Expecting? Know Cruise Line Pregnancy Policies Before You Book & Sail

You May be Refused Passage on Your Cruise if You Fail to Meet Cruise Line Criteria

Source: CruiseCompete

Expecting a baby in the near future? Cruise vacations make an excellent option for that last vacation before your little one arrives, with plenty of entertainment, exploration and pampering opportunities.

However, the cruise lines do have very specific pregnancy policies in place, say the cruise specialists at CruiseCompete, and most lines do not allow passengers who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy to sail. Even if you are in the earlier stages of pregnancy, you may be required to fill out a health questionnaire, and many lines require a “Fit to Travel” note from your physician as well.

It’s very important to know the regulations, as you may be refused passage on your cruise if you fail to meet the cruise line criteria.

(Note: The following policies are direct from the cruise lines, but please be sure to confirm details with your agent / cruise line before booking, as they are subject to change.)

For a full listing of the cruise lines and their pregnancy policies, please click here.

• Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara Club 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.
  
• 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.
  
• Cunard Line: Cunard Line 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).
  
• Holland America Line (HAL): Holland America Line’s policy is that 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 Fl, 300 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119.
  
• 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.
  
• Princess Cruises: Princess Cruises policy is that 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.

A cruise vacation is a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy some quiet time before your life is transformed by the arrival of your new bundle of joy. To ensure a smooth cruise experience, however, remember to confirm the pregnancy policy for your sailing with your agent / cruise line before booking, and again before departure to be certain there have been no policy changes.

For a full listing of cruise lines and their pregnancy policies, please click here.

CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning a future cruise, please visit CruiseCompete.com.

This information is current as of May 2015.