crazycruzer68 Posted August 3, 2016 #1 Share Posted August 3, 2016 For those of you that are like myself and feet swell up as soon as you hit that first ding, any of you ever sail to Alaska? If so, did that happen on that cruise as well? I am not sure if it's the salt in the air, the heat or what causes but I get it bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watermelonqueen99 Posted August 3, 2016 #2 Share Posted August 3, 2016 This happens to me every time! I'm late 30s, healthy, exercise daily, yet by day 2, my feet and ankles are huge! I figure it's the salt in the air and the food, plus the salty sea water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthlessBoss Posted August 3, 2016 #3 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Why not drink lots of bottled water, though you need to "P" more? Maybe request salt free meals. Remember people who cruise eat far more than at home and foods cooked on board contain salt so your intake is higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggielover68 Posted August 3, 2016 #4 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Never happens to me. I think for others it may be a combination of the sodium in the food and increased alcohol consumption. I don't drink so that's just my theory. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcruiselover Posted August 3, 2016 #5 Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) I think it's the salt in the ship's water that does it. It's desalinated sea water. Although some people swear it doesn't taste salty and all the salt is out of the water, I think that's what causes feet to swell. I drink only bottled water and try to limit coffee and tea made with ship water, and now my feet don't swell. Edited August 3, 2016 by nwcruiselover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinpsychRN Posted August 3, 2016 #6 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Plus all the walking you do. Didn't happen on the Alaska cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abisha Posted August 3, 2016 #7 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I think it's the salt in the ship's water that does it. It's desalinated sea water. Although some people swear it doesn't taste salty and all the salt is out of the water, I think that's what causes feet to swell. I drink only bottled water and try to limit coffee and tea made with ship water, and now my feet don't swell. My feet swell every time I cruise and I suspected it was the desalinated water. This last cruise I did a test. I didn't drink it, and my feet didn't swell. Towards end of cruise, I drank it, and my feet swelled! So staying away from it as much as possible. I do like the taste of it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shih-tzu Posted August 3, 2016 #8 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I get cruise feet......and it's not alcohol because I don't drink it. I think know it's a combo of a lot more walking and the desalination of the water....you can't taste it but there's still a higher amount of sodium than you get at home (unless you have a water conditioner that uses salt) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dna529 Posted August 3, 2016 #9 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Going to test the theory next week! I'm going to drink bottled water only and see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 3, 2016 #10 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Going to test the theory next week! I'm going to drink bottled water only and see if that helps. The bottled water helps my wife immensely. No swelling since she starting drinking the bottled water exclusively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebeccar8612 Posted August 3, 2016 #11 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I have gotten puffy on both cruises I've taken. I don't drink the water and don't do a lot of drinking but after a couple hours.... Bam swollen lol. I just assumed it was the salt air but never really knew for sure. It goes away quickly once I get home so no biggie 😉 If that's the price I pay to cruise I'll take it I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmukid87 Posted August 3, 2016 #12 Share Posted August 3, 2016 My first cruise my feet and ankles got HUGE! So much so they started getting red dots and blotchy. Since then I take water pills. My feet still swell but to everyone else, they can't tell. And interesting theory on the water. I'll make sure to drink bottled only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 3, 2016 #13 Share Posted August 3, 2016 No all ship's water is desalinated sea water....the fill the tanks at ports, so you are getting municipal water, too. And, desalination takes the salt out! What is more likely the culprit is the heavily salted food, extra alcohol you're not used to..lots of walking you probably don't do at home, the heat and humidity... Try the bottled water, if you want....let us know what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted August 3, 2016 #14 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I think it's the salt in the ship's water that does it. It's desalinated sea water. Although some people swear it doesn't taste salty and all the salt is out of the water, I think that's what causes feet to swell. I drink only bottled water and try to limit coffee and tea made with ship water, and now my feet don't swell. There's no salt in desalinated water (on land or sea). It's completely DEsalinated period. Some minerals are added back but, NO SALT. The prepared foods on a mass market cruise