Cruises

Staying Healthy at Sea

Cruise lines keep passengers and crews healthy with strict cleanliness rules and exceptional medical resources

Cruise lines have dedicated an enormous amount of resources toward hiring highly qualified medical professionals — including pediatricians and physicians — who adhere to strict international standards of treatment. To keep passengers healthy, the cruise industry works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to handle any medical emergency.

Medical facilities on cruise ships comply with the guidelines of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the largest and most influential emergency medicine association in the world. A fully-licensed medical staff is on call 24/7 that can provide emergency care to any passenger. State-of-the-art medical and surgical technology can be used to stabilize patients, administer diagnostics, and save lives.

Travelers with medical issues are encouraged to take precautions by consulting with their general practitioner prior to taking any vacation.

How Do Cruise Lines Keep You Healthy Onboard?

Every cruise line takes extreme precautions in sanitizing their ships to prevent contamination and the spread of an illness. Methods employed to keep passengers healthy include:
  • Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing
  • Hand-sanitizing stations located throughout the ship, including dining areas
  • Signage encouraging passengers to wash their hands with regularity for the duration of their cruise
  • Medical experts (onboard & onshore) monitor, advise, and inform response procedures on an ongoing basis, and in coordination with global health authorities and local governments
  • Adjusting itineraries as needed to ensure they are never putting their guests and crew at risk of being exposed to any virus or illness in specific destinations
  • An emergency-preparedness plan, in the unlikely event of a widespread medical emergency

What Can You Do to Stay Healthy Onboard?

To ensure you stay healthy while traveling:
  • Wash and dry your hands often
  • Use one of many conveniently placed alcohol-based hand sanitizers located throughout your cruise ship
  • Drink plenty of fluids — staying hydrated is a great way to remain healthy
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow instead of your hand
  • Stay up to date on any vaccinations
  • Avoid food and drink from questionable sources while you are on shore excursions
  • Opt for travel insurance to keep your family financially protected in case of emergency

Cruise Health Update Regarding Coronavirus

Updated: 03/04/2020

What Is the Coronavirus?

Known today as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (also called 2019-nCoV, or COVID-19), this illness was first identified in Wuhan, China. It causes an upper respiratory infection with effects ranging from cold-like symptoms such as chest congestion, a cough, and shortness of breath, to (more rarely) a condition like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.

Is the Coronavirus Contagious?

The virus itself has shown to be contagious through respiratory droplets (which are generated by coughing or sneezing). The spread is moderate and limited to passenger-to-passenger contact. According to many reports, the odds of contracting the virus is very low. The risk of catching a serious viral infection on a cruise ship is minimal.

What are the Coronavirus Symptoms?

Symptoms of the Coronavirus are usually mild in severity and duration, and include fever, cough, and chest congestion. While young and middle-aged patients often experience and overcome the virus without medical intervention, immunocompromised and elderly patients may show more advanced signs of the illness, which include shortness of breath, pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. It’s important to inform a medical professional immediately if you begin experiencing any of the above symptoms while at sea.
Content originally appeared on CruisesOnly.com: Staying Healthy At Sea