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A lot of people assume that cruise ships are a bit of a hotbed for germs, viruses and other nasties you won’t want to pick up. Actually, they’re far from it. The likelihood of catching a stomach bug or a bad cough on a cruise is less than 1 percent according to various health authorities. That’s because cruise lines take the health of their guests and the hygiene of their ships super seriously.
Your Health During Your Cruise
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With that said, if somebody falls sick on a cruise ship, the closed environment, and the fact that guests share just about everything within it, means that illness can spread fast. To make sure this doesn’t happen, we’ve put together a collection of top tips that can help make sure you, your friends and your family can stay healthy and happy while you’re at sea.
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Wash your hands regularly
Wash your hands regularly
A proper once-over with warm, soapy running water after using public loos can keep germs at bay. Dry your hands with a paper towel – and use it to turn off the tap and exit the door with, too.
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Bring your own hand sanitiser
Bring your own hand sanitiser
Your cruise ship should be clean and hygienic before you board, but to be on the safe side, bring along some travel-size hand sanitiser. This is especially helpful with any items that previous guests will have been hands-on with like the phone, doorknobs, and the TV remote.
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Skip the self-serve buffets
Skip the self-serve buffets
If possible, avoid buffets where multiple guests will have handled any serving utensils. If this isn’t avoidable, then decline any plates or cutlery handed to you by others and be sure to re-sanitise your hands if you do handle shared utensils.
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Drink bottled water
Drink bottled water
The water onboard will be perfectly fine to drink. But if you have your doubts, then drink bottled water – and brush your teeth with it too. Always carry a bottle of water when visiting ports of call, especially if you’re travelling to developing countries.
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Go for cooked foods
Go for cooked foods
Onboard, things like salads, fruit and raw seafood will be fine to eat since they’ll have been prepared using strict guidelines for keeping foods clean. It’s more of a risk on your ports of call. Better to play it safe and stick to cooked food; the high temperature kills off harmful viruses and bacteria. Plus, you haven’t travelled all that way just to eat a salad, have you?
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Get plenty of sleep
Get plenty of sleep
It’s tempting to burn the candle at both ends on a cruise, but make sure you’re taking care of your immune system by getting plenty of sleep each night. That way, you’ll be better able to fight off viruses and bacteria.
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Let staff know about sick travellers immediately
Let staff know about sick travellers immediately
Sneezy, queasy and coughing guests can be a cause for concern, as can anyone who might vomit in your vicinity. If you feel uneasy about any ill-looking passengers, then let a crew member know, so they can clean up any areas that need them and possibly quarantine the passenger in question immediately.
Are you more likely to get sick on a cruise ship?
It’s a question that’s often asked by first-time cruisers, but it’s one that’s well worth answering. If you’re worried about getting seasick on a cruise, then we’ve got some good news for you: you probably won’t.
Cruise ships are huge. That means the chances of it wobbling are very slim.
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They’re also equipped with large wing-like stabilisers, and these computer-controlled gizmos help to counteract the motion of the sea.
With that said, if you’ve never sailed before, then it might take some time to get used to being on a moving ship. But everyone has to get their sea legs – consider it a cruise rite of passage!
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Do cruises have doctors on board?
Yes. All major cruise lines have at least one doctor and two or more nurses onboard, and they’ll be available 24/7 should you need them.
Any cruise line which is part of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is required to have medical staff onboard that meet the guidelines of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), which are as follows:
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- Licensed with three years of post-licensing experience
- Experience in or board certification in emergency, family or internal medicine. If the ship allows children, then the right certification in paediatric care is also needed.
- At least one doctor must be certified in advanced trauma life support care.
- Cardiovascular, sedation and minor surgical skills are also required.
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