Thoughts on taking a cruise with an Alzheimer's patient?

Last summer my Sweetie (with Alzheimer's) and I , flew non-stop from St.Louis to Salt Lake City. I had no idea how stressful the airport would be. I am Legally Blind, so he had to read everything to me. Finally decided to just go up to the counter (skipping all those kiosks). They were so helpful, getting us each a wheelchair and zipping us through lines, and even helped us stay together through Security. Once on the plane, he needed the bathroom 6 times, a drink of water, a soda, a snack, the bathroom, for 4 VERY LONG HOURS! Once we got to my sisters' house, he didn't know where he was, where he belonged, who was the lady in the kitchen, where are the cats? Did we live here now. He would constantly go into my sisters' bedroom and sit on the bed, and say he was lost. Where are we? Can we go home? When can we go home? I can't find the cats. Don't we have cats? And the most heartbreaking was when he said he didn't belong anywhere.
I am telling you this, maybe to remind myself, that our traveling days are over. I'd love to go on another cruise. I love a destination vacation. I love to just go to the store.......like the 'good old days'. We've been married for over 50 years. I love him dearly. I would not put him through this again for anything.

I was cruise ship medical staff for over 10 years. We saw many, many people similar to your husband get very confused and agitated. The largest ships are worse for this. Long passage ways and strange surroundings and movement. Any medications for motion sickness can make this acutely worse. Lack of sleep due to time changes and confusion with over stimulation with noise, surroundings and dining choices. If they get sick with a respiratory or GI illness on board, which is not uncommon, the dementia complicates things. Lots of medical disembarkations to foreign hospitals. Then the spouse has to somehow shepherd them home once discharged from a foreign hospital. Not fun. Lots of falls and broken hips and shoulders. I would go by car, closer to home, and go watch the ocean and have a nice walk on the dock. Stay in a nice hotel.

I suggest you try a weekend away.
Book a weekend at a hotel nearby. One with a pool and spa that you can enjoy.
See how well he does for a weekend.
Or go visit a friend or relative overnight. See how well he does away from home and in different surroundings and with his routine gone.
Either of these might give you an idea how he would react away from home for a brief time.
Take him to a busy mall and see how well he does with loud noises and a lot of people.
All of these, even if he does well is not a 100% guarantee that he will do well at the airport, on the flight and during transfer to the port. And going through security could be confusing and a challenge.

OK...Google is your friend...
I just Googled and there apparently are Dementia Friendly tour groups and cruises. Check the Alzheimer's Association website they might have info. Or just google dementia friendly cruises or tours.

My Husband LOVED cruises. The last one we took was before his diagnosis, probably 2 or 3 before it. At the time there were no outward clues as to what was going on. (I have said that it is only when you look back over the past 3, 4, 5, sometimes more years that the picture finally comes together)
Anyway this cruise was Hawaii. We arrived a week before the cruise to tour a bit before the cruise and also to get used to the time difference and get over the exhaustion from the travel.
He was sort of ok but just "different".
On the ship I could not get him involved in activities, he refused to get into a bathing suit. Would sit on the deck in his jeans, a t-shirt (I had to hide his long sleeve shirts) his socks and sneakers.
(I think that was the start of the inkling in the back of my head that there was something wrong but again I did not put that together until I looked back...)
About a year or two after that I made plans to visit a friend and he was going to stay home. (this was again before his diagnosis) he did some odd things and I decided that I could not leave him so it was a car trip for the two of us and the dog. That trip was a NIGHTMARE! Much to long to go into here but needless to say the cruise was our last and that road trip was our last.

Grammy, we have a poster that was diagnosed with early onset dementia and he and his wife travel. That is his desire until he can no longer manage.

He is not able to participate in all the activities she can though. They did a cruise and it was wonderful for them.

I would find out what happens if hubby has a complete meltdown, I would also make sure and have some meds to calm him down if he does, maybe comatose type meds.

Because the only certainty with Alzheimer's is the complete uncertainty.

No. You do not want to be in the middle of the cruise if he should have problems.

Those with dementia need routine in their daily lives.

Just you should go, enjoy yourself, find someone to come in to stay with him. It find an assisted living facility that will accept him on a respite basis.

I’d check the insurance very carefully. This is a pre-existing condition. If something goes wrong (with either of you) you both may need to be taken off the cruise. If insurance doesn’t cover it, it could ruin you financially. It could work out fine, no worries, but find out if it’s a risk worth taking.

Everyone is different. But, I took my husband (mid-Alz) on a plane across country to see my family. He's very familiar with them and the area. In the airport going he was OK. But, he was completely lost and stressed once we got to the hotel. He couldn't leave the room without me. He thought someone had stolen from him because he couldn't find anything. He didn't know who I was, at night. On an hour car ride, he didn't know who I was and screamed and screamed at me. He's usually calm and happy! It was a nightmare and we came home THANK GOD 2 days early. We have since been 2 and 3 overnights in a local hotel. That goes OK. My cruising days are over.

Not a good idea. It will be extremely stressful and difficult for you. It will probably get him more agitated as he’s going to be in unfamiliar environment. You’ll have no peace or one ounce of fun. You’re only trying to recapture what once was, but will never be again. Hugs 🤗

No. You have no idea how this will go. If he doesn’t adapt well, how will you manage him for a week? He will be more disoriented than ever. How much of it would he remember later on? Is it safe for him to be where he could fall over a railing? (Sounds crazy, but it definitely happens).