Surprised to read that a baby has just been born on the QM2

I just stumbled across an article from the New York Post reporting that a baby boy was recently born on-board. I was quite surprised to hear this had happened due to Cunard’s rules on pregnancy and some of the quotes written in the article.

Cunard’s terms and conditions state that they don’t allow women to travel who have entered into their 24th week of pregnancy and reserve the right to refuse boarding to women who look to be in an advanced state of pregnancy.

The terms (which I have copied below) also state that the doctors on-board are not qualified to deliver babies..

“She turned to me and said, ‘It’s starting!’” said the man, who declined to give his name and only identified his sister as Johanna.
He rushed her to the ship’s small hospital, where a doctor took charge as the ship neared Brooklyn.

The baby was supposed to be due in three weeks, but just couldn’t wait, he said.”

I am surprised the article doesn’t even mention the fact that she shouldn’t have been on the ocean liner in the first place. I wonder what the situation will be with medical fees, will their insurance be void leaving them with a big bill ?

If I am missing something here I would really like to know as it seems to me for this to have happened in the first place errors must have been made.

Thankfully the article reports that the mother and baby are in good health.

Cunard – Pregnancy T&C’s

“26. Cunard does not have on board its ships adequate medical facilities for childbirth. Accordingly for reasons of health and safety Cunard regrets that it cannot carry Passengers who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy or beyond at any point during their Package. All pregnant women are required to produce a doctor’s or midwife’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel taking into account the proposed itinerary and that the pregnancy is not high-risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD) calculated from both the last menstrual period (LMP) and ultrasound (if performed). Cunard cannot accept a booking or subsequently carry a Passenger unless they comply with the requirements of this clause. In the case of a booking by or on behalf of a pregnant Passenger made before it could reasonably have been known that the Passenger would not be able to join the Package by reason of the Passenger entering their 24th week of pregnancy or beyond at any point in their Package, Cunard will refund in full the fare paid by or on behalf of that Passenger and the fare paid by any accompanying Passenger, provided that the pregnant Passenger notified Cunard as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware that she would not be able to join the Package, but shall otherwise have no liability whatsoever. Cunard expressly reserves the right to refuse passage on board to any Passenger who appears to be in an advanced state of pregnancy and Cunard shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of either such refusal and/or the carriage of any such Passenger.

27. Pregnant Passengers are referred to clauses 29 – 31 headed “Medical Treatment” for information regarding the medical facilities on board.

28. The ship’s doctor is not qualified to deliver babies or to offer pre or post natal treatment and no responsibility is accepted by Cunard in respect of the inability to provide such services or equipment.”