How to Stay Healthy on a Cruise – Updated for 2020

No one who ever cruised was hoping to get ill. I have 13 tips, plus one bonus tip to help prevent getting ill on your beautiful vacation. They are all easy to follow and will help you stay healthy on your next cruise!

If you are interested in the number of reported gastrointestinal illnesses that are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, here is a link to their web page. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

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13 Tips for Staying Healthy: (plus one bonus tip at the end)

1. When you get into your stateroom wipe down as many surfaces as you can with antibacterial cloths. Above all, make sure to get all hard surfaces where droplets from coughing or sneezing can land. These surfaces should include the wall switches, phone, television remote, lamp switches, all door handles, arms and seats on chairs, tables, drawer handles, countertops, and surfaces in the bathroom. However, make sure you DO NOT THROW these cloths down the toilet – they will clog the pipes;-). I buy Sono Disinfecting Wipes, which are medical grade wipes and claim to kill even the H1N1 Influenza Virus. If you are flying be sure to take wipes with you and wipe down the tray, your seat belts, the armrests, the seat pocket in front of you, and the touch screen if there is one. And take one to the bathroom while on the plane! (Do not throw the wipes down the toilet!) The same precautions should be taken if staying in a hotel before or after embarkation.
2. Try not to hold onto handrails. If you need stability, try using your forearm, especially when walking up and down the stairs. If you use the handrails, do not eat or drink anything before washing your hands. Likewise, use only your knuckles to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc..
3. Wash, wash and wash your hands. The key to preventing norovirus and other diseases is to wash your hands often with soap and water—and always after you visit the restroom and before you eat. The Center for Disease Control says to wash for a minimum of 20 seconds. Use a paper towel to open the bathroom door upon leaving. Besides washing every time you use the bathroom, wash up as you enter the buffet and dining rooms. The Center for Disease Control has an article that states that washing hands can actually save lives.
4. Do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose with your hands before washing them. In fact, try to break the habit of touching your mouth, eyes or mouth. The virus enters your body via your mouth, eyes or hands.
5. Exercise whenever you can. It has been proven that exercising helps keep our bodies healthy. Take the stairs instead of taking the elevator if you are able. If using the elevator use your elbow to hit the deck number pad. Take advantage of the fitness center if there is one. Walk around the ship every day – try to get in 10,000 steps each and every day. Fitness bands and step counters are helpful for tracking your activities. Many ships have a walking path or promenade around the ship. It can be lovely to take in the sites of the beautiful ocean while getting in some exercise.
6. Eat more meals in the dining room rather than the buffet. In the dining room, you will take longer to eat your meal and will not be tempted by the all-you-can-eat food in the buffet. No matter where you eat make healthy choices. At the buffet choose the small plate. You can fill that and still have many fewer calories than if you loaded up a dinner size plate. After filling your plate at the buffet use a disinfecting whip before you start eating.
7. Eat balanced meals, including vegetables at all meals.
8. Also, book excursions that will get you walking. The more strenuous the excursion the more calories you will burn. If you do not book an excursion, by all means, get off at the port and walk. You get to see sights you are not familiar with and will enjoy the added benefit of the exercise!
9. If you are going to imbibe take it slowly, drinking water between alcoholic drinks. Alcohol has a lot of calories and in addition, may open the door to overeating. And besides who wants to waste vacation time being hungover? As in everything, moderation is the key.
10. Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. However, in some ports be careful of the drinking water, including ice cubes. The water on your cruise ship is fine.
11. If possible, sneeze or cough into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow if necessary but know that clothing can harbor infectious viruses for up to a week.
12. Say “It’s nice to meet you”, looking whoever you are meeting in the eye. Handshaking is polite but that is a common way to spread germs. Fist bumping and even elbow touching is okay;-). A slight bow is also good.
13. Get plenty of sleep. Cruise ships offer so much in entertainment that it is easy to stay up late each night and start each day early so as not to miss anything. Sleep helps us to stay healthy. Adults need between 7 – 8 hours of sleep each night.

Bonus tip:

Here is something you need to do today, and do often:

Wipe down your mobile phone! Think about it, you are always touching it, with clean hands and without clean hands. And be careful when taking it out of the protective case. Thoroughly clean the cover and the phone itself. Do be extra careful, not all phones are water-resistant. Let the case and phone dry before putting back together. Look for the manufacturer’s suggestions on how to best clean your phone.

YahooNews has a good article on how to properly clean your mobile phone.

Apple also has a page on how to clean the iPhone.

** For a fun read, check out “Just How Clean is Your Cruise Ship“. Click here to read this post.

** Wondering what to take in your carryon? Read Embarkation Day Carry-On Essentials.

** Another helpful post is Cruise Cabin Essentials.