Recent Experiences with Pregnancy On Board Carnival

[timenprayer]

Hi everyone,

 

My family is getting ready to sail on the Carnival Glory in October for our fifth cruise. This will be our first cruise taking along our daughter who will be 23 months old at sailing.

 

In addition to this being our first family cruise, a couple months ago, my wife and I found out that we were pregnant with baby #2 and we are beyond thrilled with the news. We have completed the Carnival pregnancy form and are within the acceptable limits in that my wife won't enter the 24th week of pregnancy before or during the cruise.

 

I want this to be super special for our family - so I have a couple questions that I'd like to get some group feedback on:

 

1. Have you ever cruised when pregnant? How was that for you? Did you have any problems?

2. How was boarding and embarkation? Did they actually check your completed pregnancy form? Did they contact your doctor's office before you sailed? Did the pregnancy slow the boarding process in any way?

 

There may be more questions along the way - thanks in advance for any help.

 

I did some searching of the boards and found some dated pregnancy during cruising threads; just wanted to get some more current feedback.

[jessment]

I will be on Glory next month and pregnant as well, so I am interested to hear any responses

[solocruzin]

Congrats to you both! I cruised in my 20th week with my youngest daughter (now 17!). I don't think much has changed since then, but I highly recommend that you see your doctor as close to your departure date as possible and bring THAT form. I think you may have problems bringing a form dated in July for October.

Other then that, it was smooth sailing. The staff was very attentive and went out of their way to see that I was comfortable. My cabin steward would even leave little snacks for me in the evening for those midnight cravings! I might have also used FTTF if it was available back then. It might make your debarkation a lot easier. Again, best wishes and hope this helps....

[USNUZULOOSE]

If you are wondering if she will get sea sick, do you live some where you can take her out on a small boat tour and see how she does with that?

Every pregnancy with women is so different.

 

And congratulations. I have never been on a ship being pregnant. If it were me I would just have a note from the DR. just stating she is in the guidelines of not being close to the 24th week.

Is your wife ok with wanting to take a cruise? If so enjoy yourself and go with the energy level she has onboard. Maybe get her a nice facial or foot massage. If they have baby clothes buy a little outfit for the baby. Bring mom some snacks for the cruise if she gets craving for certain things. Let us know how it goes and have a great cruise!!

[Foxinspace]

Cruised while pregnant in 2012.

 

I had major problems getting the Doctors Letter. My OBGYN refused to sign the letter even though there was zero reasons I couldn't go. I ended up having to switch doctors. I think there might be a post about this somewhere buried in the archives of CC. So my big take away from the experience was talk to your Doctor EARLY in the process. You never know! (As a side note my 2nd Doctor signed the note with no problems, she was amazing. I am almost grateful for Carnival requiring the letter and the fall-out.)

 

As for the embarkation process, they didn't even ask for the letter. It didn't slow us down or alter embarkation at all. I agree with getting FTTF if you can, especially since you already have a kiddo.

 

My room steward was awesome but not because he did anything special for my pregnancy. No one ever mentioned it. I'm plus size so he might not have even noticed unless it flagged on our file.

 

I didn't have any morning sickness during my pregnancy and nothing while on board.

 

With Zika as part of picture now, I'd take more precautions on excursions or if you plan on leaving the ship. Long sleeves and long pants, in light colours. Use mosquito repellant, stuff like that.

 

Have a great trip.

[Purvis1231]

She maybe interviewed by a nurse before boarding.

[timenprayer]

I will be on Glory next month and pregnant as well, so I am interested to hear any responses

Awesome! We can learn together! You'll be back before our family goes, so please update upon your return!

 

Congrats to you both! I cruised in my 20th week with my youngest daughter (now 17!). I don't think much has changed since then, but I highly recommend that you see your doctor as close to your departure date as possible and bring THAT form. I think you may have problems bringing a form dated in July for October.

Other then that, it was smooth sailing. The staff was very attentive and went out of their way to see that I was comfortable. My cabin steward would even leave little snacks for me in the evening for those midnight cravings! I might have also used FTTF if it was available back then. It might make your debarkation a lot easier. Again, best wishes and hope this helps....

 

Hmmm. We already sent in the form for our cruise - and that form very clearly provides gestational information as of the date of the form - so I am not sure why another form would be required. Have others encountered this or what do you think?

