Carnival Reminds Guests That Oversized Scooters Can Mean Denied Boarding

October 31, 2026 — Carnival Cruise Line is emailing guests about its mobility scooter rules ahead of sailing, warning that a scooter that doesn’t fit the rules can mean being refused boarding, with no compensation. Cruise Hive says the policy itself has not changed.

What happened

Guests booked on Carnival Radiance‘s November 8, 2026 sailing, a 14-night Carnival Journeys Hawaii voyage from Long Beach, received the reminder about two weeks before departure. The rules in the email:

Scooters must be kept in the guest’s cabin, not in hallways or public areas.
A scooter wider than 21 inches, or more than one scooter in a cabin, requires a fully accessible cabin.
Scooters are measured at check-in. Ones that don’t fit are not allowed on board.
Guests must fill in Carnival’s online Mobility Devices Form before sailing.
If a guest can’t make other arrangements, the email says boarding “will be denied, and no compensation will be provided.”
Guests who leave the ship early without their device pay to have it shipped back.

What it means for travelers

Measure your scooter before you book. If it is wider than 21 inches, you need a fully accessible cabin. Find this out before you buy flights.
Being refused at the pier is expensive. No compensation means you could also be stuck with flights and hotels for a cruise you can’t take. Submit the Mobility Devices Form early.
Flying with a scooter: tell your airline in advance and check its battery rules. Long Beach sailings are closest to Long Beach Airport (LGB); Los Angeles (LAX) is the other main option. Fly in the day before.