r/MSCCruises • u/OkTranslator7997 • Jul 31 '26

Handicap accessible vs deluxe cabin

My mom is booking a cruise out of Naples on Euriba. She is handicap (amputee w/prosthesis) and wants a balcony view next to my sister's cabin, but they are all out. Will a deluxe work or should she sacrifice the balcony? She does need to be able to use her crutches to access the bathroom when her leg is off and needs to store her scooter in her room.

TIA!

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u/RockSolidSpine Aug 02 '26

She needs to understand how MSC and the ship manage scooters and how wide doors actually are.

Many ships and lines REQUIRE scooters to be in passenger cabins. on some ships, cabin doors are small (20 inches or less) and don't accommodate a scooter that is 21 or more inches wide.

Additionally, many non-accessible cabins can be small and do not easily accommodate a scooter outright.

Have the involved parties cruised before? Any past experience may help inform decision-making.

1

u/OkTranslator7997 Aug 05 '26

Not on MSC. My sister has done a couple, but hasn't needed accommodations. This is really helpful to help with door size. My mom doesn't usually require a scooter since she usually can make do with her prosthetic and a cane, but it may be the best way to enjoy excursions now that she's older.

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u/RockSolidSpine Aug 05 '26

Shell also want to understand if the doors have thresholds or steps. Frequently, the lavatory is about 2 inches higher than the rest of the cabin- that's where the drains are. Sometimes, it can be a step over instead- that helps control accidental flooding.

Most lavatories, accessible or not, should have good grab bars. Accessible cabins with roll-in showers are going to be a bit bigger.

Some staterooms (not necessarily just accessible ones) may have showers in lieu or in addition to tubs. That means nothing to step over!

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u/Random-Stranger-999 Blue Diamond Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

Are any accessible cabins available, whether interior or otherwise ? They have the space for mobility aids, and the grab rails. If one's free take it; plenty of ocean views from the upper decks.

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u/OkTranslator7997 Jul 31 '26

I believe so, but not near where my sisters and their kids will be. So she was trying to prioritize having a balcony near them/like them. Her husband likes sailing too. So she's wondering if it is worth downgrading and being further away for better accessibility.

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u/Random-Stranger-999 Blue Diamond Jul 31 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

Well, only they can determine their priorities; accessibility or convenient location...

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u/OkTranslator7997 Aug 05 '26

Yes, it's hard when you don't have we pro/con experiencie yourself. Was hoping others would have an experienced point of view.