Pregnant Women and Infants

Since the cruise lines are not equipped with major medical facilities onboard, they have established very strict policies with regard to expectant mothers and infants. Each cruise line requires expectant mothers to provide a physician's letter (faxed in advance or hand delivered at the time of check-in) stating that the guest is in good health, fit to travel, and that the pregnancy is not high risk. The letter must also include the expected date of the child's birth.

Typically, a letter is not required for infants to travel. However, each cruise line has a minimum age requirement for guests traveling, which will be verified upon check-in at the pier. This minimum age requirement varies by cruise line and even itinerary. Always tell your Vacations To Go cruise counselor if you are pregnant or planning to cruise with an infant to insure you meet all required guidelines.

American Cruise Lines

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board during any phase of pregnancy. There are no restrictions.

Infants: Minimum age is 1 month old.

Azamara Club Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to the Access Department (800-882-8292) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific cruises/cruisetours and other selected cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old.

Blount Small Ship Adventures

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board during any stage of pregnancy. No restrictions.

Children: Minimum age is 14 years.

Carnival

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter is required to be faxed to Carnival's Guest Services Department and brought to the pier for check-in.

Infants: Minimum age for sailing is 12 months for trans-Atlantic, Hawaii and South American cruises and 6 months for all other cruises.

Celebrity

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to the Access Department (800-882-8292) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, Hawaii, select South American cruises/cruisetours and other selected cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old. For the purposes of this policy, any cruise that has 3 or more days consecutive at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour.

Costa Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of embarkation. All pregnant women must provide at embarkation at physician's letter stating the estimated date of delivery and that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel and that the pregnancy is not at risk.

Infants: Minimum age is 12 months for trans-ocean crossings, World cruises and cruises 15 days or longer; minimum age is 6 months for all other sailings.

Cruise and Maritime Voyages

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 28 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months on MV Discovery. Marco Polo is an adults-only ship.

Crystal

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months. Crystal reserves the right to limit all children under the age of 3 years.

Cunard

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to Fleet Medical (661-753-0122) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 1 year for trans-Atlantic cruises, trans-Pacific cruises, World cruises and World cruise segements. Minimum age is 6 months for all other sailings.

Disney

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of embarkation. A Medical Information Form must be filled out by physician and faxed to Inventory Control (407-566-7739) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 12 weeks.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line

Pregnant Women: Women who will be more than 24 weeks pregnant at the end of the cruise are not permitted to travel.

Infants: Children less than 6 months old are not permitted to travel.

Hebridean Island Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on the day of embarkation.

Infants: Minimum age is 9 years.

Holland America

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to Access and Compliance (800-577-1731) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 12 months of age for trans-Atlantic sailings or any other itinerary which in the opinion of the Medical Department present a significant risk to infants between 6 and 12 months of age; minimum age is 6 months for all other sailings.

Hurtigruten

Pregnant Women: Women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant are required to notify Hurtigruten at least 14 days before departure and produce a medical certificate confirming fitness to travel. Each case is considered individually. It is recommended that the passenger consult her doctor.

Infants: The minimum age for Antarctica sailings is 5 years old. There is no age restriction for all other destinations.

Lindblad Expeditions

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board during any phase of pregnancy. There are no restrictions.

Infants: No minimum age requirements.

MSC Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if 26 weeks or less on day of embarkation. A medical certificate establishing fitness is required.

Infants: No minimum age requirement.

Norwegian

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to Passenger Courtesy (305-436-4147) for women in any stage of pregnancy. Doctor's note required.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months.

Oceania Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Doctor's note required.*

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months. Infant facilities are not available.

Orion Expedition Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.

Infants: Minimum age for sailing is two years on an Antarctic expedition, but infants are allowed on other voyages for a fee.

P&O Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.

Infants: Minimum age is 1 year.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Guest must provide PGC with written doctor’s permission prior to sailing that states she is fit to travel by sea and air (if PGC booked their air).

Infants: Minimum age is 1 year. Paul Gauguin Cruises reserves the right to limit all children under the age of 3 years.

Ponant Yacht Cruises

Pregnant Women: Women who are over 6 months pregnant are not authorized to board.

Infants: Minimum age is 3 years. Children under 8 years old are accepted subject to agreement at the time of booking.

Princess

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to Fleet Medical Dept (661-753-0121) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months on most itineraries. Certain exotic and lengthy itineraries may require the child to be 1 year old. The minimum age for escorted cruisetours is 5 years old. Please check with Princess Reservation Dept. to confirm.

Pullmantur

Pregnant Women: Women who are 24 weeks along or more must have a doctor’s permit confirming that they are in good health and fit to travel.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 months.

Quark Expeditions

Pregnant Women: Women who are in their first or third trimester are not authorized to board. Women in their second trimester are permitted to board with medical approval.

Infants: Minimum age is 12 years.

Regent

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter will be required.

Infants: No minimum age requirements. However, it should be noted that medical facilities onboard are not equipped to handle neonatal needs.

Royal Caribbean

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to the Access Department (305-539-6666) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, Hawaii, select South American cruises/cruisetours and other selected cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old. For the purposes of this policy, any cruise that has 3 or more days consecutive at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour.

Seabourn

Please see Cunard Cruise Line's guidelines.

SeaDream Yacht Club

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of embarkation. A physician's letter needs to be faxed to 305-856-7599 for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 1 year.

Silversea

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of embarkation. A medical certificate establishing fitness is required.

Infants: Minimum age is 6-11 months, parents must sign a waiver. Silversea reserves the right to limit all children under 3 years old.

Star Clippers

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 27 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A medical certificate establishing fitness is required. Star Clipper reserves the right to refuse passage to pregnant women due to travel risks.

Infants: Minimum age is 2 years.

Swan Hellenic

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.

Infants: There are no recreational facilities for children aboard Minerva and reservations for children are not advised.

Travel Dynamics International

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board during any stage of pregnancy. No restrictions.

Infants: Minimum age is 6 years.

Viking Cruises

Pregnant Women: The carrier reserves the right not to accept passengers who are in an advanced state of pregnancy either upon commencement of or at any time during the cruise.

Infants: Minimum age is 8 years.

Voyages of Discovery

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on the day of embarkation.

Infants: No minimum age requirements but reservations for children under the age of 11 are discouraged.

Voyages to Antiquity

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 28 weeks or less on day of embarkation, but required to produce a medical certificate of fitness to travel.

Infants: Minimum age is 12 years.

Windstar

Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to Access and Compliance (800-577-1731) for women in any stage of pregnancy.

Infants: Minimum age is 7 years.