A pill that is routine at home can be restricted, confiscated or even illegal at your destination - and the rules change at every port. A little paperwork before you sail prevents the one problem travel insurance cannot fix: losing your medication mid-trip.
The essentials
Every country sets its own rules on which medicines may be brought in, and they apply to cruise passengers at every port, not just at the airport. Many countries allow a 30-day supply of prescription medicines for personal use, provided you carry the prescription or a doctor's letter; some common medicines at home - certain painkillers, ADHD drugs, codeine products and some sleep aids - are controlled or banned elsewhere. The CDC's advice is the baseline: check the embassy of every country on your itinerary, including layover and transit countries, before you travel.
Who this applies to
Anyone carrying prescription medicines, and especially travelers on controlled substances, injectables like insulin or EpiPens, or refrigerated medicines. It applies equally to short cruises: a seven-night sailing can call at three countries with three different rulebooks. Over-60 travelers, who statistically carry the most daily medicines, have the most to organize - and the most to lose from a missed week of doses.
The rules that catch people out
Keep medicines in their original labeled containers with your name, the prescriber's name and the exact dosage; carry paper copies of every prescription with generic names, and leave a copy with someone at home. Ask your doctor for a letter if you carry controlled drugs or injectables. Pack enough for the whole trip plus a buffer for delays, split between two bags. Dose by time since your last dose, not by local clock time, when crossing time zones - your provider can map the schedule. See your doctor or a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure, because some insurance plans only cover a 30-day supply and longer trips need arranging. Finally, never plan to restock abroad: counterfeit drugs are common in some markets, so bring what you need from home.
The five-minute version
- Check every country's rules - destination, transit and every port - via its embassy.
- The norm is a 30-day supply with a prescription or doctor's letter.
- Original labeled containers, paper copies, generic names, letter for controlled drugs.
- Pack extra for delays, split across bags, dose by elapsed time not local time.
- See your provider 4-6 weeks ahead; never count on buying refills abroad.