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Inoculations - a bit worried

darkpelagic

By darkpelagic,
in Celebrity Cruises

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darkpelagic

darkpelagic

Posted
Posted

I am sailing on Millenium in about 2 weeks in Alaska, mostly visiting Alaskan ports. I live in Australia.

 

I read on my cruise docs that I should have an 'inoculation certificate'.

 

Now, I have checked the inoculation schedule for the US and I have had all those shots in the past, have suffered chickenpox already, and I also recently had both a tetanus booster and a flu shot, including swine. I don't have a Hep shot but also am not high risk for this or other nasties.

 

I rang a local travel doctor and they said sure they could see me and fill out such paperwork and it would cost me $150. Of course, I don't need any shots, just the paperwork. And they would be going by my word because I had all my required shots (ie. German measles, chickenpox, TB etc) many years ago and even my parents have no record of it anymore.

 

My question is ... do I actually need an 'inoculation certificate' for a celebrity cruise in alaska so that I can board or visit ports?

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C 2 C

C 2 C

Posted
Posted
I am sailing on Millenium in about 2 weeks in Alaska, mostly visiting Alaskan ports. I live in Australia.

 

I read on my cruise docs that I should have an 'inoculation certificate'.

 

 

We have never been required to carry a proof of inoculation... on any cruise over a 20 year period.

 

Enjoy Alaska and don't get carried away by the state bird..

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Keith1010 "Live from...." Rare

Keith1010

Posted
Posted (edited)

For those who live in the USA this would not be a requirement for us so we really can't comment on that. If you have a TA they could followup with the cruise line or maybe you could. If this was me and this was a requirement on my final documents I would do what it says or contact the cruise line for clarification.

 

Keith

Edited by Keith1010
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  • 5 years later...
Kthypear

Kthypear

Posted
Posted

I am anxious about my first cruise anyway, when I read the travel document about noculation certificates I thought :eek: now what do I do. For us old people (I speak for me and my mother) we can't remember the last time we had a vaccination, except for a flu shot.

 

Cruising September 3rd New England/Canada

 

Kathy

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Snit13

Snit13

Posted
Posted

Since when is Tasmania a 3rd world country? I have never heard of documents to go to Alaska. If you can't find the answer on Celebrity FAQ's call Celebrity. Don't go to the expense and time to get paperwork you most likely will not need. The only place I recall getting innoculations was for safari in Kenya, Africa. I can't imagine why you would need this for anywhere in the US. Enjoy Alaska.

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Keith1010 "Live from...." Rare

Keith1010

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The key is to contact Celebrity or if you have a TA for them to do that.

 

Only reason I say this is because of the country you are coming from and maybe there is some requirement that we in the USA would not have.

 

Not sure but why speculate here.

 

Keith

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BCHappyGal

BCHappyGal

Posted
Posted

The only cruise I have ever had to show proof of innoculation was for the Amazon River cruise - never anything for Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America (excepting the Amazon River)....

 

Now I have gone to my Travel Clinic and gotten necessary shots for some of these travels when visiting areas I believed suspect but never had to show anything except for the Amazon River.

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Pushka

Pushka

Posted
Posted
The key is to contact Celebrity or if you have a TA for them to do that.

 

Only reason I say this is because of the country you are coming from and maybe there is some requirement that we in the USA would not have.

 

Not sure but why speculate here.

 

Keith

 

 

Tasmania is part of Australia. Travel to USA requires no innoculations - unless you travel via Africa. You will need to get the online visa.

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gogo65 "Live from...." Rare

gogo65

Posted
Posted

The only vaccination that you must have to enter countries is yellow fever and that is only if you have come from a yellow fever affected area. You need a special certificate that only specialised Drs/clinics can give. Many countries require this as evidence prior to entry.

However, I've never heard of ever requiring any other evidence. Are you sure it was in your cruise contract and not just general information provided?? Many travel agents would provide general recommendations.

I actually always carry my vaccination certificate, it stays with my passport but I've travelled extensively through south and Central America and Africa.

Could the OP provide more details about exactly where you read the information?

 

If you do need evidence you could go to your local GP, they can take blood, which would test for immunity/resistance against the common diseases.

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CruisinCadie

CruisinCadie

Posted
Posted

If you've had chickenpox, you really ought to get the shingles vaccine, whether you travel or not. Once the chickenpox virus is in your system, shingles can flare up at any time, and it's very painful. And it can keep recurring. Trust me, been there, done that, never again.

 

Kathy

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ghstudio "Live from...." Rare

ghstudio

Posted
Posted
If you've had chickenpox, you really ought to get the shingles vaccine, whether you travel or not. Once the chickenpox virus is in your system, shingles can flare up at any time, and it's very painful. And it can keep recurring. Trust me, been there, done that, never again.

 

Kathy

 

Don't say never...the vaccine helps but doesn't completely prevent shingles from occuring or reoccurring.

 

As far a a vaccination certificate, the only reason you might need one is to return to your country since you will have visited that terrible cesspool of disease known as Alaska :) However, as I recall, we live in the US and required no certificate of any kind to visit Australia, nor to return to the US. I would check with celebrity, but I'm awfully confident that you don't need any medical paperwork for this cruise.

 

.

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ghstudio "Live from...." Rare

ghstudio

Posted
Posted
Your only issue would be if you visited a country prior to the USA that had Yellow fever..http://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/maps/ Didn't visit them, they won't care! Enjoy the cruise

 

I don't believe the US requires a Yellow Fever (or any other) medical certificate from anyone. (not sure that's a good idea, but it is what it is).

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digital_curator

digital_curator

Posted
Posted

Not that you need to for this cruise but you can get your regular doctor to do a blood test for the antibodies of those vaccines and then fill out a standard vaccine card for you. I had to do this after I misplaced my childhood card and needed proof as part of my Green card application.

 

Cheers,

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