costa cruises baby policy

Pregnant Women and Infants

Pregnant Women : Costa welcomes guests who will be no more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise . 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.

Costa Cruises Children’s Program

Costa Cruises 

Infant/Toddler

Infants must be at least six (6) months of age at the time of embarkation to sail. Infants must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on transatlantic cruises, World Cruises, cruises of 15 days or longer duration, and any other itinerary which may in the opinion of Costa Cruises present serious risk to infants in need of emergency medical care.

Babysitting

There is group babysitting for kids 3 to 11 years old, from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The service requires parents sign up at least 24 hours in advance and is free.

No in-cabin babysitting is available.

Infants and Toddlers (0–3 years)

Children must be at least three years old to participate in Costa Cruises’ children’s program. Children under the age of three are allowed to enter and stay in the children’s area only during certain times (not during busy times in high season) and must be accompanied by an adult.

The Squok Club

A Mini Club for children over 3 years (not requiring diapers). It’s not school and it’s not babysitting, it’s entertainment!

Your kids won’t have a dull moment during a Costa cruise. And you can indulge in all the relaxation you deserve from a vacation! They’ll never have a moment’s pause between parties, games in the pool, tasty snacks, dancing together and mini tournaments. The Costa entertainment team knows how to hold their interest with many stimulating activities. On board, the Squok Club is divided into age groups: the Mini, for 3 to 6 years, with special Peppa Pig-themed activities, and the Maxi Club, from ages 7 to 11. So everybody has fun together with friends. The highlight of the entertainment aimed at children is that it’s open all day (from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.) so that while the young tourists are busy at the kids’ club, their parents can enjoy a trip or a romantic dinner. On many ships, the Squok Club area has a baby pool, water games, a pirate ship and castle.

Teens can experience the cruise with their peers with non-stop fun and always accompanied by Costa staff. Fun for everyone. That’s why teens (ages 12 to 17) have their own Teen Club, divided into two age groups: Teen Club Junior (ages 12-14) and Teen Club (ages 15-17). These age groups help to create new friendships and the opportunity for your children to enjoy their vacation to the fullest. Many fun events. Among the most popular events are the dance and music classes, sports tournaments, pool parties with a midnight swim, disco games and themed dinners.

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Are babies free on cruises? A complete guide to cruising with an infant

By: Author Wandermust Daddy

So you are thinking of taking a cruise with a baby and wondering ‘Do you have to pay for babies on cruises’? The truth is that many cruises actually charge you full rate for cruising with a baby. In this guide we will round up each of the cruise lines infant policies to help you decide which is the best cruise for your family to take, which ones are free, which ones offer discounts and what cruise lines charge full price for babies on cruise ships. 

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

Things to Consider Before Cruising with a baby

Most Cruise lines have a minimum age that must be met on embarkation day . For sailings of 7 days and under with no consecutive sea days it tends to be babies can sail from 6 months old. For more exotic itineraries and itineraries where there are consecutive sea days the minimum age is likely to be 1 year old. We recommend checking with your line their policies before booking a cruise with baby. 

For more tips on cruising with a baby or cruising with a toddler   and cruise embarkation day tips click on the post titles.

Disclaimer : Be sure to check rates and minimum of age for sailing with your chosen cruise line before booking. 

Which lines do babies cruise free on?

While not all cruise let babies cruise for free there are a few lines that do. They are: 

MSC Infant Policy

 MSC offer children under 11 years old free passage on select sailings and  children two years and under are free on Caribbean itineraries. MSC are also one of the better lines for cruising with a baby as they have teamed up with Chicco to create amenities on certain ships for its youngest passengers in the form of the Observatorio Chicco Baby Research Center. They also provide bottle warmers, strollers, high chairs and other baby amenities. 

Cunard Baby Policy

Cunard is another of the cruise lines that offer free sailings for children. Although not the first line that springs to mind when it comes to family friendly cruises they do have amenities for the youngest of passengers and the bonus of sailing with Cunard with a baby is that they let infants between 6 months and 2 years old stay for free when they travel in your stateroom as a third or fourth guest. 

Another feature that makes Cunard one of the more baby friendly cruise lines is that  they offer a Night Nursery. You can go to dinner or a show while your little one sleeps free of charge in the night nursery. This is available for children aged 6 to 23 months and operates from 6pm to 11pm. 

