How to avoid getting sick on a cruise

You want your yachting vacation to be perfect, with no discomfort or headaches dragging you down. Most people sail safely without sniffling, seasickness, or a rumbling stomach. That said, you can always increase your chances of avoiding such problems.

It’s normal for many people to stay healthy—something we sometimes forget when sipping rum by the pool on board, racing a water slide, trying our luck at the casino, or dancing the night away at a deck party.

It’s wise to take some simple precautions to avoid the heartache of missing a day at the beach or, worse still, being sick in bed halfway through your journey. Taking health care matters into your own hands is very important. One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is how easily germs can spread.

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Here are nine tips to help you avoid getting sick on your cruise vacation.

Hand washing

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines regularly reminded passengers to wash their hands to prevent the possibility of spreading viruses like the dreaded virus. norovirus stomach disease. Royal Caribbean has a Animated videos with catchy tunes to encourage hand washing. Norwegian Cruise Line has crew members singing near the buffet to remind people to stop by the sink or use hand sanitizer stations.

Cruise lines have increased the supply of hand sanitizer on board ships as part of their COVID-19 precautions. You may also want to keep your own small bottle handy. Since you’ll be touching shared surfaces like handrails, elevator buttons, bathroom doors, and buffet service utensils, it’s a good idea to disinfect your hands frequently.

However, keep in mind that the best way to wash your hands and kill germs is to use soap, water, and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds, or the amount of time it takes to hum “Happy Birthday” twice.

If you are taking a trip around the world or traveling to an unfamiliar location, you should consult a travel health professional to see if you should be on the lookout for other illnesses such as yellow fever or malaria. You can find travel health recommendations and warnings on Centers for Disease Control and Preventionthe Web of.

Stay hydrated – but watch drinking water

You’ll want to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially when visiting a tropical or hot climate. Dizziness and headaches from dehydration are common problems with train passengers.

The water from the faucet in your cruise ship’s cabin is drinkable, although it may come out from a lukewarm faucet. Many cruisers like to drink bottled water that you can buy on board. Water is also included in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage packages available for purchase.

Another, cheaper option is to pack a reusable water bottle to refill at the buffet taps. There may be signs asking you not to refill bottles, but you can bypass these signs by filling your glasses and pouring them into your bottles at your table.

As you explore onshore, you should be cautious about both the local drinking water and the ice in any drink you order. Locals may be used to any bacteria in the water, but your stomach may decide to react. To check water quality, consult with Country-specific announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairswhere you can enter the country you are visiting and click the “Health” section for details.

It’s not uncommon on a hot day to see people trying to climb uphill hard and eventually needing medical attention. When choose a cruise on the shore, make informed decisions based on your own abilities. A physically demanding experience won’t be enjoyable if you can’t make it in the end.

Yes, everything sounds fun and exciting in the promotional material. But if you haven’t cycled in 10 years, should you try cycling 15 miles? Your brain may tell you you’re ready to go deep-sea snorkeling, but when was the last time you swam a long distance?

Read descriptions of shore excursions carefully and ask questions if you need to before undertaking strenuous activities. If they seem beyond your physical capabilities, just say no.

Get a sleep

The major cruise lines are hubs of activity day and night – think Las Vegas, New York, and Disney World are overworked. Some people try to do it all, but at some point, you need to get into your cabin and get at least a few hours of sleep. Partying all night and all morning hard for a week will eventually pay dearly.

If you’re sensitive to cruise ship sounds, bring earplugs or a white noise machine to help you catch some Z’s. If you’re a night owl, try to take a nap or nap during the day. At the very least, take the time to relax. Your body and mind will thank you.

If you’re flying on a cruise vacation, pack the wipes in luggage so you can wipe down airplane seats, tray tables, touchscreen TV screens, reading light controllers and vents (which you should open to disperse the air you’re breathing), and any other surfaces someone may have touched.

Once inside your cabin, it’s wise to perform the same wipe. Yes, it all sounds a bit paranoid. Housekeeping staff cleans every cabin between guests. However, you don’t want to chance anything was missed. Germs spread.

watch wine

You’re on vacation and it’s time to let loose. Those fancy cocktails look refreshing, and that drink package you bought allows you to drink more than a dozen glasses per day. But do you really think you can handle all that without headaches, stomachaches, or other nasty hangover symptoms?

If you plan to drink water on the plane, stay hydrated. Don’t worry about missing out on the upfront savings as many drink packages include bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages. Try to replace alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages to keep your spirits up during your trip without waking up sick.

Your best bet for avoid seasickness, especially if you’re traveling with kids who may be especially sensitive to movement, bring some seasickness medicine with you. The most common over-the-counter remedies are dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine). The downside to these medications is that they can cause drowsiness, which is made worse if you drink alcohol. Take medication first; Don’t wait until you feel a little green.

Some advocate non-drug treatments, such as acupressure wristbands, ginger candies, or ginger capsules. If you’re crossing the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean or traversing the notoriously rugged (though not always) Drake Pass on your way to Antarctica, you might consider having your doctor prescribe a scopolamine transdermal patch to stick behind your ear for a continuous stream of medication. Your ship’s medical center will have seasickness medication available and in severe cases, they will also provide injections to help you feel better.

Wear the mask

Wearing a mask on a cruise ship is now a personal choice. Wearing a mask helps prevent diseases that can be spread, even the common cold. There are times when on a cruise ship, you will be in crowded areas and it is difficult to practice social distancing.

The surgical mask will protect; an N95 or KN95 mask offers much more. Even if you don’t plan to wear a mask most of the time, always carry one when queuing at a train station or sitting in a crowded movie theater.

If you take the proper precautions, you can protect yourself from getting sick during your cruise vacation. However, if you feel unwell, consult the medical team on your ship. The team will be based in a medical center on board Open during specified hours and available 24 hours a day for emergencies. The center will be staffed by doctors and nurses (or nurses) ready to handle issues ranging from seasickness to minor surgery.

There’s no reason to suffer in silence, and an early doctor’s visit can make you more elated during the last few days of your journey than feeling worse. Also, as a good citizen on a cruise ship, it is important that you do your part to prevent the spread of disease to keep your fellow cruisers healthy and happy during their cruise vacation.

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