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Cruising with a baby can be a great way to enjoy a family vacation without dealing with the logistics of changing hotels every few days. However, one of the first questions parents ask is whether they need to pay a cruise fare for an infant.
The answer depends on the cruise line, the baby's age, the number of guests in the cabin, and sometimes the itinerary. Some cruise lines allow infants to travel without a cruise fare when they share a stateroom with paying adults, while others charge a reduced third- or fourth-guest fare.
Among the major cruise lines, MSC Cruises and Cunard are two of the clearest examples of cruise lines offering free cruise fares for qualifying infants in specific circumstances. Other lines, including Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line, generally treat infants as paying guests, although discounted additional-guest pricing or promotional offers may reduce the cost.
It is also important to separate the cruise fare from taxes, port expenses, transportation, gratuities, and other charges.
The following cruise lines are worth considering if you want to minimize the cost of cruising with an infant.
Cruise LineInfant Fare PolicyImportant Point
MSC CruisesInfants under 2 can travel free on eligible cruisesSome long itineraries do not accept infants under 2
CunardInfants 6 months to under 2 can travel free as a 3rd or 4th guestSome transportation or package costs may still apply
Carnival Cruise LineInfants are included in per-person pricingInfants under 2 do not pay gratuities
Norwegian Cruise LineInfants can receive discounted additional-guest pricingMinimum age restrictions apply
Royal CaribbeanInfant pricing depends on the booking and promotionKids Sail Free promotions may reduce cruise fare
Disney Cruise LineInfant pricing varies by booking and itineraryBabies are not automatically free on every cruise
The most important takeaway is that "free infant" does not necessarily mean the entire trip costs nothing. A waived cruise fare can still leave taxes, port expenses, transportation, and other charges on the reservation.
MSC Cruises is one of the major cruise lines with a straightforward infant-free policy.
MSC states that infants under 2 years of age can travel free of charge on eligible cruises. Its U.S. information also states that babies and infants 2 years old and younger can be free of charge.
However, there is an important restriction.
For cruises of 11 nights or longer departing under the current policy, children must be at least 2 years old at embarkation. Therefore, parents should check the itinerary before assuming that an infant can sail.
Even when the cruise fare is free, parents should check:
Port-related charges
Taxes
Optional transportation
Shore excursions
Baby-care services
Other onboard purchases
MSC also does not apply its hotel service charge to children under 2 on the applicable itineraries.
For families specifically looking for a cruise line with no base cruise fare for a baby, MSC is one of the strongest options to investigate.
Cunard Line also offers a particularly useful infant policy.
Cunard states that infants from 6 months to under 2 years can travel free when accommodated as the third or fourth guest in a stateroom.
That distinction matters.
If you are booking a cabin for two adults and adding a baby as the third passenger, the infant may qualify for the free cruise fare. But the rules are different if the child is being treated as a first or second guest.
Cunard also notes that a nominal charge can apply when an infant is included in arrangements involving transfers, hotels, or air travel.
The normal minimum age is 6 months. Certain longer or more remote itineraries have a minimum age of 12 months.
This means parents should check both:
The infant fare rules
The minimum age for the particular itinerary
Yes. Carnival Cruise Line generally charges a cruise fare for infants because its cruise fares are based on each person traveling, including children and infants.
So, if you are specifically asking, "does Carnival charge for infants," the answer is generally yes.
However, Carnival's pricing structure can make an infant less expensive than the first two passengers in a cabin. When two full-fare guests occupy a stateroom, additional guests can receive a discounted cruise fare.
There is an important savings opportunity with Carnival.
Children under 2 years old are not required to pay Carnival's daily gratuities.
Therefore, parents should not look only at the cruise fare when comparing infant costs.
A Carnival booking might charge a cruise fare for the baby while still saving money by excluding the infant from certain gratuities.
Carnival generally requires infants to be at least 6 months old when embarking on domestic cruises.
For transoceanic crossings and certain remote itineraries with more than two consecutive sea days, the minimum age can be 12 months.
