6 Physician Tips To Prepare For A Cruise To Antarctica

That is actually a visit of a lifetime. And whereas it isn’t as rigorous as a mountaineering expedition or a crusing trip during which you’re a part of the crew, it isn’t your typical cruise with infinite buffets and umbrella drinks by the deck pool.

A cruise to Antarctica is an expedition, an exploration of a distant, untamed continent miles away from civilization. And miles away from a hospital. There are lots of adages about planning forward. I first discovered the six “P’s” within the Military: “Prior planning prevents p-ss poor efficiency.” It was a favourite within the working room, too, the place it served to remind the physicians, nurses, and technicians entrusted with caring for sufferers to test and double-check that every thing was so as, and we had been prepared for the day. 

On your upcoming cruise to Antarctica, listed here are six ideas — six “P’s” to assist put together you to your journey of a lifetime.

1. Pay A Go to To Your Healthcare Supplier

Earlier than you e book a cruise to Antarctica, make an trustworthy evaluation of your well being. Whether or not you discover you may have some medical issues that should be addressed otherwise you’re completely wholesome, be sure you go to your healthcare supplier earlier than your journey.

In case you have power diseases reminiscent of coronary heart illness, hypertension, a historical past of strokes, blood clots, diabetes, bronchial asthma, sleep apnea, or have had current surgical procedure, a go to together with your major care supplier as quickly as you e book your journey gives you time to medically get your self in the very best form attainable.

Even if you happen to’re wholesome, pay a go to to your supplier for medicine refills and to debate your want for medicine to stop or reduce seasickness.

There’s a healthcare supplier on board the ship to judge and deal with minor diseases (gastrointestinal upset, colds, delicate infections, and many others.) and emergencies like a fur seal chew. However you’ll should be flown to a hospital in Argentina, Chile, or house in case your sickness or damage is critical or can’t be handled onboard.

Professional Tip: Relying on the tour operator, your healthcare supplier might have to confirm and signal a medical historical past type for the ship’s physician to overview a number of months earlier than departure.

2. Plan For Seasickness

Most expeditions traverse the Drake Passage between Antarctica and South America. That is the roughest stretch of water on this planet. I had by no means had movement illness earlier than, so I used to be assured I’d be okay on the 2-day transit throughout the Drake Passage. 

I used to be very incorrect. 

It’s significantly better to stop seasickness than to attempt to deal with it after the actual fact. There are each medicines and acupressure units to assist forestall or decrease the signs. The clever passengers on the cruise wore scopolamine patches earlier than we entered the Drake Passage. It is a prescription-only medicine it’s worthwhile to convey with you.

Alternatively, discuss to your physician about over-the-counter Dramamine or Marezine. Your healthcare supplier will be certain that there are not any interactions with medicines you already take. 

The acupressure wrist bands that apply strain to the “nausea” level obtain combined evaluations in research. They haven’t any unwanted effects in order that they appear to be a superb adjunct to medicine.

If you happen to choose to not take preventative medicine (personally, I believe this can be a big mistake), ginger lozenges or ginger ale can soothe an upset abdomen — supplied they keep in your abdomen lengthy sufficient to do something.

3. Apply Steadiness-Enhancing Workout routines

Most days embrace excursions on Zodiac boats whether or not you’re viewing icebergs, whales, and seals from the boat or making a touchdown on South Georgia or Antarctica Peninsula. The crew assists you on and off the Zodiacs, however you’ll make their jobs simpler if in case you have the decrease physique energy and stability to climb out and in of a shifting ship to a bouncing inflatable and vice versa. The larger check of energy and stability happens on shore landings as you battle the surf when climbing in and getting out of the Zodiac boat. 

Trails on South Georgia are unpaved. If you happen to’re serious about seeing extra distant penguin colonies or retracing a part of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s trek, it’s possible you’ll stroll a number of miles on a reasonably strenuous hike over hilly terrain. Carry strolling poles if wanted for stability.

Strolling across the ship’s deck or passageways in tough seas requires good stability as nicely. The ship is supplied with handrails all through. 

