DCL Pregnancy Cruise

[WhyclefJean]

My wife, myself, and our children will be taking a Northeastern US itinerary as our first Disney Cruise. We unexpectedly found out in recent weeks that my wife is pregnant and will be beyond the DCL 24 week restriction. The OB/Gyn that she sees does not foresee a problem with her going on the cruise as long as everything continues trending without complications. As well, she believes that the Northeatern itinerary will be more easily accessible to emergent transportation if needed than the tropical itineraries. So, if we decide to proceed with the cruise what questions will Disney ask about the 24 week restriction?

I have searched and read other forums about this restriction. It is my understanding that during online check-in DCL will ask if anyone will be more than 24 weeks pregnant at embarkation or during the cruise? The parties checking-in the select yes or no. If you select no then no additional questions are asked at the port. Based on recent experiences... Is that correct or are you asked additional questions at the port?

Does anyone have experience cruising on DCL with someone 25 weeks pregnant or more?

 

[BruinEd03]

It is up to you, but these are the rules. They are pretty clear. If you violate it, then you may be denied boarding. You will potentially be in foreign waters when your wife needs medical attention and you could conceivably ruin the cruise for many people.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/health-safety/pregnant/

Q.
Are Guests who are pregnant permitted to sail?

A.
Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns.

Neither a doctor’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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert for travelers to specific countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Bahamas along with specific areas in Florida due to the Zika virus, a mosquito related illness. While the most common symptoms are usually mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes, pregnant women should pay special attention to the travel alert and take necessary precaution to avoid mosquito bites. Additional information can be found under the Travelers Health section of the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices and http://www.cdc.gov/zika.

Learn more about Disney Cruise Line’s commitment to safety.

 

[Heard02]

I'd change your travel dates.....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My wife, myself, and our children will be taking a Northeastern US itinerary as our first Disney Cruise. We unexpectedly found out in recent weeks that my wife is pregnant and will be beyond the DCL 24 week restriction. The OB/Gyn that she sees does not foresee a problem with her going on the cruise as long as everything continues trending without complications. As well, she believes that the Northeatern itinerary will be more easily accessible to emergent transportation if needed than the tropical itineraries. So, if we decide to proceed with the cruise what questions will Disney ask about the 24 week restriction?

I have searched and read other forums about this restriction. It is my understanding that during online check-in DCL will ask if anyone will be more than 24 weeks pregnant at embarkation or during the cruise? The parties checking-in the select yes or no. If you select no then no additional questions are asked at the port. Based on recent experiences... Is that correct or are you asked additional questions at the port?

Does anyone have experience cruising on DCL with someone 25 weeks pregnant or more?

As noted, it's up to you if you want to lie about it. But, if something were to happen, you have no recourse as you lied and put yourselves in that position.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

The earliest NE cruise is September 20 this year. If you just found out about the pregnancy even now she’d be at or close to her due date in late September. No way will they let you on a cruise. I could see trying to “fudge” the dates a little bit, like a week or so given that due dates aren’t an exact science and there isn’t a visible difference between 24 and 25 weeks but at this point no way. Reschedule for much earlier or after the baby is 6 months.

 

[bumbershoot]

The OB/Gyn that she sees does not foresee a problem with her going on the cruise as long as everything continues trending without complications.

Reschedule now.

Complications aren’t scheduled. Closer you get, the harder and more expensive it gets.

No travel insurance will cover problems.

I have two friends whose pregnancies were going perfectly until they weren’t. One is the daughter of a doctor and was 100% fine. And then her husband found her passed out on the floor at 24 weeks. Baby was taken out, mom was asleep for a week. Dad got to remind mom when she finally woke that she had been pregnant. Baby is now 14 because they were *right there* near the hospitals. The other friend was fine until Labor Would Not Stop at 30 weeks. Again, proximity to their hospital is what saved the little dude.

Since travel insurance wouldn’t cover in a situation where you guys lied about the gestation, you would get to pay for why helicopter or other emergency transportation.

And you say “children”...assuming she had those children, she might get big, fast. Every woman I know personally who had three+ children got BIG with the third and any subsequent. So she would be fielding questions all the time. Your family would get to lie all cruise long.

Reschedule. This is for her safety and the safety of the baby.

 

[hpsalb]

I cruised pregnant last year. I've had healthy pregnancies with no complications but we stick to the rules. I was about 22 weeks, so pretty close to the cut off.

I can't recall if I was asked many additional questions, but our doc had submitted a note about the pregnancy and timing so we could reschedule our booking (we were right at the final payment date). So they had some documents with some dates and I didn't dare fib.

I wouldn't attempt it. There is a reason for the rule and you risk her being denied boarding.

 

[wendydarling33]

I had the same thing happen and we rescheduled to an earlier date so I was only 18 weeks along. I have two friends who went on vacation at 26 and 30 weeks and had to be lifeflighted out when they went into unexpected early labor (one from Catalina Island and the other from the Grand Canyon). I just don't think you want to risk it.

 

[NS8VN]

If you lie about a health question and DCL finds out they can refuse to allow you to board and deny a refund. Given that and the above suggestions it seems a pretty unnecessary risk to take when you can cancel/reschedule now for a full refund.

 

[Pens Fan]

I give this advice as someone who had to lay in bed for four months to assure that our son made it to (almost) full term.

Reschedule your cruise. It's just a cruise. If you have to lie to get on the ship, well that's a ship you shouldn't be on.

