Cruises — what’s not to love? There’s the luxury of sleeping in a dark interior cabin, or the zen of a sunset mimosa on your own private balcony. Check out the buffet for a variety of dining options, or hit up the midnight pizza bar for a greasy bedtime snack. Visit popular ports like Cozumel, where chocolate and peanut butter tequila turn into Reese’s Cup Shots. Discover new ports, like Yucatan, where my favorite cruise ShipRocked will dock in 2019. With all these options for adventure and relaxation, what’s not to love about sailing the high seas? How about Cruise Crud, that nasty bug that creeps up during your vacation or shortly after disembarking.
What is Cruise Crud?
Cruise Crud is a catch all term covering anything from mild gastrointestinal distress to full blown flu, and it’s more common that you think. With so many people traveling in close proximity, germs have ample opportunity to attach themselves to an unwitting host whether by person-to-person contact, or through contaminated food and water. So, how do you stay healthy on a large floating petri dish? Follow these five tips to maximize your chances of avoiding Cruise Crud.
Stay Hydrated
Don’t let that all inclusive drink package side track you. Make sure you’re drinking the daily recommended water allowance, and then some. Alcohol and exposure to the sun will dehydrate you, and even mild dehydration can increase incidence of fatigue and headaches.
Get Plenty of Rest
Sleep is an important component of a healthy immune system. Don’t be afraid to doze off on the deck or retreat to your cabin for a midday nap. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready to dine and dance into the night. Most of all, your body heals while you sleep, so ward off those germs with some restorative Zzzs.
Learn the Cruise Tap to Avoid Cruise Crud
Handshakes are a common greeting among new friends, and you make a lot of friends on a cruise. As a result, each “nice to meet you” brings the risk of germ transmission. International Meritime Health recommends you reduce the risk of catching Cruise Crud by replacing the hand shake with the cruise tap, a modified fist bump where only two knuckles make contact. Think of it as the new super cool handshake, the gangway sign if you will.
Washy Washy, Happy Happy, Smiley Smiley All The Time
My first experience aboard Norgwegian Pearl introduced me to this infectious song, no pun intended. While many ships have sanitizer stations outside the food courts, Norwegian places staff at the entrance and exit. Armed with bottles of hand sanitizer, they sing “Washy Washy, Happy Happy, Smiley Smiley All The Time.” As a result of this personal touch, infection rates plummeted. So, wash your hands often and take advantage of any sanitation stations.
Avoid the Cold Buffet, Particularly the Potato Salad
With all the food choices on board, it’s easy to escape the dreaded Cruise Crud by avoiding foods that require strict temperature control. Lest you think this is a step too far, consider this study of an E.coli outbreak aboard a 5-day cruise. Note all affected passengers indulged in the cold buffet offerings, including the potato salad. Don’t be afraid to eat nutrient rich fruits like pomegranate to load you up with antioxidants. Or you can eat like a Spartan warrior and eat a balanced meal of whole grains, veggies and some fish to keep you in tip top shape while cruising.
Cruises create beautiful memories. If you employ these five methods aimed at avoiding Cruise Crud, the only thing you’ll bring home at the end of your trip are souvenirs.
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