Tips for a healthy cruise from medical professionals

Hi-

I got this from my health care provider and thought it useful, especially the idea to wipe everything down with sanitized wipes the first thing when you get in your cabin. There seems to be a rash of Noro running through the fleet now.

https://share.kaiserpermanente.org/article/guide-germ-free-cruising/?wt.mc_id=041317photo3&cat=36cta1

Healthy Cruising,

Paul

We avoid the buffet and only use the bathroom in our cabin to cut down our exposure.

I can't imagine how many wipes it would take for us to wipe down the Pinnacle Suite.

We also try to avoid the Buffet and the public restrooms as much as possible.

I have to laugh at that article...because it is folly...although well intentioned. On our more then 100 cruises we have only dined with a physician (actually a physician couple) one time...and they both had bad colds (this became a humorous topic at dinner. That article talks about "Dramamine" which is yesterday's drug. Dramamine needs to be taken every 4 - 6 hours and, for many folks is like a sleeping pill. These days the drug of choice (by cruise ship physicians) is Meclizine Hcl (also called Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine Non Drowsy (not the same as Dramamine). And for those with a higher sensitivity to motion sickness there are other drugs (often prescription) such as Transderm Scop.

As to Alcohol rubs...alcohol is not very effective against Noro-virus. And one can wipe down their entire cabin...and then their steward and assistant steward will be in their cabin at least twice a day bringing more germs/viruses. And what happens when you leave the cabin? Can you wipe down an entire ship with your alcohol rubs? Studies have shown that a big problem with cruise passengers is that pick up bugs on the airlines/airports on their way to the cruise.

So what to do? The same thing physicians, PAs, paramedics (I was one a long time ago), etc. do. Wash your hands, wash them well, and do it often! And try to avoid touching your face with your hands. Avoid elevators (ever get on an elevator with somebody who is coughing or sneezing). Try not to sit near folks who are coughing or sneezing (that is hard to do). And then pray a lot to the "healthy Gods." We know others who also try to avoid buffets....although that is difficult on cruises.

We should add that your cabin stewards (and other cleaning personnel on ships) use products that are much more powerful then alcohol based things. Ammonia based might be the best, but its not something you can carry in your purse or pocket.

As to public rest rooms, just use common sense and assume that everything is contaminated. So do not ever touch your face. Do your business and then scrub your hands with warm soap and water...and scrub them well. Once you dry your hands....do not touch any surface in that rest room. Use a paper towel (or towel) to open the door. And beware of tray tables on airplanes (studies have found they have the most bacteria of any surface on an aircraft) not to mention the rest rooms. Unfortunately most of us have to depend on Purell or other alcohol based products on a plane...none of which are effective against Norovirus. So its another time to pray to those "healthy Gods."

Hank

I have to laugh at that article...because it is folly...although well intentioned. On our more then 100 cruises we have only dined with a physician (actually a physician couple) one time...and they both had bad colds (this became a humorous topic at dinner. That article talks about "Dramamine" which is yesterday's drug. Dramamine needs to be taken every 4 - 6 hours and, for many folks is like a sleeping pill. These days the drug of choice (by cruise ship physicians) is Meclizine Hcl (also called Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine Non Drowsy (not the same as Dramamine). And for those with a higher sensitivity to motion sickness there are other drugs (often prescription) such as Transderm Scop.

 

As to Alcohol rubs...alcohol is not very effective against Noro-virus. And one can wipe down their entire cabin...and then their steward and assistant steward will be in their cabin at least twice a day bringing more germs/viruses. And what happens when you leave the cabin? Can you wipe down an entire ship with your alcohol rubs? Studies have shown that a big problem with cruise passengers is that pick up bugs on the airlines/airports on their way to the cruise.

 

So what to do? The same thing physicians, PAs, paramedics (I was one a long time ago), etc. do. Wash your hands, wash them well, and do it often! And try to avoid touching your face with your hands. Avoid elevators (ever get on an elevator with somebody who is coughing or sneezing). Try not to sit near folks who are coughing or sneezing (that is hard to do). And then pray a lot to the "healthy Gods." We know others who also try to avoid buffets....although that is difficult on cruises.

 

We should add that your cabin stewards (and other cleaning personnel on ships) use products that are much more powerful then alcohol based things. Ammonia based might be the best, but its not something you can carry in your purse or pocket.