Norwegian Cruise Line generally does not advertise a blanket policy where every infant cruises free.
Instead, Norwegian says that on most sailings it offers significantly discounted rates for third through eighth guests.
This can make traveling with a baby considerably cheaper than paying a standard first- or second-guest fare.
Norwegian also has minimum-age restrictions. Infants generally need to be at least 6 months old at sailing, while voyages with three or more consecutive sea days require the infant to be at least 12 months old.
Before booking an NCL cruise with a baby, compare:
The third-guest fare
Taxes and fees
Any available promotions
The itinerary's minimum-age requirement
The final total rather than only the advertised cruise price
Royal Caribbean International is another cruise line where parents should distinguish between standard infant pricing and promotional pricing.
Royal Caribbean periodically offers its Kids Sail Free promotion. When applicable, children 12 or younger can receive a free cruise fare under the promotion's conditions. The offer is limited to eligible sailings and qualifying bookings, and taxes, fees, and port expenses still apply.
This means an infant could potentially receive a $0 cruise fare under an eligible promotion, but parents should not assume that every Royal Caribbean booking includes a free baby.
A "free" promotion normally refers to a particular part of the booking price. Government taxes, port expenses and other charges can remain.
Always compare the final booking total instead of relying solely on the phrase "kids sail free."
Disney Cruise Line is extremely popular with families, but parents should not automatically assume that an infant cruises free.
Disney's infant policy primarily focuses on eligibility and onboard facilities, with most itineraries requiring babies to be at least 6 months old. Transatlantic, Panama Canal and Hawaii repositioning itineraries generally have a 1-year minimum age.
Disney also provides baby-focused amenities such as cribs, bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers, high chairs and other family services, subject to availability.
For parents choosing Disney, the value may therefore come from the overall family experience rather than expecting a permanently free infant fare.
This is one of the most important things to understand before comparing cruise lines.
When a cruise line says an infant can travel free, it may mean the cruise fare is waived.
It does not necessarily mean every cost associated with that passenger disappears.
You may still have expenses for:
Government taxes
Port fees or other mandatory charges
Transfers
Flights
Hotels
Shore excursions
Nursery or babysitting
Specialty dining
Baby supplies
Travel insurance
The exact charges depend on the cruise line, itinerary and booking.
Not every cruise line handles infant gratuities in the same way.
For example, Carnival specifically states that children under 2 are not required to extend gratuities.
MSC also excludes children under 2 from its hotel service charge on the applicable sailings.
This can make a significant difference on a longer cruise.
For example, if a family is taking a seven-night cruise, even a relatively small daily charge can add up. Therefore, when comparing cruise lines, calculate the total cost for the entire cabin rather than looking only at the advertised fare.
There is no universal age definition used by every cruise line.
Many cruise lines use under 2 years old as the key age category for infant pricing.
However, the minimum age for actually boarding a cruise is a separate issue.
For example:
Carnival generally requires infants to be at least 6 months old on many itineraries.
Norwegian generally requires infants to be at least 6 months old.
Cunard generally requires infants to be at least 6 months old.
MSC has specific restrictions for infants on longer itineraries.
Disney generally requires babies to be at least 6 months old on most itineraries.
Long ocean crossings and itineraries with several consecutive sea days can have stricter age requirements.
If your priority is specifically avoiding the cruise fare for an infant, MSC Cruises and Cunard are among the most attractive options based on their stated policies.
MSC Cruises: Infants under 2 can travel free on eligible cruises.
Cunard: Infants from 6 months to under 2 can travel free when booked as a third or fourth guest in a stateroom.
Carnival: Infants generally have a fare, but children under 2 are exempt from gratuities.
Norwegian: Third- and fourth-guest pricing can make an infant considerably cheaper than a standard first or second guest.
Royal Caribbean: Promotional offers such as Kids Sail Free can sometimes eliminate the cruise fare for eligible children, but the offer has specific terms.
Disney: Families receive extensive baby-friendly amenities, but parents should not assume that an infant is automatically free.
