We took a 42 day cruise on the Queen Victoria, in February 2024. We enjoyed it and thought we would repeat the experience – though 78 days around South America may be a bit of a stretch.
There is plenty to do when the ship is at sea and the ports of call are interesting. Don’t think I’ll try the needlework class and will probably give the 5pm meeting of “Friends of Bill W” a miss – hopefully.
I resolve to do more exercise but Chair Aerobics is out and (hopefully) Line Dancing. I may try the Zumba classes and perhaps some Pickle Ball on deck, which seem quite entertaining. Dancing classes and Trivia are compulsory and after so much time at sea, perhaps I will be able to do a satisfactory Rumba, or win a complimentary Cunard tea shirt.
I did not realise, at the time of booking, that it was compulsory to have a Yellow Fever injection. I heard a rumour about it and checked with both Cunard and the travel agent. Cunard’s reply was couched in provisos but the travel agent confirmed that it was required, unless an official exemption certificate was presented.
One of Cunard’s “provisos” was the there were “contra-indications” for people aged over 65.
I googled “contra-indications” and found that the possibility of side effects increases with age. Fortunately, there are only two. Both are neurological but unfortunately, one results in serious health problems, while the other simply kills you.
I asked all of the health professionals I knew and some who I didn’t, for advice and the universal answer was “don’t do it”.
The exemption certificate cannot be just a simple letter but has to be in a specific format and issued by your GP or an authorised Travel Clinic.
I found that Boots has a clinic and managed to get certificates, on the basis of our advanced years. It was touch and go and I think the pharmacist would have preferred that we took the risk and paid £75 each. As a compensation, we offered to buy the recommended anti-malarial tablets but they were out of stock.
I have since had several messages from Cunard, warning of the dire consequences of not having the correct documentation and refusal of boarding, in their absence.
In reality, there are only two ports in Brazil where there is a risk of the disease and we do not intend exploring the Rain Forest.
