- Woman denied entry onto cruise ship
- She was 26 weeks pregnant at the time
- Did not read the terms and conditions
- READ MORE: Inside adults-only cruise ship
A woman has recalled the horror of being banned from boarding a cruise because she was pregnant and didn’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 celebration when they were turned away at the terminal.
The three-day cruise, which boasts multiple bars, a steakhouse, comedy club and a spa, stayed in Australian waters off the coast of Brisbane.
She was unaware that passengers can be no more than 24 weeks pregnant at the time of boarding, which is stated in the company’s terms and conditions policy.
‘We actually thought they were joking at the start,’ Ms Farrington told 9News.
Kaylee (right) and her mother (left)) said the policy was ‘discriminatory against pregnant woman’ and claimed it should have been more clearly stated
The Gold Coast woman was blocked from boarding the Carnival Luminosa cruise ship
‘You think that rules are the same for cruising as it is for flying.’
Clause 14 of the terms and conditions, which is also on Carnival’s website states: ‘We are unable to accept any guests who will have entered their 24th week or later.’
Ms Farrington said the policy was ‘discriminatory against pregnant woman’ and claimed it should have been more clearly stated.
‘To not be prompted at the time of booking is wild,; she added.
Her mother Robyn Betts is now $2,000 out of pocket.
‘They said ‘oh, no, there will be no refund’. The said it’s their terms and conditions and it’s out fault we didn’t dig deep enough to find them,’ Ms Betts said.
Ms Farrington wasn’t the only pregnant passenger booked on the same cruise to be caught out by the rule and turned away.
Another woman told the Nine at the time of booking the cruise that being pregnant wouldn’t be a problem.
‘Before making payments, we did conform about the pregnancy… so we’re trying to get the recording,’ she said.
Carnival told Nine the policy, which is outlined on the website and within the cruise contract, was ‘designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both mothers and their unborn babies’.
‘Cruise ships are not equipped with facilities to deal with prenatal and early infant care,’ a spokesperson for the company said.
Daily Mail Australia approached Carnival for further comment.
Carnival’s policy is in line with most other cruise companies around the world who typically will not let women who have entered their 23rd week of pregnancy to board.
The three-day cruise, which boasted multiple bars, a steakhouse, comedy club and a spa, stayed in Australian waters off the coast of Brisbane (stock image of the cruise ship)
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk