Taking a Cruise? Health and Safety Tips for Your Protection

Inoculations and Vaccines:

-What diseases are active, which immunization shots do you require. Usually a cruise line will notify you about any shots you may need but checking with your doctor and using the internet to get answers to current conditions at your destinations will give you the best info to prevent unwanted, preventable sickness.

Security:

-Is crime a problem, specifically crime directed at tourists. Are there areas you should not visit for safety reasons.
-How do you carry your money, cash, travelers cheques, credit cards. Makes sure you have a record of any credit cards or travelers cheques in case of theft. Women who carry a purse should be familiar with the proper type of purse and way of holding a purse when you travel. Never carry cash in your back pocket.
- Always carry small valuables like cash credit cards etc., on your person, a neck wallet or money belt are best.
- Use the room safe or the ship safe and don’t forget to empty it at the end of your journey, you’d be surprised how many people leave money or valuables on ship.

Medications and First Aid :

-Any Prescription medications you need on a daily basis , any over the counter medications like pain killers, eye drops, sunscreen, antacids, anti diarrhea , motion sickness, should be purchased and packed before you leave. Don’t think you will be able to get any of these products easily or at all. Even if you can locate what you need it will be very expensive.

- A small first aid kit with band aids, antibiotic ointment , sun burn lotion and some gauze. If you do scratch or cut yourself, apply a band aid to lessen the chance of infection and have it cleaned well back on board. If the cut occurs on board, wash it well and apply some anti bacterial creme. Many a small cut has turned nasty, especially in the tropics.

Cosmetics and Personal Grooming:

- As with medications, any items like shaving cream, moisturizers etc. should be bought at home. Inexpensive travel sizes are easily found at most pharmacies and portioning and packing your own cosmetics will save you money and time once you’re on your cruise.

Food:

- One of the great luxuries of going on a cruise is the food, on and off the ship. For cruises that are of longer duration, a good idea is to bring an item like an energy bar or your favorite granola bar, something that doesn’t take up much space. It sounds a bit over the top, bring food, but if you go on excursions off the ship, healthy snacks will save you money and help you to not eat junk. A dozen granola bars take very little space, are acceptable in any country and are easy to carry.

- When on the ship, think about that hamburger or chicken salad sandwich you're about to put in your mouth. Has it come from an open food bar, the all you eat can type. Were there sneeze guards, was the food chilled enough or hot enough, were the serving staff wearing gloves. Dining on board is usually not the problem, it's that poolside buffet that causes the stomach aches. Slow down, relax, the food will be there. Overeating especially foods you normally don't eat, is a big problem on cruise ships. Eat something, then wait 15 minutes, if you still want that shrimp salad, take half a serving.

- Depending on where and how long you port, don't eat the street cart food when you get off the ship. If you want to eat something to eat when on a day trip, find a restaurant with lots of people, locals if possible. Stay away from any food that has to be washed , like fruit, unless the port you are in is known to have drinkable water. No matter where you are, now is not the time to experiment with the local specialities. If your in port for a few days , seek out a reputable restaurant to go to to taste the local fare.

Water:

- A great proportion of travel sickness originates with water. Even safe water can affect your well being and throw you off. Just the change in water can cause constipation , diarrhea or a " just not right " feeling.
- If you have some time between check in and departure , and can locate a store that sell’s bottled water , buy a few of the biggest sizes you can carry and bring them back to the ship. Some cruise lines charge a lot of money for bottled water and there is nothing like having your own brand in your room when you need a glass, better than the ship water.
- Some cruise lines supply free bottled water when exiting the ship on day trips, especially in hot climates, take advantage of this by grabbing a few extra bottles.
- Be very vigilant with water, particularly when off the ship or if you are on a ship that originated in a port where you wouldn’t drink the water.

Sleeping:

- If you're sleeping off the ship at all, or even if you've booked that cheapie getaway on an older ship or secondary cruise line to save a buck, you would be well served to invest in a travel sheet, also known as a sleep sack or liner. You never know what the bedding will be like and there is nothing that will ruin a trip like unclean bedding. Bedbugs and scabies are very prevalent in many areas of the world and harsh detergents and bleaches used on the ship can irritate your skin. Companies like Allersac make products to protect against these problems. A good quality travelsheet can also be used on trains and buses, just make sure you get one that can be washed in hot water and be put in a hot dryer so you can sanitize it after using it. The laundry service on board can be used to clean the travel sheet should you need it multiple times.