No one enjoys being sick. During a vacation, however, illness is even less enjoyable because the planning and anticipation are ruined while the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and activities is irretrievably lost. Each year, hundreds of cruise ship passengers miss out on unique vacations because of flu-like symptoms including nausea, aches, and diarrhea. In the close confines of a ship carrying thousands of passengers, communicable diseases spread quickly and easily. With a few precautions, however, you greatly reduce the risk of contracting an illness and can focus on thoroughly enjoying your vacation.
Precautions to remain healthy on the high seas begin long before you board the ship. Several weeks before your vacation, exercise more by adding short walks or changing daily habits to incorporate more activity, such as parking further away from the store or choosing the stairs instead of the elevator. Eat healthier foods including fruits and vegetables to insure that your body is getting enough nutrients, and consider taking a multivitamin as an additional supplement. Try to get enough rest by getting to bed a half hour earlier each night. Each of these small steps helps strengthen your body’s natural defenses so that you avoid any unpleasant illness on your cruise.
Your luggage should include several items to help you from becoming sick. Additional vitamins, disinfecting wipes, and instant hand sanitizer are all valuable tools for avoiding communicable diseases. As an additional precaution, you should pack a medical history that includes current medications, allergies, and medical conditions that could affect treatment if you do become sick.
While on board, you can adopt a number of healthy habits to help avoid illness. The best defense is to wash your hands with warm, soapy water throughout the day. Cruise ships have numerous public restrooms, as well as the bathroom in your cabin, so you are never far from a sink. Always wash your hands before and after meals, after visiting boutiques or clubs, and after enjoying a show. Washing thoroughly after being in highly public areas eliminates many disease-causing germs.
Cruise ships offer many activities, and it is easy to take healthy precautions while enjoying each of them. For example, if you attend a performance, try to sit with a bit of empty space between you and other passengers: even an empty seat or two will help reduce possible contagion. Before indulging in casino games such as slot machines or video poker, discreetly clean the buttons and seat with a disinfecting wipe to eliminate any lingering germs from earlier players. If you plan on using fitness equipment in the gym or spa, be sure that it has been cleaned first. If sunbathing is your idea of a perfect cruise activity, lay a towel over the deck chair for added comfort and sanitation. Finally, try to arrive early to the decorative buffets and late night snacks so that the food has not been frequently handled before you make your selections. These small precautions can help avoid undue contact with unhealthy germs and lessen your overall risk of contracting a communicable disease.
Many cruise passengers enjoy shopping and other excursions in exotic ports-of-call. Continuing your healthy habits such as using disinfecting wipes and instant hand sanitizer will help you avoid any contagion while on shore tours. Be sure to drink bottled water while in port, in case the local water is not treated the same as the water to which you are accustomed. Whether you are on board or in port, you should continue the healthy habits you began before the cruise to help maintain your body’s immunity.
By using common sense and taking proper precautions both before and during a cruise, it is possible to avoid the flu-like communicable diseases that ruin hundreds of passengers’ vacations each year. Instead of commiserating in your cabin, you will be safely enjoying the shows, sampling the buffets, and trying your casino luck on the high seas. Bon voyage!
