How long do I need to recover before I enjoy a vacation???

I'm trying to plan our winter vacation which usually is a cruise in mid-Feburary.  I'm thinking my surgery will be in January just waiting for the slow insurance to take their time to approve/deny surgery before I can get a date.  I am flexible about changing my mid-feburary date but have limited time to make the decision because my husband has to put his vacation request in soon. Anyway if I have surgery mid-to end of January how long of a recovery do you think would be needed to enjoy a cruise which would involve being pretyy active then just sitting in the sun.   Now I am aware that a lot of times people go on cruises to enjoy the all you can eat atmosphere and I'm already planning not being able to enjoy that part   So I'm just curious how long it would take to recover enough to want to get out and enjoy walking, snorkling, shopping, swimming.   Let me know your thoughts and I do realize every one is different in recovery and doctors may have other opinions (especially about swimming if my incesions aren't healed).  Just looking to see how most people felt after surgery. 

I had my surgery in May, and went to Hawaii in July-about 3 months out.  at that point I could eat a little (if I chewed carefully) and my incisions were completely healed, so I could swim and play on the beach.  I had lap surgery-it was 3 weeks before I could go in a pool/jacuzzi.  I felt pretty good after surgery, no complications, no difficulty taking in the amount of water I needed to stay hydrated.  The hardest thing about traveling soon after surgery is accomodating your food needs-liquids, protien, soft/mashed foods.  If you can deal with that-go for it! ~!lynn

At LEAST 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Some surgeons don't want you to travel for a period of time in case you have a problem.  I would call your surgeon and ask if they have such time/distance constraints.  My personal experience, at two weeks, I feel like it would be at least several more weeks before I feel good enough to trave and enjoy it.  I'm supposed to head up north for Christmas, and right now, I'm just not sure if I want to spend that kind of time bumping around on the road.  Maybe in a few weeks I'll feel a lot less soreness and sensitivity, but right now I'm just not feeling it.

I flew to New Orleans one month after surgery. Ate SOME regular food and had cans of protien drinks to suppliment. It was not a very active vacation.........and I would not have been ready for ACTIVE.  Good luck! pat

I had surgery 08/07 and we took a one-week road trip the week after Labor Day. It was fine and the least expensive vacation I've ever taken as I couldn't eat much/wasn't hungry. Awesome! I did have to take it a bit easier than normal though as I couldn't hike as much as we normally would....just a little more relaxed than a normal trip is all. Relax and enjoy!