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I went on my first ever cruise in 2018. I’d heard all the wonderful reviews of the cruising lifestyle from my friends and family, but I just couldn’t bring myself to board a ship and set sail. Why? Germs. I admit, my microbiology background meant that my mind conjured up nightmares of norovirus every time I considered a cruise. But…I wanted to go to Cuba…and a cruise ship seemed the simplest way to get there.
Turns out, cruise ships aren’t quite the scary, Ebola-zombie battlefield that my imagination dreamed up. I had a fabulous trip and would cruise again in a heartbeat. That being said, I do have a few tips for my fellow germaphobes to keep in mind.
1. Choose a small ship
Less people, less germs. Granted, it only takes one patient zero, but with less people on board there’s less chance your cruisemates will start the next plague. I very much enjoyed sharing the amenities with only around 1,000 of my new closest friends, as opposed to the larger ships which can carry upwards of 5,000 passengers at a time.
2. Choose a short duration cruise
The longer people are on board, the longer they have to develop…and disseminate…disease. While certainly not a scientific study, on my trip it was about night four that I noticed people were starting to spend a whole lot longer in the common area restrooms. By night five, some of my travelling companions had started to succumb. Thankfully that was the last night of the cruise and I hightailed it off the ship the next morning!
3. Avoid touching high risk surfaces
I was very impressed with the amount of time and effort that my cruise ship put into cleaning and disinfecting, but the staff can’t be everywhere at once. Think about the surfaces that practically everyone on the ship touches…and avoid them as best you can. Handrails…door handles (especially in the bathroom)…elevator buttons…etc. Which leads me to the next point…
4. …Disinfect everything!
The cruise ship provides copious hand washing and hand sanitizer stations. Use them! Carry your own hand sanitizer just in case. And consider some disinfectant wipes for your cabin (pack them in the bag you intend to carry on to the ship…your luggage might not arrive at your cabin until much later).
5. Bring your favorite immune support
The scientific data on immune supplements is mixed to say the least. But a little extra Vitamin C never hurt. Consider taking daily probiotics and your favorite immune support for the duration of your trip.
What are your favorite tips for surviving a cruise as a germaphobe?
