Special Considerations for Pregnant Women and Infants
Ensuring a comfortable and safe journey for all our guests
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 GXC cruise counselor if you are pregnant or planning to cruise with an infant to insure you meet all required guidelines.
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 GXC ((855) 872-2346) 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: Prohibited to sail if she will enter the 24th week of pregnancy before or at any time during the cruise. A pregnant woman who will not be entering her 24th week of pregnancy before or any time during the cruise, must submit, prior to departure, Carnival's Attending Physician Pregnancy Certification Form. This form must be filled out by the guest's attending physician certifying that her gestational status is in accordance with this policy, and that the expecting mother is fit to sail.
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 GXC ((855) 872-2346) 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: Pregnant women are allowed to sail only if pregnant for 24 completed weeks or less on the date of cruise disembarkation. All women must provide a physician's letter stating the estimated date of delivery and that the mother and baby are in good health and fit to travel and 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. Costa does not allow infants (children under the age of 2) to be booked in inside categories. Infants must be booked in an Oceanview or higher with a true cabin assignment, not a guarantee. Only these higher categories can accommodate a baby cot. They have a limited number of baby cots onboard, and clients cannot bring on their own play pens or cribs.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 28 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.
Infants: All ships are adults-only.
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: Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date, or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during their cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted.
Infants: Minimum age is 6 months on most itineraries. The minimum age for Transatlantic, Hawaii and Panama Canal itineraries is 1 year.
Fathom
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation.
Infants: Children must be at least 8 years old at time of sailing.
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 GXC ((855) 872-2346) 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 pregnant for 23 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. A medical certificate establishing fitness is required.
Infants: Minimum age is 6 months
Norwegian
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 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 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 one year as of the first day of the cruise. Infant facilities are not available.
P&O Cruises
Pregnant Women: Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Pregnant women are required to provide a letter from their doctor or midwife indicating they are fit for travel.
Infants: Children must be at least 6 months at the time of embarkation. Some itineraries require children to be at least 1 year at the time of embarkation. Please check with your cruise counselor at the time of booking.
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: Pregnant women are not allowed to sail if they are entering the 24th week of their pregnancy at any point during the cruise. All pregnant women are required to produce a physician’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel and the pregnancy is not high risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD).
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 cruise tours is 5 years old. Please check with Princess Reservation Dept. to confirm.
Pullmantur
Pregnant Women: Women who are 24 weeks along or more are not permitted on board the ship. All others 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 8 years at the time of travel, provided they meet height and weight requirements of 64lbs (29kg) and 48" (1.2m) tall. Children under 18 years old are not able to participate in adventure options.
Regent
Pregnant Women: Women who are 24 weeks along or more 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 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.
Royal Caribbean
Pregnant Women: Royal Caribbean International cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy at any point before or during the cruise or cruise tour.
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/cruise tours 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 6-12 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 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.
Viking Cruises
Pregnant Women: Viking reserves the right to not accept passengers who are in an advanced state of pregnancy either upon commencement of or at any time during the cruise.
Infants: Viking Cruises does not maintain facilities or services for children aboard their cruise ships.
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 GXC ((855) 872-2346) for women in any stage of pregnancy.
Infants: Minimum age is 8 year
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 8 years at the time of travel, provided they meet height and weight requirements of 64lbs (29kg) and 48" (1.2m) tall. Children under 18 years old are not able to participate in adventure options.
Regent
Pregnant Women: Women who are 24 weeks along or more 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 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.
Royal Caribbean
Pregnant Women: Royal Caribbean International cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy at any point before or during the cruise or cruise tour.
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/cruise tours 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.