Are you thinking about taking a babymoon cruise and wondering whether you should go cruising while pregnant? In this guide we are going to round up the pros and the cons of taking a cruise babymoon so you can make an informed choice about whether this type of holiday is for you as well as rounding up all of our top tips for cruising while pregnant to make sure you have the perfect babymoon!
Disclaimer: Before taking a babymoon be sure to check travel arrangements with your medical practitioner before booking and be sure to check all cruise rules and requirements before booking.
Should I take a Babymoon Cruise?
Pros of a babymoon cruise
There are lots of great babymoon cruise destinations
One of my favourite things about a babymoon cruise is that you can go to lots of great destinations. Whether you are a beach lover or city fan you can find the perfect itinerary for you.
If you are worried about cruising and the zika virus especially if you are looking at Caribbean destinations then don’t worry there are plenty of zika free cruises you can take.
How to choose a zika free cruise
If you are looking to take a zika free cruise there are loads of options. If you want to take a Caribbean cruise then be sure to check all ports of call on the CDC or NHS website to make sure they are Zika free.
Alternatively look at cruises to Hawaii or Europe where there isn’t a zika outbreak.
You don’t have to fly while pregnant
Another great thing about a cruise babymoon is that you don’t necessarily have to fly to go somewhere exotic. If you are taking a babymoon from the US you have plenty of options for cruises to Hawaii or Bermuda or the Bahamas that leave directly from mainland USA or it you are in the UK or Europe there are plenty of departures ports for Med and other European cruises.
A babymoon cruise takes the stress out of eating out
Whether you have a craving or a food aversion while pregnant a cruise will be able to cater for it. Cruises are one of the easiest holidays to eat on in my experience and taking a cruise while pregnant will certainly take the stress out of eating.
It is easy to pack for a babymoon cruise
I always find cruises one of the easiest holidays to pack for and the fact that you aren’t changing hotels or accommodations throughout your vacation mean you can unpack, sit back and relax.
Cons of taking a cruise babymoon
Rules to taking a cruise while pregnant
One of the biggest questions we get when talking about taking a babymoon cruise is actually “Can you cruise pregnant”? The answer is yes however there are time restrictions to when you can cruise while pregnant.
The rule for most cruise lines is that you can’t cruise past 24 weeks of pregnancy. If you hit 24 weeks before your cruise disembarkation date you will not be allowed to board the ship so be sure to check your dates before booking.
Now this 24 weeks might seem restrictive however I would say the best time to take a babymoon is in your second trimester as you are hopefully past the morning sickness stage but not into the tiredness of trimester three. Therefore when you can cruise while pregnant is limited however you can still cruise at what I would say is the optimum time for babymoons.
Tips for Cruising while pregnant
So now you have decided that a babymoon cruise is for you what are the tips for cruising while pregnant that will help you make the most out of your trip?
Scenic Cruising from Balcony in New Zealand – tips for cruising while pregnant – how to have a cruise babymoon
If you are looking for more general cruise tips click here!
Choose an itinerary that doesn’t go to countries with zika
I think one of the biggest concerns couples taking a babymoon have is relating to the Zika virus. Many of traditional babymoon beach destinations suddenly became black listed with the zika virus outbreak. If you are thinking about cruising while pregnant especially if you babymoon cruise is going to the Caribbean or parts of Asia or French Polynesia be sure to check the CDC or NHS websites to make sure there are no current Zika outbreaks and it is safe to travel there during pregnancy.
Some of our favourite zika free cruises are a Bahamas babymoon cruise, a Hawaii cruise or a Med cruise for those looking for a warm weather cruise.
Try to pick a cruise itinerary without many consecutive days at sea
When we were cruising with our baby one of the things that we found out is that cruising babies are restricted to how many consecutive days at sea they allowed and I think the same advice is good if you want to cruise while pregnant. I personally would have no more than one or two days at sea while cruising pregnant as if the worse happened or you needed medical attention you are never far away from a port.
Make sure your health insurance policy covers you
I never travel anywhere without travel insurance and this is particularly important when travelling and cruising pregnant.
Before you go make sure your insurance policy covers you for pregnancy for both the cruise and all your ports of call. I always find it easier to have a copy of the insurance policy in both print and digital form just in case you need it.
Make sure you carry all your medical notes and doctors letter with you
Just as important as having proper travel insurance in place, I make sure I always carry all of my medical notes and a doctors letter with my estimated due date, confirmation that you are having a low risk pregnancy and that you are fit to travel. I always have a physical copy packed in my hand luggage in case I am asked for it on cruise embarkation and in case it is needed for a medical emergency.
Please note: Some cruise lines require copies of these documents BEFORE you sail. Be sure to check your cruise line requirements before travel.
For cruise embarkation day tips check out this post.
Maintain good hygiene practices
One of the only downsides to cruise travel is that there are very occasionally outbreaks of Norovirus. Although not all that common be sure that you maintain good hygiene practices to make sure you don’t get ill when cruising.
Pick Your Shore Excursions Wisely When Cruising Pregnant
Depending on your cruise itinerary you may want to book a shore excursion independently or with the cruise line. If you do I would advise picking your shore excursions wisely. Depending on how your pregnancy is going, if you are suffering with morning sickness still and how tired you feel you may want to pick excursions that have a relaxing component.
If you are looking for cruise excursions independent of your cruise line we recommend using Viator!
Notify Your Cruise Line Before Travel and Check regulations before cruising pregnant
I have a rough outline of all the major cruise lines pregnancy policies below but be sure to check them before you travel. Some cruise lines ask to be notified with a doctors letter before travel so make sure there is nothing your cruise line requires before sailing.
FAQs
Is a cruise a good babymoon?
If you are wondering is a cruise a good babymoon I would say it definitely is. Cruises are a very easy way to travel as you don’t have to worry about travel arrangements or food and all you need to do is relax while onboard.
What are the rules about cruising while pregnant?
Disclaimer: All lines and rules are subject to change so be sure to check all cruise policies before booking and double check what documents are required when.
Carnival Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date)
Celebrity Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must sign a health questionnaire stating they are aware of the pregnancy policy
- A doctors note is required prior to sailing.
Costa Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date).
Disney Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
Holland America Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date) sent to the line before travel.
MSC Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
There is a special requirements form that can be completed here!
Norwegian Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date) provided before sailing
P&O Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date).
Princess Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must have a physician’s letter of fitness to travel and confirming that the pregnancy is not high risk with an EDD (estimated due date) sent to the line before travel.
Royal Caribbean Cruise while pregnant rules
- Must not have completed 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation
- Must sign a health questionnaire stating they are aware of the pregnancy policy
Does pregnant make seasickness worse?
I suffered terrible morning sickness when pregnant. I haven’t found any evidence to say that pregnancy makes seasickness worse however I know on my worst days it probably would have added to an already sick feelings. If you are worried about this then my top tip is to look for larger ships as these tend to be more stable.
Have you done a babymoon cruise? What are your tips for cruising while pregnant we’d love you to let us know in the comments.
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