Tips for avoiding illness on cruises?

[Princesca]

Due to circumstances, we are having to do the Disney parks after the cruise rather than before. We have a toddler who will be 2.5 years old when we travel. I really don't want any of us to be sick for the cruise or the parks, though I know to some degree it's uncontrollable, so I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for avoiding getting sick on cruises, beyond just the usual 'wash hands often' type of advice. We have never cruised before.

 

[RysMomma]

We bought a ton of antibacterial wipes and my plan is to clean our hands especially before eating at the buffets. I know that my family will be wearing masks around crowded areas and while on excursions, and will try to avoid the elevators since they do get quite crowded.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for avoiding getting sick on cruises, beyond just the usual 'wash hands often' type of advice.

I mean, that's a HUGE part of it.

Hand-washing and keeping your hands away from your mouth will take you very far. That means no finger food unless you literally touch nothing between washing your hands and eating. (given that there is silverware, plates, chairs, tables, menus, bread baskets, and so on between washing hands and eating...that's fairly impossible)

 

[1lilspark]

I always carry a pocket hand sanitizer either in my pocket/bag/clipped to a lanyard for in between hand washing

 

[tvguy]

Well, starting 20 years ago we always carry hand sanitizer with us on a cruise and use it frequently. That was back when Norovirus was the concern.
Your basic covid precautions are the best you can do. Social distancing (avoid crowded places) , hand washing, hand sanitizer, masks and avoid touching things like hand rails or elevator buttons and if you have to, use hand sanitizer afterwards.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Handwashing and an N95 mask will take you a long long way. Both will protect well against more than just coronavirus.

 

[Travel60]

Same things you've been hearing for 2+ years....wash hands, mask up indoors and when you can't control distancing, avoid crowds as best you can (sail-away, pirate night, fireworks). Take stairs, not elevator. Sanitize hands frequently.

 

[Cheburashka]

Due to circumstances, we are having to do the Disney parks after the cruise rather than before. We have a toddler who will be 2.5 years old when we travel. I really don't want any of us to be sick for the cruise or the parks, though I know to some degree it's uncontrollable, so I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for avoiding getting sick on cruises, beyond just the usual 'wash hands often' type of advice. We have never cruised before.

I have cruised DCL eight times (twice since reopening) and never gotten sick during a cruise. It can happen, of course, but it can happen anywhere. DCL consistently gets top marks for cleanliness when its ships are inspected by the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program. Cruise ships are often caricatured as "petri dishes", and some might be, but I would not characterize Disney ships that way. In general I don't think theme parks, preschools or elementary schools are lesser illness vectors than a cruise ship.

That said, I always take a few precautions during any kind of travel, just like as an elementary teacher, I take precautions in my classroom. They are more to prevent colds, strep, flu and noro than Covid, since the former are often spread by touch, unlike Covid. Here's what I do during travel:

• I bring sanitizing wipes with me onto the plane, and into the hotel room and cruise stateroom. I wipe down the common touch points (the armrests, tray and buttons on a flight; the doorknobs, TV remote and light switches in a room, etc.) upon arrival.
• I am scrupulous about washing my hands right before eating. Washing hands in the stateroom before using the elevator (and touching the buttons), for example, isn't enough.
• I bring zinc lozenges with me to use in case I get any inkling of having a cold. I also bring some basic cold medicines in case someone comes down with something, so symptoms can be treated immediately before they start getting nasty.
• I don't choose to wear a mask where it is not required, and during my spring break cruise, it was not required, thank goodness. I don't wear a mask on flights, and have flown several times since reopening without getting sick. That said, I have taught elementary school in person since fall 2020 and still haven't yet gotten Covid that I know of. I have had colds and possibly flu (always caught at work), yet always tested negative for Covid.

I hope you have a great cruise!

 

[soniam]

Good, well-fitted mask, N95 or KN95, indoors or in large outdoor crowds. Not flimsy fabric ones. And of course, 20s hand washing.

 

[tvguy]

. Cruise ships are often caricatured as "petri dishes", and some might be, but I would not characterize Disney ships that way.

That's because Cruise Ships, Nursing Homes and College Dorms ARE petri dishes for infectious illnesses. Statistics bear that out. Which is why cruise ships that last 20+ years have been so vigilante about disinfection. First cruise I saw this on was our Disney Magic cruise in 2003, where they had staff at the entrance of each restaurant with hand sanitizer. Because of this, cruise ships were probably better prepared than many other places when covid hit.

 

[brentm77]

I have cruised DCL eight times (twice since reopening) and never gotten sick during a cruise. It can happen, of course, but it can happen anywhere. DCL consistently gets top marks for cleanliness when its ships are inspected by the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program. Cruise ships are often caricatured as "petri dishes", and some might be, but I would not characterize Disney ships that way. In general I don't think theme parks, preschools or elementary schools are lesser illness vectors than a cruise ship.

