If you’re pregnant with expectations, know this: Cruise lines have pregnancy policies. In fact, most don’t allow passengers who are farther along than 24 weeks and potential passengers may be required to answer a health questionnaire.
Online marketsite CruiseCompete offers information you can use before you book that dream cruise. The details come directly from the cruise lines, CruiseCompete said, but check with your agent or cruise line nonetheless.
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 cruise tour. 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 cruise tour. 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 calculated from both the last menstrual period 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 cruise tour. 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 cruise tour and do not meet this requirement.
• Deborah Simmons can be reached at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.
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