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.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Pregnant Women: Atlas Ocean Voyages cannot accommodate guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of or at any time during the cruise.
Infants: Infants must be 12 months of age or older at the time of boarding, not including Antarctica Sailings. Children traveling to Antarctica must be at least eight years of age.
Azamara
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of embarkation. 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. Any cruise that has three or more consecutive days at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/cruisetour.
Celebrity Cruise Line
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of embarkation. A physician's letter must be faxed to the Access Department (1-954-628-9622) 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.
Hurtigruten Cruises
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.
MSC Cruises
Pregnant Women: MSC cannot for safety reasons carry pregnant passengers of 24 weeks or more by the end of the cruise. In the event the passenger intends to bring on board any child under the age of 12 months, MSC recommends seeking medical advice from the child’s physician confirming fitness to travel on an international ocean voyage.
Infants: Must be at least 6 months old to sail.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Pregnant Women: Norwegian will make every effort to accommodate you, providing you will not enter the 24th week of pregnancy at any point during the cruise. Please include your cruise details in an email to the Access Desk (accessdesk@ncl.com) with a medical certificate establishing your due date prior to your cruise.
Infants: Minimum age is 6 months. For sailings with three or more consecutive days at sea, infants must be 12 months old at the time of sailing.
Oceania Cruise Line
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Doctor's note required.*
Infants: Infants must be at least 12 months of age on the day of boarding.
Ponant
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.
Regent (Radisson) Cruise Line
Pregnant Women: Women who are 24 weeks along or more, or will reach 24 weeks by the end of the cruise, will be unable to take the cruise. All pregnant women must travel with a written letter of permission from their doctor.
Infants: Infants must be six months of age as of the first day of the cruise. For voyages that have three or more consecutive days at sea, infants must be at least one year of age as of the first day of the cruise. Guests traveling with a young infant that does not meet the infant policy will be denied boarding.
Seabourn Cruise Line
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 Cruise Line
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 6-12 months depending on cruise ship. Parents must notify Silversea of any children 6-12 months and sign a waiver. Silversea does not provide for the care or entertainment of children, and reserves the right to limit all children under 3 years old.
Star Clipper Cruise Line
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.
Viking Cruises
Pregnant Women: Viking is unable to accommodate women past their 24th week of pregnancy.
Infants: Viking is dedicated to adults and therefore does not carry children or teenagers under the age of 18.
Windstar Cruise Line
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 8 years.