TMUG

Welcome to CC, Great question.

I would assume that as so little of the epopulation give blood that perhaps most people woldn't be aware. I can no longer give blood, I did so for nearly 15 years until I had cancer and was told my blood would no longer be accepted. I think it is great that you take it so seriously that you would possibly alter your travel plans due to these issues.:D

I have now had further discussions with Princess Cruises and the Blood Bank. It appears the solution for me is to stay on the ship and not get off in PNG. The Blood Bank sees this as similar to transitting through international airports. That is, it is not considered entry to a country and is therefore not a risk for contracting diseases.

It looks like my cruise will now be a purely Australian domestic one!

The 2-week cruise starting on June 22 has changed its itinerary due to this 'technical difficulty'. One of the changes is that it's missing Bali and going to Alotau, PNG instead, as the only international port.

I am considering the personal consequences of travelling to PNG. PNG appears to be the principal country with a particular strain of relapsing malaria.

Are there any other blood donors who have considered the effects of this itinerary change? I understand that travel to Bali incurs a 4-month suspension for donating whole blood whereas a trip to PNG incurs a 3-year suspension.