Cruising with a mobility scooter
The short answer
You can bring or rent a scooter on every major line. Check three things: will it fit your cabin door, is the battery allowed, and can it go ashore? Norwegian, for example, allows scooters up to 26 inches wide in a standard cabin, with gel-cell batteries.
Will it fit your cabin?
What the rules say
Norwegian Cruise Line: In a standard (non-accessible) stateroom you need a collapsible wheelchair, or a motorized wheelchair or scooter no wider than 26 inches to fit the door.
Source: Norwegian Cruise Line, checked September 21, 2026
Carnival Cruise Line: On Carnival Celebration, Festivale, Jubilee, Mardi Gras and Tropicale, not every stateroom fits a scooter. Check the ship's accessible deck plan before you choose.
Source: Carnival Cruise Line, checked September 21, 2026
Virgin Voyages: Sailors who use a wheelchair or scooter regularly should bring their own or rent from Scootaround or Special Needs Group. Non-folding chairs and scooters need a fully accessible cabin.
Source: Virgin Voyages, checked September 21, 2026
Batteries and charging
What the rules say
Norwegian Cruise Line: Motorized wheelchairs and scooters are allowed in accessible staterooms if they run on gel-cell batteries and the charger works on 110 volts.
Source: Norwegian Cruise Line, checked September 21, 2026
Renting instead of bringing
Rental companies deliver a scooter to your cabin and collect it at the end. You avoid hauling your own through the airport.
What the rules say
Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian points guests to Scootaround, which rents scooters, wheelchairs, power chairs and oxygen concentrators for cruises.
Source: Norwegian Cruise Line, checked September 21, 2026
Princess Cruises: You can pre-reserve a wheelchair or other mobility device from Princess's listed vendors, and it is delivered to your stateroom.
Source: Princess Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
Going ashore
What the rules say
Holland America Line: Staff are not allowed to carry scooters or wheelchairs heavier than 100 lbs. The Captain makes the final call on helping guests with limited mobility, based on weather, location and the weight of the guest or device.
Source: Holland America Line, checked September 21, 2026
Virgin Voyages: To board most tenders you must be able to take steps. Motorized wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed on tenders unless the ship and tender allow roll-on boarding.
Source: Virgin Voyages, checked September 21, 2026
MSC Cruises: Where tenders are used, guests must be fit and mobile enough to get on and off the tender without assistance. Crew may not carry wheelchairs or scooters onto the tender.
Source: MSC Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
Rather talk it through? Kathryn Lyn answers the phone.
Call (239) 357-0814