Summer is here and the vacation you have planned for your family is almost here. Nothing sounds better than taking a cruise with your family, relaxing on a boat, traveling the world. There are many luxury cruise lines to choose from where you will be waiting on hand and foot, where activities are planned for you, and the food and drink seem endless. The last thing you need is an unexpected illness to throw your good time overboard.
There are many potential health problems that can arise when you are on a cruise, but a few simple tips can keep your vacation from cap sizing. The first thing you can do to keep your health on board is make sure you and your family’s vaccines are up to date. Many cruise lines have employees from different countries on board, from countries where diseases are more common than in the United States where we are protected by vaccines. A few examples are chicken pox and rubella. Making sure your vaccines are current, including seasonal flu can help keep your family healthy if there is an outbreak.
Stomach viruses are also common on ships, with so many people in close quarters it is easy for a norovirus to spread. Washing your hands and avoiding touching stair railings that everyone has touched can help you from getting a virus that is going around. While on excursions in developing countries, eat only food that has been cooked and served hot, and only drink beverages from closed containers. It is a good idea not to eat fruit unless you have washed and peeled it yourself.
Respiratory viruses can also spread like wildfire on cruise ships, using good hand washing protocol and getting your flu vaccine can help you stay healthy.
Before you go on your cruise, check with your health insurance company to see if your policy will cover any medical care while on board the ship or in another country, just in case you follow all these tips and your health falls overboard.