Can You Go on a Cruise While Pregnant? The 24-Week Rule by Line
You can cruise while pregnant on every major line, provided you will be under 24 weeks for the whole trip. The cut-off is counted to the last day of the cruise, which is the detail that trips people up.
The 24-week rule, line by line
The mainstream lines Canadians book most often all use the same limit. Policies can change, so confirm the wording on your line's site before you pay a deposit.
| Line | Pregnancy limit | Line guide |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Royal Caribbean guide |
| Carnival | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Carnival guide |
| Norwegian | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Norwegian guide |
| Princess | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Princess guide |
| Celebrity | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Celebrity guide |
| Holland America | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Holland America guide |
| MSC | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | MSC guide |
| Disney | Under 24 weeks for the entire cruise | Disney guide |
Why lines are so strict
A ship's medical centre can handle a lot, but it is not set up for premature labour or serious pregnancy complications. At sea, reaching a hospital can take a day or more, and a medical evacuation is risky and expensive. The limit is about the worst case, not about how you feel. The cruise medical care costs page explains how onboard treatment is billed.
The doctor's letter
Most lines ask for a note from your doctor or midwife, dated shortly before you sail. It should include:
- Your estimated due date
- Confirmation that you and the baby are in good health and fit to travel
- A statement that the pregnancy is not considered high risk
Carry it in your hand luggage with your passport. If you are turned away at the terminal for being over the limit, the line will usually treat it as your cancellation, with no refund.
Insurance: the gap Canadians miss
Your provincial health plan pays very little outside Canada and nothing useful at sea. Travel medical insurance is essential, but pregnancy is one of its trickiest areas. Many Canadian policies stop covering pregnancy-related claims several weeks before the due date, exclude normal delivery, and do not cover a newborn born abroad.
Picking a comfortable babymoon cruise
Weeks 14 to 22 tend to be the sweet spot: past early nausea, under the cut-off, and comfortable enough to walk a port.
- Alaska from Vancouver means a short flight or none at all for western Canadians, cool weather and calm Inside Passage water.
- Caribbean and Mexico sailings are warm and easy, but the Public Health Agency of Canada has advised pregnant travellers to avoid areas with Zika risk. Check current advice for each port.
- Shorter sailings keep you closer to home and make the week count simpler.
- A midship cabin on a lower deck feels the least motion. Ask your doctor before taking any seasickness medication.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →After the baby arrives
Once the baby is here, most lines set a minimum infant age of six months, and twelve months for some longer itineraries. The cruising with a baby or toddler guide covers what comes next.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
How many weeks pregnant can you be to go on a cruise?
On the major lines you must be under 24 weeks for the entire cruise, so the date the ship returns is what counts, not the boarding date. Someone 23 weeks pregnant at embarkation on a 7-night sailing would be turned away.
Do you need a doctor's note to cruise while pregnant?
Most lines ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife giving your estimated due date and confirming that you and the baby are fit to travel and the pregnancy is not high risk. Bring it even if you are only a few weeks along, and check your line's exact wording.
Will Canadian travel insurance cover pregnancy on a cruise?
Many policies cover unexpected complications only up to a set point, often several weeks before the due date, and exclude routine childbirth and care for a baby born abroad. Read the pregnancy section of the policy and ask the insurer before you buy.
More questions you might have
- Holland America Dress Code: Dressy Nights and Smart Casual ExplainedHolland America's "dressy nights" — how many per cruise, what they mean in practice, and why this line still leans a little more traditional than most.
- Princess Cruises Smoking and Vaping Policy: Where You Can and Can'tPrincess's rules on cigarettes and vapes — the designated outdoor spots, the balcony ban, the casino question, and the fine if you get it wrong.
- Carnival Alcohol Policy: What You Can Bring On BoardWhat Carnival lets you carry aboard at embarkation — wine allowances, the corkage fee, the beer-and-spirits ban, and what happens to bottles bought in port.
- Cruise Ship Drone Photography RulesThe increasingly popular aerial shot, and why most lines restrict drone use aboard — what's actually allowed and where.
- Quietest Cabins on a Cruise Ship: Where to BookThe silence map — which neighbours ruin sleep, the sandwich rule, deck-plan red flags, and holding the hushed cabin before someone else does.
- Planning a Charity Fundraiser Cruise GroupTurning a cruise into a cause-driven event — how fundraising structures work alongside group booking mechanics, and keeping it transparent.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)