It is a common misconception amongst cruisers that vaccination is only required on certain cruise itineraries – the more exotic the travel itinerary, the more chances that there will be a need to be vaccinated for protection against regional diseases such as yellow fever, malaria and hepititis. So what if you are not travelling to Egypt or Africa? Just because the cruise line does not expect proof of immunization for your cruise doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take extra steps to protect your health on your holiday.

Did you know that The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended preventive measures and special vaccinations even for popular cruise destinations such as Belize, Turks & Caicos, Beunos Aires and Barcelona?

Here are just some of the latest travel notices from CDC:

Dengue – tropical countries throughout Asia (including the Indian Subcontinent), the South Pacific, the Caribbean, South and Central America, and Africa.

Polio – Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Malaria – Jamaica

Bird Flu & Avian Influenza – Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (SARPRC), Indonesia, Korea (Rep of), Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Measles & Mumps – Eastern Europe and Africa.

When booking your cruise, always ask your agent for a list of vaccinations required for your itinerary right away. CDC recommends that you see your doctor at least 4 – 6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications as well as other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling. If vaccinations are not required, be pro-active with your health and visit CDC’s Traveller’s Health Guide to see vaccination recommendations for each port city and preventative measures you can take during your travel such as:

In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink.

To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, even on beaches.

Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).

Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.

Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases.

Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage.