Carnival Luminosa: Astonishing reason why Gold Coast woman was banned from boarding a cruise
- Woman is denied access to cruise ship
- She was 26 weeks pregnant at the time
- Have not read the terms and conditions
- READ MORE: Inland cruise ship for adults
A woman recalls the horror of being banned from boarding a cruise because she was pregnant and hadn’t read the terms and conditions.
Gold Coast woman Kaylee Farrington, who is 26 weeks pregnant, tried to board the Carnival Luminosa cruise ship for a family birthday when they were turned away at the terminal.
The three-day cruise, which featured multiple bars, a steakhouse, a comedy club and a spa, stayed in Australian waters off the coast of Brisbane.
She was unaware that passengers cannot be more than 24 weeks pregnant at the time of boarding, which is stated in the company’s terms and conditions.
“At first we actually thought they were joking,” Ms Farrington said 9News.
Kaylee (right) and her mother (left) said the policy was ‘discriminatory against pregnant women’ and claimed it should have been stated more clearly
The Gold Coast woman was not allowed to board the Carnival Luminosa cruise ship
“You think the rules for cruising are the same as for flying.”
Article 14 of the terms and conditions, which are also on Carnival’s website, states: “We cannot accept guests arriving on the 24th week or later.”
Ms Farrington said the policy was ‘discriminatory against pregnant women’ and claimed this should have been stated more clearly.
‘It’s wild not to be asked for this at the time of booking; she added.
Her mother Robyn Betts is now $2,000 out of pocket.
“They said ‘oh no, there will be no refunds’.” They said it’s their terms and conditions and it’s our fault for not digging deep enough to find them,” Ms Betts said.
Ms Farrington wasn’t the only pregnant passenger booked on the same cruise who was caught by the rule and turned away.
Another woman told the Nine when she booked the cruise that being pregnant would not be a problem.
“Before we made any payments, we held on to the pregnancy… so we are trying to get the shot,” she said.
Carnival told Nine that the policy, which is stated on its website and in the cruise contract, was “designed to ensure the safety and well-being of both mothers and their unborn babies.”
“Cruise ships are not equipped with prenatal care and childcare facilities,” a company spokesperson said.
Daily Mail Australia approached Carnival for further comment.
Carnival’s policy is in line with most other cruise lines around the world, which typically do not allow women who have entered their 23rd week of pregnancy to board.
The three-day cruise, which featured multiple bars, a steakhouse, a comedy club and a spa, stayed in Australian waters off the coast of Brisbane (cruise ship stock photo)