What about cruising post transplant?

I agree you received your transplant in order to live life, St Thomas sounds like a wonderful alternative, as for my 20 yrs post op I eat extremely healthy, never miss a lab. I have 10 grandchildren 6 kids we dinned outside on Sundays while covid was at it's highest, I wash my hands frequently and was masking in elevators and crowded spaces before covid, we still travel
plan on a trip to Europe this summer but will double mask in the plane and airport, and have lovely dinners outside.

Thank you so much @peggykatz
I love your zest for life! It sounds like you have a wonderful life filled to the top with a lot of joy...... I could not help but smile wide reading your post!
I am very appreciative that you shared your "secret sauce" for twenty years and counting ❤ I look forward to your future posts.

I am a Microbiologist and a kidney recipient. If you decide to go on a cruise, I would be really careful about what you eat. Only eat well cooked food, or microwave everything. Do not use public restrooms on the ship, and buy the most expensive travel insurance available. I would not go to any places where there are mosquito borne parasites .

@roxanne12345 😊
It's a pleasure to meet you! Thank you so much for jumping into this discussion with your very valuable cruise "survival tips"! Awesome heads-up about the germs lurking everywhere. I look forward to future discussions and postings from you.

To all travel lovers and potential cruisers I had a pancreas transplant in 2005. I learned all sorts of tips for taking extra precautions to care for my immune suppressed self. In 2010 my husband and I went on a Caribbean Cruise to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I would imagine that now after years of COVID those of us that have survived that have learned even more precautions to keep ourselves safe. I think I would go cruising if I had the means to do so. But if you choose not to I bet with a little creativity you can come up with some good alternatives.

Hi @cehunt57 😊
It's wonderful hearing from you! When you went on your 30th anniversary cruise, what type of precautions did you take? Did you eat in the main dining room or room service, go to the casino with a mask, sit around the pool in the shade, take salsa lessons...or did you purposely avoid certain activities? Would you do it again now?
I am excited to hear that you successfully navigated a cruise vacation!

At the time of the cruise I was 5 years post transplant. We did buffet breakfasts mostly because I’m cheap and can’t resist the value. Then I had no need of lunch. In the evening we tried the ship’s restaurants while at sea or other restaurants while on shore excursions. We tried room service once for the novelty of it but it didn’t seem like a good value. We bought alcoholic drinks in conjunction with special meals or events but did not go to crowded bars for the purpose of drinking. I am too cheap to gamble and my husband doesn’t like dancing. I love swimming and hot tubs, so I did that a lot. We fed sting rays in Grand Turk and I swam /snorkeled in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Faithfully used sunscreen and went through lots of bottled water for hydration. We were on an Inspiration Cruise Tour through the local Christian University. The days were filled with Bible studies and Christian music performances. We sat on the edges or back of the crowded auditorium. We don’t like crowds and have always preferred to be on the fringe. I don’t remember masking at all; not even on the plane. This was pre COVID. I did a lot of hand washing and went through hand sanitizer, wipes and even fruit/veggie wipes for our in cabin fruit basket items that we ate on the balcony &/or took on shore leaves. On the ship we used our cabin bathroom. On shore leaves we used the bathrooms associated with restaurants we chose. Avoided public ones as much as possible.

@cehunt57 😊
Thank you so much for all your successful cruise details! Your anniversary cruise sounds absolutely wonderful! I appreciate hearing all the details on how you successfully navigated the trip. It makes me hopeful that I may be able to plan some sort of a trip in the future with some level of confidence too.

When it comes to making such decisions - I personally go into an ultra orthodox mode, I would not take any chances / risk (on my compromise immune system) with the kidney that my wife has given to me.. That's me.. so please don't feel offended.. it is strictly my opinion.

Hi @l0lag0lag0b3 😊
So great to hear from you! I can totally relate to your description of "ultra orthodox" mode. As much as I would love to participate in the family reunion, and as much as my pre-transplant self LOVED, LOVED, LOVED cruises....I am petrified of putting myself on a cruise now (post-transplant and post-covid). Definitely no offense taken. I agree with all your concerns. Thanks for jumping into the discussion and sharing your thoughts!