Princess Cruises with a baby

From Princess Cruises' own website, checked October 2026.

Minimum age

• Princess's age rules page says the minimum age is 6 months on Alaska, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and trans-canal cruises, and 12 months on all other cruises (Princess: age requirements).
• Its onboard FAQ puts it slightly differently: at least 6 months at embarkation, and at least 12 months for transatlantic crossings and remote itineraries (Princess: onboard FAQs).
• For a UK family, that means a Europe sailing from Southampton works from 6 months, but a transatlantic crossing needs your baby to be 1. If your itinerary is anything unusual, ask Princess before you book.
• Expecting another baby? Princess won't let anyone sail who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more by the last day of the cruise.

Cots and cabins

• You can reserve a portable cot before you sail through Manage Booking or Princess reservations, or ask your cabin steward once on board. Cots are first come, first served, and you're welcome to bring your own travel cot (Princess: onboard FAQs).
• Princess's pages we could load don't say what cot bedding is supplied or how big the cots are (checked October 2026). Pack a fitted sheet and your baby's usual sleeping bag.
• Mini-Suites and Suites have full-size bathtubs, and Princess has wash bins for bathing little ones in a shower cabin (Princess: kids, teens and families).
• Third and fourth berths can be a bunk, Murphy bed, sofa bed or rollaway; Princess reservations can confirm the layout for your cabin.
• Cabins use 110-volt sockets with US plug fittings, so bring a UK-to-US adapter for a bottle steriliser, warmer or monitor charger and check your appliance works on 110V.
• Guests under 21 must share a cabin with someone aged 21 or over (Princess: age requirements).

Nappies and baby supplies

• Princess gives parents special waste bags for nappies, and cabin staff remove them daily.
• Only some ships sell nappies and wipes on board, so Princess recommends bringing everything you need (Princess: onboard FAQs).

Baby food and high chairs

• Complimentary jarred stage 1 and 2 baby food is available if you request it in advance through Manage Booking, and you can ask for pureed fruit and vegetables in the main dining room (Princess: onboard FAQs). Princess also mentions pureed rice at several dining venues.
• Princess's special-diet rules say baby foods are available on advance written request, due 65 days before departure for Europe sailings such as those from Southampton (35 days for Alaska, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal and Coastal Getaways). Ask early so it's on the ship.
• High chairs and booster seats are in the main dining rooms, speciality restaurants and the buffet on every ship, but they can't be reserved; just ask restaurant staff.
• Children's menus are in the main dining rooms, and kids eat half price in the speciality restaurants.

Pools

• Infants in nappies or swim nappies, and children who aren't toilet trained, can't use any pool or spa on Princess ships because of public health rules (Princess: age requirements).
• There are no lifeguards, so parents must supervise children at all times, and under-16s must be with a responsible adult in the pool.
• Princess doesn't provide floats; you can bring your own inflatable swim aids sized for your child.
• Plan for splashing in the cabin instead: a suite bathtub or wash bin is the only water play for a baby in nappies.

Kids' clubs and childcare

• The youth clubs are for ages 3 and up, and children must be toilet trained to join on their own: The Treehouse (3 to 7), The Lodge (8 to 12) and The Beach House (13 to 17).
• Babies aged 6 months to 2 years can use the youth centres with a parent during dedicated Family Play Times (Princess: onboard FAQs).
• On Sun Princess and Star Princess, the club for little ones is Firefly Park (6 months to 7 years), with late-night babysitting from 10pm to 1am (Princess: age requirements).
• Elsewhere, Princess's FAQ lists Late Night Groupsitting for ages 3 to 12 from 10pm to 1am at US$5 per child per hour. Princess doesn't say on these pages whether under-3s can join, so ask before you sail if you're counting on it.
• Register for the youth programme through Manage Booking. Princess says places can't be guaranteed on cruises with lots of families.

Sailing from Southampton

Princess calls Southampton its main UK departure port, about 1.5 to 2 hours from London, and lists Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, Caribbean Princess and Regal Princess as operating from there, on British Isles, Mediterranean, Norway, Scandinavia and transatlantic sailings (Princess: cruises from Southampton). Going by train with a baby is easy: see our pushchairs on trains guide.

Packing list for a Princess cruise with a baby

• Nappies, wipes and cream for the whole voyage (not every ship sells them)
• Formula, bottles and a way to sterilise them, plus a UK-to-US plug adapter
• A fitted cot sheet and baby sleeping bag, and your own travel cot if a cot isn't confirmed
• Inflatable swim aids for older children, since Princess doesn't supply floats
• Passports for everyone, including the baby: see our baby passport guide

Is Princess right for your baby?

Princess suits families with a baby who want a no-fly cruise from Southampton, free baby food and a relaxed pace. There's no drop-off care for under-3s on most ships, and no pool time in nappies. If you want a nursery, MSC has Baby Club for 0 to 3s, while P&O Cruises and Cunard also sail from Southampton with a Night Nursery.

Good to know — Comparing Princess Cruises Sailings & Pre-Cruise Hotels: Compare live fares and cabin layouts for Princess Cruises on CruiseDirect (including round-trip Southampton, Mediterranean, Alaska, and Caribbean sailings, or compare family lines on CruiseDirect Family Cruises). Need a hotel near Southampton or your departure port the night before? Check family rooms and aparthotels on Booking.com (affiliate links).

Back to cruising with a baby.

Sources

• Princess: age requirements
• Princess: onboard FAQs
• Princess: kids, teens and families
• Princess: cruises from Southampton

Last checked and updated: 30 October 2026 · Kiddieko · How we check facts