For more information on how to choose a baby friendly cruise click here

Cruises with Discounted Infant Rates

Disney cruise infant policy.

When you think of family friendly cruise lines Disney will also be top of the list. The only downside to cruising with Disney is the cost but the great thing about taking a baby on a Disney cruise is that they sail for half the usual rate. Disney like Cunard has some of the best amenities on any cruise ship for infants and toddlers. 

For more Disney cruise tips click here. 

P&O Infant Policy

P&O offers a reduced rate for babies when cruising. However there is no set rule to how they charge for babies as this differs from ship to ship and itinerary to itinerary so please do check with the line before booking as to how the fee will be calculated. 

Crystal Cruise with baby

Crystal also has reduced rates for babies and infants – often 50% off. They also often offer sailings where children can sail free as a third passenger in a stateroom. 

Costa Cruise Policy

The set up for cruising with babies on Costa is slightly different to other cruise lines because while babies under 3 years old there are some fees that may apply. For instance if you are cruising as a single parent then you may have to ay the single supplement fee and in some instances you have to pay the port charges for the babies. It is worth checking with the line before booking exactly how your infant cruise fare will be calculated. 

Full Price Cruises With Babies

For the rest of the cruises the policies differ greatly. In this section we will give an overview of each of the cruise lines policies in relation to infant fares.

Do babies cruise free on Carnival?

When there are two full fare guests, additional guests in the same stateroom may pay a discounted far. The added bonus of Carnival is that children under 2 don’t have to extend gratuities which can actually be a big saving. 

Do babies cruise free on Royal Caribbean?

Infants are charged for sailings as per any other guest. The only exception is if they are in your stateroom as a third or fourth occupant inc which case a discounted rate may apply. 

Do infants cruise free on Norwegian?

As with Carnival and Royal CArribean, Norwegian only offer discounted rates for infants when there are more than three people sailing. This is on selected lines so be sure to check before booking. 

Do infants cruise free on Princess?

Children are usually charged full rate on Princess along with gratuities however there are some sailings where discounted fees apply though this are not all that frequent. 

Do infants cruise for free on Holland America?

Holland America  – on selected sailings they offer discounts for third and fourth occupants. 

Are there any other fees for cruising babies

While on some cruises babies can cruise for free or at discounted rates however there are some other fees that apply to even babies. For instance even babies will be charged gratuities for each day of your sailings so be sure to factor this in when calculating your cruise budget. 

For shore excursions, babies when sat on an adults lap will be able to go on excursions for free. However if you would prefer your child to be in a car seat on a coach then you will be required to pay the child rate for your shore excursion. It is also worth nothing here that not all shore excursions will be suitable for babies so be sure to check age restrictions before booking. 

And finally, if you wish to use babysitting services, on some cruise lines this will be an additional cost. Check the cruise lines website for current fees for babysitting and any age restrictions that apply. 

Other things to consider when cruising with a baby 

When cruising with baby  in tow there are a number of other things to consider. Including 

• Can my baby use the pool – not many cruises let children with a diaper into the pool even in a swim nappy. Look for pools with a splash pool or head on a Disney cruise to be sure your infant can use the pool
• What is the best cruise cabin for babies – click here for out best cruise cabin for family guide. 
• Is the cruise itinerary baby friendly
• For more information on cruising to Alaska with a baby check out this post. 

Have you ever cruised with a baby? We would love to know who you went with and how you found it

Sunday 19th of January 2020

Oh my goodness. I would assume a baby would be free. Imagine paying a full fare for a 6 month old. I love cruises. I did some royal Caribbean and carnival ones pre-kids.

Some great tips. My friend did a cruise with a 2 year old and 5 year old and loved the baby sitting facility.

Some great tips. Thank you x

Saturday 18th of January 2020

This is so helpful for anyone travelling with a little one.

Pregnant Women and Infants

American Cruise Lines Pregnant Women : Permitted to board during any phase of pregnancy. There are no restrictions. Infants : Minimum age is 1 month old.

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 : Azamara cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant 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 Azamara's pregnancy policy. 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.

