# When You Gets Sick on Vacation It Doesn't Mean Your Trip Is Over, Here's How to Stay Healthy and Take Care of Each Other *By James Hills — Updated October 2026* Written by: [James Hills](https://coupleplaces.com/james-hills.html) Created: 25 October 2026 Last Updated: 25 October 2026 New!Hits: 8Reading time: 03:52 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. ******A Couples Travel Health Kit Worth Packing Together****Article Index** One small kit packed together, with one of you responsible for knowing where it is, covers most stomach trouble on a trip. Check it with your doctor first, especially if either of you takes regular medication. - Pack oral rehydration salt packets, which the CDC prefers over sports drinks when someone is losing a lot of fluid. - Bring bismuth subsalicylate tablets like Pepto-Bismol, unless either of you has an aspirin allergy, gout or kidney problems, takes blood thinners, or is pregnant. - Add loperamide like Imodium for travel days, but don't take it alone if there is fever or blood. - Carry liquid soap or soap sheets, since hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus. - Include a digital thermometer, since a fever changes what you should take and when to call a doctor. 1. [What Happened When We Both Got Sick On A Virgin Voyages Cruise, and What It Taught Us](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#what-happened-when-we-both-got-sick-on-a-virgin-voyages-cruise-and-what-it-taught-us) 2. [Make Food Safety A Shared Habit So The Fun Of A Romantic Getaway Doesn't Make It An Afterthought](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#make-food-safety-a-shared-habit-so-the-fun-of-a-romantic-getaway-doesnt-make-it-an-afterthought) 3. [The Vacation Pile-Up Of Celebrating, Rich Food And Finally Relaxing](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#the-vacation-pile-up-of-celebrating-rich-food-and-finally-relaxing) 4. [How To Take Care Of Your Partner When They Are The One Who Is Sick](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#how-to-take-care-of-your-partner-when-they-are-the-one-who-is-sick) 5. [A Babymoon Needs Its Own Health Plan, Starting With Your OB](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#a-babymoon-needs-its-own-health-plan-starting-with-your-ob) 6. [When To Call The Ship's Medical Center Or A Resort Doctor](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#when-to-call-the-ships-medical-center-or-a-resort-doctor) 7. [What To Agree On The Night Before You Fly](https://coupleplaces.com/when-one-of-you-gets-sick-on-vacation.html#what-to-agree-on-the-night-before-you-fly) 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](https://www.coupleplaces.com/first-all-inclusive-what-included-really-means.html) 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. ## What Happened When We Both Got Sick On A Virgin Voyages Cruise, and What It Taught Us 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. ### Which Great Lakes Cruise Line Fits You Best? A Real Comparison What's included in your Great Lakes cruise: Real comparison of Viking Octantis, Victory, and Pearl Mist all-inclusive packages. First-hand insights on alcohol policies, excursions, and hidden costs. P CruiseWestCoast [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/kAeyG4h9qKwVgGMtY1mZ9Q.447) ### Book Your Alaska Cruise On Virgin Voyages The land of the midnight sun is calling out for you! Book your spot on Brilliant Lady's Summer Alaska voyages and experience breathtaking destinations from Seattle and Vancouver. Virgin Voyages (affiliate) [View Sailing Details](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/kAeyG4h9qKwVgGMtY1mZ9Q.608) ### 4-Day Cruise Getaway A 4-day cruise getaway, ideal for travelers seeking a short break at sea. Flow Voyages [View Details](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/kAeyG4h9qKwVgGMtY1mZ9Q.500) 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. ## Make Food Safety A Shared Habit So The Fun Of A Romantic Getaway Doesn't Make It An Afterthought 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. ## The Vacation Pile-Up Of Celebrating, Rich Food And Finally Relaxing 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. ## How To Take Care Of Your Partner When They Are The One Who Is Sick 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 Needs Its Own Health Plan, Starting With Your OB 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. ## When To Call The Ship's Medical Center Or A Resort Doctor 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](mailto:Heather@flowvoyages.com). ## What To Agree On The Night Before You Fly 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. ### Alaska Words And Phrases That You Might Hear When You Visit Here are some Alaska words, slang terms, and phrases that you might hear when you visit Alaska. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/SZDXWBL25RSqt4k6PN2cFQ.613) ### Hollywood Sunsets & Mexican Horizons Cruise Set sail on a vibrant journey through the stunning coastlines of Mexico, where sun-soaked days and lively nights await. Experience the unique charm of each port while enjoying the luxurious amenities onboard. Virgin Voyages (affiliate) [View Sailing Details](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/SZDXWBL25RSqt4k6PN2cFQ.505) ### Explore America's Great Inland Sea On Great Lakes Cruises There's more to cruising than the west coast cruises we love so much. CruiseWestCoast [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/SZDXWBL25RSqt4k6PN2cFQ.444) Promoted by FlowAds --- Written by: [James Hills](https://coupleplaces.com/james-hills.html) Pro-BloggerExpert BloggerThought Leader James Hills is a travel blogger and relationship content creator who, alongside his wife Heather, a Certified Recreational Therapist, has spent over 20 years discovering how shared travel experiences strengthen marriages and deepen emotional connections. Through two decades of marriage, they've learned that the most meaningful relationships grow through intentional adventures, quality time together, and the kind of authentic experiences that create lasting bonds between partners. Drawing from their extensive travel experience and Heather's professional background in recreational therapy, James founded CouplePlaces.com to help sophisticated couples enhance their relationships through thoughtfully chosen getaways, romantic experiences, and premium travel opportunities. His approach focuses on substance over spectacle - identifying the specific elements of luxury resorts, cruises, and destinations that truly contribute to relationship building rather than just impressive social media posts. James specializes in helping established couples navigate the balance between comfort and adventure, creating travel experiences that accommodate different preferences while fostering deeper intimacy and connection. His practical advice stems from real-world experience managing the complexities of long-term relationships, from newlywed adventures to empty-nester rediscovery phases. ### 🚢 Ready To Book A Getaway? Need a cruise or all-inclusive resort for a romantic getaway? Let's [**Plan Your Couples Getaway**](https://coupleplaces.com/book-a-romantic-getaway.html) today! #### Your First All-Inclusive: What "Included" Really Means for Romantic Couples Resort Getaways [Your First All-Inclusive: What "Included" Really Means for Romantic Couples Resort Getaways](https://coupleplaces.com/first-all-inclusive-what-included-really-means.html) [Plan Your Next Vacation Today!](https://coupleplaces.com/book-a-romantic-getaway.html) ### Related Articles #### Is A Cruise Or All Inclusive Resort A Better Choice For A Warm Weather Winter Getaway [Is A Cruise Or All Inclusive Resort A Better Choice For A Warm Weather Winter Getaway](https://coupleplaces.com/cruise-or-resort-for-warm-weather-winter-getaway.html) #### Royal Caribbean Buys Costa Maya Cruise Port Adds "Perfect Day Mexico" Private Beach Club [Royal Caribbean Buys Costa Maya Cruise Port Adds "Perfect Day Mexico" Private Beach Club](https://coupleplaces.com/royal-caribbean-teases-perfect-day-mexico-costa-maya-beach-club.html) #### Spellbound By The Magic Castle Offers Another Reason For Couples To Choose Princess For A Romantic Cruise Getaway [Spellbound By The Magic Castle Offers Another Reason For Couples To Choose Princess For A Romantic Cruise Getaway](https://coupleplaces.com/spellbound-by-the-magic-castle-offers-another-reason-for-couples-to-choose-princess-for-a-romantic-cruise-getaway.html) © [Flow Media Marketing](https://flowmediamarketing.com) 2022 - 2026 CouplePlaces features Travel Blogger James Hills and his wife Heather, a Certified Recreational Therapist. 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