Begin workouts to enhance leg energy and stability as quickly as you e book your journey. The Mayo Clinic gives an at-home exercise regimen to enhance your stability. Becoming a member of a tai chi group is especially useful as this self-discipline’s principal purpose is enhancing stability in a non-strenuous manner. 

Professional Tip: If you happen to’re carrying heavy digicam gear, hand it to the crew on the Zodiac so you may have each palms free. Settle for their assist getting on and off the ship and Zodiac irrespective of how good your stability is.

4. Pack Appropriately

Having waterproof clothes for chilly climate is so essential, many tour operators present each muck boots and jackets. You’ll have to convey waterproof pants to put on over your garments. Layering is vital — select waterproof outerwear to your Zodiac tour you could take away or unzip if it will get heat when you’re mountaineering in South Georgia.

Relying on how acclimatized you’re to chilly climate, convey thinner or heavier thermal underwear, shirts, sweaters, or a fleece jacket, pants, sweatpants, or leggings. The tour operator I went with supplied boots for us to make use of, however if you happen to put on an uncommon dimension jacket or shoe or put on orthotics, test to ensure they’ll accommodate you. If you happen to convey your individual, boots should be slip-on and tall because you’ll be getting out of the Zodiac into shallow water and strolling as much as the seaside.

Test together with your tour operator about dinner put on. Cruises to Antarctica are usually informal with out the necessity for formal dinner put on.

Carry your prescription and over-the-counter medicine in your carry-on bag, with loads to final your entire journey. If you happen to use a CPAP machine, convey it and the provides you’ll want with you. You must be capable to purchase distilled water and any private objects you’ve forgotten in Ushuaia earlier than you embark, time allowing. 

The ship I traveled on didn’t have a present store, sundry store, or laundry providers on board. If it’s worthwhile to hand wash your garments, convey eco-friendly detergent.

Professional Tip: In case your cruise departs from Argentina, the burden restrict per piece of bags on the home flight you are taking from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is about 50 kilos.

5. Buy Medical Evacuation Insurance coverage

Most tour operators require medical evacuation insurance coverage. It could be included typically journey insurance coverage, however you’ll have to learn the contract fastidiously to find out what exclusions the protection has. Alternatively, you should purchase stand-alone medical evacuation insurance coverage. 

Evacuation from an Antarctic cruise again to Argentina, Chile, or house will make a critical dent in your financial savings. Cruise consultants, Expedition Trips, advocate $200,000 attributable to Antarctica’s distant location.

Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage are separate insurances (though you’ll be able to add a medical evacuation rider to it) that reimburse the price of the journey attributable to coated causes. Learn the contract fastidiously as many causes are excluded. 

Professional Tip: Journey cancellation plans require you buy the insurance coverage inside 10 to 21 days of reserving the journey for pre-existing medical circumstances to be coated.

6. Plan Early For Your Distinctive Circumstances

Planning early to accommodate your distinctive circumstances is vital. I’ve examine a wheelchair-bound girl who cruised to Antarctica and made it onto the continent. All of that took prior planning. That mentioned, attain out to the tour operator you’d like to make use of earlier than you e book your journey if in case you have restricted mobility. Most ships have elevators and several other ADA-compliant rooms. 

A visit to Antarctica is a feast for the senses, so visible or listening to impairments shouldn’t cease you from touring right here. For the visually impaired who’re assisted by a information canine, canine had been banned in Antarctica in 1992 after getting used as sled canine because the early days of exploration. I don’t consider you can also make an exception for a information canine, though I can’t assure that’s the case. 

For these with extreme meals allergy symptoms, you must be capable to keep away from a selected meals however there can be a danger of contamination as a result of small ships have one kitchen and may’t accommodate making ready meals in a gluten, dairy, or nut-free kitchen for instance. A passenger with a extreme gluten allergy introduced all of her personal meals for the Antarctica cruise I took.

Professional Tip: Proof of a accomplished collection of COVID-19 vaccines and a current destructive check are required by most tour operators. In case you are unvaccinated for private or medical causes (allergy to a element of the vaccine, for instance), contact the tour firm about your eligibility to take the cruise earlier than you e book your journey.