Looking ahead - poss part worldie ....

[Boris+]

Hi All,

We are looking ahead a bit (and keeping everything crossed) and thinking (only thinking, mind you) of booking a worldie sector. So far so good - now here's the tricky bit.

The sector/s we are thinking about would include countries which say that passengers arriving (by plane or whatever) must have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Ok, my other half has had Yellow Fever injections throughout his working life, and so he is fine if he needs another one he can just go to the local specialist place for that particular injection and get it done. The problem is me (no change there then!) - I am told that I am now too old to have the injection, especially if I cannot prove that I have had it before.

In the past when I was young I might have had the Yellow Fever injection, but I can't really remember exactly which injections I had, and the record has been lost - so I'm counting it as a 'not had the injection' in the first place situation. I understand that I can get a certificate to take with me regarding this situation, which will say something to the effect that I am exempt or whatever.

However - I'm not intending to do anything dangerous or go anywhere where I could contract Yellow Fever - I am concerned that we would find ourselves in a situation where we have paid for the cruise including flights, flown out from Heathrow to wherever, and then be refused to get from the airport to the ship by immigration health authorities - or maybe run into problems if this Yellow Fever paperwork situation arose at a port in the middle of the cruise.

Any advice other than 'don't part with the money' or 'don't go'? I just can't seem to find a straight forward enough answer, and I just don't want to go spending money and end up disappointed and stranded.

Em

[GillD46]

Which regions are you considering, Em? Most countries only require you have it if you have come from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic.

You should speak to Cunard - or whoever - as they will have certainly come across this before.

[david63]

This site gives some information about age and yellow fever.

The bottom line is you will have to speak with your GP/travel clinic in conjunction with the cruise line, bearing in mind that the requirements could change between now and travelling. It might also be worth contacting your travel insurance to see what they have to say about it.

[Boris+]

I sort of fancied the oriental bits, and himself does too - but I also fancy South America - so we'll have to wait and see first of all what our cruise pals think; and then we'll take the plunge hopefully.

All advice hugely appreciated - and of course we'll ensure that the good old travel insurance gives us as much cover as possible.

Em

[Frank Manning]

Em, wont your doctor do it for you? Our local surgery not only gave us the injections but also a short seminar from one of the practise nurses on travel risks for the countries we were visiting.

If you get a chance to do a sector though go for it. I would do another tomorrow if I could persuade Sue. Ours were the best cruises we have ever done.

[BrianI]

Not all doctors practices are set up for yellow fever. They have to be a designated yellow fever vaccination centre. You can find your nearest here
https://www.nathnac.org/yellowfevercent ... rom=travel
The cost is around £50.
Other vaccinations are done at your GP practice and are usually free.
Brian

[Boris+]

Many thanks for all the help and advice. We're used to the situation where a local gp outfit won't do the Yellow Fever jabs - but now this afternoon we've thrown Aus and NZ into the options as well.

We'll just have to wait and see - it won't be until 2016, and so we've got plenty of time. I'm going to weigh up all the pro's and con's, and then see how I feel about this Yellow Fever problem. I would really love to go to the Far East, but I mustn't be selfish.

If not, we've still got more North Cape, Baltic, Med and Eastern Med different itineraries to look at - but I'd love to try a worldie sector.

Fingers crossed, and many thanks to all for help and advice.

Em

[GillD46]

Yes, very few Practices are aurthorised Yellow Fever Centres. My husband's Practice was one of the very few that was registered where we lived when he was in Practice, and they used to see patients from miles around. The cost then, as recommended by the guidelines, was more than suggested above.

[david63]

You don't need Yellow Fever for Australia and New Zealand

[Boris+]

Hi David,

I know that - which why I have chucked that option 'in the pot' - so if there's any worry about other destinations then I'd like to fly down, spend a few days before embarkation and post cruise and then fly back.

It's not a bad option really.

Em

[david63]

Flying to and/or from New Zealand/Australia is not much fun and you will need more than a few days to recover - believe me

[Quizzical Bob]

Flying to and/or from New Zealand/Australia is not much fun and you will need more than a few days to recover - believe me

We flew to Sydney with a 2 night stay in Hong Kong and were fine, no jetlag whatsoever. Return from New Zealand was via 6 nights in Honolulu and 2 in Los Angeles and again no problems. I recommend premium economy at the least.

[Boris+]

QB - that's torn it - you've mentioned Honolulu............. I'd give anything to go back there.

Em

[Manoverboard]

Our experience(s) in 2013 re South America and Yellow Fever were ....

There are 4, possibly more, regions within the Country of Brazil that will / will not pose a risk of catching Yellow Fever. Rio is NOT a high risk area but other parts and Ports within the Country of Brazil are .... ditto Peru.

Moving in, out and within Brazil is not a problem in itself but if the next Port is Montevideo ( Uruguay ) for example then they will not allow you entry unless you have proof of having been vaccinated else an exception certificate as supplied by your Doctor. The same ruling may apply elsewhere at any moment in time. P&O stated that they would not allow us to board in Rio unless we had the correct YF paperwork.

