Pregnancy Policies by Cruise Line

Pregnancy Policies by Cruise Line

Thinking of taking a cruise while you’re expecting? It’s a great idea! Take the opportunity to relax and enjoy this time before your life is changed by a new bundle of joy. Be aware, however, that the cruise lines do have pregnancy policies in place and most do not allow passengers who are farther along than 24 weeks. Please find below a reference list of cruise line pregnancy policies. (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

Contemporary Cruise Lines-

(Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

• • Carnival Cruise Line-Pregnant women are only allowed to sail if pregnant for less than twenty-four completed weeks at time of cruise disembarkation. All pregnant women are required to produce a physician’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health and fit to travel, and that the pregnancy is not high-risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD).
  • Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line-Celebration’s policy is that guests may sail up to the 24th week of pregnancy, and they reserve the right to refuse passage to passengers that have passed this mark.
  • Costa Cruises-Bookings will not be accepted from passengers who have entered the 24th week of estimated fetal gestational age at any time during the cruise. All pregnant women must produce a medical certificate attesting to their good health and their child’s.
  • Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines-Women who will be more than 24 weeks pregnant at the end of the cruise are not permitted to travel.
  • Celestyal Cruises-Pregnant women can sail with Celestyal Cruises up to their24th week of pregnancy. They must provide a written certification for travelling ability issued by their gynecologist. They recommend that pregnant women who have not yet completed the 12th week of their pregnancy by the date of the cruise to consult their gynecologist.
  • P & O Cruises-Pregnant women are not allowed to sail once they have entered their 24^th week of pregnancy, or beyond, at any point in their cruise. All pregnant women are required to produce a doctor’s or midwife’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel and the pregnancy is not high-risk prior to travel. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD) calculated from both Last Menstrual Period (LMP) and ultrasound (if performed).
  • Your Cuba Cruise-A women can sail up to their 24th week of pregnancy, provided that they are holders of a written certification for travelling ability issued by their gynecologist.
    We recommend that pregnant women who have not yet completed the 12th week of their pregnancy by the date of the cruise, to contact their gynecologist.

  Upscale Contemporary Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • MSC Cruises-MSC and/or the Carriers do not have on board any of the cruise vessels adequate medical facilities or equipment for childbirth; therefore MSC cannot accept a Booking and the Carrier cannot carry any Passenger who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more by the end of the Cruise.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)-NCL will not accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the time their travel with NCL concludes. A statement from the expectant mother’s doctor (letter head form required), stating her due date and fitness to travel must be sent to NCL’s Access Desk (accessdesk@ncl.com).
  • Royal Caribbean International-Royal Caribbean International cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of or at any time during the cruise or cruisetour. All guests are required to sign a health questionnaire at check-in to ensure they are aware of our pregnancy policy.  A physician’s “Fit to Travel” note is required prior to sailing, stating how far along (in weeks) a guest’s pregnancy will be at the beginning of the cruise and confirming that she is in good health and not experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. The “Fit to Travel” note should be faxed to the Access Department at 1-954-628-9622. Please contact RCL at 1-866-592-7225 or at special_needs@rccl.com if you have already booked a cruise or cruisetour and do not meet this requirement.
  • Viking Oceans-Viking Oceans is unable to accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy.

  Premium Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Celebrity Cruises-Celebrity Cruises cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of or at any time during the cruise or cruisetour. All guests are required to sign a health questionnaire at check-in to ensure they are aware of our pregnancy policy.  A physician’s “Fit to Travel” note is required prior to sailing, stating how far along (in weeks) a passenger’s pregnancy will be at the beginning of the cruise and confirming that she is in good health and not experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. The “Fit to Travel” note should be faxed to the Access Department at 1-954-628-9622. Please contact Celebrity at 1-866-592-7225 or at special_needs@celebrity.com if you have already booked a cruise or cruisetour and do not meet this requirement.
  • Disney Cruise Line-Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.
  • Holland America Line (HAL)-Women cannot have begun their 24th week of pregnancy at any time before or during the cruise. Pregnant guests must provide a physician’s letter stating the expected due date, medical fitness to travel and the pregnancy is not high risk. Please also include your name, booking number, ship and sailing date.  Letters may be faxed to Access & Compliance Department at 1-800-577-1731 or mailed to Attention: Access & Compliance Department, 2nd floor, 300 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119.
  • Princess Cruises-Pregnant women are not allowed to sail if they are entering the 24th week of their pregnancy by the last day of 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 calculated from both last menstrual period and ultrasound (if performed) and may be faxed to the Fleet Medical Department confidential fax at (661)753-0121.