That said, I always take a few precautions during any kind of travel, just like as an elementary teacher, I take precautions in my classroom. They are more to prevent colds, strep, flu and noro than Covid, since the former are often spread by touch, unlike Covid. Here's what I do during travel:

• I bring sanitizing wipes with me onto the plane, and into the hotel room and cruise stateroom. I wipe down the common touch points (the armrests, tray and buttons on a flight; the doorknobs, TV remote and light switches in a room, etc.) upon arrival.
• I am scrupulous about washing my hands right before eating. Washing hands in the stateroom before using the elevator (and touching the buttons), for example, isn't enough.
• I bring zinc lozenges with me to use in case I get any inkling of having a cold. I also bring some basic cold medicines in case someone comes down with something, so symptoms can be treated immediately before they start getting nasty.
• I don't choose to wear a mask where it is not required, and during my spring break cruise, it was not required, thank goodness. I don't wear a mask on flights, and have flown several times since reopening without getting sick. That said, I have taught elementary school in person since fall 2020 and still haven't yet gotten Covid that I know of. I have had colds and possibly flu (always caught at work), yet always tested negative for Covid.

I hope you have a great cruise!

My safety protocol is identical to yours - including wiping, sanitizing, hand washing, but not wearing a mask when not required.

As a data point, I did get COVID at the end of a 9-day trip to WDW last Christmas (symptoms started on flight home), but didn't get it a few weeks ago for the Med cruise, despite a long flight, long layover in a packed airport (Amsterdam airport seems like a bad dream now thinking back on it), a week in a very crowded Rome at crowded sites, and then the 8-day cruise with crowded excursions.

Frankly, I think you just have to take some reasonable precautions, including masking if you are so inclined, and then try to let go and have fun as much as possible, because it sure seems like the amount of control you have over it is somewhat limited, even if you can reduce your chances with precautions. I know very careful people who have recently caught it.

 

[kmmfl2va]

In addition to washing hands, hand sanitizer etc. I bring a travel size can of Lysol and spray our stateroom bathrooms down every day.

 

[Elle1777]

Due to circumstances, we are having to do the Disney parks after the cruise rather than before. We have a toddler who will be 2.5 years old when we travel. I really don't want any of us to be sick for the cruise or the parks, though I know to some degree it's uncontrollable, so I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for avoiding getting sick on cruises, beyond just the usual 'wash hands often' type of advice. We have never cruised before.

We went in January when masks were required. We had on our n95s mostly everywhere besides eating and did not get sick. We also did the hand sanitizer and handwashing like normal but it worked lol

 

[cmph]

Key is to wash hands WELL not just often. A few seconds under the spout, then handling all the knobs, doors, etc. immediately after isn't going to do you any good. Honestly, sounds weird, but start practicing (considering the 2yo) now. Count out / sing out how long you wash. Practice turning off knobs with elbows or towels/paper towels when they aren't touch-free. Practice pushing the bathroom door back open with anything but your hands. I thought I was pretty good until I sat in a room for onboarding with a bunch of healthcare workers and we all had to fake-wash our hands to see just how bad we were in terms of the length of time and quality of our washing. "Why does this feel like it's taking forever?" ... b/c we rarely did it correctly lol.

FWIW my (very large healthcare) org doesn't allow long fingernails for clinicians b/c they are an impedance to hand hygiene.

We carry wipes for the touchpoints on the plane and room, as well. But toddlers... everything is a touchpoint. Hope for the best, plan for the worst!

 

[CharlotteStreet]

I have cruised DCL eight times (twice since reopening) and never gotten sick during a cruise. It can happen, of course, but it can happen anywhere. DCL consistently gets top marks for cleanliness when its ships are inspected by the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program. Cruise ships are often caricatured as "petri dishes", and some might be, but I would not characterize Disney ships that way. In general I don't think theme parks, preschools or elementary schools are lesser illness vectors than a cruise ship.

That said, I always take a few precautions during any kind of travel, just like as an elementary teacher, I take precautions in my classroom. They are more to prevent colds, strep, flu and noro than Covid, since the former are often spread by touch, unlike Covid. Here's what I do during travel:

• I bring sanitizing wipes with me onto the plane, and into the hotel room and cruise stateroom. I wipe down the common touch points (the armrests, tray and buttons on a flight; the doorknobs, TV remote and light switches in a room, etc.) upon arrival.
• I am scrupulous about washing my hands right before eating. Washing hands in the stateroom before using the elevator (and touching the buttons), for example, isn't enough.
• I bring zinc lozenges with me to use in case I get any inkling of having a cold. I also bring some basic cold medicines in case someone comes down with something, so symptoms can be treated immediately before they start getting nasty.
• I don't choose to wear a mask where it is not required, and during my spring break cruise, it was not required, thank goodness. I don't wear a mask on flights, and have flown several times since reopening without getting sick. That said, I have taught elementary school in person since fall 2020 and still haven't yet gotten Covid that I know of. I have had colds and possibly flu (always caught at work), yet always tested negative for Covid.

I hope you have a great cruise!

I second the zinc lozenges. I started taking them (along with a xylitol nose spray) at the first sign of a cold symptom when covid started. I credit that (and daily vitamin D, and vaccines!) with why I have never gotten covid (or really any cold) even after significant household exposures. I have stubborn people in my house who I could not get to do the zinc lozenges or xylitol spray, and they came down with full blown covid.