7 month pregnant friend cruiser

[reses4]

does anyone know if disney cruise line have any rules regarding being pregnant and cruising. We want to book a family cruise and my cousin will be 7 months pregnant.

 

[reyberal]

I am planning on being pregnant next year and verified Disney's policy before booking our cruise. I read on their website that they will allow you to cruise up until 24 weeks pregnant.

Quoted from Disney's Website:
Pregnancy/Infants
Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician's medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage. Infants under 12 weeks old will not be allowed to travel aboard Disney Cruise Line ships.

 

[reses4]

Thank you, wow they are really strict. Royal Carribean allows pregnant women on board after their 24th week. Oh well, next time for her.

 

[ohiominnie]

Strict, yes. Necessary, YES!

Premature deliveries can happen to anyone and I doubt the medical staff on board is equipped to deal with a 25 week preemie needing ventilator support and invasive lines.

Besides, who can pack in appetizers, entrees and desserts after their 24th week of pregnancy? Might as well wait and "get your money's worth" out of the cruise.

 

[kcashner]

I'll take this one from the standpoint of an obstetrician. I strongly support Disney's 24 week rule. The basic issue is that a problem can occur at any time. At 24 weeks, a baby born in a tertiary care hospital equipped with a neonatal intensive care unit has a chance for a healthy, take-home survival. Born in a small rural hospital without the needed personnel or equipment or in the middle of the ocean, the baby has little or no chance for a healthy life.

On one of our trips, I was invited to tour the medical facilities. They are really quite amazing, with lots of equipment that has never been needed (fortunately.) However, they are not prepared to do high risk obstetrics or handle a premature baby.

You friend will be much safer waiting to cruise another time.

 

[DutchsMommy]

This is a nice to know for me. I had assumed I was fine until maybe around 35 weeks. You can still fly up to approx that time I think (don`t quote me on that). To me 24 weeks seems really early to cut off travelling, but I was really lucky my last pregnancy in that the only symptom I had was a bigger tummy! I can understand the reasoning behind the rules (possible medical assistance needed etc.) and I`ll have to take the 24 week rule into account when planning - wouldn`t want to take a chance with a little "miscalculation"!!

 

[reses4]

Thanks to you all, I let her read your responses and like the traveler at 35 weeks, she also had no problems on the last cruise with her first child. I do agree with the risk also. She will need to meet the wonder on the 3rd trip around. Me myself will be saying bon voyage on my second journey on the wonder this time the 4 nighter.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by DutchsMommy
This is a nice to know for me. I had assumed I was fine until maybe around 35 weeks. You can still fly up to approx that time I think (don`t quote me on that).

Yeah, but typically, you're flying somewhere over the USA and they, if necessary, could land and get you to a good hospital QUICKLY. Floating out in the middle of the ocean presents transportation problems. SURELY if I was going into preterm labor I wouldn't want to go to the hospital in Freeport!

 

[hydster]

I wouldnt want to go after 24 weeks pregnant either especially since I think it would be heard frequently on deck:

Look at THAT whale mommy...how did SHE get on our ship???
Did they use a crane to pull her out of the ocean?? Is the swimming pool big enough to cover her?



Heidi

 

[ChattyKathy]

I am also under the belief that if you would happen to go into labor and have the baby while on board the ship~ your child would NOT be an American citizen. You ARE out of the 'states'!
I cruised years ago when DCL was the BigRedBoat and I was also 24 weeks pregnant. I had to have my obstetrician sign and verify that I was not past 24 weeks...before they would let me cruise. So; I am positive that 24 weeks is the cut off date.
Someone correct me if I am wrong about the citizenship part...?but I beleive that is what I was told...


Good Luck~

Kathy

 

[Lisa F]

You're wrong about that. I believe that the child an american is automatically an american citizen regardless of where they are born (assuming the citizens have resided in the US that is, although it does get a little more tricky if the mother is not a US citizen but the father is, paternity has to be proven). Many children of military folk are born all over the world, as are americans who are transferred abroad for work. They don't relinquish their rights as citizens for doing so. Now getting a duplicate birth certificate 10 years later might be a problem .

 

[jel0511]

If a child of an American citizen is born abroad that child is automatically a US citizen as well as a citizen of the country he/she was born in. If a child is born on a US base abroad, they are only US citizens, since any base abroad is still technically the US. So, if you are a US citizen working in Britain, and you have a child there, your child is legally allowed to obtain both a US passport and a British passport. But if you are born at a US military hospital abroad, you are only allowed to obtain the US passport.

Edited to add: That all DCL ships are registered in the Bahamas, so if there was a baby born on board, it would be able to be a citizen of the US (if parents are US citizens) and the Bahamas.

 

[ChattyKathy]

OK Sorry I was wrong, Like I mentioned...that is what I was told...I wasn't for sure...
Thanks for correcting me!


Kathy

 

[MrsPete]

Personally, I think late pregnancy would be a miserable time to cruise. I didn't sleep well during the last weeks of pregnancy, which kept my husband from sleeping too. Both my babies kicked hard -- and unexpectedly -- so that I couldn't eat much for fear of throwing up.

I think it'd be much nicer for the mother-to-be to cruise at a different time.