  Ultra-Premium Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Azamara Cruises-Azamara Cruises cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of or at any time during the cruise or cruisetour. All guests are required to sign a health questionnaire at check-in to ensure they are aware of our pregnancy policy.  A physician’s “Fit to Travel” note is required prior to sailing, stating how far along (in weeks) a passenger’s pregnancy will be at the beginning of the cruise and confirming that she is in good health and not experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. The “Fit to Travel” note should be faxed to the Access Department at 1-954-628-9622. Please contact Azamara at (877) 999-9553 or your travel agent if you have already booked a cruise or cruisetour and do not meet this requirement.
  • Cunard Line-Cunard will not permit guests who will have entered the 24th week of pregnancy by the last day of the voyage to travel on their ships.  All pregnant women are required to produce a doctor’s or midwife’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel and that the pregnancy is not high-risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD) calculated from both the last menstrual period (LMP) and ultrasound (if performed).
  • Oceania Cruises-Oceania Cruises cannot accept Guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy at the beginning of, or at any time during, the cruise.
  • Windstar Cruises-Due to limited medical facilities, Windstar will not accept reservations for  women who are 24 or more weeks pregnant at the time their travel concludes.

  Ultra-Luxury Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Crystal Cruises-Crystal Cruises is unable to accommodate women who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy before or during the cruise.
  • Hapag-Lloyd Cruises-Expectant mothers who are or will be less than 24 weeks pregnant at the time of embarkation must produce a certificate from an appropriate medical specialist (gynecologist) confirming that they are fit to travel in the territory covered by the cruise itinerary. We are unable to carry expectant mothers in the 24th week of pregnancy at the time of embarkation or who will enter the 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise.
  • Paul Gauguin Cruises-Pregnant women should consult with their doctor prior to sailing with Paul Gauguin Cruises, as there is no pre-natal care on board. Paul Gauguin Cruises will not accept any guest six months (24 weeks) or more into pregnancy at the time of sailing due to the lack of neo-natal care facilities on board. Pregnant guests under six months (24 weeks) must provide PGC with a doctor’s written permission prior to sailing that states she is fit to travel by sea and air (if PGC booked their air). This must be faxed to Reservations, Attn: Special Requests-Medical at 1 (425) 732-7198. On the fax, please reference the Guest’s name, ship name, and sailing date. The permission must be dated within 30 days of the cruise departure date. The Master in conjunction with the Ship’s Doctor has the right to deny boarding if in his professional opinion there may not be adequate shore-side medical facilities available in port during their cruise.
  • Ponant-Women who are over six months pregnant are not authorized to sail.
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises Pregnant women should consult with their doctor prior to sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as they cannot offer pre-natal care on board any of their vessels. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will not accept any guest if she has entered her 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during the, cruise due to the lack of neo-natal care facilities on board.  Those guests under 24 weeks (six months) must provide RSSC with a written doctor’s permission prior to sailing that states she is “fit to travel by sea and air (if RSSC booked air).” This must be forwarded by fax to Reservations, Attn: Special Requests-Medical, Omaha, Nebraska at 1-402-493-2351. On the fax, please reference the guest’s name, ship name and sailing date. This permission must be dated within 30 days of the cruise departure date. The Master in conjunction with the Ship’s Doctor has the right to deny boarding if in his professional opinion there may not be adequate shore-side medical facilities available in port during the cruise.
  • Seabourn –Seabourn does not have on board its cruise ships the specialized facilities and/or treatment required for childbirth, prenatal and early infant care. Those facilities may also not be obtainable ashore in ports we call on. Accordingly, Seabourn cannot accept a booking or carry any guest who have begun their 24th week of pregnancy at any time before or 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 that the pregnancy is not high-risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD).
  • SeaDream Yacht Club-Pregnant women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy prior to or during the cruise will not be permitted to embark. Failure to report any such condition will release the Carrier, the Yacht’s doctor, and any other personnel affiliated with the Carrier in any way from any liability related to the accommodation or treatment of such condition. By acceptance of this Contract, Guest acknowledges and agrees that Carrier shall have no responsibility or obligation to provide any special services or medical equipment to Guests.
  • Silversea Cruises-At the time of booking, expectant mothers are required to supply a medical certificate establishing their fitness for travel at the time they are due to travel. Silversea is unable to accommodate women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy and will not be responsible or liable for any complication relative to any pregnancy during the entire duration of the cruise.

