Cruise while Pregnant

[hayleybirk]

Husband and i are thinking of cruising just before the cut off for being pregnant. Does anyone have advice on this? Were you miserable or was it just as fun?

 

Thanks!

[thomarvin]

I would get insurance either with Carnival or another carrier. Even thought you are before the cutoff anything can happen and having a premie outside of the US could get very expensive.

[hayleybirk]

Good advice, thanks

[jimbo5544]

Good advice, thanks

 

 

I would bring a doctors note just in case. Our daughters have cruised with us when pregnant and always had a wonderful cruise. Insurance is a great idea in all situations.

[ccartman2]

My wife did it twice. No real issues for her. The one trip she found Nassau to be uncomfortable being that warm. Just make sure you follow everything. I think for Carnival it is 24 weeks, and the cruise has to be over before you cross that threshold if I remember right. You will need a letter from your doctor before sailing. My wife also wore a big hat, and did avoid the sun a little (mostly the hottest part of the day). She also didn't snorkel the whole time when we did that excursion, but I would think that would be an individual thing, so you may not have any problems. We still had a good time, and I won't try to deter anyone from trying it. I do agree with the trip insurance though.

[ASchaff]

My sister in law was pregnant on our last cruise. She had no issues. Just make sure you have the doctors forms with you.

[ASchaff]

I would get insurance either with Carnival or another carrier. Even thought you are before the cutoff anything can happen and having a premie outside of the US could get very expensive.

 

Carnival cuts of at the point of viability. If you give birth before that point, youre not looking at a premie, but a miscarriage. Thats why thry cut off where they do. But I agree insurance in case the worst happens and she needs to go home.

[kesham13]

My wife and I cruised during the 23rd week of her pregnancy, she LOVED it! We did everything we normally would have done, there was food available at all hours for her cravings, and we got some much needed alone time before the little one arrived. We just avoided the casino and all smoking areas on the ship, as she was very concerned about the second hand smoke.

 

She had terrible morning sickness all throughout her pregnancy, so she would order room service to be delivered first thing in the morning, something light like some juice and a Danish to keep her sickness down. Then we would go up to Lido or the MDR for a full breakfast, she loved it! Not to mention the 4 gazillion hot chocolates she drank from the dispensing machines on Lido! :)

 

Have a great cruise and enjoy the time with your husband. Baby-moons are the best idea ever.

[Tapi]

We cruised a few weeks shy of the cutoff. My wife said that she had zero issues. First and third trimester sucked for her, but she said that the second one (which is when we cruised) was a breeze.

 

I second the insurance suggestion. Most travel insurance policies will NOT cover medical expenses due to pregnancy complications, so make sure that you purchase one that specifically covers that (we did).

[cb at sea]

Yeah,..the 2nd trimester was the best for me...I was so tired during the 1st and 3rd!

[katiedidthat]

I was 22 weeks pregnant on our second cruise and loved it. I had no complications with my first pregnancy and felt confident I'd be okay at that point in the 2nd. There was food everywhere, I slept like a baby, and I didn't have to do a thing for an entire week.

I ended up delivering early 2 months later though, so I don't know that I personally would do it again that close to the cut off. But that's only related to my own comfort, not to the cruising experience. I say if your doctor is okay with it- go!

[SFplusP]

I don't mean to hijack, but since some here have cruised while pregnant or with a pregnant relative....

 

We leave in a week, and I swear I am NOT pregnant, but I look it. I have gained about 20 pounds in the last couple months, all in my belly (and I have a 2 year old and never lost the baby weight so my belly already wasn't flat). I swear, I look like I'm 6 months pregnant....

 

I'm sort of worried they are going to look at me and think I'm pregnant and trying to get on after the 24 week mark. But what can I do, bring a pregnancy test? I don't have time to get a doctors note as I am in final exams during doctors hours all week =/ How do they check that stuff?

[Ciardasully]

I was 9 weeks pregnant on our Sunshine Cruise. We did have our doctor fill out the medical form.

 

We didn't plan any physically tedious excursions where I could get tired or injured. (Dunn's River Falls will have to wait for another time.) Our alcohol bill was a lot less (though my husband jokes that he took the money saved and used it at the casino.) And I avoided the casino becuase of the smoke. I spent a lot of time reading on the balcony. The way I look at it was it was that I was either going to be pregnant on a cruise ship or pregnant in the cold Northeast (we missed two blizzards that trip) so I would take being pregnant on the cruise ship.

 

I admit, being in my first trimester, food was not as enjoyable for me. I did take a strong liking to the potato salad on the ship. My husband and I still laugh about the time when he was ordering room service and I asked if they could just bring a big plate of potato salad.

