Infants must be a minimum of 6 months old on the sailing date for most voyages. For transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, Australia and South America sailings – and any with 3 or more consecutive days at sea – the minimum age is 12 months.
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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.
If the child is a newborn and the actual birth certificate has not arrived from the Vital Records Department, we will accept a hospital issued birth certificate. The United States does not require you to have a passport.
Infants must be a minimum of 6 months old on the sailing date for most voyages. For transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, Australia and South America sailings – and any with 3 or more consecutive days at sea – the minimum age is 12 months.
Please note that hospital Birth Certificates (baby feet Birth Certificates), as well as photocopies or images of any required travel documents are not accepted for boarding. For sailings departing from U.S. homeports, an official US state-issued Birth Certificate is also accepted.
And in fact, a cruise vacation is one of the best trips you can take with a small child. No matter where you go on the ship, you are only a few minutes from your room. That makes it perfect for midday naps, means you don't have to carry around a ton of baby supplies, and there is plenty to see and do without going far.
Kids sail free is a limited time promotional offer that allows for guests 12 or younger to receive a free cruise fare. This offer is only available during active dates. To secure a Kids Sail Free promotion on a reservation, all applicable names and dates of birth must be given when making a reservation.
Why do Some Cruise Lines Charge the Same Rate for Babies as Adults? Though babies and toddlers clearly do not consume nearly as much food and drink, nor partake in the same activities as their parents, babies still create extra cleanup and housekeeping work that the ship's crew ultimately must take care of.
You will want some kind of stroller or baby carrier for taking your child around the cruise ship and in port. Some cruise lines, like Carnival, have rentals available; MSC offers loaners. You will need to store strollers in your cabin, so we recommend bringing a small umbrella stroller, rather than a large baby jogger.
If you are departing from a U.S. port and returning to the same U.S. port, passports are not required for U.S. citizens. All children 15 years of age or younger need only an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate.
Times Your Child Does Not Need a Passport to CruiseChildren younger than 16 need only to carry their birth certificates (original or copy); children 16 and older, as well as adults, each need to show both a birth certificate and a government-issued photo I.D.