Taking a cruise with Crohn's

I was diagnosed with Chron's a little more than a year ago. I spent five days in the hospital with a flare-up. Recently, I've had some more difficulty - I was feeling ill and my doctor had me do a barium x-ray, which showed a couple of new moderate to severe strictures. He put me on entocort and a restricted diet and I've been feeling better, except for regularly feeling like I have a lot of gas in my stomach at night.

My family is taking a cruise to Mexico for a week and I really want to go with them - my father is even paying for most of it because he wants to get all of the family together again since we've been spread out all over the country for a good eight years now. But I'm terrified! What if I get a flare-up on the boat? I've checked the cruise web site and it says they have a medical center with registered doctors and nurses, but I'm still scared. Any ideas?

Thanks a lot! 

Hi Welcome to HW,
I agree totally with Ivy, Be carful what you eat on the cruise. When in Mexico don't eat any food from street venders and bring bottle water from the cruise ship.

Hi! I just want to share my cruising experiences with you. I have had Crohn's disease for about 18 years. I have also worked on cruise ships (both large ones with a full medical staff and small ones with no staff) since 1996. If I had active crohns and recent flare ups, my concern would be more that of how often you are in port, how many days do you go without docking, etc. It is comforting to have a medical staff and facility on board but they are limited in what they do and what they are used to dealing with. I only have had one excessive flare up and massive bleeding on board. Luckily, we were docked for the day and I went to the hospital for a week. That is an extreme example. My guess is that you are always within extra help, if anything was to happen. If you are worried about being sick, be really careful about what you eat, drink lots of peppermint tea and relax. There is nothing like being at sea to clear your mind, reflect on your health, and relax with your family. And be sure to take advantage of all the cool things in Mexico.

Hope this was helpful. I am a non-traditional "chronnie" and worry that I don't worry enough. Then again, I believe that was my downfall in the first place (chronic worrying).

Take care and have fun!

I was on a cruise a few years ago while having pretty active crohn's and did absolutely fine. I was stupidly worried about jamming the toilet! Ha! When we were in Cozumel for a day, I did not eat or drink the local food. On board, the food is included so I picked and chose. For the sit down meals, I sent a lot of things back as it's pretty much like being at wedding where it's all already made instead of made-to-order. But I could always find something later at a buffet or other place open. It wasn't really a worry.

With all the options cruise ships have for eating these days, you'll probably be able to find choices. Go to the cruise website or ask your travel agent to find out about the eating options so you can do some planning ahead of time. While on board, you should be fine with drinks and water. While day tripping at port, stay away from ice and water. Order soda in a can/bottle or without ice. While others in your party might eat out in town, you'll be able to eat on board later. I was a little bummed I couldn't try the local flavor but better safe.

If you do something like take a catamaran trip where there's food included, you might stick to soda and crackers--skip the vegies, cheese, and fruit b/c they may have been near contaminated water. Instead of the cheap punch, get a beer---again stay away from ice and water. While walking, lying on the beach, going on an excursion, etc, be sure to stay hydrated (no ice), We crohnies dehydrate faster than everyone else. If you can, assign yourself a buddy who is willing to take short breaks with you and help you find a bathroom if needed while on an excursion. And if you have a choice of excursions and need some rest, don't be afraid to choose lying on the beach or even staying on the boat.

I really suggest contacting your GI and telling him your plans. Mine just gave me an emergency supply of prednisone and cipro for my vacation. S/he might even suggest taking antibiotic as a preventative measure.

One of the silly things I did was take in too much fruit juice with some of the cocktails--then wound up with D b/c of that and not b/c of food poisoning.

Above all, have a great time!!!! I hope it's wonderful.

My crohns is not severe and I do not have strictures. But, I went on a cruise for my honeymoon and found it VERY crohns friendly. We were on Norweigan and had one of the more expensive rooms. We had free room service food in addition to all the buffets. There are bathrooms everywhere. If you get tired, you just walk back to your room. I highly recommend it... and like you said, if you need an IV or something the medical staff are on board. But I read an article lately that they don't accept insurance so seeing the medical folk on board could turn out to be expensive. I don't know if they charge or what....

I no longer travel anywhere without a supply of prednisone-my doctor has no problem with me starting a low dose of pred prior to a trip that might be stressful-like a long flight-for a cruise I think I would just have it for an emergency.

I have been on 4 cruises with CD and never had to use the medical center but m yparents have (but they dont have CD) Just make sure you are careful with your diet they will make anything as you need it Sometimes when I go to functions I just say food allergy makes it safer for me since most associate food allergy (which I do have lots of them as well as CD) with death so they are even more careful to not put certain things in your plate!.

As far as Mexico you hear dot drink the water but also no soda unless it is in a bottle if you can have soda dont forget that ICE is typically made with their tap water so no ice either. Make sure you have foods cooked well enough to kill any possible parasites that can be in the food (example undercooked fish can cause certain intestinal parasites) If in woods use spray...mosqitoes carry heartworm!!!not just dogs get these humans and cats can get it too ...treatments are available for dogs....must be for people too but I figure avoid the possibility alltogether.

Also as far as veggies if you are able to eat them ...most veggies are cleaned with tap water!!!
These foods are fine if you area board the ship since they have their own holding taks of water that is safe for us and you can buy bottled water on the ships.
People get "travelers diarrhea" in Mexico from the water....the true name for that is giardia immodium says it can be used for that which it can but the only true way to rid you of giardia is a long course of antibiotics

I say go have a great time but inform the ship you have medical issues and you may want to find a way to make sure the kitchen knows what foods are a big no no for you when it comes to sit down meals as for the buffets chose carefully and if there is a question about something in it just avoid it but most times there are some chefs that are placing new things on the buffet that you can ask about ingredients.