When one of you gets sick on vacation, the trip changes for both of you. In our experience, a lot of vacation stomach trouble is a stack of things, celebrating harder than at home, richer food and finally relaxing after a busy season, on top of the real risks from ice, raw fruit or food that sat out too long. A few shared habits prevent most of it, and a plan for caring for each other makes the rest easier to get through together.
We have traveled the Caribbean together for more than 20 years, and food safety has always been part of how we travel. If your trip is an all-inclusive, our guide to what "included" really means at your first all-inclusive covers room service and resort policies worth checking before you book. This one is about staying healthy and looking after each other once you are there. On a Virgin Voyages cruise that stopped in the Dominican Republic, we got caught up in the day's excitement and let our guard down. The fresh fruit was probably rinsed in tap water, the beer bottles were chilling in a tub of melted ice, and the rice served with our stew had been sitting out. Pride of America Hawaii cruise review, the only US flagged, large cruise ship to sail in Hawaii. Discover the ultimate cruise experience with Virgin Voyages, where every detail is designed for your enjoyment. Enjoy unique itineraries, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional dining options. An Alaska Cruise is a fantastic mancation idea, here are some tips to make it an amazing experience. Promoted by FlowAds We both got very sick, and so did plenty of other people. People debated whether it came from the ship or shore, and nobody knew for sure. The Virgin Voyages medical team was fantastic at taking care of us, and Heather was treated with no fee. It taught us that food safety takes constant diligence, at home and on vacation, and that two careful travelers can slip at the same moment. In our experience, the days you are most likely to slip are the best ones: the honeymoon beach day, the anniversary lunch in port, the first afternoon after a long flight. That is why it helps to make food safety a shared habit. Agree on a few rules before you go, and let either of you ask when the other forgets. That's essentially what happened to us on that cruise ... we were so excited to take a real vacation (we were still working as influencer and travel advisor but we had some time to really relax and enjoy the cruise ... and we did for the first couple days, hah!) The CDC's advice for travelers gives you the rules. Avoid ice unless you are reasonably sure it was made with safe water. Skip salads, uncooked vegetables and raw fruit you did not peel yourself. Choose fully cooked food served hot, drink from factory-sealed bottles, and use bottled water to brush your teeth when tap water isn't safe. Asking a bartender whether the ice is made with purified water takes ten seconds and does not ruin the mood. In our experience, a lot of vacation stomach trouble starts before any bug arrives. An anniversary trip can mean champagne at breakfast, a tasting menu at dinner and cocktails by the pool in between. Add the release of months of stress, and your stomach may already be off balance. Pace the first day together. Eat simply until you have both settled in, trade every other cocktail for water, and save the most indulgent dinner for the middle of the trip instead of the first night. The healthy partner becomes the planner and the nurse. Order room service or bring simple food back, keep rehydration drinks within reach, and take over the calls to the front desk or the medical center. Wash your hands with soap and water every time you help, since the CDC says hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus and the virus can still be in a person's stool for two weeks or more after they feel better. It is also fine for the healthy partner to take an hour by the pool or keep a spa booking. Many sick partners would rather the other one salvage part of the day than sit in a dark room feeling guilty. Talk about it once, out loud, so neither of you is guessing. If you both get sick at the same time, as we did, call for medical help sooner rather than later, since nobody is left to run for supplies. A babymoon calls for extra caution. The CDC says bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol, is not recommended for pregnant women, so the usual travel kit needs a different plan. Talk to your OB before you book about what is safe to pack and what to do if a stomach bug hits. Follow the food and water rules strictly on a babymoon, and choose a resort or cruise with medical care on site. Save the medical center's number in both your phones before you arrive. The CDC treats any case as severe if it is incapacitating or wipes out your plans. Separately, fever, blood in the stool, vomiting that will not stop or any worry about dehydration are all good reasons to call a doctor rather than wait it out. Bacterial cases usually last three to seven days without treatment, and a doctor can decide whether antibiotics would shorten it. Before you leave, check what your health plan covers outside the United States and whether travel insurance fills the gap. If you are choosing between cruise lines or resorts, Heather can walk you through how onboard and on-site medical care works for the ones you are considering through Flow Voyages. Call her at 630-779-9301 or email Heather@FlowVoyages.com. If one of you gets sick, the trip doesn't have to be lost for both of you. The night before you fly, sit down together for five minutes and agree on your ice and fruit rules, who carries the kit and where the medical center is. This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor, OB or a travel clinic before an international trip, especially if either of you has health conditions or takes regular medication. First-time cruiser connectivity made simple: ship Wi-Fi versus cellular day passes, which cruise lines include internet, security considerations for banking, and practical strategies to match your usage without overspending. Experience glaciers, national parks and wildlife with Princess – the only way to truly see the Great Land. Cruising News and Reviews for west coast cruisers and those considering cruising for the first time. Promoted by FlowAds
What Happened When We Both Got Sick On A Virgin Voyages Cruise, and What It Taught Us
A Pride of America Cruise Will Change Your View of Hawaii
Book A Virgin Voyages Cruise
Planning An Alaskan Cruise Mancation? Here's What You Need to Know
Make Food Safety A Shared Habit So The Fun Of A Romantic Getaway Doesn't Make It An Afterthought
The Vacation Pile-Up Of Celebrating, Rich Food And Finally Relaxing
How To Take Care Of Your Partner When They Are The One Who Is Sick
A Babymoon Needs Its Own Health Plan, Starting With Your OB
When To Call The Ship's Medical Center Or A Resort Doctor
What To Agree On The Night Before You Fly
Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Explained for First-Time Cruisers
Book Your Alaska Cruise On Princess
Ward Cove Alaska: Authentic Tlingit Culture & Tongass Wilderness Adventures