ship, however, tend to be a bit heavy on salt, mostly to satisfy the many (not all!!!) unsophisticated passenger palates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 3, 2016 #15 Share Posted August 3, 2016 There's no salt in desalinated water (on land or sea). It's completely DEsalinated period. Some minerals are added back but, NO SALT. The prepared foods on a mass market cruise ship, however, tend to be a bit heavy on salt, mostly to satisfy the many (not all!!!) unsophisticated passenger palates. Some of the ship's water is created via reverse osmosis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 3, 2016 #16 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Ship's water comes from 3 sources. Shore water, so this is strictly municipal water from whatever port the ship embarks at. Distilled water made from the ship's evaporators, which will have less than 1ppm of sodium. And desalinated water made by the ship's reverse osmosis watermakers, which will have no more than 20ppm sodium (compared to the 2015 NYC water quality report which had samples ranging from 9-63ppm). The water is typically a mix of all three sources. I have seen reports where chlorine in the water (which cruise ships are required to have at higher concentrations than municipal water supplies) replaces iodine in the thyroid and reduces metabolism resulting in increased water retention. Calcium carbonate (main ingredient in Tums) is added to the water to help maintain the Ph level where chlorine is most effective as a sanitizing agent. I cannot argue with anecdotal evidence of water retention and the cures found. I will only say that the water from dispensers and at dining venues and bars will have the chlorine removed. Most bottled water is made using reverse osmosis filters, just like the ship uses (except the ship uses over 1200 psi to press the water through the membrane, not the 3-400 used to process fresh water into bottled water). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted August 3, 2016 #17 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Some of the ship's water is created via reverse osmosis. ...which is one of several ways to provide potable water that is desalinated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer Posted August 3, 2016 #18 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Hi, If you are taking medication that can cause it. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euphscott Posted August 3, 2016 #19 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I drink the tap water exclusively and limit alcohol greatly onboard. I have never had a feet swelling issue. My theory is it is the food...I'm always careful to not overindulge. My first few cruises I ate like a teenager at a training table, but halfway through, I was tired all the time. I've since learned to eat sensible (if not downright healthy) at breakfast and lunch, limit the snacking and then enjoy dinner - it's helped with that. Drink the water - it's good for ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted August 3, 2016 #20 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Here's a whole thread about this Swollen legs/ankles/feet - THIS WORKED! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1637335 Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurseDave Posted August 3, 2016 #21 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Grab the popcorn! Love these threads where there are the facts and then a slew of people claiming they aren't true because of their personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggielover68 Posted August 3, 2016 #22 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I drink the tap water exclusively and limit alcohol greatly onboard. I have never had a feet swelling issue. My theory is it is the food...I'm always careful to not overindulge. My first few cruises I ate like a teenager at a training table, but halfway through, I was tired all the time. I've since learned to eat sensible (if not downright healthy) at breakfast and lunch, limit the snacking and then enjoy dinner - it's helped with that. Drink the water - it's good for ya! Agree 100% Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 3, 2016 #23 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Other cures for swelling ankles that I've heard work (I don't get the problem, been drinking ship's water 6+ months a year for 40 years), is to raise the foot of the mattress (lifejackets were good for this), or standing in the pool. Neither will reduce water retention, but they will "redistribute" the water elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeCodCruiser Posted August 3, 2016 #24 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Compression socks are also a good way to for the body to redistribute the fluid - check with your doc before trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted August 3, 2016 #25 Share Posted August 3, 2016 For those of you that are like myself and feet swell up as soon as you hit that first ding, any of you ever sail to Alaska? If so, did that happen on that cruise as well? I am not sure if it's the salt in the air, the heat or what causes but I get it bad! It happens because the food is full of salt and because you are getting much more exercise than usual. Muscles tend to swell whenever they get used, you notice it in your feet and hands more than other muscles. You get the same thing is you cook over a hot grill for any length of time, it is the body's response to the changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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