Cruise Medical or Fit-to-Cruise Certificate
Many cruise lines require passengers to present a fit to cruise certificate before boarding, particularly those with an existing health condition. Our registered UK GPs review your details online and issue a signed certificate. No appointment needed.
Each certificate follows an individual clinical assessment by a licensed UK doctor, giving your cruise operator the formal documentation needed to clear you for departure.
✔ Issued by a registered UK GP following clinical review
✔ Suitable for major cruise lines and pre boarding health requirements
✔ Most requests reviewed same day, from £47
LET'S GET STARTED 
Receive a full refund if we can’t provide a certificate
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.
What our patients say
Verified reviews from real MedicalCert patients
Mrs B.
July 2025
Super fast — and cheaper than my GP
The service was super fast and I received the certificate within 24 hours. I paid for the express service and it still cost less than my GP would have charged. Highly recommend.
Laura R.
June 2025
Quick and exactly what I needed
Quick service. Got what I needed. The process was smooth and straightforward, and I received everything I required without any hassle.
Jon
March 2025
Quick turnaround, hassle free
Good experience overall. Lots of details to provide but the interface was simple and easy to use. Turnaround time was very quick and hassle free.
Fit to Cruise Certificate
A fit to cruise certificate is a doctor-signed letter confirming you are medically fit to travel by cruise ship. It is required by some cruise operators before embarkation — most commonly for expedition cruises to remote destinations, passengers with pre-existing health conditions, pregnant travellers, and those who have recently been hospitalised or had surgery.
A MedicalCert fit to cruise certificate is issued by a GMC-registered UK doctor, covers standard and expedition cruises, and includes completion of any cruise line-specific forms at no additional charge.
Who Requires a Fit to Cruise Certificate?
Not all cruise passengers need a medical certificate. It becomes necessary in the following situations:
Expedition and remote route cruises
Cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic, remote Pacific islands, or other destinations far from medical facilities require all passengers to hold a certificate. Operators including Hurtigruten, Silversea, G Adventures, and Norwegian Cruise Line typically mandate this.
Passengers with pre-existing conditions
Many cruise lines require medical clearance for passengers declaring heart disease, COPD, recent surgery, dialysis dependency, poorly controlled diabetes, or other conditions that may require management during a voyage.
Pregnant passengers
Most cruise lines follow similar pregnancy cut-off rules to airlines. A pregnancy fit to cruise certificate may be required after 24–28 weeks gestation. Check your specific cruise line’s pregnancy policy before booking.
Longer voyages and world cruises
Extended cruises lasting several weeks — particularly world cruises with limited port access — may require pre-departure medical clearance to ensure passengers are able to manage without acute medical intervention during the voyage.
Post-surgery or post-hospitalisation
Passengers recently discharged from hospital or recovering from surgery may need to provide medical clearance before being accepted on board, particularly if medical stability at sea is a concern.
Cruise line request at embarkation
Cruise health screeners may request a certificate on the day if a passenger appears unwell or discloses a significant condition at check-in. Having documentation in advance avoids embarkation delays.
Standard Certificate vs Expedition Certificate
🚢 Standard Fit to Cruise Certificate
- →Mainstream cruise lines (P&O, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, MSC, etc.)
- →Confirms general health and absence of contraindications to sea travel
- →Suitable for stable conditions with regular medication
- →Cruise line-specific forms completed if required
🧊 Expedition Cruise Certificate
- →Remote expeditions: Antarctica, Arctic, Galapagos, etc.
- →Operators: Hurtigruten, Silversea, G Adventures, Oceanwide
- →More detailed assessment of physical capacity and medical self-sufficiency
- →Operator-specific forms completed as part of the service
Why the bar is higher for expedition cruises
Expedition cruises to Antarctica or the Arctic may be many hours or days from the nearest port with medical facilities. In an emergency, evacuation may be impossible due to weather or sea conditions. Operators require passengers to be physically capable and medically self-sufficient throughout the voyage — not merely free from acute illness. Passengers on dialysis, active oncology treatment, or requiring regular hospital monitoring may not be suitable regardless of certification status. Always check your operator’s specific medical exclusion criteria before booking.
What the Certificate Includes
Certificate contents
- ✔Your name, date of birth, and contact details
- ✔Cruise line name, departure date, and itinerary type where relevant
- ✔Confirmation of general fitness for sea travel
- ✔Relevant conditions confirmed as stable and managed
- ✔For expedition cruises: statement on physical capacity and medical self-sufficiency
- ✔GMC registration number of the signing doctor
- ✔Unique QR code for cruise operator verification
If your cruise operator provides their own medical declaration form, include it with your submission. The doctor will complete and sign the operator’s form alongside the standard certificate — at no additional charge.
How to Get Your Fit to Cruise Certificate
Complete the consultation form
Provide your cruise line, departure date, itinerary type (standard or expedition), and relevant medical history. Upload any supporting records — GP letter, discharge summary, or the operator’s own form.
GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
For expedition cruises, the assessment is more detailed. If further information is needed, the doctor will contact you before issuing.
Certificate and forms delivered same day
Your signed PDF certificate — and any completed operator forms — arrive in your inbox same day (submit before 9pm) or by 9am next morning. If the doctor cannot issue, you receive a full refund.