Swimming with an ileostomy on a Caribbean cruise can be a fun and relaxing experience, but it's natural to have concerns about keeping your Hollister flange secure and dry. Here are some helpful tips and insights to make your swimming adventure worry-free:

1. It's generally safe to get your appliance wet. Many people with ostomies shower, bathe, or swim with their bag on without any issues.

2. If your barrier sticks well on land, it should stay secure in the pool or ocean too.

3. For extra protection, consider using flange extenders or barrier extenders. These can be added all around the Hollister flange to prevent edge lift.

4. Waterproof medical-grade tapes, like Hypafix, water-repellent tape, or paper tape, can also help keep everything in place.

5. After swimming, some people like to use a hair-dryer on a cool or warm setting to dry the barrier.

6. A supportive wrap or ostomy swim belt can prevent the pouch from flapping and help you feel more secure.

7. If you don't like the feeling of a wet pouch against your skin, look into swimwear designed for ostomates. These often have an inner pocket to hold the pouch away from your body. Brands to consider include SIIL and CUI.

8. There are also dedicated sealing products available, like Ostomy Essentials Flange Seal Rings, which create a waterproof cover over the flange. These are especially useful for hot tubs and hot springs.

9. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially for ileostomates in hot climates and while swimming.

10. Unless you plan to stay in the water for hours, leakage is unlikely, so try to relax and enjoy yourself.

11. As a practical travel tip, bring enough Hollister supplies to allow for daily changes if needed, similar to how diabetics carry backup insulin supplies.