 

As to public rest rooms, just use common sense and assume that everything is contaminated. So do not ever touch your face. Do your business and then scrub your hands with warm soap and water...and scrub them well. Once you dry your hands....do not touch any surface in that rest room. Use a paper towel (or towel) to open the door. And beware of tray tables on airplanes (studies have found they have the most bacteria of any surface on an aircraft) not to mention the rest rooms. Unfortunately most of us have to depend on Purell or other alcohol based products on a plane...none of which are effective against Norovirus. So its another time to pray to those "healthy Gods."

 

Hank

Well said Hank!!

As a retired DDS I too know enough of sterilization and how to keep our rooms and labs alsways top notch. It goes with ourselves too!!! Always think ahead.

Thank you!

Denise:)

PS

So far on our 15 pluse cruises we have always stayed healthy.

Like driving be aware of your surroundings

I have to laugh at that article...because it is folly...although well intentioned. On our more then 100 cruises we have only dined with a physician (actually a physician couple) one time...and they both had bad colds (this became a humorous topic at dinner. That article talks about "Dramamine" which is yesterday's drug. Dramamine needs to be taken every 4 - 6 hours and, for many folks is like a sleeping pill. These days the drug of choice (by cruise ship physicians) is Meclizine Hcl (also called Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine Non Drowsy (not the same as Dramamine). And for those with a higher sensitivity to motion sickness there are other drugs (often prescription) such as Transderm Scop.

 

As to Alcohol rubs...alcohol is not very effective against Noro-virus. And one can wipe down their entire cabin...and then their steward and assistant steward will be in their cabin at least twice a day bringing more germs/viruses. And what happens when you leave the cabin? Can you wipe down an entire ship with your alcohol rubs? Studies have shown that a big problem with cruise passengers is that pick up bugs on the airlines/airports on their way to the cruise.

 

So what to do? The same thing physicians, PAs, paramedics (I was one a long time ago), etc. do. Wash your hands, wash them well, and do it often! And try to avoid touching your face with your hands. Avoid elevators (ever get on an elevator with somebody who is coughing or sneezing). Try not to sit near folks who are coughing or sneezing (that is hard to do). And then pray a lot to the "healthy Gods." We know others who also try to avoid buffets....although that is difficult on cruises.

 

We should add that your cabin stewards (and other cleaning personnel on ships) use products that are much more powerful then alcohol based things. Ammonia based might be the best, but its not something you can carry in your purse or pocket.

 

As to public rest rooms, just use common sense and assume that everything is contaminated. So do not ever touch your face. Do your business and then scrub your hands with warm soap and water...and scrub them well. Once you dry your hands....do not touch any surface in that rest room. Use a paper towel (or towel) to open the door. And beware of tray tables on airplanes (studies have found they have the most bacteria of any surface on an aircraft) not to mention the rest rooms. Unfortunately most of us have to depend on Purell or other alcohol based products on a plane...none of which are effective against Norovirus. So its another time to pray to those "healthy Gods."

 

Hank

Totally agree. Basic commonsense hygene.

We started wiping down the armrests and tray tables on the plane. Haven't been sick since we started doing that. (Knocks on wood)

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There seems to be so much hysteria about cruise ships and Noro. We are all exposed to Bacteria and Viruses everyday. The bus, restaurant, bank [the list goes on ].

As others have said before. Wash our hands and keep our hands off of our faces.

Sandra

I have to laugh at that article...because it is folly...although well intentioned. On our more then 100 cruises we have only dined with a physician (actually a physician couple) one time...and they both had bad colds (this became a humorous topic at dinner. That article talks about "Dramamine" which is yesterday's drug. Dramamine needs to be taken every 4 - 6 hours and, for many folks is like a sleeping pill. These days the drug of choice (by cruise ship physicians) is Meclizine Hcl (also called Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine Non Drowsy (not the same as Dramamine). And for those with a higher sensitivity to motion sickness there are other drugs (often prescription) such as Transderm Scop.

 

As to Alcohol rubs...alcohol is not very effective against Noro-virus. And one can wipe down their entire cabin...and then their steward and assistant steward will be in their cabin at least twice a day bringing more germs/viruses. And what happens when you leave the cabin? Can you wipe down an entire ship with your alcohol rubs? Studies have shown that a big problem with cruise passengers is that pick up bugs on the airlines/airports on their way to the cruise.