 

I love that your cabin steward left little snacks for midnight cravings! Any chance they could leave pickled okra behind for my wife?

If you are wondering if she will get sea sick, do you live some where you can take her out on a small boat tour and see how she does with that?

Every pregnancy with women is so different.

And congratulations. I have never been on a ship being pregnant. If it were me I would just have a note from the DR. just stating she is in the guidelines of not being close to the 24th week.

Is your wife ok with wanting to take a cruise? If so enjoy yourself and go with the energy level she has onboard. Maybe get her a nice facial or foot massage. If they have baby clothes buy a little outfit for the baby. Bring mom some snacks for the cruise if she gets craving for certain things. Let us know how it goes and have a great cruise!!

I'm not thinking she would get sea sick, but maybe it would affect her different in pregnancy... She did cruise before when pregnant, but it was so early that we didn't even think twice about it then.

My wife and I are both equally excited about taking the cruise. From what she's shared, I don't think there are any hesitations on her part. Thanks for your suggestions and will be sure to take note.

Cruised while pregnant in 2012.

I had major problems getting the Doctors Letter. My OBGYN refused to sign the letter even though there was zero reasons I couldn't go. I ended up having to switch doctors. I think there might be a post about this somewhere buried in the archives of CC. So my big take away from the experience was talk to your Doctor EARLY in the process. You never know! (As a side note my 2nd Doctor signed the note with no problems, she was amazing. I am almost grateful for Carnival requiring the letter and the fall-out.)

As for the embarkation process, they didn't even ask for the letter. It didn't slow us down or alter embarkation at all. I agree with getting FTTF if you can, especially since you already have a kiddo.

My room steward was awesome but not because he did anything special for my pregnancy. No one ever mentioned it. I'm plus size so he might not have even noticed unless it flagged on our file.

I didn't have any morning sickness during my pregnancy and nothing while on board.

With Zika as part of picture now, I'd take more precautions on excursions or if you plan on leaving the ship. Long sleeves and long pants, in light colours. Use mosquito repellant, stuff like that.

Have a great trip.

This is very helpful - thanks so much. I am glad we checked with our OB early as well - just for that reason and to avoid any issues later on - which we do not need. Thankfully, our OB is also a Carnival cruiser and it was nice to talk to her about our shared love of cruising!

The Zika stuff is a for real concern and my wife has been researching and planning accordingly. Something for even me to think about as I can get bit by a Zika mosquito as well.

[timenprayer]

She maybe interviewed by a nurse before boarding.

 

Based on recent personal experience or how? Just curious about this...

[TM&K]

We sailed in April 2017 when DD was about 20 weeks pregnant. All forms were signed and faxed in approximately two weeks ahead of time, She had a doctor's appointment the week before we left and she got the original documents to carry with her.

 

When we arrived she was flagged at check in. We had to wait for a supervisor who escorted us through security and up to the boarding area then we had to wait until she took all the paperwork somewhere and have a sign off by someone. When she came back she said everything was fine but DD had to go back and be checked in. This was done upstairs in the boarding area. The additional time was probably 20 minutes to complete everything.

 

No problems just had to walk through the steps.

 

She had no issues due to her pregnancy other than possible additional swelling of the ankles/feet. She doesn't get seasick normally and this cruise was no different.

 

This was at the POM sailing the Carnival Vista. Hope this helps. Happy sailing and congratulations!

[Lerin]

1. yes 3 times, great, no

2. same as always, no, no and no

 

The only small issues I ran into was once I forgot to drink enough water and SWELLED like nothing I'd ever seen. I was also more tired as is typical with pregnancy. Each time I brought nausea medication but it was never needed.

 

Babymoons are great, have fun.

[muffin83]

Congrats,

 

I cruised while pregnant. It was years again as my daughter is now 5. We filled out the form and had our doctor sign off. We never had any issues. They did not contact our doctor. They asked for the form during check and filed it away. I didn't see any difference in our check in process from when I was pregnant and when I wasn't. It took the same amount of time. Only difference I had during that cruise is that our Bar bill was cut in Half LOL.

 

 

Also I would just say bring the original form with you even if you faxed it ahead of time in case they ask for it.

Edited August 1, 2017 by muffin83