Celebrity Cruises With a Baby
From Celebrity Cruises' own UK FAQs, checked October 2026.
Short answer: babies can sail from 6 months, but Celebrity has no nursery and no drop-off care for under-3s, babies in nappies can't use the pools, and you'll need to bring your own nappies and wipes. It suits families happy to keep their baby with them all day. If you want baby care on board, compare the lines in our cruise line baby rules table.
Minimum age
- Infants must be at least 6 months old on the first day of the cruise or Cruisetour.
- It's 12 months for transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, select South American and other selected sailings, and for any cruise with 3 or more consecutive days at sea (Celebrity: before you board).
- Celebrity also says some shore excursions and onboard activities need infants to be at least 12 months (Camp at Sea FAQ).
Childcare: what there is and isn't
- No nursery and no drop-off service for children under 3 (Camp at Sea FAQ).
- Camp at Sea kids' club is for ages 3 to 12, and children must be fully potty trained (no nappies or pull-ups). Teens 13 to 17 have their own programme (all FAQs).
- Free Camp at Sea hours are 9am to noon, 2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm on port and sea days, not embarkation or disembarkation day. Paid breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night sessions are extra (all FAQs).
- Babysitting: Celebrity's FAQs disagree. The Camp at Sea FAQ says it doesn't offer babysitting or in-room childcare, while the main FAQ page says babysitting is available only to guests in The Retreat suites, at US $60 an hour for up to 3 children aged 12 months and over from the same family, booked at least 24 hours ahead, subject to availability. Ask Celebrity directly before you count on it.
Pools and swim nappies
Under US public health rules, children in nappies, swim nappies or pull-ups, or who aren't completely toilet trained, aren't allowed in the pools or whirlpools (all FAQs). There's no separate baby splash pool listed in Celebrity's FAQs, so plan on water play ashore.
Baby food, nappies and changing
- Celebrity says it offers some baby food on board, requested through its Access team. It does not have nappies, wipes or creams for guests, so pack enough for the whole cruise (all FAQs).
- Changing tables with baby wipes are in the youth facility toilets and the public toilets nearest to it (all FAQs).
- There's a children's menu in the main dining room.
Cots
Celebrity's FAQs don't say whether cots are provided or how to book one (checked October 2026). Ask when you book, and check the cabin can fit a cot with everyone else in it.
Cabins
Children can sleep in a cabin next door or directly across the corridor from yours, according to Celebrity's FAQs. With a baby you'll normally want them in your own cabin.
Sailing from the UK
Celebrity's UK site says Celebrity Apex sails from Southampton, so you can skip the flight entirely. Celebrity's port guide notes direct South Western Railway trains from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, around 1 hour 20 minutes, then about 15 minutes by taxi to the terminal (all FAQs). See our pushchairs on trains guide for travelling by rail with a buggy.
Remember the 12-month rule for 3+ sea days in a row: some Southampton sailings, such as transatlantic crossings, will rule out a young baby.
Packing list for a Celebrity cruise with a baby
- Nappies, wipes and nappy cream for every day (none on board)
- Formula, bottles and any baby food you rely on; ask the Access team about what's available
- A travel cot or sleeping solution if Celebrity can't confirm a cot
- Sun protection, a sunshade for the buggy and a baby carrier for tenders and busy ports
- Passports for everyone, including the baby: see our baby passport guide
Is Celebrity right for your baby?
Celebrity has no under-3s care and no pool access for babies in nappies. If you'd like a nursery, P&O Cruises has a Night Nursery from 6 months and Royal Caribbean has a paid nursery from 6 months on select ships. MSC has Baby Club for 0 to 3s.
Back to cruising with a baby.