 

So what to do? The same thing physicians, PAs, paramedics (I was one a long time ago), etc. do. Wash your hands, wash them well, and do it often! And try to avoid touching your face with your hands. Avoid elevators (ever get on an elevator with somebody who is coughing or sneezing). Try not to sit near folks who are coughing or sneezing (that is hard to do). And then pray a lot to the "healthy Gods." We know others who also try to avoid buffets....although that is difficult on cruises.

 

We should add that your cabin stewards (and other cleaning personnel on ships) use products that are much more powerful then alcohol based things. Ammonia based might be the best, but its not something you can carry in your purse or pocket.

 

As to public rest rooms, just use common sense and assume that everything is contaminated. So do not ever touch your face. Do your business and then scrub your hands with warm soap and water...and scrub them well. Once you dry your hands....do not touch any surface in that rest room. Use a paper towel (or towel) to open the door. And beware of tray tables on airplanes (studies have found they have the most bacteria of any surface on an aircraft) not to mention the rest rooms. Unfortunately most of us have to depend on Purell or other alcohol based products on a plane...none of which are effective against Norovirus. So its another time to pray to those "healthy Gods."

 

Hank

Unfortunately many people do not wash and dry their hands after using the bathroom.

And then you go to Chipotle and get noro...

Personal hygiene is important anywhere we are.

There seems to be so much hysteria about cruise ships and Noro. We are all exposed to Bacteria and Viruses everyday. The bus, restaurant, bank [the list goes on ].

As others have said before. Wash our hands and keep our hands off of our faces.

Sandra

One of the worst places to pick up germs is a supermarket trolley. How many stores ever disinfect those?

There are three main types of risk

The first is air borne germs when people cough and sneeze. There is not a lot we can do about those except stay away from people spreading the germs

The second is contagious infections. 99% of these we pick up by our hands so the answer is to keep our hands scrupulously clean by washing them and using the hand sanitizers on the ship.

The last is from the food we eat. Cruise lines do all they can to make sure that food is not contaminated. Buffet lines present a problem so we need to be careful there in choosing the food we eat. Avoid things like bread rolls or pastries which people often pick up and put down when they change their mind.

Another problem is the utensils used at the buffet. Wherever possible use your own spoon etc to pick up food.

We started wiping down the armrests and tray tables on the plane. Haven't been sick since we started doing that. (Knocks on wood)

 

 

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I never wipe down anything anywhere. I don't worry about touching stuff. I use public rest rooms. I wash regularly but not excessively. I do not get sick.

My point is that that if you do not do something and nothing bad happens, this does not prove that there is a relationship between what you didn't do and your failure to get sick.

DON

We just got back from Royal Caribbean's Radiance cruise. And we wash our hands every chance we get. But then we get horrible dry hands. So, we wash, gel, etc., then immediately apply hand cream. Been to the dermatologist with horribly dry hands, and they said not to use the hotel cream, but bring your own.

I tried to get free seasick pills from Guest Relations, and they wouldn't give it to me (asthma patient) unless I spoke w/ the doctor onboard. So we didn't get them. They did send seasick bags to our cabin.

Our concierge told us that if the handouts have been in passenger possession, they must be trashed, and not returned to the handout bin.

I saw crew cleaning handrails. Good thing too. Since my hip went out, I figure I can recover from norovirus faster than a broken hip. It's good to have three points of contact when moving around the ship. Captains have announced to keep a hand for yourself on almost every cruise. A couple cruises back, we had a lady with a horrible bruise on her face, obvious from a rather bad fall.

Cleaning in the airplanes is great! Also avoid the seat pockets. We had a connecting flight where we stayed on the plane, and while I wasn't making a point of observing them, I kept my attention on the flight attendants. No plane cleaning between flights. Seemed more interested in socializing.

Doctor told me to eat in the MDR as much as possible, but they often close (except for the lido buffet) on port days.

One of the worst places to pick up germs is a supermarket trolley. How many stores ever disinfect those?

