Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all that has happened on cruise ships lately, I wouldn't step foot on one, pregnant or not pregnant!

+1!

http://kdvr.com/2013/07/25/luxury-cruise-fails-health-inspection-due-to-contaminated-food/

Good that the crew member of Silver Sea Cruises had the guts to turn them in.

OP: Consider Disney, Royal Caribbean or Holland America. I can say that, in particular, Holland America is meticulous about their hygiene, safety, and medical facilities.

I would not do a cruise while pregnant. I have heard too many stories from people getting sick (several people I actually know in real life) on cruises. Food poisoning would be just as bad as a virus because of the dehydration.

I wouldn't. A family on a cruise we took had an unexpected early labor. The captain announced that they were recovering peacefully in a hospital in Jamaica (shudders!).

Honestly I would never do a cruise at this point. A friend of mine fractured her ankle on a cruise last week and had horrendous care.

Just saw a special on nasty food handling practices on luxury cruises. I'd be wary.

Many wont let you cruise after 24 weeks.

I did a cruise at 23 weeks. I don't think I'm a cruise-person but I really didn't have fun. 99% of the excursions I wasn't allowed to do because I was pregnant so I was pretty bored.

Was having a totally normal, healthy pregnancy at 27w. At 27.5 I was in the hospital with severe pre-e and had my baby two weeks later. Also, gross cruise ship viruses.

Anonymous wrote:With all that has happened on cruise ships lately, I wouldn't step foot on one, pregnant or not pregnant!

+1!

http://kdvr.com/2013/07/25/luxury-cruise-fails-health-inspection-due-to-contaminated-food/

With all that has happened on cruise ships lately, I wouldn't step foot on one, pregnant or not pregnant!

The policy is 24 weeks because if you go into labor after 24 weeks on land, a hospital may still be able to save the baby. If you go into labor on a cruise ship after 24 weeks there's nothing they can do, even though the baby would still have a chance if you were anywhere else.

I wouldn't. I went on vacation at 27 weeks but I went somewhere with what I considered (more than) acceptable medical facilities if I went into labor or had other complications. For me, that would eliminate cruise ships. But them, cruises don't appeal to me in the least so maybe my bias is sneaking in.

OP here - thanks for the advice! The cruise line said I could bring a doctors note and I wouldn't go without one. I have to check with my doctor tomorrow. Good to know others have done cruises after 24 weeks and I'm not crazy for thinking it's a good idea.

If you decide to do this (I wouldn't, but I don't like cruises - ugh), tell the cruise line booking agent exactly how pregnant you will be, get their ok that you can go if you have a dr's note, and document it that the booking agent agreed it was ok prior to booking AND had authority to make that agreement on the cruise line's behalf. Only when you have this in hand do you book it. It may be that you'll show up at the ship and no one will say a word. But if are stopped, you want documentation that you booked with their agreement that it was ok, along with the dr's note. At worst, you'll be turned away but likely given a voucher for the value of your cruise to book another one at some point.

I went away on a cruise with my first around. 27 or 28'weeks. I had a dr note but no one asked me to see it. All was totally fine!

I am currently expecting baby number #3 and my husband and I are trying to plan a vacation before the baby arrives. We haven't taken a real vacation in years and want to do something relaxing and fun but not too expensive. I found a great inexpensive cruise that's just for 4 days. I started to book the cruise and at the very end they said "just so you know the cruise lines policy is you can't go if you are more than 24 weeks pregnant." I'll be 27 weeks. My OB had previously said I could travel up to 32 weeks and I don't know why a cruise would be different. As I said it's my 3rd pregnancy and my previous 2 were totally normal, babies were born right at 40 weeks. I'm going to ask my OB but the office is closed now so I have to wait until tomorrow. Just curious what other people would do. Would you go anyway or should I find another vacation that won't be quite what I want.