Confess your germophobe cruise quirks!

[cr8tiv1]

I used to work with a woman who always carried a silk sheet liner with her when she traveled (like this: http://seatosummit.com/products/display/22) because she didn't trust that the sheets in hotels were clean. I'd never even heard of sheet liners until she told me about them.

 

I always travel with my silk sheet liner. It wards off bed bugs, scratchy sheets, feels good, adds a layer of warmth without kicking up the heater, and keeps me warm from the draft during a flight. Plus it takes up so little space.

 

To each his/her own.

 

Renee

[zacc]

I always travel with my silk sheet liner. It wards off bed bugs, scratchy sheets, feels good, adds a layer of warmth without kicking up the heater, and keeps me warm from the draft during a flight. Plus it takes up so little space.

 

To each his/her own.

 

Renee

 

Question. Doesn't it only ward off bed bugs if you leave it behind. If you bring it home with you don't those little critters come along home with you? Just asking!

[myparks]

I am just bringing myself!!! If I bring Lysol it wont get used..by the time i get to my room ill be 4 to many in.Walk around socks, yeah that sounds good but I will take them off before climbing into bed....slippers....what? so i can trip stumble and break my neck trying to put them on. hahaha Natural defense.

Cover your mouth by using your inner elbow and wash your hands often.

[Philob]

Recent National Geographic article states there are about 3 pounds of microbes living in/on the average human :eek:

[Maggs07]

I hold my breathe as long as I possibly can in the public areas of the ship so I don't breathe in any toxic germs. I passed out from doing this once but I was ok after I had another beer.

 

Seriously though, I just wash my hands often. That's about it.

[cr8tiv1]

Question. Doesn't it only ward off bed bugs if you leave it behind. If you bring it home with you don't those little critters come along home with you? Just asking!

 

You pack it in a plastic bag and machine wash it when you get home. The bed bug protection is only a "bonus". Basically, I use it to keep the chill/draft off when I am flying (planes are so cold) and for the softness between the sheets. People think I look silly when I am climbing into my sack on the plane. But I am the toastiest person, warmed from toe to shoulders.

 

Renee

[5326jan]

You pack it in a plastic bag and machine wash it when you get home. The bed bug protection is only a "bonus". Basically, I use it to keep the chill/draft off when I am flying (planes are so cold) and for the softness between the sheets. People think I look silly when I am climbing into my sack on the plane. But I am the toastiest person, warmed from toe to shoulders.

 

Renee

 

 

Yikes! I hope you wash it between airplane and hotel bed! Airplanes are truely disgusting.... and I'm NOT a germaphobe!:eek:

[familees]

Nope not at all. I dont touch any other plates Ive maneuvered a way to only touch the plate im going to take and wiggle it out from underneath the others while not touching them. I would never deliberately touch someone elses plate. Ive been doing this for years. The top plate was likely (and Ive seen many times to confirm) touched by the person that took the one on top of it. and i usually use a napkin to grab said plate.

 

I'm thinking, someone had to unload that plate from the dishwasher (probably not wearing gloves) stack the plates in a storage area, restack onto trolley to bring to buffet, unstack onto the buffet....I could go on. Your plate from the top, which you grab with a napkin has probably been touched several times...by the diswasher no less... who probably does not wash his hands, I'm guessing, between plates.:rolleyes: Not what I would call germ free:p

I don't think about any of the "germ" stuff, silly if you ask me. Only thing I do is sanitise as the cruises I have gone on have required you to do so, otherwise soap and water for me.;)

[HappyCruiser54]

Only time I worried about germs on a cruise was when I went in between Chemo treatments. My doc said go, enjoy, rest when you need to and make sure you wash your hands alot. That was it. Even with a compromised immune system I did not get sick. I think if you wash your hands and take normal precautions you will be find. Before I had a dishwasher I had a friend tell me that only dishes washed in a dishwasher were sanitized- I told her once you touch them to take them out they are not longer sanitized......made her think for awhile about that one. LOL :D

[Laurie S.]

