Brand-name bottled water is fine almost everywhere. In some very sketchy places the bottles may have been refilled with tap water, but a properly sealed cap is decent evidence of safe water. You can also carry a water bottle or two filled at a trusted source.

If you're cruising, there will be bottled water from the cruise ship that they pass out before you leave the ship. It's totally safe so there's no need to worry. Have a great trip and enjoy.

Ive heard conflicting reports that your not allowed to bring any bottled water off the ship. Guess I'll see when I get there. 

Thanks 

I don't remember that at all, but try to contact your travel agent if it's a concern to you.

I traveled to Northern China on a tour about 15 months ago, I was deathly afraid I would find myself in agony from the water, the food... but it all worked out. It was an amazing two week journey. I am jealous you'll be cruising in the Carribean. Have a great time.

Mema 1 posted:

I don't remember that at all, but try to contact your travel agent if it's a concern to you.

I took your advice and contacted my travel agent, she advised me I can certainly take bottled water off. Thank you for the suggestion.

We took that trip a few years back, and I was sure that we were given water when we left the ship. Glad that you called...have fun.

Any thoughts about eating food on these islands?

I was afraid to eat, so waited until we got back to the ship. You could bring some food from the ship with you if you wanted to.

i will also wait til I get back to the ship. I tried to take food off last time when I sailed to Mexico and they took it away from me. 

I did purchase something called Clif  Bloks energy chews. hopfully they will help

Sounds like you've had your J-pouch for quite some time.  Do you usually limit what you eat?  I eat everything and have done so on trips out of the country.  Fortunately, I've had no problems.  However, I eat everything while at home, as well.  Some foods will cause butt burn no matter where I eat them and I just slather up with a barrier cream like Calmoseptine until the culprit food is "out of me".  Good luck and enjoy!

CeeeeCeeee posted:

Sounds like you've had your J-pouch for quite some time.  Do you usually limit what you eat?  I eat everything and have done so on trips out of the country.  Fortunately, I've had no problems.  However, I eat everything while at home, as well.  Some foods will cause butt burn no matter where I eat them and I just slather up with a barrier cream like Calmoseptine until the culprit food is "out of me".  Good luck and enjoy!

I've had my pouch for over 34yrs. I have celiac and almost  everything I eat bothers me. What I fear most is eating something that doesn't agree and not being able to get to the bathroom in time. 

I envy that your able to eat everything. Glad to hear that someone can

Cliff Bar energy chews and their ilk (there are many many different variants) are widely used by endurance athletes. but as we tell people in Team Challenge the CCFA's endurance training program, be sure to try them out before you rely on them during a crucial event ie on a cruise. as you have celiacs I would also be sure to check that those are "clean" for you. I think a brand called Honey Stingers are gluten free, but as I don't avoid gluten I am not sure. In essence truthfully they are a bolus of sugar that gives your body quick energy. this is important during endurance events of length say half marathon, marathon, etc as the body can only store x amount of glycogen your primary energy source. some of that might be incomplete as I'm not an expert but a heavy user but it should be close enough to accurate to help. hopefully.

deweyj posted:

Cliff Bar energy chews and their ilk (there are many many different variants) are widely used by endurance athletes. but as we tell people in Team Challenge the CCFA's endurance training program, be sure to try them out before you rely on them during a crucial event ie on a cruise. as you have celiacs I would also be sure to check that those are "clean" for you. I think a brand called Honey Stingers are gluten free, but as I don't avoid gluten I am not sure. In essence truthfully they are a bolus of sugar that gives your body quick energy. this is important during endurance events of length say half marathon, marathon, etc as the body can only store x amount of glycogen your primary energy source. some of that might be incomplete as I'm not an expert but a heavy user but it should be close enough to accurate to help. hopefully.

Thanks for explaining, I did my research & spoke to my doctor, only looking to use them in case I feel hungry and need a little energy. I tend to not have much energy anyway and to be out in that heat for a few hours, thought this might come in handy as a sub til I get back to the ship. I will definitely test them before I leave

Since getting my J Pouch I have been in numerous Caribbean and Latin American countries and never had any problem- this included a trip all over the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.  However, I wouldn't worry about just the water but also the food. A friend of mine went to Costa Rica and ended up getting campylobacter food poisoning from undercooked chicken he ate at a Costa Rican restaurant.  The result was he spent the majority of a planned 7 day land vacation in the hospital.

If you are on a Cruise, the majority of your meals and beverages will be on board. As previously noted they have bottled water and are familiar with the gastrointestinal dangers of travels to foreign countries.

The only weird thing that ever happened to me was in Jamaica.  When I was in Jamaica, there was a very bad outbreak of Dengue Fever, a mosquito borne illness.  The US Center For Disease Control had issued a travel warning for Jamaica the week before my trip, which at that point was booked a month in advance. When I got to my resort (in Negril) I asked the resort concierge about the issue.  He then told me the resort sprayed the area around the resort with pesticides and that the Dengue outbreak was mostly in mountainous forest in interior areas of the country. Negril is on the coast.

During that trip, I noticed barely any mosquitoes and had a great time.  However, on the next to last day of my trip, I woke up and my ankle had swelled up like a grapefruit.  Even since then I have not seen a sprained ankle that was more swollen.  I didn't feel any pain but the appearance of the swelling concerned me greatly. I was certain I had contracted Dengue Fever.  I actually wrote a letter to my parents which essentially told them I loved them and would miss them, in the event of my death.

All that they had for medical treatment at the resort was a nurse's station with a red cross on it.  I waited until it opened for the day and it was staffed by an American nurse. She took one look at my ankle and she said to me, "honey you have a spider bite.  I have a salve that will help that." I then applied whatever salve she gave me and the swelling went down by the end of the day.  When the plane safely landed in the USA I tore up the letter I wrote to my parents.

I did see assorted spiders during the trip, and I assume I was bit while sleeping in the hotel room.  It must have been one of those tarantulas, like the one that crawls over James Bond in the movie "Dr No" (which was filmed in Jamaica).  Of course if you are on a boat this should not be an issue unless they have stowaway spiders.

When I want to be sure I won't be faced with a problem while away from easy access to a toilet I prepare for the worst.  I wear protective clothing, etc.  Whatever works!  I happen to like the QUIET plastic panties I bought and wore many years ago when I had uncontrollable UC.  Glad I saved them.  I also use sanitary pads.  Then, I carry a backpack with a change or two of underpants, etc., wipes and plastic bags.  No biggie for me.  Of course, because I'm so prepared, I never seem to have a problem!  We are survivors!  Enjoy your trip!

CeeeeCeeee posted:

When I want to be sure I won't be faced with a problem while away from easy access to a toilet I prepare for the worst.  I wear protective clothing, etc.  Whatever works!  I happen to like the QUIET plastic panties I bought and wore many years ago when I had uncontrollable UC.  Glad I saved them.  I also use sanitary pads.  Then, I carry a backpack with a change or two of underpants, etc., wipes and plastic bags.  No biggie for me.  Of course, because I'm so prepared, I never seem to have a problem!  We are survivors!  Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the suggestion, I wear pads all the time, but will definitely bring an extra change of items just case.

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions, I leave on Saturday for the cruise and will update this post when I get back.

I have gone on quite a few cruises since getting the j-pouch.  I just got off one.  One of the cruises was 2 weeks after emergency intestinal surgery do to a blockage.  Yes, I went on in a wheelchair.  The cruise ship was wonderful and went out of their way to help me.  I never eat or drink anything off the cruise ship.  I always take a bottle of water with me off the cruise ship. 

Also, take baby wipes with you.  Put them in a plastic baggy.

ksr posted:

I have gone on quite a few cruises since getting the j-pouch.  I just got off one.  One of the cruises was 2 weeks after emergency intestinal surgery do to a blockage.  Yes, I went on in a wheelchair.  The cruise ship was wonderful and went out of their way to help me.  I never eat or drink anything off the cruise ship.  I always take a bottle of water with me off the cruise ship. 

