Experts weigh in on how to avoid picking up germs on your next cruise ship.
Fun, joyful images of happy cruise passengers without a care in the world can mask the dangers lurking throughout the ship. Most passengers return rested, relaxed, and perfectly healthy. However, before setting sail, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the dirtiest places on a cruise ship so you don’t end up quarantined in your cabin.
The risk of getting sick on a cruise ship is so high because so many people are confined to the same enclosed space for an extended period of time, explains Dr. Daniel Egan, an infectious disease specialist with Orlando Health Medical Group in Florida.
Norovirus, Influenza, RSV, Human Metapneumovirus, COVID-19, and Legionnaires disease are just some of the health ailments that can befall cruise-goers, Dr. Egan adds.
“Even a small number of sick passengers can expose hundreds or thousands of others in a short time,” says Dr. William Woo, a family medicine doctor with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. Viruses in particular spread rapidly through cruise ships because many can survive on hard surfaces for days, he says. “This is why some outbreaks continue from one voyage to the next despite thorough cleaning,” Dr. Woo explains.
Some passengers try to reduce their risk by travelling outside of our normal cold and flu season, but that doesn’t necessarily help, Dr. Egan says. “They need to keep in mind that cruises include international crew and passengers, who could easily be from areas that still have these viruses circulating. For example, southern hemisphere countries would have their cold and flu season from April through September.”
However, if you are considering canceling your cruise because you are worried about getting sick, don’t ask for a refund just yet.
“None of this is to say that people should be afraid to go on cruises. They should simply be more aware of their environment,” Dr. Egan explains. “The number one way to combat all of these infections would be diligent hand hygiene.”
What Can You Do to Stay Healthy?
Simple soap and water go a long way towards protecting your health on a cruise ship.
“Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially before eating,” Dr. Woo advises. Moreover, while hand sanitizer is convenient and can help. “Don’t count on hand sanitizer alone as it doesn’t reliably kill all viruses and bacteria,” he adds. And don’t forget to avoid touching your face after touching shared surfaces, recommends Dr. Woo.
You can also check your cruise line’s safety score before booking, suggests Jason R. Margulies, a partner and Maritime Attorney at Lipcon, Margulies and Winkleman P.A., which has offices nationwide.
“If you’re worried about cleanliness on your cruise, I suggest you look at the inspection scores for your ship, which are conducted randomly twice each year. Scores of 86 or above are passing, and this information is available to the public,” Margulies explains.
