As someone who has inflammatory bowel disease, I find it very hard to travel.
A trip thats too full on can be a disaster, and its a worry being in a place I dont know and not being able to find a toilet.
I recently took a trip around the Caribbean on board Royal Caribbeans Allure Of The Seas. Departing from its home port of Fort Lauderdale, I sailed to the Bahamas, Cozumel, Roatan and Costa Maya.
And over the seven-night trip, I discovered that a cruise holiday was perfect for me.
Id never been on a cruise ship before so I was pretty excited. And when I got on board, I was taken back by how much there was on offer.
Lets start with the food and drink.
There were a lot of nice restaurants on board, catering dishes from all around the world, and the food is all included in your standard cruise package.
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You can pick from spots that served up pizza, Italian sandwiches, sushi, Mexican fare and more, or head to the all you can eat buffet, which is actually pretty posh. I had the best lobster and mussels there.
For drinks, there were plenty of cocktail bars to choose from too. You have to pay for drinks separately, but there are drinks packages you can buy.
In terms of entertainment, there was an ice rink where skaters performed, theatres where you could watch shows, a cinema, a sports area and more.
I wont lie, I spent a lot of time by the pool with a cocktail. Different to hanging out by a beach, it was nice knowing I could head back to my room whenever the heat was a little too much or if I didnt feel too good, so I could really enjoy myself, worry free.
Although I spent a lot of time on the ship seeing ice shows, watching amazing singers perform in the theatre in the evenings, and lounging by the pool, I also enjoyed some excursions on the days we were off the boat.
When you get to each destination, you have a choice of excursions, which you can book once youre on board. The prices varied but some were super cheap.
You can also plan what excursions you want to do while on the ship, on the day, which means its incredibly flexible depending on how you feel.
What the Allure Of The Seas Caribbean itinerary looks like:
Our first stop was Nassau in the Bahamas where I opted to do the snorkelling – because who doesnt want to snorkel in the Bahamas, right?
I spent the morning on a speed boat, sailing out across the ocean to the snorkeling spot. There was music on the boat and spaces to sunbathe while fresh coconut water was being handed around. It was just an incredible experience – and that was before actually getting into the water.
Even though Ive snorkelled before, there was something surreal about doing it in the ocean – and you can see so many different things.
The excursion lasted around four hours, which was just enough for me, as I can get tired out pretty easily.
I spent the rest of the day on a beach near the ship, where the sand was white and the ocean crystal clear. The locals were so friendly and everything was so beautiful.
The next day, we visited Cozumel where you could visit old ruins, visit massive waterparks and theme parks or just enjoy its beaches.
The next stop was in Roatan, one of Hondurass Caribbean Bay Islands.
Part of the huge Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, its known for its beaches, dive sites and marine life, including whale sharks. And at the busy West Bay Beach, theres a coral reef right near the shore.
There are spots to go diving and snorkelling and try out different water activities, and theres also a zipline in case you fancy something a little more adventurous.
The beaches are surrounded by local cafes, so you can enjoy some fresh seafood too.
Our last stop was in Costa Maya, which was incredibly lively. The moment we stepped off the ship and we were greeted by musicians busking on the street, playing harps and drums.
Were welcomed into a little village thats filled with street performers and there were beach shops offering clothes and jewellery at super cheap prices.
Of course, there were plenty of beach bars serving cheap cocktails, including one surrounded by a large pool where everyone was playing volleyball and drinking.
If you venture a little further out, youll find a diving spot where you can swim with dolphins, and feed stingrays.
I found a really lovely beach spot filled with loungers and beach beds where I relaxed for a while after doing some shopping.
I spent the last day on the ship sailing back to Florida, just enjoying the amenities.
It was actually my birthday on the last day of the cruise, and the ship went all out to accommodate me. As well as making me a cake, they also surprised me by decorating room.
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It was such a lovely touch, and showed how much the staff really do care about their guests.
While this was a dream holiday that would suit anyone, it was especially great for me.
When you have a chronic illness, travelling can seem scary and out of the question.
But as some who has a chronic illness, I would definitely recommend a cruise. It accommodated all my needs and made the whole travel experience stress free.
Not only were there days where I could go out and explore, there were also days where we were at sea, so I could relax, take it easy and really enjoy myself. And thats what made it a great holiday experience for me.
Tips for travelling with inflammatory bowel disease
If you want to travel and you have inflammatory bowel disease, there are a few things you can do to make things easier on you.
Remember to stock up on Imodium to make sure your stomach is OK if youre flying to an international port, and always carry a bottle of water with you so that you dont get dehydrated.
You can also add some rehydration salts to your water to help keep you hydrated.
Pack your own toilet wipes, because airport toilet roll and some hotel toilet rolls can be uncomfortable when used too often.
Go steady on the alcohol consumption and avoid foods youre unsure of – sure, its always good to try new things, but its not worth the risk when youre trying to enjoy yourself.
Pack a high factor sun cream – some IBD medications can make you more sensitive to the sun and increase your risk of skin cancer.
Make sure if you are in the sun and drinking cocktails that you follow it with as much water as you can.
Flights and prices
There are packages with Royal Caribbeans Allure Of The Seas starting from $559 per person for a seven night stay.
You will need to fly to and from Fort Lauderdale, the ships home port. There are flights from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale from £270 return with British Airways.
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