Getting sick on a cruise can turn your dream vacation into a nightmare faster than you can say “all aboard.” While most of us know the basics about washing our hands, there are some surprisingly effective strategies that experienced cruisers swear by to stay healthy at sea.
Let’s explore these unconventional methods that can help keep you feeling your best throughout your entire cruise experience.
Understanding the Real Risks
Before we get into the prevention strategies, it’s worth understanding what you’re actually up against. Norovirus gets most of the headlines, and while it’s the most reported cruise ship illness, your chances of catching it are actually quite low.
According to the CDC’s vessel sanitation program, there were 16 outbreaks reported in 2024, which is the highest in a decade. However, with over 30 million people cruising annually, these figures represent just a tiny fraction of cruise ships sailing.
The close quarters and quick passenger turnover between sailings do create conditions where illnesses can spread, which is why cruise health guidelines are so important.
Your Cabin: The First Line of Defense
When you first enter your cruise cabin, resist the urge to immediately flop on the bed. Instead, spend five minutes doing something that might seem excessive but makes a real difference – disinfect the high-touch surfaces.
Grab some disinfectant wipes and quickly go over door handles, balcony locks, TV remotes, light switches, faucet handles, and the surfaces of your desk and nightstands. This doesn’t reflect poorly on your cabin attendant’s cleaning, it just gives you extra peace of mind and removes any lingering germs from previous guests.
Elevator Etiquette That Actually Works
Here’s where things get a bit unconventional. Instead of pressing elevator buttons with your finger, use your knuckle or keep a tissue in your pocket specifically for this purpose. Some cruisers even avoid crowded elevators altogether, especially during peak times.
If someone on the elevator is clearly unwell and coughing, don’t hesitate to hold your breath or breathe into your sleeve. It might feel awkward, but your health is worth more than avoiding a few strange looks.
The Handrail Strategy
This tip goes against what feels natural, but try to avoid touching handrails in hallways whenever possible. When you’re walking up and down stairs, if you must use the handrail, make sure you don’t touch your face afterward until you’ve washed your hands.
I know this sounds extreme, but these high-touch surfaces see thousands of hands daily, making them potential germ hotspots.
Buffet Behavior That Makes Sense
Beyond Basic Hand Washing
While we all know to wash our hands before hitting the buffet, here are some strategies that go beyond the obvious. Some experienced cruisers actually bring disposable gloves specifically for buffet dining. If that feels like overkill, at least keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer at your table for use after handling serving utensils.
Understanding Buffet Service Changes
During the pandemic, cruise ships made the switch from self-serve to crew-served buffets. Since then, some cruise lines have kept the crew-served buffets, while other returned to normal.
Personally, I always prefer when crew members are serving the food, it’s one less surface you need to touch.
Skip the Public Restrooms
This might be the most unusual tip, but it’s surprisingly practical. Your cabin is rarely that far from anywhere on the ship, so consider making the quick trip back to your room instead of using public restrooms.
The foot traffic in public facilities is enormous, and not everyone is as diligent about hand hygiene as they should be. When you do use public restrooms, use a paper towel to open the door when leaving – your hands are clean, but that door handle definitely isn’t.
Boost Your Immunity Before You Board
Start taking zinc supplements at least two weeks before your cruise. I’ve found this makes a noticeable difference, though be warned taking zinc on an empty stomach can cause nausea, so always take it with food.
Other cruisers swear by immune boosters like Airborne, Emergen-C, or similar products. The key is starting early and continuing throughout your cruise, not waiting until you feel something coming on.
Travel Day Tactics
Airport and Airplane Precautions
Your journey to the cruise often involves crowded airports and airplanes – prime opportunities for picking up germs. Keep disinfectant wipes in your carry-on and use them on your airplane seat, armrests, tray table, and seat belt buckle.
