The Travel Doctor
Traveller's medical & vaccination centre
Holiday Traveller
| Individuals | Families | Adventurers | Groups |
Cruise Ship Holidays
A wide range of holiday options now days may involve a cruise on a ship or boat of some sort. The smaller boats, often under sail power allow a very intimate exploration of the coast & area in which they operate, while the large cruise liners can travel the world. In general, the larger the ship, the more resources are available. Many of the large international ships take their own medical staff, with extensive pharmacy & occasionally some procedural ability. It is important to remember that travel insurance is still important, & evacuation from a ship or foreign port, can cost the uninsured traveller tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The following gives some information about medical aspects of cruises.
Before you go:
• Have a medical & dental check-up. Pre-existing medical conditions should be stabile & optimised
before travel.
• Carry your medications in original containers, with doctors’ letter.
• Visit your Travel Doctor-TMVC clinic for advice about destination specific vaccinations
• If the cruise is on a smaller boat, especially if you have to do some of the sailing, consider getting fit
& training beforehand.
Medical Issues:
Some conditions are specific to cruise boat travel:
• Sea-sickness is common, & medical treatment is available. (At least there’s no jetlag!)
• Influenza & respiratory infections spread around ships very quickly with very high attack rates.
Legionnaire’s Disease is an occasional risk.
• Gastroenteritis outbreaks occur from time to time, & while viral & usually inconvenient only, they can
be dramatic & distressing.
• Sexually transmitted diseases can be spread in some circumstances.
• Other medical problems are related to the tropics & the places visited:
• Sunburn
• Any infectious disease risk related to the destination or transit locations. In general malaria is lower risk,
or even nil. (The bigger the ship, the more likely that passengers spend no nights off the ship having
malaria exposure. Small boats where passengers may spend evenings ashore eating etc, may have
significant risk.)
• Claustrophobia is unusual
Getting Prepared:
• Vaccinations include update routine vaccines, including annual influenza vaccine. Others may be
• destination specific.
• Carry routine medications in original containers
• For ships without medical facilities, carry a Travel Doctor-TMVC medical kit
• Travel Insurance
While you are away:
• Wash hands frequently, especially before eating
• Follow any advised precautions for activities ashore.
• Practice safe sex
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Learn about the medical requirements for your destination by checking out the Destination fact sheets
Other useful information can be found in the Travel health fact sheets
Work out your vaccine requirements by looking at the My Travel Health Planner