Only time I worried about germs on a cruise was when I went in between Chemo treatments. My doc said go, enjoy, rest when you need to and make sure you wash your hands alot. That was it. Even with a compromised immune system I did not get sick. I think if you wash your hands and take normal precautions you will be find. Before I had a dishwasher I had a friend tell me that only dishes washed in a dishwasher were sanitized- I told her once you touch them to take them out they are not longer sanitized......made her think for awhile about that one. LOL :D

 

That's why I never let my father help me unload the dishes. He rarely washed his hands! He always wanted to do the silverware, which I put in handles down. I would move very fast to cut him off from "helping" me.

[LandlockedCruiser01]

My list is going to be very short. Humans have an immune system for a reason. Cute puppies, fuzzy kittens, and cuddly bunnies aren't the only creatures we share the planet with. We also have viruses and bacteria. If we don't train our bodies to fight them naturally, it becomes a "use it or lose it" kind of thing. Having said that, not taking any precautions is as stupid as taking a bath in Lysol every time you touch a surface in a public space. The only cases where it's necessary is for people with comprimised immune systems. Here's my list.

 

1. Washing my hands after using the restroom.

2. Washing my hands before eating a meal or snack.

3. Washing my hands as soon as possible after handling an animal on a shore excursion.

4. Washing my hands after returning from ports.

5. Wearing bathroom slippers when walking around the pool area.

6. Not drinking the water in non-US ports. (beer makes a good substitute :D)

 

That's about it. Safety is one thing, but worrying myself sick (pardon the pun) is just plain not worth it.

[CaroleSS]

I will add #7

Keep your hands away for your face!

[dsrdsrdsr]

Nope not at all. I dont touch any other plates Ive maneuvered a way to only touch the plate im going to take and wiggle it out from underneath the others while not touching them. I would never deliberately touch someone elses plate. Ive been doing this for years. The top plate was likely (and Ive seen many times to confirm) touched by the person that took the one on top of it. and i usually use a napkin to grab said plate.

Obviously you bring your own napkins. But how do you manage with getting the food? Do you bring your own serving tongs as well?

[MDSue]

A can of Lysol travels well in bags. Before we start to unpack, I always spray down my whole cabin..in the drawers, closet, remote control, phone and all teh cute books Royal has sitting out to look at. Hand sanitizer fits perfect inmy pocket for those pesky elevator rides.

 

Angela

 

I find the thought of someone spraying chemicals like Lysol all over the room scarier than a few germs. Some people are sensitive to chemicals or simply don't want to worry about what the previous customers sprayed all over the room.

 

I prefer to just wash my hands frequently and use standard good hygiene practices and leave the chemicals at home.

[jlk806]

Obviously you bring your own napkins. But how do you manage with getting the food? Do you bring your own serving tongs as well?

 

 

Actually I dont really eat at the buffet much. Dont care for buffets on land wouldnt care for them at sea.

 

But I do bring my own snorkel & mask! Who knows whose used the rental ones before you?

[Karysa]

Hmmm. On my last cruise it suddenly occurred to me:

Surely I am not the first guy who is sitting naked on this sofa...

 

Honey is that you?:D

[PomSaysOm]

I'm a custodian at a casino, and the one thing I've learned in two years is that germs cannot be totally avoided. You would not believe the number of women I see leave the restroom without washing their hands in one night. I'm not a germophobe by any means, but it is gross to think about what you're getting on your hands when you play a slot machine behind someone that didn't wash their hands. So I try not to think about it. (And I always wear gloves at work.)

 

I wash my hands after using the restroom, or before meals. I wash my hands after doing something that makes them feel unclean, like handling animals or being outside, etc. I use hand sanitizer if a sink isn't readily available. That's about it. I have a pretty good immune system.

 

I do try to avoid chemicals and cigarette smoke when not at work because I've developed a sensitivity to them from being around them all the time. So taking chemicals to clean a small enclosed space I will be spending the next week in isn't a great idea for me.