Welcome aboard, Emily!
Congratulations on your growing family! Taking time for yourself after this exciting chapter of expecting a baby and caring for a newborn sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m happy to share what’s possible, and some guidance for you to make the best decision on your upcoming cruise date.
Disney Cruise Line does have some limitations in place, as you know, for the safety of both mother and baby.
Mothers who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy during the sailing may not cruise. Infants must be at least one year old at the time of embarkation for South Pacific Repositioning, Transatlantic, Hawaii, and Panama Canal sailings. For all other itineraries, infants must be at least six months old at the time of embarkation. I confirmed with
Disney Cruise Line that there are no specific policies or restrictions regarding when new mothers may sail if the child is not with them. I advise you to speak with your doctor as to when you may be physically and mentally ready to take such a special trip and truly be able to enjoy your cruise with
everything that's included. While these vacations are as active or relaxing as you wish them to be, there is much walking and many water activities where you’ll want to feel comfortable. Both the travel to the cruise port from your home of North Dakota and the
adventures you’ll enjoy during your sailing should be considered as to your comfort and safety postpartum. This is a very personal decision and I encourage you to do what feels right for your family to get the most out of your vacation investment and experience.
Please be sure to
review Disney’s cruise contract and
cancellation/modification policies as you think through your decision. In my experience, moving a cruise date has been seamless and is best done through a phone call. The
helpful Disney Cruise Line team can find you a similar itinerary (or a new one) at a future date and talk you through any price differences or clarify the impacts of a change. I’ve moved cruise sail dates twice, and both times landed on the better cruise and sailing timeline for my family. We often plan these special vacations far in advance, but life happens! Understanding your options to make informed decisions will ultimately result in a more relaxing vacation for you when the time is right.
I hope this helps you think of what’s possible and has you dreaming of a magical getaway to celebrate this amazing new chapter of your life. While on your upcoming cruise, be sure to keep an eye out for the incredible activities onboard for your little one when they are ready to sail with you in the future. You can take advantage of
Open House hours for the “its a small world nursery” and the Oceaneers Club for a sense of what they may enjoy on a future family cruise together.
Please let us know what other questions you have as you determine the best course of action and navigate your way through this amazing new journey together.
Wishing you a safe and happy sailing,
Amy