Loading Page...

Can you cruise at 31 weeks pregnant?

Due to limitations of medical care, both on board and in various ports of call, women who have entered or exceeded their 24th week of pregnancy, at any time during the cruise, will not be allowed to board or sail with the ship.



No, almost all major cruise lines have a strict policy that prohibits passengers from sailing if they have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of or at any time during the cruise. This includes popular lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, and Princess. Since you are at 31 weeks, you would be denied boarding at the terminal. This policy is strictly enforced for safety reasons: cruise ships are not equipped with neonatal intensive care units or specialized obstetric equipment required to handle premature births or late-pregnancy complications. Even if you have a "fit to fly" letter from your doctor, the cruise line's global maritime insurance and medical protocols do not allow for the high risk associated with late-third-semester travel. In 2026, travelers are advised to book their babymoons for the second trimester (weeks 14–23) to ensure they comply with these industry-wide safety standards. If you have already booked, you should immediately contact your travel insurance provider to see if "cancel for any reason" coverage applies to your situation.

People Also Ask

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, in their second trimester, 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.

MORE DETAILS

Cruises make ideal babymoons. There's food everywhere, including room service for those late-night cravings. Plus they make planning easy; the cruise ship serves as hotel, restaurant, entertainment venue, spa and transportation. You can do as little or much as you want, and there's a doctor onboard ... just in case.

MORE DETAILS

However, as a matter of policy, most cruise lines don't count pregnancy as just cause for a refund or travel credit, so if you cancel after final payment, you will be accountable to your cruise line's cancellation policies and might not receive a full refund.

MORE DETAILS

If you're having a healthy pregnancy with no complications, you can likely travel up until the month before your due date. However, if you're at risk for preterm delivery, your doctor may advise against traveling at all in the third trimester.

MORE DETAILS

During the third trimester (25 to 40 weeks), many healthcare providers and midwives advise staying within a 300-mile radius of home because of potential problems such as high blood pressure, phlebitis, and false or preterm labor.

MORE DETAILS

United States. U.S. law holds that natural persons born on foreign ships docked at U.S. ports or born within the limit of U.S. territorial waters are U.S. citizens.

MORE DETAILS

The most common time to plan your babymoon is during the second trimester. It's the best time for babymoons because pregnant women tend to feel better between 14 and 28 weeks into pregnancy. It is recommended to avoid travel from the 37th week of pregnancy because it is too close to the due date.

MORE DETAILS