How to Do But Not Overdo

You’ve got a cruise coming. Do you have visions of daiquiris dancing in your head? Dreams of basking in the Caribbean sun? Fantasies of unlimited burgers and fries?

Your seven-day piece of heaven, though, could turn into a seven-day piece of you-know-where if you let your excitement get the best of you. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy before and during your trip—so you have nothing but great stories to tell when you get home:

Before the trip

Sleep well, stay well, play well. Do whatever you need to do to get enough sleep. People who get less than seven hours of sleep a night are three times more likely to get a cold than those who get eight hours or more.¹

Stuff your suitcase. Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, bring stuff. Motion sickness remedies. Band-aids, aspirin, cold medicine. Nose spray and ear spray. Anti-acid pills. Yeah, the ship may have some or all of these, but you won’t get a choice and it’ll cost you a pretty penny.

Typical choices at inflated prices

Keep your distance. If someone close to you gets sick, follow him/her around with a sanitizer. (Do you think a face mask is going too far?) Use soap and water on any common things he or she may touch—phones, remote controls and door handles.

Ensure you’re insured. Trip insurance is your assurance you can get something back if you do have to cancel because you’re sick.

Once onboard

Sanitize the stateroom. As soon as you settle in, soap down the door handles, TV remote, telephone and light switches.

Pace thyself. Resist temptation—don’t try to eat it all, drink it all, on the first day. Or the second. Because a stomach problem or hangover will put a serious pall on your cruise.

The sun will come out tomorrow. Spend too much time by the pool the first day and on the second day, you’ll surely pay. Take the tanning slowly.

Wash your hands. Or use handi-wipes. A lot. After using the remote control. The elevator button. Soup ladle. Salt shaker. When you grab the banister. Shake hands with a guest. Or the crew.

In the port

Know your right from your left. At many of the ports, they drive on the left. Make sure you know which way to look when you cross the street.

Keep the buggers away. Where there’s foliage, there’s sure to be mosquitos. Dousing yourself with Deet may not be neat, but it will help prevent you from becoming a meal for the native pests.

Careful consumption. If you do eat or drink in port, do so in places that draw crowds. You don’t want to end your port stay with a visit to the ship’s doctor.

If you get sick. Take it easy for a few days. Yeah, it can be a bummer. But it will rescue your trip and you’re sure to appreciate it—once you start feeling better.

¹blogs.scientificamerican.com

Photos by rj greenburg