Booking a cruise holiday

[Vocals]

I was diagnosed with CLL in September 2021. I am in the WW phase. We would like to book a cruise holiday in august 2022. What are your thoughts? Is it advisable?

[Newdawn Administrator]

The situation remains uncertain Vocals and my advice would be to only do so if you can get comprehensive travel insurance which has Covid cover when booking the cruise. Travel insurance for cruises is always higher anyway and throwing CLL into the mix will increase it further. However, you are low stage W&W but only your haematologist can advise on the extent of your immune compromisation.

We have to hope the situation is much more settled by then but I said the same thing last year. You have to remember the ports of call may have much higher Covid rates and less robust vaccination rates. Choose carefully.

Newdawn

[Hidden]

Never been able to get travel insurance for a cruise at a price that was not many hundreds. River cruises yes.

Too many people in the same space for me!

[FarmerJacks]

Just got back from a 4 night one. The UK government still has them capped at 60% occupancy so all the inside cabins were free (presumably if Covid breaks out :)). We had to be tested the night before the cruise and on the last day of the cruise so felt very safe, even on the flights as the vast majority of those on the flight were on the cruise. Had to have your temperature checked everyday. The theatre was quite well spaced out too. We did a day 2 test on our return and no problems. My travel insurance (and I've been undergoing treatment) was very reasonable. Go and enjoy yourself but take precautions.

[Vocals in reply to FarmerJacks]

Thank you for getting back to me. 🙏

[Daisy1993 in reply to FarmerJacks]

Hi farmer jacks could u tell us what travel insurance u have used please. I have just finished fcr about 2 months ago and would love to book something early next yr. Keep well x

[FarmerJacks in reply to Daisy1993]

I used moneysupermarket or gocompare and ended up with a company called nolimitstravelinsurance.com. It did include an element for Covid cover.

[Daisy1993 in reply to FarmerJacks]

Thank you x

[223dogs]

I have been on many cruises both River and ocean. Personally I will probably leave it until 2023 but it is possible to take precautions and you should discuss it with your medical team. Good luck

[Vocals in reply to 223dogs]

Thank you so much 🙏

[Tingy]

Having been on many cruises since being diagnosed with CLL almost 8 years ago and on W&W it’s not a worry for me. I only sail on smaller ships with around 800 passengers and I’ve never had any trouble with finding a comprehensive insurance. I’m actually booked on my first cruise since Covid next spring and am due to renew my insurance in a few weeks time. My friend went on a cruise a couple of weeks ago and said the procedures for hygiene, checking everyone’s temperature, being tested, plus paperwork etc… was first class and they had no worries at all. The ship also wasn’t at full capacity either. If you do decide to go just enjoy yourself and take precautions as that’s what I’ll be doing next year! Life is for living.

[Vocals in reply to Tingy]

Thank you so much . I am just so confused

[stevesmith1964]

Cruise Ship = Floating Covid Incubator

[Ibru]

The covid situation will (hopefully) be quite different in August 2022. I always look at how many sea days there are in a row. I want to be able to get off if anything medical (or a family emergency happens (not necessarily Covid.) So, I avoid itineraries that have more than one sea day in a row.

[Vocals in reply to Ibru]

Thank you

[HopeME]

My biggest concern with cruises is potential outbreaks of various types of viruses/infectious diseases due to the density of population on a ship. Throw in the fact that you often can’t easily escape to a hospital and a cruise ship is the last place I’d want to be with CLL. It’s a big world and there are lots of safer vacation destinations in my opinion. I can see the attraction of a cruise but for me it’s a no go. After seeing how some ships were stranded at sea for weeks during the early stages of Covid I thought the industry was dead but that obviously isn’t the case.

Good luck,

Mark

[Vocals]

Thank you 🙏