I Took My CPAP on an Adventure

Normally sleeping with a CPAP is a private affair. Until I decided to take it on a 6-month long cruise halfway across the world. A month after I started using CPAP for the first time, I decided I wanted to travel the world. So I applied for a job on a cruise ship and got it!

At first, I was apprehensive about taking my machine with me. Since I had been getting such good sleep, I just didn't want to do without it. There was one little hitch, though – roommates.

Would a complete stranger accept my CPAP?

During the interview and onboarding, we were told we would be sharing a cabin with a total stranger. It could even be different strangers during the 6-month contract. My husband was already leery about the whole CPAP setup. How was I going to get complete strangers from different parts of the world to accept it?

Before my sleep apnea diagnosis, I was constantly teased about my snoring. Now I know sleeping with my CPAP is better than the snoring for everyone.

Sailing through security

It's not bad, actually. The medical device sticker on my CPAP helps me sail through checkpoints easily, even though there's some confusion about whether it goes in the tray or stays in the case.

I am standing on the dock and watching the giant ship that is going to be my home for the next 6 months silently slip into its spot, one hand protectively on my CPAP case. My heart is racing, and thoughts are flying through my head. What have I gotten myself into? It's not too late to go back! Squashing those thoughts, I boldly step onto the gangway, CPAP in tow.

Meeting my new roommate

I meet my first roommate, a tall, thin young woman from Russia. I immediately explain to her that I use a machine to help me sleep. She looks at me worriedly, never having heard about sleep apnea or CPAP before. Eventually, she agrees we'll try it for the first night and see how it goes.

The next morning, my roommate is shaking me awake. I overslept! Not because of my CPAP though, I had forgotten to adjust my phone to the different timezone. Thankfully, she didn't hear my machine that first night, so I'm good to continue using it.

Adventure of a lifetime

For the first time ever, I'm visiting countries I've only dreamed about – Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Finland, and 15 others. During this time, I explain to 5 different roommates about my CPAP. Each time is a different reaction.

The funniest one is a roommate from India who claims my machine is stealing her sleep. In fact, I think she could use a CPAP herself. I recognize the symptoms right away – snoring, waking up gasping, and daytime sleepiness, among others.

6 months later, I return home, head full of memories and my trusty CPAP no worse for the wear.