Special-needs passengers requiring support and facilities to ensure they are comfortable and safe on board are well catered for on MSC Cruises’ ships. Guests can inform the cruise line of any special requirements by filling in the relevant form at the time of booking. Reduced mobility, visually impaired and hearing-impaired clients are all catered for in the MSC fleet.
Travel News recently embarked on a Mediterranean cruise on the MSC Splendida. Of the 1 637 cabins, 43 cater for guests with disabilities and reduced mobility.
Our nine-night cruise commenced in Bari, Italy, with stops in Greece and Turkey, providing a stimulating and busy itinerary. Travel News chatted to some physically challenged guests on board to hear first-hand about their experiences.
One passenger who was wheelchair-bound, said she felt very comfortable on the ship, with most areas being easily accessible and assistance forthcoming.
“My reduced mobility accessible cabin is large and offers more space for freedom of movement in my wheelchair. It comes with the extra facilities and equipment that are essential for me. The bathroom is fitted with dropdown grab bars, the floor is open and flat and the shower space accommodates my wheelchair and has a hand shower. My balcony door is a power door, so it opens automatically at the press of a button and the deck is the same height as my cabin, so I can easily wheel myself out there and enjoy the breeze. It is a large balcony so I have lots of room to turn myself around!
“I have gone on two excursions and was assisted into the tour bus and managed at most stops. The bus drivers and tour guides have been fantastic. The theatre on board also has reserved spaces for wheelchair users in the front and at the back of the theatre and ramps for access,” she added.
Visual impairments
Notable on MSC Splendida are the Braille signs in public areas, in lifts and at the entrance to the cabins. Depending on their level of disability, guests may request to travel with a guide dog as long as they are in a good state of health and have all the necessary documentation to enter the foreign countries visited on each cruise.
Guests are responsible for feeding and taking care of their guide dogs during their stay on board. Travel News spoke to a visually impaired passenger in the Yacht Club lounge. “The crew love my guide dog; they jostle every night to see who gets to take Jasper up on deck for walks. I’m impressed with the ability to care for blind people on this ship. Rails in all corridors and Braille in most areas have made it relatively easy for me to get around and, if I get stuck, the staff are always happy to assist.”
Hearing impaired
For safety reasons, MSC requires that guests with hearing disabilities must travel with a companion. Passengers with partial hearing can travel alone and will be supplied with a TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf) kit in their cabin. Wireless amplifiers and indicator lights are also available in cabins and in lifts on all MSC’s ships. All safety instructions and procedures are available on cabin TVs and explain with subtitles in six languages what passengers need to know for their safety on board.
All physically impaired passengers are assisted at safety drills by crew from their cabins to the meeting points on board.