  Small Ship Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Hebridean Island Cruises-Pregnant women are required to supply a medical certificate attesting to her fitness for travel. Hebridean Island Cruises reserves the right to refuse passage to women who are more than twenty-four (24) weeks pregnant at the time of embarkation.
  • Variety Cruises-The company retains the right to refuse to embark any pregnant woman beyond the sixth month of pregnancy.
  • Voyages to Antiquity-Any physical disability or medical condition that requires special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Manager in writing along with the first deposit, which is due at time of booking. Voyages to Antiquity will not accept reservations for women who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more at the time of their travel.

  River Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • A-ROSA Cruises-For the safety of parent and child, and depending on various circumstances, passengers who are at an advanced stage of pregnancy (after 6 months) may be subject to restrictions or exclusion concerning their ability to travel and/or board a ship. Please inform us immediately, so we can assess your personal circumstances and possible accommodation
  • AmaWaterways-For the safety of parent and child, and depending on various circumstances, passengers who are at an advanced stage of pregnancy (after 5 months) may be subject to restrictions or exclusion concerning their ability to travel and/or board a ship. Please inform us immediately, so we can assess your personal circumstances and possible accommodation.
  • Avalon Waterways-Avalon Waterways is unable to accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy. Avalon does not have specialized facilities and/or treatments required for childbirth, prenatal, or early infant care on board its cruise ships, nor may those facilities be available at ports of call or on land stays. Avalon strongly urges pregnant travelers to consider the risks of traveling where necessary medical care for pregnancy may not be available and may not be reachable in a timely manner to address potential medical complications, problems, and emergencies that can occur during pregnancy.
  • Croisi Europe-Any pregnant women must make this fact known to the travel agency at the time of booking.
  • Uniworld Boutique River Cruises-Guest may not sail if term is six months or more. Under six months, Uniworld does require a fitness to travel letter from the pregnant guest’s physician.
  • Viking River Cruises- Viking River cruises is unable to accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy. They reserve the right not to accept passengers who are in an advanced state of pregnancy either upon commencement of or at any time during the river or ocean cruise.

  Luxury River Barge Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Abercrombie & Kent-Women over 6 month pregnant are not permitted to sail.

  Expedition Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Adventure Smith Explorations-Any medical condition, advanced pregnancy or disability must be advised to AdventureSmith Explorations when a request for accommodation is made.
  • Ecoventura- Passengers who are 30 or more weeks pregnant must notify the Company in advance and will be required to sign an additional waiver.
  • Hurtigruten-Pregnant women are highly recommended to seek medical advice prior to travel at any stage of their pregnancy. Women who are up to 23 weeks pregnant at the end of the cruise are required to produce a medical certificate of fitness to travel. The Carrier cannot for safety reasons carry pregnant passengers of 24 weeks or more by the end of the cruise.
  • Lindblad Expeditions-Lindblad does not have a policy in effect and is taken on a case-by-case basis. They rely upon the opinion and advice of the woman’s own physician. (It also depends on the destination and trip that is chosen.) Lindblad does have a consulting doctor and, if a passenger will provide specifics, the information will be sent on to him for his opinion.
  • Un-Cruise Adventures-Women in their third trimester (greater than 24 weeks, but less than 30 weeks) must submit a letter from their physician granting permission to travel by boat (and for air travel, if applicable).

  Sailing Vessels/Yacht Cruise Lines

  (Please be sure to confirm these with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

  • Festiva Sailing Vacations-Festiva will accept guests in any stage of pregnancy as long as their doctor approves it.
  • Star Clippers-Any medical condition or physical disability that may require special attention or treatment must be advised to Star Clippers Americas at the time of booking. Star Clippers, Ltd. regards third trimester pregnancy as a travel risk and reserves the right to refuse passage to pregnant women. Star Clippers, Ltd. will not be responsible or liable for any complications relative to such pregnancy arising or occurring during the entire cruise vacation.