Cruising with a Baby or Toddler: Everything You Need to Know
A complete guide to taking a baby or toddler on a cruise. Minimum age requirements by cruise line, packing essentials, nursery programs, babysitting options, cabin baby-proofing, stroller tips, feeding logistics, and the best cruise lines for babies and toddlers.
Quick Answer
Most major cruise lines require babies to be at least 6 months old for standard itineraries and 12 months old for transatlantic, transpacific, or remote itineraries. Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Norwegian all offer nursery or babysitting programs for infants starting at 6 months. Pack formula, baby food, diapers, and a portable crib (or request one from the cruise line) since ships have limited baby supplies available for purchase. The best cruise lines for babies and toddlers are Royal Caribbean (Royal Babies and Tots program, 6-36 months) and Disney (It's a Small World Nursery, 6 months-3 years).