Cruise

[Coleby]

Need some help. My DW and I just found out we are pregnant. We have a cruise scheduled to leave in Sept. According to the website they will not allow us to cruise if she is 24 weeks along or later. I need some advise. Will they know what her time frame is, and how? HELP

[Juicy1122]

I am new to crusing, but we just booked our first cruise through carnival and i was reading the bottom with all the fine print and it says that if you are pregnant you need to provide a doctors not stating you are less then 24 weeks along and are in good health. I believe they won't let you on the ship if you are over 24 weeks along, but like I said we just booked our first cruise so hopefully someone will come along with more knowledge.

[jodijo]

I don't have an answer for you but wanted to say congratulations on the upcoming addition to your family.

[DisneyWhirled]

Congrats to you and your wife!!

I tend to think that they watch this very carefully due to liability. There isn't a facility to care for a baby delivered early, or a mother in duress.

Just my two cents, but I would follow their regulations. Is there another time that you could go? Maybe move the cruise up or take the cruise after the baby is born and take the little peanut with you?

You might want to try searching online for some help, or call DCL direct.

Good luck!!

[BrerGnat]

They won't really know, but they will ask on a medical questionnaire that you are required to fill out prior to boarding. You are required to be truthful when you fill out that form.

By 24 weeks, your wife will "look" pregnant. They can ask you for documentation from your doctor, asking her due date (stating how far along she currently is). If you fail to provide that, they can "Deny Boarding". If, at that point, you don't have trip insurance, you are out of luck! HOWEVER, if the trip insurance company finds out that you were denied boarding for pregnancy beyond 24 weeks, which is a valid reason spelled out in the cruise rules and regulations, they could DENY your claim.

So, really, you should try to reschedule your cruise to sometime this summer if possible, or see if you can get your deposit back at this point and just take the trip at a later date.

There is no way around this. Trust me, you do NOT want to "trick" the cruise line. If something happens to your wife onboard that ship, they DO NOT have the capacity to care for her, and if you will be visiting foreign countries, that is an even worse situation to be in!

[dmosher]

I know this is not the answer you want to hear but you should heed the warning. With matters as technical as pregnancy there are many things to consider. The infirmaries on the ship are very minimal and should anything happen they will not be equipped to take care of you. You would need to be airlifted off the ship or boated to port then hospitalized. Believe me when I say that this could be not only embarrassing and very VERY expensive for YOU, but also quite dangerous for the health of your wife and your baby. The movement of the boat can cause serious nausea
for pregnant women. Add to that the over abundance of sunlight, exercise and foods (that you may want to but shouldn't eat) and it just adds up. Plus, while cruises are relaxing, many times you will want to get off the boat, or do things and she probably won't want to do much of those things. This can lead to let downs and arguments as you go out and have fun but she stays exhausted in the room.
In the end, stretching the rules on this one is not really fair to you, your wife, your baby or Disney. it can put her and your baby's life in danger and can make it difficult on the rest of the crew and guests should a problem arise.
Sorry, just something to consider.

D

[Disney Lynn]

First, congratulations to both of you. I hope your wife is feeling great and that all is progressing smoothly with the pregnancy.

Unfortunately for you, I have to agree with the previous posters who advised canceling your cruise. By September, your wife will look pregnant, and the cruiseline has the right to ask for a doctor's note. They can also deny her boarding (you will be able to cruise, but I don't advise going without her LOL!). As explained above, insurance may or may not refund your money (at that point).

You should not now be in the "final payment period" for this cruise, which means that, in all likelihood, you can now receive a full refund. Call the cruiseline (or your TA) and find out the last date that you can cancel (for full refund).

As for hiding the pregnancy (and cruising inspite of the late date), I have had too many problems with pregnancies to ever recommend doing so! Also, delivering early (it happens LOL!) on an ill-equipped ship or in a hospital in a third world country would endanger the lives of both your wife and your child.

On the plus side- you're having a baby and cruising with kids is great! Especially when you can combine your cruise with a quick trip to WDW.

[HereWeGoAgain!]

I would definitely not cruise while pregnant - we just arrived home and let me tell you, the last day on the ship we had almost 15' seas off the coast of the Carolina's - this lasted all day - people were being tossed quite easily and the crew were keeping people off the upper decks! I also agree with the above postings regarding traveling in a foreign country - you will not get the same care as in the USA, also the cruise ships are not capable of caring for any emergency that may arise.

[Tink1]

They can and will deny boarding to any person 24 weeks or more pregnant. They will want a doctors note stating that you are less than 24 weeks in order to board.

This is due to the fact that a baby born at 24 weeks is viable with the proper medical care (my great nephew was born at 25 weeks 2 years ago and is perfect) The ship will not take the risk of losing a baby.

Nanc

[Coleby]

Thank you all for the advise. While I do not like the answers, I can see the reasoning behind it. I will have to talk to my wife to try to make a decision. The problem we face about moving it closer is, we may not get off work. Our job hs us in the middle of our peak season in the summer, hence the september cruise and our anniversary. Oh well.......better safe than sorry.

[Ed]

Oh well.......better safe than sorry.

That's precisely what I believe everybody is saying. I know it's extremely disappointing, but I'm sure you realize that the health and well-being of your wife and baby are paramount. It truly isn't worth it to take the risks involved.

Here's and hopes that everything works out for the best, and that you and your wife are blessed with a happy and healthy addition to your family.

[Coleby]

Ok, so found out changing dates is not that easy or cheap. In order to change our dates it would cost an extra $600 per couple, and there are several couples going with us (and this is not on a disney cruise). So I guess we won't be going at all.... maybe I can convince her to go to disney instead

[DisneyWhirled]

I am sorry that the cost is so high to move the dates. WDW would be fun, though! Maybe you guys could do something you haven't done there before, like a special tour or dinner.

Good luck!