Avoid always getting sick on cruise

[bumbershoot]

I take medicine before I embark and doesn’t work.

What sort of medicine are you taking beforehand? That...doesn't seem to make sense.

If it is happening that quickly, I maybe it is something you are picking up in the day or two before the cruise.

Yep.

One thing I work hard at in my life is to not touch my face with my hands, especially when traveling. Most germs enter your body via the face holes.

YES.

It took a solid bout of norovirus *at home* for me and my son to finally FINALLY kick our nail-gnawing habit and to add in *better* hand-washing habits. We had no problems washing hands after bathroom visits, of course, but we were very bad about not washing after being out and about at stores, the YMCA, etc etc. One bout of noro where you have no one to blame but yourself (which is, actually, ALWAYS the case, but when on a cruise it's really easy to blame THAT GUY who didn't wash his hands, conveniently forgetting that if you didn't put your hands to your mouth you wouldn't have had a method of transmission) will make it very very obvious that you need to change your ways.

I’m going to assume OP knows the difference between a cold and allergies.

Oh if only we could. I know lifelong asthmatics who don't know their rescue inhaler from their steroid inhaler (which is very very dangerous). I know people *and medical doctors* who want or will give antibiotics for colds and other viruses. I know plenty of people who haven't a clue as to the difference between allergies and illnesses.

We finally figured out that he was getting way too stressed at work in the weeks leading up to vacation (trying to get ahead of his workload) and that was sapping his immune system. So, he basically was extra susceptible to cold viruses once he got on a plane. Now, he takes care to give himself plenty of sleep, eat healthy (cut back on alcohol, eat more fruits/veggies, etc.), and try to keep his stress levels in control starting about 2 weeks prior to travel, and so far has managed to stay healthy.

Yep. Poor guy. Glad he's doing better now!

I've been taking a serious antioxidant since around November, and although I've had two separate "ugh" days where I thought I was coming down with something, I haven't been actually sick at all. And though that time I'd been having difficulties in my marriage and since mid March I've been going through a divorce, and the whole thing is just awful, and I cannot believe that someone with my sensitive immune system hasn't gotten sick, but I haven't. Strengthening that immune system is key.

 

[starvenger]

I take Lysol wipes on each and every flight and wipe down ANYthing I might touch: Tray table for SURE as they say those are the nastiest items on a plane, seat belt buckles, window shade pull, armrests, you name it! It's no guarantee, but lets face it, even those of us that WANT to do great hand washing can't exactly hop to a sink anytime we need or want it on a plane.

I do the same in our cruise cabin: light switches, door knobs, remote controls (those are a key item that is usually very germs), etc. At least I know that for the most part, it's our own germs we are dealing with during our week onboard.

We do the same thing with wipes. We buy travel packs from the dollar store and use them to wipe down stuff on the plane, in the cabin, before we eat on an excursion etc. If we happen to forget them or feel that we're low, we'll go to Wal-Mart/Publix/Target to get a container.

 

[rcchello]

Florida and cruise ships will expose you to allergens you will probably not run into at home. The simplest solution to try is to start using a 24 hour antihistamine such as Claritin. You could also try a short acting antihistamine such as chlor-trimeton once the symptoms start to see if the problem is an allergy.

Good luck with whatever you decide to use.

 

[xavier2001]

I feel doomed when flying in b/c the air is recirculated on the plane so the kid sneezing in the front of the plane will eventually reach the back of the plane regardless of the lysol wipes. I've debated wearing a mask, seriously!!

I also think the dry air on the plane and on the ship doesn't help. My strategy next cruise is to try to load up on vitamin c (not proven but can't hurt), and start a saline nose spray a few days before flying to see if that keeps the germs from entering my dried out nasal cavity and taking root.

 

[southerngirl528]

I feel doomed when flying in b/c the air is recirculated on the plane so the kid sneezing in the front of the plane will eventually reach the back of the plane regardless of the lysol wipes. I've debated wearing a mask, seriously!!

Not sure of the mechanics of why this might help, but I have read in travel articles that it helps to aim the air vent over your head to right in front of your face to blow air away from you. Again, doesn't really make a lot of sense to me if it's all recirculated air anyway, but it costs nothing to try!

If I got sick every time I flew, I think I would definitely wear a mask, in addition to wiping down everything as I already do. Good luck!

 

[Mobbane]

Not sure of the mechanics of why this might help, but I have read in travel articles that it helps to aim the air vent over your head to right in front of your face to blow air away from you. Again, doesn't really make a lot of sense to me if it's all recirculated air anyway, but it costs nothing to try!

If I got sick every time I flew, I think I would definitely wear a mask, in addition to wiping down everything as I already do. Good luck!

Most things you will contract that are airborne will lead to head colds, and are not as prevalent as people think. It's the germs that enter via nose/mouth/eyes that are the most unpleasant and easiest to get infected from.

 

[southerngirl528]

Oh if only we could. I know lifelong asthmatics who don't know their rescue inhaler from their steroid inhaler (which is very very dangerous). I know people *and medical doctors* who want or will give antibiotics for colds and other viruses. I know plenty of people who haven't a clue as to the difference between allergies and illnesses.

Having a background in the healthcare industry, I can vouch for this. And yes, it can be very dangerous, especially with those inhalers.

 

[mevelandry]

I searched the forum and couldn’t find an answer so I thought I’d ask. Ok here goes I always get sick on my Disney cruises. I mean I’m fine no sign of a cold or sinus problems or anything then I get on the ship. By the time the mandatory drill happens I have a runny nose and by the time the first nights dinner happens I can barely taste the food. I’ve been on 4 cruises happens every time. I take medicine before I embark and doesn’t work. Anyone else have this happen and figured out how to avoid it. Any advice greatly appreciated as I don’t want to stop cruising.

Do you take the plane before your cruise?

I start using saline water spray three days before the trip and at the beginning and the end of my cruise. Usually it helps.

Could it be allergies? Do you have carpet at home?

 

[mevelandry]

This happened to me everytime I traveled or went on a cruise. No matter how prepared I was or wiped everything down I still got sick on my vacations. The last time I traveled my doctor suggested I wear a mask on the plane, sounds crazy and it looks odd believe me I wasnt thrilled at the idea lol. BUT it worked!!! I wore the mask as boarded the plane for the entire flight and I did NOT get sick on my vacation for the first time in years! It must be for me anyways, breathing the air on the plane. Give it a try, it couldn't hurt

I'm thinking of doing the mask too. Not kidding.