I'm always amused by the women who enter supermarkets, carefully wiping down the hand bars on the cart, and then proceeds to touch innumerable products throughout the store. And they think they are protected?

ugh....i HATE kaiser....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/outbreaks2017.html

Not that many are ever affected by Noro. You are much more exposed to colds/flu by being in the theaters, on tour busses, at meals, etc with inconsiderate fellow travelers who don't self-quarantine! We've stopped going to the theaters unless we sit on the end of a row so we can move if necessary. Those viruses are airborne for the most part, so won't be affected by anything I can do other than move away. Unless you have a compromised immune system one shouldn't need to go to all the wiping down of the cabins...that's way overkill. Knock on wood but in almost 400 sea days we've only come down with "cruise crud" 2 or 3 times and I know we got it from hackers in the theater and Crow's Nest in each case. If you are just coming down with something stay in your cabin!

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Also, avoid the casino. Mr Chew has had noro twice - both times on Plague Ship cruises - Prinsendam especially. In Code Red most of the 35 day cruise, the poor crew was so taxed that a few officers' spouses were taking shifts manning the hand sanitizing stations & such. No salt or pepper or butter or sugar on the table. Same in the Lido. Any activity where more than a handful of people were involved was canceled, shows, meetings, lectures, even in (gasp!) the shops - but not the casino. Machines & chairs & chips were constantly being wiped down but playing cards were not, and of course many people have their hands on them in a small amount of time. Little effort was made to keep players who were obviously sick from playing table games. Ugh. Almost as bad on the Amsterdam ...

Mr Chew still plays, but not as much, and never when Noro has reached Code Red status.

Interestingly, I did not come down with it either time, and was told by an assistant cruise director, a nurse and a doctor that significant others/cabin mates rarely become ill. My personal observation matches ... although I am sure there are those who do become sick as a result of such close contact.

I'm always amused by the women who enter supermarkets, carefully wiping down the hand bars on the cart, and then proceeds to touch innumerable products throughout the store. And they think they are protected?

So true. As a retired supermarket guy, I cannot tell you how many thousands and thousands of shopping carts I have touched over the years and never got Noro (in fact I never missed a day's work while working in the stores!).

What I found amusing about the article was "some cruise line kitchens make their own ice cubes". Do they really think the ship stocks up on bags of ice before leaving port? They all make ice. And as for the claim that the ice makers "can host germs", we had one assistant refrigeration engineer whose sole job was to sanitize the ice machines onboard. By the time he finished the last one, it was time to start the cycle over again, about once a month. Love to see a list of hotels that sanitize their ice makers that frequently.

We started wiping down the armrests and tray tables on the plane. Haven't been sick since we started doing that. (Knocks on wood)

 

 

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I carry a face mask on planes and when I think it advisable, wear it..like the idea about the tray table, too.

Also follow your instincts: last TA in April a chap at the Lido was sniffling and bam, two days later I had some kind of cold thing that lasted a month....how I wish he had stayed in his cabin! (By the time I got sick I was in Paris.)

Susan

I was shocked to see Dramamine recommended for seasickness. It will make you incredibly drowsy. I didn't know they still make it.

Use Bonine ( meclizine hydrochloride) instead. You will have to take it only once a day and you'll be awake enough to enjoy your cruise.:)

I agree with Hlitner's comments as I also found the article to be poorly written. I question anyone who recommends Dramamine or anti-bacterial soap . I also question the expertise of anyone who fails to mention upper respiratory infections when discussing health on a cruise ship.

igraf

I have to laugh at that article...because it is folly...although well intentioned. On our more then 100 cruises we have only dined with a physician (actually a physician couple) one time...and they both had bad colds (this became a humorous topic at dinner. That article talks about "Dramamine" which is yesterday's drug. Dramamine needs to be taken every 4 - 6 hours and, for many folks is like a sleeping pill. These days the drug of choice (by cruise ship physicians) is Meclizine Hcl (also called Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine Non Drowsy (not the same as Dramamine). And for those with a higher sensitivity to motion sickness there are other drugs (often prescription) such as Transderm Scop......"

 

Hank

And then you go to Chipotle and get noro...

Yeah. Working at Starbucks, we have to be trained on all of the major foodborne illnesses every year. We're always cleaning, dating product, and more cleaning.

I hate hand dryers, drying hands on paper towel is healthier. (sorry folks)

Old fashioned hand washing is better than purell.