Our Doctor provided us with such a certificate stating that we would not be going into a YF risk area in Brazil, the cost for the provision was approx £13. He could not provide a certificate stating that we were too old to have the jabs nor that we did not wish to have them. His medical advice was that we are probably at greater risk having the jab than visiting the Countries that pose a risk.

So ... given that we are not prepared to have this jab we will not visit anywhere where Yellow Fever is present.

Decisions, decisions ....

[Boris+]

Hi MoB,

Gosh that was helpful, and many thanks.

Just to clarify - P&O (and maybe therefore Cunard too?) would let a passenger embark in Rio providing they had paperwork or some sort - (either the certificate for the jab, or a certificate of exemption). Am I reading that correctly?

Then the only problem I have left with South America is the political situation with Argentina.

I (and this is so silly really) wanted to do Montevideo just because of the film 'Battle of the River Plate' - now that's just plain daft. The other South America bits I wanted to do would be because of my school days.

Em

[GillD46]

Monte Video is the most delightful place. It was the place we liked best in South America.

[Manoverboard]

Hi MoB,

Gosh that was helpful, and many thanks.

Just to clarify - P&O (and maybe therefore Cunard too?) would let a passenger embark in Rio providing they had paperwork or some sort - (either the certificate for the jab, or a certificate of exemption). Am I reading that correctly?

That is correct ...

One minor point to keep an eye on is that when you book the cruise it may be the case that all is well YF wise on a ' Masta ' Heath site ( or similar ) but the situation may have changed when the final payment is due. PRIOR to making that final payment go see the Doc.

ps ... Argentina is no longer listed on many of the SA cruises else is dropped from the itinerary at a later date.

[Quizzical Bob]

Hi MoB,

Gosh that was helpful, and many thanks.

Just to clarify - P&O (and maybe therefore Cunard too?) would let a passenger embark in Rio providing they had paperwork or some sort - (either the certificate for the jab, or a certificate of exemption). Am I reading that correctly?

Then the only problem I have left with South America is the political situation with Argentina.

I (and this is so silly really) wanted to do Montevideo just because of the film 'Battle of the River Plate' - now that's just plain daft. The other South America bits I wanted to do would be because of my school days.

Em

Montevideo is Uruguay, not Argentina.

[Boris+]

Yip - cheers QB, I know that - I just wrote it all wrong!!!

I wanted to do Montevideo for the reasons given, and the other South America bits for those other reasons. There is the possibility that we wouldn't fly straight home after disembarkation; however it's all becoming a bit academic, because this particular pm the oriental option is nudging ahead.

I think I'd better shut up and go and concentrate on the christening - I can do that ok (hopefully!).

Em

[Boris+]

I'd like to thank those who posted on this thread - the decision has been made and the outing booked for 2016 - oriental with hotel stays before and after the cruise, and everything done with the cruise line.

When the booking confirmation came through by email, the final page was an ATOL certificate, and it says on it that you have to take it with you 'in case the cruise line ceases trading'!!!

Fingers crossed! Many thanks everyone - it seems that we are not going to have any big Yellow Fever problems, and only one country with a visa thing to think about. I've always wanted to go to the Far East, and hopefully this is it. Once again many thanks.

Em

[Manoverboard]

You still need to visit the ' MASTA ' site and check with your Doc re having jabs in the Eastern sector, there are five in total as a norm.

[GillD46]

Which ship, Em? We are hoping to do sectors in 2016, we may be on the same cruise!

[Quizzical Bob]

Yip - cheers QB, I know that - I just wrote it all wrong!!!

I wanted to do Montevideo for the reasons given, and the other South America bits for those other reasons. There is the possibility that we wouldn't fly straight home after disembarkation; however it's all becoming a bit academic, because this particular pm the oriental option is nudging ahead.

I think I'd better shut up and go and concentrate on the christening - I can do that ok (hopefully!).

Em

No problems Em, just don't drop the baby!

[Boris+]

Hi - and again huge thanks.

Yes, MoB never fear, I will be checking absolutely everything - but huge thanks for the mention of the Masta website. I was told about it last year by a friendly pharmacist, then I forgot it and she moved away - and so a very big 'ta' from me for reminding me of that website.

It's a QE outing, and we've got a couple of cruises booked on her between now and then, so we can have a look at the alterations - not that they'll worry us, it's just nice to see. I'm wondering what the makeover in the shops looks like, and do they stock Clarins.

And finally - I promise (if I get the chance) not to drop the baby at the christening. Mainly because I get to see so much of her, I'll keep a lowish profile so that people who don't see her regularly can have a really good cuddle with her. If I get any photos, I'll try and put a couple on here.

So, now that I'm all well and sorted I can finally try and do a cruise which I've had to cancel last year - and I definitely intend to go.

Huge thanks.

Em

[GillD46]

Ahh, well, all things being equal, we'll see you on board then