Carnival Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Prohibited to sail if she will enter the 24th week of pregnancy before or at any time during the cruise. Infants : Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail on most cruises. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days. Children must be 12 months of age on Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Pacific and Trans-Pacific cruises if it includes at least one International port (Pacific Islands, New Zealand, New Guinea, Singapore and Hawaii) or includes more than 2 consecutive days at sea.

Celebrity Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Celebrity Cruises cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise or cruise tour. All guests are required to sign a health questionnaire upon check-in to ensure they are aware of the preganancy policy. If you have already booked a cruise or cruise tour and not meet this requirement, please contact your travel agent. 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.

Celestyal Cruises Pregnant Women : Women who are or will be 24 weeks pregnant at any stage of the cruise are not allowed to travel. Infants :  Infants under 3 months old are not permitted on board.  

Costa Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Costa welcomes guests who will be no more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise . 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.

Crystal Cruise Line 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 Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Proof of EDD and Fitness to travel will be required by the medical department prior to travel and can be faxed to (661-753-0122) or e-mailed to [email protected] 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 Cruise Line 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 and Panama Canal itineraries is 1 year.

Explora Journeys Pregnant Women : Explora Journeys welcomes guests who will be no more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the Journey. Pregnant women are requested to seek medical advice before travelling; at any stage of their pregnancy they must obtain a medical certificate from a doctor confirming their fitness to travel on board the vessel taking into account the specific itinerary. Infants : No infants under 6 months old at the start of the Journey date shall be allowed to sail.

Holland America Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Women cannot have begun their 24th week of pregnancy at any time before or during the cruise. If you are pregnant or sailing with a guest who is pregnant they 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. Please fax your letters to our Access & Compliance Department at 800-577-1731. 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 Cruises Pregnant Women : Hurtigruten cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise or cruise tour. For the sake of the mother and baby, Hurtigruten may also require a medical certificate if they feel the situation warrants it. It is recommended that the passenger consult her doctor before travel at any stage of the pregnancy. Infants : There is no age restriction in most destinations. Please confirm any age restrictions with your travel counselor.

HX Pregnant Women : HX cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise or cruise tour. For the sake of the mother and baby, HX may also require a medical certificate if they feel the situation warrants it. It is recommended that the passenger consult her doctor before travel at any stage of the pregnancy. Infants : The minimum age for Antarctica & South Georgia 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 : 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 ([email protected]) 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 6 months of age on the day of boarding or at least 12 months of age on the day of boarding if the cruise has 3 or more consecutive days at sea.

P&O Cruise Line 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 Vacations To Go 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 Pregnant Women : Women can be up to three months pregnant on the date the cruise ends, except on expedition cruises. Infants : On classic cruises, children under one year of age shall not be authorized to embark. On expedition cruises, children must be 6 years or older, except cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot, and must be fully independent during all activities. Children must be 8 years or older to embark on expedition cruises on board Le Commandant Charcot.

Princess Cruise Line 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 a healthcare provider's report containing the date of her last menstrual period, expected date of delivery, and the pregnancy risk status.  Infants : Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days. The minimum age for escorted cruisetours is 5 years.

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 (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. 

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Pregnant Women : Expectant mothers are required to supply a medical certificate to validate that it is safe for them to travel. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cannot accommodate women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy at the time of sailing. Infants : Minimum age is 6 months. On voyages with three or more consecutive days at sea, the minimum age for children is one year of age.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Royal Caribbean International cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise or cruise tour. All guests are required to fill out a Public Health Questionnaire prior to arrival or at the pier attesting that they are not more than 23 weeks pregnant. If you have already booked a cruise or cruise tour and not meet this requirement, please contact your travel agent. 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 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.  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.

Victory Cruise Lines Pregnant Women:  Victory Cruise Lines does not have a rule regarding pregnant women traveling on its cruises. However, the line recommends that pregnant woman consult with a physician and get approval to travel before embarking on the ship. Infants:  No minimum age requirements.

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.

Virgin Voyages Pregnant Women : Pregnant women must be less than 24 weeks pregnant by the end of the sailing. Please make sure to bring all appropriate medical documentation to confirm this timing when you arrive. Infants : Infants are not permitted to sail.

Windstar Cruise Line Pregnant Women : Permitted to board if pregnant for 24 weeks or less on day of disembarkation. Infants : Minimum age is 8 years.