DesertArtist Posted August 30, 2006 #1 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I've also posted this on "cruise questions" but have found alot of answers to my questions here - so I'll post here too. We will be doing the western caribbean this November. We're considering several land excursions including cave tubing in Belize ( not sure after reading some scary posts tho ) and scuba diving in Cozumel. I know when we spent a week on Grand Cayman scuba diving it was recommended that we get several shots including one for Typhoid. Does any one know if that applies to cruising, when you are only in a port for a day? What about mosquitos ? The tubing excursion appears to be an all day afair with an hours walk through a tropical forest. Any input would be appreciated. I did check the CDC website about cruising and they mainly talked about handwashing - to prevent Norwalk virus . Thanks in advance for any help on this subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunrunner3 Posted August 30, 2006 #2 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I would check to see if there are any health advisories where you are going and check with your doctor! I did the western last year, was to Belize, Isla Roatan, Grand Cayman and Cozumel and didn't get any shots, but its probably still good to check!! Enjoy your cruise :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted August 30, 2006 #3 Share Posted August 30, 2006 We have been to Belize and never needed any shots. We also did the cave tubing and it was a blast. I don't know when you are going but we were there in Feb and the water was really low. I know at certain times when it is rainy season the water in higher and rougher. I believe the rainy season is during the summer months, but if this is wrong someone will correct me. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheltieLady Posted August 30, 2006 #4 Share Posted August 30, 2006 When I went to my doctor back in May I told him we were going on a cruise in January to the Eastern Caribbean and if we need any shots he said as long as you are current on your Hepatitis A/B shots we would not need any. Guess what we had never had these shots so we are getting them have our last shot in November. Christine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertArtist Posted August 30, 2006 Author #5 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Guess the best thing to do is contact our doctor and see if we're up to date. How often do you need Hep A/B shots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkSusan Posted August 30, 2006 #6 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Went out onto CDC's web page and they said currently that your Hep A shot is good for an estimated 25 years and your Hep B shot is 23 years. Susan :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertArtist Posted August 30, 2006 Author #7 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Went out onto CDC's web page and they said currently that your Hep A shot is good for an estimated 25 years and your Hep B shot is 23 years. That's good news as we went to Cayman 10 years ago - and I did get them for that trip. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqhacruiser Posted August 30, 2006 #8 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I've also posted this on "cruise questions" but have found alot of answers to my questions here - so I'll post here too. We will be doing the western caribbean this November. We're considering several land excursions including cave tubing in Belize ( not sure after reading some scary posts tho ) and scuba diving in Cozumel. I know when we spent a week on Grand Cayman scuba diving it was recommended that we get several shots including one for Typhoid. Does any one know if that applies to cruising, when you are only in a port for a day? What about mosquitos ? The tubing excursion appears to be an all day afair with an hours walk through a tropical forest. Any input would be appreciated. I did check the CDC website about cruising and they mainly talked about handwashing - to prevent Norwalk virus . Thanks in advance for any help on this subject. Here are the two websites that can help answer all your questions regarding vaccinations that may be needed or that are suggested for each port you may visit. These are direct links so you can just go right to the actual place you are visiting to check on vaccinations. www.ced.gov/travel/destinat.htm and www.who.int/countries/en/ handwashing is important but it will not prevent certain diseases that may be found in certain areas you plan to visit. Also think about what activity you will be doing at each port. If you plan on visiting a rain forest where you may be more at risk of catching something or being bitten by a wild animal as opposed to walking around a town shopping. RCCL also states it is up to the passengers to determine what vaccinations are suggested or required for each port they visit so you can check this out on these websites. I hope his helps!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqhacruiser Posted August 30, 2006 #9 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Here are the two websites that can help answer all your questions regarding vaccinations that may be needed or that are suggested for each port you may visit. These are direct links so you can just go right to the actual place you are visiting to check on vaccinations. www.ced.gov/travel/destinat.htm and www.who.int/countries/en/ handwashing is important but it will not prevent certain diseases that may be found in certain areas you plan to visit. Also think about what activity you will be doing at each port. If you plan on visiting a rain forest where you may be more at risk of catching something or being bitten by a wild animal as opposed to walking around a town shopping. RCCL also states it is up to the passengers to determine what vaccinations are suggested or required for each port they visit so you can check this out on these websites. I hope his helps!:) SORRY TYPO CORRECTION ON CDC ADDRESS! Its www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted August 31, 2006 #10 Share Posted August 31, 2006 What about mosquitos ? The tubing excursion appears to be an all day afair with an hours walk through a tropical forest. Any input would be appreciated. The only thing I've heard about mosquitos involves donating blood. We were deferred as blood donors for 12 months after a Western Caribbean cruise. The Red Cross specifically asked if we visited any ruins--which we had--so that invalided our blood for donation because of the risk of malaria transmitted by mosquito bites. Enjoy your cruise! Chris BTW--we didn't get malaria... :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 31, 2006 #11 Share Posted August 31, 2006 We've never gotten any vaccinations on any cruises--I know when we went to Labadee, we were prevented from donating blood for a time (it being Haiti, and all!) but that was it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrdsb4 Posted September 1, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 1, 2006 We will be doing the western caribbean this November. We're considering several land excursions including cave tubing in Belize ( not sure after reading some scary posts tho ) and scuba diving in Cozumel. I know when we spent a week on Grand Cayman scuba diving it was recommended that we get several shots including one for Typhoid. Does any one know if that applies to cruising, when you are only in a port for a day? What about mosquitos ? The tubing excursion appears to be an all day afair with an hours walk through a tropical forest. Any input would be appreciated. I did check the CDC website about cruising and they mainly talked about handwashing - to prevent Norwalk virus . Thanks in advance for any help on this subject. That's very surprising that your doctor recommended typhoid vaccine for Grandy Cayman as it's nowhere near to being a developing nation. Typhoid usually shows up in areas where sewage contaminates drinking water, and Cayman's water is pretty pristine. At any rate, here's a user friendly website that might help: http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:DDfu0wapaOMJ:mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/mamerica_carib/cayman_islands.html+vaccinations+for+grand+cayman&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3&ie=UTF-8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertArtist Posted September 1, 2006 Author #13 Share Posted September 1, 2006 It was 10 years ago that we went to Cayman - and it may have been recommended because it was mainly a scuba vacation - got our open water certification and dove almost every day. Possibly open to more exposure in the ocean that much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrdsb4 Posted September 1, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 1, 2006 It was 10 years ago that we went to Cayman - and it may have been recommended because it was mainly a scuba vacation - got our open water certification and dove almost every day. Possibly open to more exposure in the ocean that much? Probably just a very conservative doctor who prefers to err on the safe side. Cayman 10 years ago was still more of an upscale destination than many other places with no worries of typhoid. Still, no harm done. Luckily, it's not necessary for current travelers to get that vaccination in order to travel to Grand Cayman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzincanuck Posted September 1, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 1, 2006 My husband and I when we spoke to our doctor last March recommended the Hep A and B shots for travel in the Caribbean more as a precaution than a requirement. We decided to go ahead and we will be wrapping up with the last series in 2 weeks. He also took advantage to update our Tetanus shots as well. He never spoke about Typhoid but only inquired if we were going to the Dominican Republic as then he would have prescribed medication for malaria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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