The Airplane Pocket Solution
Here’s an unusual but effective strategy: consider using airplane seat pockets instead of the built-in seat pocket. These portable fabric pouches hang on your tray table and keep your items clean and accessible without exposing them to whatever previous passengers might have left behind.
When you’re in airport waiting areas, wipe down armrests and surfaces before settling in. It takes seconds but can prevent days of misery later.
Motion Sickness Solutions Beyond the Obvious
Medication Options
While modern cruise ships are large and stable, seasickness can still strike. Stock up on motion sickness medications before you board – cruise ship medical centers charge premium prices for basic over-the-counter remedies.
Bonine (meclizine) is popular because it’s less likely to cause drowsiness than Dramamine. For natural alternatives, try candied ginger or ginger drops, which genuinely help settle your stomach.
Related: How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise: 19 Effective Remedies
Alternative Remedies
Some cruisers swear by Sea-Bands, which use acupressure points on your wrists. There’s also something called a Relief Band, it’s more expensive but uses electrical stimulation and some people find it very effective for motion sickness.
Here’s an unusual natural remedy: green apples. The pectin and natural acids can actually help settle your stomach when you’re feeling queasy.
Preparation Is Everything
Building Your Medicine Kit
Pack a basic medicine kit with everything you might need. Include cough medicine (both day and night formulas), throat lozenges, antacids, anti-diarrheal medication, and a mild laxative. Having these items readily available means you won’t need to visit the medical center for minor issues or pay inflated prices at the ship’s shop.
For a complete list of medical essentials, our healthy cruise essentials guide covers everything you should consider packing. You might also want to check out what toiletries to pack for a cruise to ensure you have all your personal care items covered.
Recovery Strategies
If you start feeling under the weather, don’t try to power through. Take a day to rest – go to bed earlier, sleep in later, and spend time on your balcony or the upper decks getting fresh sea air. The ocean air really can help you recover faster.
Shore Excursion Safety
When you’re exploring ports, be particularly careful about food and water safety. Stick to bottled water and be selective about restaurants, especially avoiding street food unless you’re certain about its safety. Ask crew members for restaurant recommendations, they often know the safest local spots.
Our guide on foods to avoid eating on a cruise provides more detailed information about food safety both onboard and in ports.
For more detailed guidance on staying safe during shore excursions, check out these cruise shore excursion day tips.
The Reality Check
Even with all these precautions, sometimes illness still happens. The key is being prepared rather than panicked. Most cruise ship medical issues are minor and resolve quickly with proper rest and basic care.
Remember that cruise lines take health seriously and have protocols in place to manage and contain any outbreaks. The crew is trained to handle these situations, and modern ships have excellent medical facilities.
Sun and Heat Protection
Preventing Heat-Related Illness
Don’t underestimate how much stronger the sun feels when you’re out on the water. Heat stroke and severe sunburn can ruin your cruise just as effectively as any virus. The reflection off the water intensifies UV rays, making sunburn more likely even on cloudy days.
Smart Sun Strategies
Pack high-quality aloe vera gel (look for organic, non-sticky formulas) and apply sunscreen generously and frequently. Take regular breaks in air-conditioned areas, especially when you’re spending long periods on the pool deck.
Stay hydrated with water, not just cocktails. Consider packing electrolyte supplements or drinks to help maintain proper hydration, especially in tropical climates.
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Final Thoughts
Staying healthy on a cruise isn’t about being paranoid, it’s about being smart and prepared. These strategies might seem unconventional, but they’re based on real experience from seasoned cruisers who’ve learned what works.
The goal isn’t to spend your vacation worried about germs, but to take simple precautions that become second nature. Most of these tips take just seconds to implement but can save you days of feeling miserable.
If you’re planning your first cruise, these health strategies should be part of your broader preparation. Check out our practical tips for first time cruisers for more essential advice, or browse our comprehensive cruise hacks and tips for additional strategies that experienced cruisers swear by.
Have you tried any unusual methods to stay healthy on cruises? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ilana
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