Help need advice on vacation and zika

Hi everyone it's been awhile since I've been on but I need help and no better place than here. I'm losing sleep over this. Dh and I booked a family Disney cruise that leaves in a few weeks. The cruise stops at Bahamas, castaway cay and port canavaral. We've been so excited for this trip. I keep thinking of how much fun my boys would have. With that said I just found out I'm pregnant and now I'm concerned about Zika on the trip. Not sure if the media is making this worst Than what it is. My dh feels like I would be fine. I would just stay on the boat when we are at these places. Waiting to hear from dr today. Just wondering what you guys would do. Sorry for the long post im just seriously flustered with so many emotions going on right now. Thanks for your help

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Oh man, poor you. This is such a tough situation I'm not your typical alarmist but with Zika and pregnancy I would not mess around. There is confirmed Zika in some (or all) or those locations. Mosquitoes could fly onto your ship while it's in port. Maybe that's unlikely, but still a possibility. The other thing to consider is your husband could be infected with Zika while off the ship and as a precaution you should use condoms during and for months after your trip (or however long the CDC is currently recommending) to prevent Zika being sexually transmitted to you. There are certainly precautions you could personally take to significantly limit your risk, but is that the vacation you really want to take? Will the stress you feel worrying about your developing fetus for months after your trip be worth it?

I've heard many cruise lines are offering refunds for pregnant passengers. Do your boys know the trip is planned? Are they old enough to understand length of time and calendars? Perhaps you could cancel at no penalty and reschedule for when you are no longer pregnant and simply dial back talking up the trip to the kids and say it's happening next year

Help need advice on vacation and zika

My BFF lost her baby to Zika. Sorry, but I wouldn't want to put my baby in danger. It's not just you that you have to worry about. If your DH gets bit and contracts Zika, you may never know because he may never show a symptom. But it lives in men for months and is sexually transmitted.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I personally would not risk it. ONE misquitto bite and I'd be freaking out worrying if it were infected with Zika. It would be a complete waste of $5,000 (I'm sure you're paying at least close to that...) because I wouldn't enjoy myself at all. Did you take out trip insurance? Do your kids know about it? If so-- I'd go somewhere else awesome to not disappoint them.

Congrats on the pregnancy!!!

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I wouldn't chance it. Zika scares the crap outta me! I don't think I'd go even if I was just trying to get pregnant, so already being pregnant- no way. I'd contact them about refunds or rescheduling.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I would definitely not risk my baby by going.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Thanks ladies I appreciate it. We haven't told the kids about the cruise so that wouldn't be a hardship. We do have another family traveling with us and they asked if I could just stay inside when we are at the ports which like mentioned I would be ok with. I'm getting nervous just going outside today in ny. I think the biggest thing is all the unknown about this virus. I'm still waiting to hear from my dr. I called the cruise line and with a Drs note they would fully refund us or rebook but I'm not going to rebook with still being pregnant or with a new born lol. Thanks for all your inputs

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I am sorry, probably not what you want to hear. But I see a top high risk specialist and he feels it is very risky and hazardous, even in NY. Forget about traveling to an island or on a cruise. I think you have to reschedule, not worth the risk and I think it's a big one in your situation.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Help need advice on vacation and zika

I'd cancel. My doctors office is strongly advising against travel to carribbean and infected areas. I canceled a trip to St Lucia before it was on the list and was glad I did... You just never know and the effects of Zika are too detrimental for me to take the risk.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

We had a cruise booked for July and I was 13 weeks pregnant. We cancelled.
My thoughts were, me staying on a boat for that long is one thing. My husband is also at risk for transmitting it to me. Which means double the risk.
I just didn't feel confident in going.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

We had a family trip planned to Disney for next week. My SIL and I both found out we were pregnant after booking the trip and we both backed out.
We got our whole flight refunded and 80% of the hotel.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I'd cancel as well. It's just not worth the risk.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

So it looks like we will definitely be cancelling. My husband is looking for other vacation ideas. He wants to head to Bermuda on a cruise. Bermuda is not on the cdc list. I'm nervous for Bermuda too but his theory is then I shouldn't even leave our house here on li. What's your thoughts on Bermuda? I truly appreciate everyone's input

Help need advice on vacation and zika

I was going to suggest cancelling the trip as well. I had this conversation with an OB that I know and she said her patient was insistent that she was going on the Disney cruise. The person I know told her the risks and if she could live with it. The patient ended up cancelling the trip.

At the same note, Bermuda is ok. I did the Bermuda cruise when I was 9-10 weeks. The same OB mentioned above agreed that it was ok to go to and was not on the CDC list. I also asked my OB and she cleared me. I did tell the cruise line that I was pregnant (I needed to change my alcohol package to something else) and they ended up needing a letter from my OB clearing me. Usually you don't need it until later in your pregnancy but I guess with everything going on, it's possible that's why they needed it.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Message edited 9/14/2016 9:00:58 AM.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

I'm in a similar situation, but not on a Caribbean trip. I have to go to Orlando for either one or two weeks at the end of October for work and then we have a family trip to Disney the first week of December.

My dr told me to follow the CDC recommendations. A bit of a cop out but I understand why.

I will be 15 weeks for the first trip to Orlando. Right now, I'm going. I will have limited outside exposure for my work trips, basically office and hotel. I'm also planning on going to Disney, unless zika spreads. I've done lots of reading, and Disney apparently sprays really well.

I'm obviously concerned but I feel comfortable with my decision. I will keep an eye on the situation and adjust accordingly.

I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip. We've been to Bermuda a couple of times, and if that's where you end, it's great. One of our favorite places.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Help need advice on vacation and zika

I would cancel your trip. I refused to go anywhere that had any cases of Zika and I'm not even pregnant. It's honestly not worth the risk.

DH and I do plan to start ttcing for our 2nd in a few months, and we just booked a trip to Bermuda. Bermuda has no known cases of Zika. We are going during Columbus Day weekend and heard the weather is beautiful. We aren't doing a cruise, but the resorts and flights were all very reasonable.

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Yea knock on wood I usually don't get morning sickness. With my other 2 pregnancies I went on a cruise and felt fine both times. I will say that the Disney company as usual is being fabulous. They are so understanding and cooperative. But that is no surprise to most as it is in fact Disney!!!!

Re: Help need advice on vacation and zika

Back in Feb, I found out the night before we were leaving for the cruise that I was pregnant. Just 4 weeks. My kids knew about the trip, and I would have devastated them had we cancelled. I went against what my doc said and went. The Bahamas weren't on the CDC list yet and I could t see canceling. It was so breezy, there wasn't a mosquito in sight. I also wore bug spray. I'm 35 weeks now and to this day it still crosses my mind b/c I thought I got a bite while down there. I think you're making the right decision with canceling. It's not worth the stress.