 

[jk and ek]

As somebody who had to reschedule a cruise due to a pregnancy, I KNOW it sucks. It Really REALLY sucks (we lost 3 rooms worth of OBC and cruise discount because our two year window expired before the pregnancy's resulting baby turned 6 months old....he turned 6 months old 6 days after our 2 year window. tell me that doesn't suck), but it is the right thing to do. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be in the middle of a cruise ship norovirus while heavily pregnant. An otherwise healthy/uncomplicated pregnancy can't protect you from a freak situation like that.

My rescheduled cruise is in April and despite the things we missed out on, I'm glad I still have this trip to look forward to!

 

[WhyclefJean]

Thanks for the input everyone! It is actually a cruise to the Northwest (my mistake in my haste to type the message) - Alaska to be exact. The disappointing part is that it is a celebration for my mom's 60th birthday so all of my siblings and their families are going. I reached out to our travel agent tonight and she said we are still within the cancellation period even though final payment was processed today. Our current plan is to cancel the cruise fares for my wife and I will take our children on the cruise to be with their grandmother and cousins. It does indeed suck, but based on the feedback it would not be a good idea to risk going when 25-26 weeks pregnant. My wife's mother will come stay with her for the week that we are on the cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the input everyone! It is actually a cruise to the Northwest (my mistake in my haste to type the message) - Alaska to be exact. The disappointing part is that it is a celebration for my mom's 60th birthday so all of my siblings and their families are going. I reached out to our travel agent tonight and she said we are still within the cancellation period even though final payment was processed today. Our current plan is to cancel the cruise fares for my wife and I will take our children on the cruise to be with their grandmother and cousins. It does indeed suck, but based on the feedback it would not be a good idea to risk going when 25-26 weeks pregnant. My wife's mother will come stay with her for the week that we are on the cruise.

Probably a good idea. While cruising Alaska may seem to be a better medical risk than the Caribbean, it really isn't. There aren't really many major medical facilities within easy reach of cruise ports. Juneau is really the only choice, and it's only reachable by plane or ship.

 

[cmph]

Thanks for the input everyone! It is actually a cruise to the Northwest (my mistake in my haste to type the message) - Alaska to be exact. The disappointing part is that it is a celebration for my mom's 60th birthday so all of my siblings and their families are going. I reached out to our travel agent tonight and she said we are still within the cancellation period even though final payment was processed today. Our current plan is to cancel the cruise fares for my wife and I will take our children on the cruise to be with their grandmother and cousins. It does indeed suck, but based on the feedback it would not be a good idea to risk going when 25-26 weeks pregnant. My wife's mother will come stay with her for the week that we are on the cruise.

It stinks, but it's smart. I thought my OB was unnecessarily conservative about the 24 week rule and begrudgingly canceled a road trip to a beach... until I went into pre-term labor 2.5 days after my routine appointment, at which I had been deemed completely fine and normal. My helicopter ride from my hospital to a larger hospital not quite an hour away (paid by insurance) - $10,000. Beyond that, I can't imagine having a baby in a hospital for months that far away from home; sadly you do end up measuring in months. I'm also very happy your MIL will be staying with your wife, and maybe she'll get some good relaxation in instead without the other kids around! Book her a pedicure or pregnancy massage.

 

[Shanti]

Thanks for the input everyone! It is actually a cruise to the Northwest (my mistake in my haste to type the message) - Alaska to be exact. The disappointing part is that it is a celebration for my mom's 60th birthday so all of my siblings and their families are going. I reached out to our travel agent tonight and she said we are still within the cancellation period even though final payment was processed today. Our current plan is to cancel the cruise fares for my wife and I will take our children on the cruise to be with their grandmother and cousins. It does indeed suck, but based on the feedback it would not be a good idea to risk going when 25-26 weeks pregnant. My wife's mother will come stay with her for the week that we are on the cruise.

That sounds like the best plan. Good for you for being responsible.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The only ship you lie about your pregnancy to get on is the ship taking you as a refugee from a war-torn nation where your fate is near-certain death, instead of highly probable death. And that's not a pleasure cruise!

 

[mmouse37]

The rules are there for your protection but it does stink that plans have to be changed. This past October there was a great deal on the Magic out of NYC that I jumped on and wanted my son, DIL and GDD2 to join us on. Our DIL was too far along in her pregnancy (she was really wanting to go) for her to go. It would have been so easy right out NYC, no flights, no pre night hotels, 20 minutes from the port but it was a no go for her. So, my husband and I decided to just take our granddaughter!!! We did and it was great. Mom and dad had a calm week to themselves before their 2nd baby and my husband and I got to share the Disney Magic with our 2 year old granddaughter. We all had a good week!!!

MJ

 

[mom4mad]

I am an OB/GYN and avid cruiser. The 24 week rule exists because that is the time in the pregnancy when the fetus is considered viable. Viable means has a chance at survival outside of the mom. That chance requires massive medical intervention that would not be possible on a cruise ship. As we see more and more less than 24 week babies survive, I suspect you will see this restriction drop to 20 weeks. There is no way any cruise line would want to assume this risk.

 

[Summer12315]

So, this happened to me and I took the cruise. But I literally turned 24 weeks on like day 3 of the cruise, so it was a difference of just a couple days. I had my doctor write a note stating that I was less than 24 weeks pregnant. Disney never once asked about my pregnancy. This was 4 years ago so policy on that might have changed. You probably could get away with it. But it's probably smartest if you try to reschedule.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

I suggest booking a placeholder on board. That will allow you to book a future cruise at 10% off within 2 years. Your wife could go on the future cruise.