A free infant fare is only one way to reduce the cost of a family cruise.
Don't compare the adult fare alone.
Enter all passengers, including the baby, into the booking system and compare the final price.
Some cruise lines offer substantial discounts for the third or fourth passenger in a cabin.
This can be more valuable than a small advertised infant discount.
An infant who does not incur daily gratuities can save a meaningful amount over a week-long or longer cruise.
A cheap cruise may become expensive if the itinerary requires costly flights, hotels or transfers.
A slightly more expensive cruise departing closer to home may produce a lower total vacation cost.
Never assume that a baby can board simply because the cruise line accepts infants.
Longer cruises and itineraries with several consecutive sea days often have stricter age requirements.
Before making a reservation, confirm these details:
Baby's age on embarkation day
Minimum age for the specific itinerary
Whether the infant receives a free or discounted cruise fare
Whether taxes and port charges apply
Whether daily gratuities apply
Maximum number of infants allowed onboard
Stateroom occupancy limits
Crib availability
Nursery availability
Nursery fees
Baby food and formula rules
Required travel documents
Cancellation and refund conditions
Checking these details before booking can prevent an unpleasant surprise at checkout.
Finding a cruise that is affordable for a family with a baby requires looking beyond the advertised adult fare. Some cruise lines provide genuine infant fare savings, while others reduce the price through third-guest rates, promotions or waived gratuities.
MSC Cruises stands out because infants under 2 can travel free on eligible cruises. Cunard also offers free travel for qualifying infants aged 6 months to under 2 when they are booked as a third or fourth guest.
Carnival works differently. If you are asking does Carnival charge for infants, the answer is generally yes, but children under 2 are exempt from gratuities, which can lower the overall cost.
Ultimately, the best cruise for a baby is not necessarily the one with the lowest advertised fare. Compare the complete cabin price, taxes, port expenses, gratuities, minimum-age rules and baby-friendly services before making your decision. That approach gives you a much more realistic picture of what your family cruise will actually cost.
Which cruise lines let babies cruise for free?
MSC Cruises allows infants under 2 to travel free on eligible cruises. Cunard also allows infants from 6 months to under 2 to travel free when they are booked as a third or fourth guest in a stateroom.
Does Carnival charge for infants?
Yes. Carnival's cruise fares are charged per person, including infants. However, children under 2 are not required to pay gratuities, and additional guests in the same stateroom can receive discounted fares.
Are babies free on MSC Cruises?
Infants under 2 can travel free of charge on eligible MSC cruises. However, MSC has minimum-age restrictions for certain longer itineraries, particularly cruises of 11 nights or longer.
Are babies free on Cunard?
Cunard allows infants aged 6 months to under 2 to travel free when accommodated as the third or fourth guest in a stateroom. Additional costs can apply to related transportation, hotel or transfer arrangements.
Does a baby have to pay cruise gratuities?
It depends on the cruise line. Carnival exempts children under 2 from gratuities, while MSC does not apply its hotel service charge to children under 2 on applicable sailings.
Can a 3-month-old baby go on a cruise?
Usually not on the major cruise lines discussed here. Many require babies to be at least 6 months old at embarkation, while certain longer or remote itineraries require an older minimum age.
Can babies sail free on Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean does not have a permanent policy making every infant free. However, eligible children can sometimes receive a free cruise fare through promotions such as Kids Sail Free. Taxes, fees and port expenses can still apply.
Is it cheaper to cruise with a baby?
It can be. Some cruise lines waive the infant cruise fare, while others offer discounted third- or fourth-guest pricing or waive gratuities for very young children. The final savings depend on the cruise line and itinerary.
Do free infant cruises include taxes and port fees?
Not necessarily. A free cruise fare does not automatically mean that every government tax, port expense or other mandatory charge is waived.
What is the best cruise line for families with babies?
If the primary goal is minimizing the infant's cruise fare, MSC Cruises and Cunard are worth comparing. If onboard baby facilities are more important, families may also consider lines such as Disney and Royal Caribbean.
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