I must say your pretty brave to do a cruise right after surgery. I've been very cautious, it's nice to hear that even with our issues it hasn't stopped us from traveling. 

What cruise line gave you the great service?

I've got a similar question-- thinking about a trip to Belize.  How risky do people think this is?  Will not be on a cruise.

Thanks!

I cruise Royal Caribbean.  Due to just having the surgery before the cruise, I could not eat much.  A lot of food that I looked at made me want to throw up.  The first night of the cruise, I ordered food off the menu.  When they brought the food to me, I was about to throw up at the sight of it.  (not that it looked bad, my taste buds were all messed up.)  I then asked if they would bring me a plate of white rice.  Nothing else.  After dinner, the formal dining manager approached me and was concerned there was something wrong with the food.  I told them no.  That I just had surgery and am limited on what I can eat.  I was good with eating cantelope, white rice and chocolate chip cookies for desert.  They were fantastic!  Every night for the formal dinner they would bring me cantelope for appetizer, white rice for dinner and chocolate chip cookies for desert.

Scallop,

Personally, I have avoided all travel to Central and South America. Every single person I know has gotten sick either during their trip or after arriving home, and they all were very careful. Since a mild case of food poisoning sets my friends and families back a day or two, but nearly lands me in the hospital, I've chosen to just avoid it. Instead, we travel the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Even then, I still bring a variety of antibiotics with me.

But, that is just my choice. I know others here have traveled everywhere and did fine. I think you just need to know your own risk tolerances.

Jan

scallop posted:

I've got a similar question-- thinking about a trip to Belize.  How risky do people think this is?  Will not be on a cruise.

 

Thanks!

Hi, 

Belize was a stop on our cruise, it was not a favorite of mine. It was dirty and unsanitary. I did not purchase anything to eat or drink while I was there. 

Another stop on out cruise was Roatan, Honduras beautiful place for snorkeling, clean and I felt very safe. I actually went out of my norm and ate a piece of grilled fish and a bottled Coke. 

ytcrockpot posted:

i will also wait til I get back to the ship. I tried to take food off last time when I sailed to Mexico and they took it away from me. 

I did purchase something called Clif  Bloks energy chews. hopfully they will help

I cruised for 8 days 4 weeks after my takedown. I took ziplock bags with me and "hid" sandwiches in my bag when I left the ship. They only confiscate what they see - they don't search bags when leaving the ship. I also took empty water bottles so I could carry juice too. I also took a few Boost drinks. 

Well I'm back from my cruise, ended up staying on another week since my flight was cancelled due to the snowstorm.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, they came in very handy. 

I cruised with NCL, what a fantastic vacation I had, they were able to accommodate my celiac/gluten free issue and not once did I get sick. Can't wait to do it again..

Great news! Nothing succeeds like success!

Jan

Great!  Glad you had a wonderful time.  So far I have not had any problems  cruising with the j-pouch.  I make sure I take my "medicine cabinet" with me.  I am extremely careful. 

Wonderful! now I am less anxious about contemplating a cruise. glad you enjoyed it without issue.

Fantastic!!!  So glad you had a great time - I took one 14 day European cruise years ago with no problems at all.  I have sort of avoided them as my pouch has aged, but maybe I need to try one again -hearing all of you speak so positively is so encouraging to me.  Just so happy for you.

Angie Wilson posted:

Fantastic!!!  So glad you had a great time - I took one 14 day European cruise years ago with no problems at all.  I have sort of avoided them as my pouch has aged, but maybe I need to try one again -hearing all of you speak so positively is so encouraging to me.  Just so happy for you.

Thanks

Cruising is such a great way to travel and see different ports. Your pouch is never to old to travel, mine is 34 going on 35 years this June. I would love to do a Europen one, but don't want to travel overseas myself. As soon as I find a roommate, I'm going!