One of the worst things that can befall you during your cruise vacation is a sudden illness. You need to do everything possible to make sure you will remain healthy during the duration of your trip, especially in parts of the world where diseases like malaria are common. Some illnesses, like Mexico's dreaded Montezuma's revenge, can only be prevented by abstaining from local foods and water. Many other diseases, though, can be warded off with vaccinations.

The best source of information on recommended vaccinations is the Web site sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides a wealth of information about vaccinations in general—as well as a “Destinations” link that enables you to click on your cruise destination and see all the recommended vaccinations for that area. For more information, check out the CDC's Web site at www.cdc.gov.

For instance, if you are cruising from Cape Town, South Africa, up the eastern coast of Africa to Kenya for a few days of watching lions and giraffes, you will want to educate yourself about malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis, and more. Just going to the Caribbean? Check out the Web site anyway. It recommends vaccinations for that part of the world as well, including rabies, hepatitis, typhoid, and yellow fever. Once you know which vaccinations you will need, you should be able to get them from your family's regular physician.