Cruising During Pregnancy: What You Should Know

Table Of Content

• Can I cancel my booking free of charge if I am pregnant?
• How to deal with nausea and seasickness while on a cruise?
• What If I Get Sick or Have Complications During My Cruise? Is There Medical Care Onboard?
• Should I Avoid Certain Destinations While Pregnant?
• Cruise Lines’ Pregnancy Policies
• What happens if you go into labor on a cruise ship?

Opt for well-cooked meals, avoid raw or undercooked foods, and drink plenty of water. If you have any dietary restrictions or concerns, inform the cruise staff in advance. Before booking a cruise, it’s important to discuss your plans with your healthcare provider. They will be able to assess your specific situation and provide guidance on whether it’s safe for you to travel. With this in mind, it’s unlikely that a drinks package will provide good value for money. Instead, pregnant cruisers and the passengers sharing their cabin will be wise to pay for their individual drinks.

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Can I cancel my booking free of charge if I am pregnant?

I've cruised during both the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and can identify both pros and cons of the decision. These are not medical issues you want to experience in the middle of the ocean, away from land-based hospitals with dedicated prenatal specialists. Cruise lines recognize it's not in the best interest of the mother to be far from care at this time.

How to deal with nausea and seasickness while on a cruise?

If you're expecting (or expecting to be soon), here's what you need to know — and what to expect — about cruising while pregnant. This long stretch of coastline is famous for its rocky cliffs and rugged ocean beaches. During an Alaska cruisetour, you’ll explore the city of Anchorage and taste all kinds of delicious cuisine ranging from seafood bakes to gastropub goodies. Later, stop by Denali National Park, a sprawling national park full of rugged beauty and breathtaking scenery, where you’ll be able to see the highest peak in the U.S., Denali, and spot Alaskan wildlife in their natural habitat. Another great cruise destination to discover while pregnant is Alaska. Our Alaska cruises depart from a number of convenient ports of call such as Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington.

What If I Get Sick or Have Complications During My Cruise? Is There Medical Care Onboard?

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For example, a normal pregnancy is not normally considered a valid reason for cancellation, while some can cover complications such as losses resulting from unforeseen pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. As of July 2022, the CDC's COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. If you have any concerns, weigh them with your primary care physician prior to booking.

Should I Avoid Certain Destinations While Pregnant?

You'll definitely want to avoid destinations with substandard health care, or setting out to wildly remote locales lacking any proper land-based medical care, like to Antarctica or a transatlantic sailing. Remember, medical evacuation is an ordeal and an incredible expense . Most cruise ships, especially the larger ones, do offer limited, doctor-helmed medical facilities for passengers and crew, which are prepared to handle routine medical procedures and minor emergencies. However, these centers do not offer technologically adequate facilities or doctors specialized in obstetrics and gynecology should critical childbirth, prenatal or early infant care be required. For dedicated cruisers doubling as moms-to-be, what better way to celebrate your growing family than by taking a relaxing and fun-filled trip out to sea? Happily, cruising in the midst of a normal, healthy pregnancy is not only entirely possible but is generally altogether recommendable, with just a little extra planning to ensure a fun, safe and healthy sailing.

Consider the amenities and activities on board

Chances are that many of the more adventurous shore excursions, like zipline runs, parasailing, 4x4 tours or scuba diving, are best avoided. "...any pregnant woman who tries to board the vessel, who has or will enter her 24th week of estimated fetal gestational age at any time during the cruise, risks denial of boarding and/or disembarkation without compensation or refund." Cruising while pregnant can indeed be a feasible and enjoyable option with proper planning and considerations.

Cabins mid-ship and on the lower decks can help, but there are no guarantees. Predicting Itineraries or which ports will have choppy waters and high winds is not easy. Generally, the newer, larger ships are better equipped with stabilizers which greatly reduce motion. Be sure to pack any medication you might need such as paracetamol, heartburn relief and plasters as these can also be expensive to purchase on-board.

Children less than 2 years of age are not required to extend gratuities. During your cruise, make sure to stay hydrated and eat nutritious meals. It’s important to prioritize your health and the health of your baby.

What happens if you go into labor on a cruise ship?

If you know definitively that you're susceptible to seasickness, you might want to rethink your cruise plans since vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is never a great thing, but especially so when you're carrying. As a general rule, cruise lines require that you inform them of your pregnancy and include a letter from your physician verifying that you are fit to travel as well as your estimated due date. However, if there is no pregnancy bump and you are still in the early stages, the cruise liner is unlikely to ask. If you are within the early stages of pregnancy, it is still advisable to consult with your doctor before traveling. "If you are pregnant or sailing with a guest who is pregnant they must provide a physician’s letter stating the expected due date, medical fitness to travel and the pregnancy is not high risk," reads Holland America's website.

If the baby is born in the territorial waters of a country, she might be granted additional citizenship to that country; if the baby is born in international waters, she might be granted citizenship to the country in which the ship is flagged. However, that depends on each country's laws and how it chooses to extend citizenship. For example, they can give you fluids for dehydration or diagnose a miscarriage. Protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika by wearing bug spray and covering up in buggy areas. As always, follow the general recommendations for pregnancy, such as avoiding extreme heat and altitude, reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption and staying away from raw foods or high-mercury fish.

Ultimately, the decision to cruise or travel at all during your pregnancy is a personal decision that you need to make in partnership with your doctor, midwife, or other medical professional. When it comes to dietary restrictions, the same rules apply to the land as they do at sea. Stay away from raw foods, alcohol and of course, anything that might make you feel uneasy.

The spa is a welcome oasis for tired pregnant bodies, but be sure to get advance approval from your doc for treatments. Ask if any of the massage therapists specialize in prenatal massages (you just might get lucky) -- though note that it's doubtful they'll have pregnancy-friendly massage tables if you were hoping for a good back rub). Some ships even have dedicated spa suites, located close to the spa and decked out with special pampering spa amenities. During a cruise, this might result in you giving birth on the ship.

From the world-class menu in our Main Dining Room to the delicacies in our specialty restaurants, you’ll find a variety of choices to indulge in. A combination of heat and over-indulgence can lead to your clothes and shoes becoming tight fairly quickly on a cruise. Pack elasticated trousers and floaty dresses to ensure that you’re comfortable. Balancing in high heels can be tricky during rough seas, so you may wish to stick to flat, comfy sandals. If this happens, you should contact your cruise line (or travel agent) to let them know.