Cruise if Pregnant - Not Allowed?

anotheruser

It just surprises me completely.
In our world of people being offended at the slightest thing, and people thinking they have rights when they don't, not to mention companies falling over themselves to accompany everyone, it really surprises me that this clear discrimination is allowed to exist.
Because let's face it, they're saying because you're past X weeks pregnant, you can't go. They may as well say that those under 40 can't go too.

leylandsunaddict

anotheruser wrote: »

It just surprises me completely.
In our world of people being offended at the slightest thing, and people thinking they have rights when they don't, not to mention companies falling over themselves to accompany everyone, it really surprises me that this clear discrimination is allowed to exist.
Because let's face it, they're saying because you're past X weeks pregnant, you can't go. They may as well say that those under 40 can't go too.

It is not discrimination. It's plain common sense, and your example is like comparing apples to pears. Some cruises are adults only. Are they discriminating? Airlines refuse to carry passengers over X amount of weeks pregnant. Are they discriminating?

I can't think of many pregnant ladies who would want to risk possibly putting their unborn babies lives in danger, and not forgetting their own. Then there's the inconvenience to all the other passengers on board if the ship has to put into the nearest port to get medical help for someone who thinks it's their right to cruise at whatever stage of pregnancy they see fit.

Not sure what 'sort of booked a cruise' means, but if you mean it's booked then you need to think about your plans for getting pregnant. If it's not booked then just don't book it.

shaun_from_Africa

anotheruser wrote: »

it really surprises me that this clear discrimination is allowed to exist.
Because let's face it, they're saying because you're past X weeks pregnant, you can't go. They may as well say that those under 40 can't go too.

As the definition of discrimination is basically the preference of one person, group or thing over another then yes, it is discrimination but it's legal discrimination and there are plenty of examples where this sort of thing happens:

Many nightclubs won't let people in if they are wearing jeans or trainers thus they are discriminating against these people.

Saga have some holidays exclusively for people over 50 years old so they are discriminating against younger travellers.

Loads of shops won't let in customers if they are eating or drinking.

Provided that people aren't being discriminated against on the basis or race, colour disability or religion then it's perfectly legal.

FBaby

it really surprises me that this clear discrimination is allowed to exist.

Why do you think would be their reason to discriminate against pregnant women over a certain age? Because looking pregnant is revolting to other passengers? If that's the case, why aren't they banning breastfeeding women too if that was their backdated views?

You say yourself you understand the risks, so what can't you accept that this is all what it is about?

I expect you've never cruised, or maybe never be pregnant before, because if you had been pregnant and finding yourself needing to give urgent birth at 28 weeks, as it unfortunately happens, you wouldn't be wondering what is wrong with the prospect of doing so on a cruise miles away from any hospital!

Voyager2002

anotheruser wrote: »

. They may as well say that those under 40 can't go too.

A better comparison is with those nasty travel insurance companies who discriminate against people with pre-existing diseases, and people aged over 70. Not fair, but it is legal and they have sound commercial reasons for doing so.

Blue264

anotheruser wrote: »

It just surprises me completely.
In our world of people being offended at the slightest thing, and people thinking they have rights when they don't, not to mention companies falling over themselves to accompany everyone, it really surprises me that this clear discrimination is allowed to exist.

This isn't discrimination. This is you feeling that you've had a choice or opportunity taken away from you, or taken out of your hands. If you didn't have an inkling that your plans weren't possible, you wouldn't have even posed the question here.

Let's just say that pregnant women past X weeks were allowed on cruise ships. Let's say that a woman went into premature labour when the ship is 6 hours away from a port. The worst case scenario is terrible for all concerned and I'm sure you wouldn't wish that on anyone, least alone, yourself.

Right now, you're not pregnant and you have absolutely no idea what kind of pregnancy you will have if you conceive between now and the date of travel. It could be the case that every tiny movement of the ship makes you nauseous, which would be two weeks of torture for you rather than a relaxing holiday. This is all hypothetical, but personally, I wouldn't make any plans until you're actually pregnant and know what kind of pregnancy you're having, or take the cruise and delay trying to conceive. That's the choice that is yours to make.

FBaby

Doing a cruise with a baby is actually a very good choice of holiday (assuming the baby is healthy and a few weeks old), so if your priority is to try for one, why not want until after you do have your baby?