Cruise Travel

Going on a cruise sounds so therapeutic that it almost seems silly to have a chapter on the health hazards of cruising while you are pregnant.  There are enough health risks involved, though, that most cruise lines will deny you boarding if you are more than twenty-eight weeks along at the time of the cruise.

The reason for this is that the closer you get to your due date, the more likely it is that you will suffer from premature labor or other obstetrical complications.  Obstetrical emergencies tend to occur without warning and are often life threatening.  A cruise ship is usually equipped with an excellent emergency and triage unit and well trained staff.  They are not prepared, however, to handle major obstetrical emergencies.  And if a ship is a long way from port, it may be as long as twenty four hours before you could expect to get competent help.

Most of the health risks associated with ship travel are minor, however, and have nothing to do with obstetrical emergencies.

Remember that one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy is nausea and vomiting.  And one of the most common ailments of cruise travel is seasickness.  Put the two together, and you could be in for a very uncomfortable few days.  Medicines for nausea are discussed in another chapter, and if either morning sickness or motion sickness are part of your pattern, you would do well to address this issue before you get on board.

Another common problem of pregnancy is a loss of balance.  Loosened joint ligaments, an altered center of gravity and a protruding abdomen that obscures visibility of where you are going make it more likely that you will fall.  Add to this the fact that on a ship the floor is moving, waving and tilting, and that you have to go up and down a lot of stairs and you have a real problem.  Until you get your sea legs, therefore, we recommend you hold the handrails at all times and take your time getting from one place to another.

It is still best for you to take the stairs, though, rather than the elevators.  For one thing, you need the exercise—especially when you’re eating all that great food.  But for another thing, elevators are one of the places where germs lurk.  And when you are pregnant, your are more susceptible to germs.

One thing that showed up with the flurry of Norwalk virus infections in 2002 was that elevator buttons were one of the primary places to find the virus.  Also, in a crowded elevator it is difficult to avoid someone who is sneezing or coughing.

For similar reasons, you should also use the restroom in your cabin in preference to the public restrooms.  And as much as possible avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands.  Get used to giving a cheerful wave of the hand instead.  And speaking of hands—wash them.  Often!  With soap and water or an alcohol-based liquid.