifications shall be shared with our Accessibility team for them to confirm compliance with all destinations Port Health Authorities, considering the departure/transit ports too. If any problem is experienced with the dog documentation upon entry in any port, all related costs for either the quarantine of or re-export of the dog will be the dog owner responsibility. Pet Passport and Third Country Certificates must be signed, dated and stamped by an Official Certified Veterinarian. Please be aware that obtaining those permits can take weeks or months, and some countries may not allow animals to enter at all. Copies of completed permits for each port of call must be sent to MSC Cruises Accessibility Team as soon as available, prior to the sail date.
Documentation that is required includes but not limited to:
You might want to consult the following websites:
Itineraries in European waters https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets/travellers-points-entry_en
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html
Bermuda https://www.gov.bm/online-services/import-dog-or-cat
Bahamas https://bahfsabahamas.com/ePermitting/PETS-Import-Permit-Step-by-Step-User-Manual-update.pdf?v9324
Hawaii Department of Agriculture [https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/]
Assistance dogs - DAFF [https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs/assistance-dogs]
New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/bringing-cats-and-dogs-to-nz/assistance-and-guide-dogs/
Important note: You are responsible for obtaining the import permits from all countries that require those special documents and must always have those original documents available. Specific information may be obtained by contacting the United States Department of Agriculture, or the applicable United States consulate, or embassy of each country to determine such country’s policies and obtain the permits needed for each port of call on the sailing itinerary.
Our onboard medical centres are available 24/7 for emergencies. In addition, we offer twice daily clinics for routine medical needs.
Our onboard medical facilities meet or exceed the standards for cruise ship medical centres adopted by CLIA and include some diagnostic and treatment abilities; however, the ship’s medical centers do not have the same resources as a land-based hospital. They are staffed by full-time registered doctors and nurses, including paramedics on some ships. Their primary role is to provide emergency medical care and short-term treatment, rather than long-term nursing care. Guests unable to manage their daily personal care activities (feeding, bathing, dressing and toileting etc.) should travel with a caregiver who can assist with these tasks.
Please be advised that the non-medical staff on board are not specifically trained to give daily care and are not able to assist guests with personal tasks or personal hygiene needs (eating, dressing, bathroom or bathing).
For the health and safety of both mother and unborn child, MSC Cruises cannot accommodate guests who will be more than 23 weeks and 6 days pregnant at any time during the cruise. If you are pregnant but will be less than 23 weeks and 6 days at any point during the cruise, you will need to provide a letter from your obstetrician/gynecologist confirming your expected due date, that your pregnancy is low-risk, and that you are fit to travel without immediate access to specialized obstetric or neonatal care.
To inform us of your pregnancy, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility&Medical Request Form
MSC Cruises does not provide individual haemodialysis.
However, guests who are stable and able to independently manage home peritoneal dialysis are welcome to sail.
Please be aware that there are risks associated with travelling on cruise ships while undergoing dialysis. Please review the Dialysis Risk form [Link to risk form]. It is crucial to discuss your risk with your nephrologist before choosing to cruise. Please notify MSC Cruises of your condition at the time of booking or at least 30 days before sailing. Guests on peritoneal dialysis are recommended not to travel on remote itineraries or those with multiple days at sea due to the lack of access to specialist care.
Guests who require peritoneal dialysis are responsible for supplying all equipment, medications and supplies necessary to self-perform dialysis. You are also responsible for ensuring these are safely on board on time prior to sailing.
To inform us of your special requirement for peritoneal dialysis, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility&Medical Request Form
MSC Cruises does not provide enteral or parental nutrition, but guests who independently manage it are welcomed onboard. Guests are responsible for providing all the feed and equipment required for the cruise.
To inform us of your special requirement for special nutrition, please fill in the form at the following link Accessibility&Medical Request Form
It is strongly recommended that you bring an ample supply of your personal medication, sufficient for the duration of the cruise and for a few days after the cruise ends. Please keep all your medication in its original labelled packaging. It's also advisable to carry a prescription record or a written list of your medications, including the drug name, dosage, and times taken. While the medical centre can assist in replacing some medications, MSC Cruises cannot guarantee that the exact medication or an equivalent will be available onboard.
Please note that cabin coolers are not refrigerators and are not suitable for storing refrigerated medications. If you need to refrigerate medication, we suggest bringing cool bags with ice packs or requesting cold storage medication in the medical centre.
Be aware that restrictions may apply to guests travelling with certain prescribed controlled drugs, and it is your responsibility to ensure you comply with the regulations of the countries you will be visiting.
It remains the responsibility of the guest to familiarize themselves with the above instructions and check the validity of their medication list with their treating physician or pharmacist.
Guests are not permitted to bring substances or medications containing drugs of abuse or designated equivalents on board. This applies to all of the geographic areas we visit. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Marijuana (including prescription / medical marijuana), or any derivatives of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
• Illegal narcotics / drugs including synthetic designer drugs / New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
Guests are advised to consult their medical provider or travel medicine clinic prior to the cruise for information regarding recommended/required vaccinations for the planned itinerary. 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.
If you visit the Medical Centre and need a copy of your medical records or an invoice for insurance purposes, please ask the medical staff during your visit.
If you have already disembarked the ship please follow the steps below:
Requests are handled as quickly as possible. However, please allow up to 5 working days for processing and delivery.
Due to the unique and varied ports of call on the World cruise itinerary, as well as the remote locations and limited availability of specialist medical support in some ports, all medical and accessibility requests must be communicated further in advance compared to regular cruises. This allows us to make the necessary checks and arrangements for your stay onboard. Regrettably we are unable to consider last-minute requests.
Service animal requests need to be communicated at least 6 months before sailing date to allow checking with all different local authorities.
Ports of call with a tender service may not be accessible for guests reliant on a wheelchair or scooter to travel or move around. Please feel free to request the list of ports with tender services before finalizing your booking.
Mechanical ventilation and Peritoneal Dialysis are not available during the worldcruise.
Specific special diets including halal or kosher meals should be communicated at least 3 months before sailing.
Please be reminded that during the Worldcruise, MSC Cruises will not accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks plus 6 days pregnant at any time during the cruise.