Despite the latest news of nearly 500 people getting sick on a Caribbean Cruise ship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated it’s happening less frequently. Researchers say passengers during the past year suffered less of the problems, primarily gastrointestinal, that last for several uncomfortable days. The most vulnerable to be affected on cruises are children and seniors.

Of course, some of the more unpleasant incidents are caused by seasickness when the ship rides through rough seas. However, many are due to flu bugs already infected passengers bring aboard. Especially in the winter, before they get to the ship they’re exposed to heavy crowds in airports and on commercial flights.

Also, the same symptoms of upset stomach happen when passengers overindulge in unfamiliar foods and drinks aboard the cruise and from street vendors in port cities. If you’re planning a cruise, try to avoid crowds and potentially bad food and booze. Just in case, take some seasickness and other what-if pills along with you.

Most seniors have heard the phone pitch, and the smartest just immediately hang up. If you keep listening, you may hear a live or recorded voice promising store discounts, free cruises, cheap resort stays and other enticing deals when you send money. Without exception, treat all the offers as phony.

The most persuasive ones use charity as their bait. Understand that even legit commercial call centers keep up to 80% of contributions. Also, once you send money to them, you’re put on a list sucker donors, and that info will be open to other phony sources. When you want to contribute to a charity, contact the official site directly. And if you want to travel for free, contact your nearest military recruiting office.

Your travel4seniors.com editor served in World War 2 and Korea. Still a Navy Reservist in the mid-1970s, I received a call asking me to volunteer for  active duty for the Vietnam War. At age 40, I declined. Would I voluntarily go to Vietnam today as a tourist? Well, just maybe.

Would I enjoy the beautiful Hanoi city scenes, river cruises, exotic foods and other offerings? With the memories of John McCain and other POWs enjoying the luxuries of the Hanoi Hilton, some serious thoughts occur about America’s former enemy. Of course, after WW2 it didn’t take long for American travel to Italy and Germany to become fashionable. Why not Vietnam today?

So, if interested, check with sources such as Intrepid Travel on currently peaceful Vietnam visits. Enjoy a meal at a Buddhist nunnery, take an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay, and zoom on a motorbike tour through Hue on the Vietnam Express.

It all begins in Hanoi and ends in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). This 10-day trip is designed for single travelers. You’ll be with a roommate of the same sex unless you prefer a room by yourself at an extra fee. The tour, priced from $1,100 is available on select dates through November 2019. www.intrepidtravel.com/us/vietnam

One of the most popular museums in the world, the Louvre attracts more than ten million visitors every year, and charges an entry fee of about $15. However, next time you’re in the French capital, instead of being crammed in with other gapers in front of the Mona Lisa during regular visit hours, do it privately.

If you have the dough, it will cost a mere $34,000 for up to four people in your exclusively wealthy group. You’ll be escorted through the museum in the evening by experts for about two hours. Hmmm, so when the tour is over, do you tip the guides ten percent of your enormous entry fee? If you’re considering the tour and other Paris attractions, get more info at family-twist.com.