Cruise Lines Very Health Conscious
December 06, 2005
Winter's about to start, and along with it comes colds, flu, and a world of other contagious diseases. Not exactly the Winter Wonderland they sing about, huh? Well, for those cruise passengers that are escaping the cold weather, the cruise lines are doing all they can to make sure that passengers don't find themselves 'Norwalkin' in a Winter Wonderland.' Many cruise lines are intensifying efforts to fight the seasonal spread of shipboard diseases.
Royal Caribbean, for example, recently reported an outbreak of the Norwalk virus (Norovirus) on the Splendour of the Seas; the gastrointestinal disease affected approximately 8% of passengers on a 14-day cruise from Barcelona, Spain. When the ship left port later that day (November 28) on a 5-day cruise en route to Mexico, no other unusual incidents occurred, according to a company spokesman.
Michael Sheehan, director of corporate communications for Royal Caribbean, said the company takes all health issues seriously. He said the cruise line was implementing a comprehensive, three-stage illness prevention policy, including enhanced cleaning procedures focusing on 'high touch' areas such as countertops, door handles, railings, fitness equipment, and computer keyboards.
Now, we at Cruise Network know the idea of taking a cruise may seem a little daunting sometimes when you hear seemingly constant reports about illnesses onboard cruise ships. However, there are a few things to remember, which puts all that news in perspective.
The first is that cruise ships are unique in that they are ordered by law to report such outbreaks to the CDC. Outbreaks on land---a much more common phenomenon---are not reported. When was the last time you heard about an outbreak of any sort of flu at a bus terminal, airport, or shopping mall?
Cruise ships are different because they are completely contained environments; people can't come and go as they would in an airport or supermarket. And even the people who do leave, as they would during shore excursions, always return. Therefore, cruise ships can keep much more accurate information about the health conditions onboard.
"I honestly don't know what else the cruise ship companies can do to prevent the spread of Norovirus," said Dave Forney, chief of the CDC's vessel sanitations program. "It's a people problem, not a cruise ship problem." That brings us to the second thing to remember.
You have the power to control yourself from getting sick on a cruise ship (and for that matter, making other people sick). Just remember a few simple rules: The first is to wash your hands frequently---before and after dining, after touching lots of door knobs, stair railings, etc.
True, cruise lines like Royal Caribbean are very conscientious about keeping their vessels clean. However, even with the best onboard service and the most diligent crew, germs will be passed. It can't be avoided. No ship's staff can be constantly disinfecting doorknobs when somebody sneezes. It's up to you, then, to wash your hands as often as possible and remember not to touch your eyes, mouth, or face.
Forney also recommended that cruise passengers take along a small bottle of alcohol-based hand-sanitizer gel, the application of which can prevent many illnesses when touching frequently-handled items.
But above all, the important thing to remember is that these illnesses are not endemic to cruise ships; a person is much more likely to spread or receive an illness like the flu or Norovirus in a public area on land, where people come and go like the rush of the tide. In fact, when you boil it down, cruise lines have an absolutely excellent record when it comes to the percentage of people who enjoy completely healthy cruises.
So, don't be afraid to book that winter cruise through Cruise Network. We offer cruises to practically destinations in the world you'd want to go. Call our knowledgeable Cruise Specialists or book online through the privacy of our website. There's no reason whatsoever that you can't have a completely healthy and wonderful cruise experience.
