Staying healthy on your cruise is important. Do you worry about getting sick while you travel? Many do. In fact, many travelers avoid cruising for fear of getting sick while on board. In my experience, most community-borne illnesses can be avoided by taking appropriate precautions, even during flu season.
You should certainly not let the occasional news of Norovirus or rough seas keep you from taking a cruise. These occurrences are rare and are typically over-dramatized by the news media. So, fear not!
There are several things you can do to greatly reduce the risk of germ-nados on your cruise vacation.
In truth, it starts before you leave home.
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Before your cruise
Start with an immune booster such as Airborne or Emergence -C.
Our family always takes part in this practice at least a few days before our flight. We live in the Midwest, so there’s almost always a flight involved. If you are worried about the potential germs floating around on a cruise ship…let’s talk about the airplane! Armed with your dose of extra immune support, make your way onto the plane. But, before you sit back and relax, do yourself a great service and disinfect your surrounding personal space.
I have used these Sono Wipes for a couple of years now, and they seem to really do the trick. Make sure and wipe down your armrests, seat belt, the entertainment screen, and of course, that tray table! I even wipe down the window shade and pull it because I’ve been known to press my face right up to the glass to enjoy a spectacular view.
Do this on your return flight, too!
Staying Healthy on Your Cruise: Killing germs in your cabin
The first thing I do when we gain access to our stateroom (around 1-2 p.m. on most ships) is to grab my Sono Wipes and wipe down all of the touchable surfaces.
- door handles (stateroom, balcony and restroom)
- tv remote
- light switches
- toilet seat, flusher and faucets
- light switches
- telephone
It’s worth mentioning that the cruise line staff does a fantastic job of cleaning the staterooms. In over a dozen cruises, I’ve only asked once for an item to be re-visited by the staff before we used it.
Taking the extra step to disinfect our space is important for my peace of mind.
Dish Soap – Wait… isn’t one of the nice things about vacation is that you don’t have to do the dishes? Well, my family all travel with our own reusable water bottles so they need to be properly cleaned daily. I typically carry a small amount of dish soap in a travel container but recently saw a new idea (tip below) when browsing cruise Facebook Groups and Pages. (Speaking of, please consider checking out Finding Jillian on Facebook.
Tip: Take an inexpensive sponge and cut it into cubes. Add a small amount of dish soap and allow to air dry. Then, store in a ziplock. Use one pre-soaped cube to clean your water bottle. No liquids to carry on so you can pack light for your cruise!
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Dining Areas on Your Cruise –Avoiding those cruise germs
When you enter any dining area on a cruise ship, you are most likely greeted by an employee and referred to the hand sanitizer or washing station. I never skip these. I’d like to think that most people do the same. However, in my opinion, it is JUST as important to sanitize your hands AFTER gathering your food from the buffet. Call me a germaphobe, but what about those who sanitize their hands upon entering but later sneeze, wipe their nose, cover their cough, etc. EWW!
To really combat germs, sanitize your hands with an antibacterial wipe after you’ve taken your seat. This ensures your hands are germ-free before you begin your meal. In the evenings, most ladies carry a small purse that can hold a small bottle of antibacterial gel or a travel-size pack of antibacterial wipes without a problem. You can even get a small backpack-sized one and attach it to your lanyard if you want to remain bag-free. I keep one like this clipped to each of our excursion bags.
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Staying healthy on your cruise during port visits
It’s just as important to take steps to stay healthy during your port visits. In my excursion/day bag, I keep a few extra items to keep us fighting those germs.
- Baby wipes – These work better for cleaning up sticky or dirty hands if you don’t need to disinfect.
- Antibacterial wipes – Use before/after eating, and even in public restrooms when soap is out!
- Purse-size tissues – Finding a public restroom that is out of toilet paper in the stall is more common than you think!
- Antibacterial gel for excursion bag – out and ready!
- Hand-Size Pack towel – this clips onto my backpack and comes in handy for drying hands or for drying wet seats after a Caribbean rain shower.
What about Motion Sickness?
Most new cruisers worry a great deal about the potential for seasickness. However, most people don’t experience any signs of motion discomfort. As an experienced cruiser, I still show up prepared but “plan” not to have any issues. Positive attitude!
In my cruise medicine bag, I bring a pair of seasickness bands and a travel-size amount of Dramamine or Bonine. Just in case.
Speaking of just-in-case items in my cruise medicine bag…
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Preparing for any ailments while onboard
Of course, the goal is to stay healthy on your cruise, but sometimes life has another plan. The common cold, allergies, or a bit of a tummy issue can pop up at any time, regardless of whether you’re on land or at sea. After many cruises, I have settled on these particular medications; yours may vary.
A travel pill container keeps everything organized and secure in the little pink zipper pouch. I added the following items, and we are all set. This pouch lives in my purse at home and in our day bag while on a cruise. You never know when a headache will pop up and I don’t want it to ruin our day.
For our port days, I pop this little pink medicine pouch inside my dry bag with the tissues, wipes, etc. for a complete “kit.”
- A few doses of DayQuil (This multi-symptom medicine seems to work well for our family)
- Small Neosporin
- A few Band-Aids
- A couple of extra packets of Emergence-C
Exercise and Hydration
You may think that exercise has no place in vacation plans, and that’s fine. But, raising your heart rate and increasing your circulation has been shown to boost your immune system and release toxins from your body. Drink package friends, I’m talking to you! 😉
Getting plenty of water is critically important to health, especially if you are consuming more alcohol than usual and are in a warm climate. Help the environment, too, by bringing your reusable water bottle. I LOVE my Yeti Rambler with a bottle chug cap. You can easily replenish your fluids during meal times to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Just in Case…
These tips should keep you healthy on your cruise and help you have a wonderful vacation at sea. However, if you become ill during your cruise, the staff are available to help you. You may have heard cost horror stories, but at the end of the day, your health is #1, and a visit to the onboard medical staff may be just what you need. (Oh, and purchase travel insurance at the time you deposit your cruise-thank me later 😉 )
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