[happy cruzin]

My wife and I cruised during the 23rd week of her pregnancy, she LOVED it! We did everything we normally would have done, there was food available at all hours for her cravings, and we got some much needed alone time before the little one arrived. We just avoided the casino and all smoking areas on the ship, as she was very concerned about the second hand smoke.

 

She had terrible morning sickness all throughout her pregnancy, so she would order room service to be delivered first thing in the morning, something light like some juice and a Danish to keep her sickness down. Then we would go up to Lido or the MDR for a full breakfast, she loved it! Not to mention the 4 gazillion hot chocolates she drank from the dispensing machines on Lido! :)

 

Have a great cruise and enjoy the time with your husband. Baby-moons are the best idea ever.

 

LOL...my son and daughter in law are in Orlando now - boarding the Sunshine tomorrow for their baby-moon! ;) :D

[Karysa]

I don't mean to hijack, but since some here have cruised while pregnant or with a pregnant relative....

 

We leave in a week, and I swear I am NOT pregnant, but I look it. I have gained about 20 pounds in the last couple months, all in my belly (and I have a 2 year old and never lost the baby weight so my belly already wasn't flat). I swear, I look like I'm 6 months pregnant....

 

I'm sort of worried they are going to look at me and think I'm pregnant and trying to get on after the 24 week mark. But what can I do, bring a pregnancy test? I don't have time to get a doctors note as I am in final exams during doctors hours all week =/ How do they check that stuff?

 

I have made the mistake before about assuming someone was pregnant and they weren't. Trust me you only make that mistake ONCE. The evil eye was all it took!!!!

[SFplusP]

I have made the mistake before about assuming someone was pregnant and they weren't. Trust me you only make that mistake ONCE. The evil eye was all it took!!!!

 

I look so pregnant, my biggest fear is winding up on 'I didn't know I was pregnant!' lol I swear I am not though. Worried check in is gonna be weird.

[whataboutport]

My cousin went on a cruise with her husband and her family in her 2nd trimester. You couldn't even tell she was pregnant bc she's tiny, but brought her doctor's note and told the cruiseline. She wasn't allowed to do zipline or flowrider, and the only excursions she was allowed to do were super boring.

[maritaysa]

I've cruised at 16 and 22 weeks. No issues on the 16 weeks cruise. My sense of smell was off the charts on the 22 weeks cruise. To top that off, there was a weird burning smell coming from the AC in our on the last day of our trip. They couldn't fix it. They offered to move us from the Verandah deck to the Main deck at 10pm on the last night. No way. DH just covered the AC with a towel.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I have made the mistake before about assuming someone was pregnant and they weren't. Trust me you only make that mistake ONCE. The evil eye was all it took!!!!

 

I had a boss who once asked if I was pregnant. Yea, nice. I was between boyfriends at that time so I knew I wasn't. I've always had a round tummy, even when I was in high school and probably one of the skinniest kids in the school. Was just built that way.

 

I was 18 weeks along on my preggers cruise. Didn't have morning sickness, nor any real problems, but I did lose a crown before the cruise. Had a hard time keeping the temp on (dentist explained the gums are that way during pregnancy) so I had to be careful when eating. It was a three-day cruise (short because of hubby's work situation and not because of my condition). On one night, one of our tablemates ordered a bottle of wine at dinner and offered it around. I look downed at my stomach and said thanks, but I can't, and it dawned on everyone then. I guess my clothes hid my baby bump well.

 

My OB-Gyn was also into cruises so he gave his full approval. I'm guessing one of the results of my girl cruising in utero is that she didn't suffer from seasickness ever during her eight cruises.

[jamscckmc]

As a high risk OB nurse I would caution to cruise passed twenty two weeks or vacation anywhere there is not top notch health care. Babies born at 23weeks can survive but not if born on a cruise ship. So many things can happen, water breaking, preterm labor, undiagnosed incompetent cervix(usually found at 20wk sono), placental abruption, etc. Not great outcomes if happening away from a level three NICU. IMHO 12-18 weeks would be ideal. I've taken care of many women who were visiting from out of town for work or pleasure who ended up on my high risk unit for the rest of their pregnancy.

[Danni3ll3]

Be wary of cruising even if you have your doctor's approval. There is a couple in western Canada who ended up with a 3 million dollar bill due to a very early and unexpected delivery even though they had health insurance. The health insurance refused to cover the bill stating pre existing conditions if I recall correctly.

[weebobby]

We are booked on the Norwegian Getaway 7 day Caribbean cruise for June 27th.

Wife will be around 20-21 weeks pregnant.

We have a letter from our British doctor stating she has no problems , a normal pregnancy to date etc , and stating her November due date.

She currently has no noticeable bump and no sickness etc.

I have travel insurance.

Is it even worth notifying Norwegian in advance as it is unlikely they would even know.

Obviously just bring my doctors letter should we have any problems when on board.