tractortom Posted December 13, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Speaking of illness on the ship, not noro, but coughs and colds are a problem for us. The wife and I were on an 11 day Holland America cruise in November. Before the cruise, I tend to start taking Emergen-C about once or twice a day for five days before, and then one a day during the cruise. I find that the mega-dose of vitamin C helps fight off colds. My wife, on the other hand, did not bother. When we got on the ship, in the first two days I noticed people coughing. Of course, on day three, my wife was down with it. Just a cold, runny nose, sort throat, coughing. I stayed on the C and held it off another two or three days, and then I had it too. We are SO careful to not touch the handrails, push elevator buttons with an elbow or knuckle, wash hands frequently, sanitized when offered, and we still came down with it, and the suffering that ensued. So, in February, we are on Fantasy, just us two adults, on a ship crawling with little kids and the constant runny nose associated with kids. I have to say that I'm not looking forward to another cold this season, as I've had mine, and now that we are in our 60's, we rarely get sick, including colds. So, what do you folks do to stay well? How do you hold off the colds that come from being around kids? Thanks in advance, Tom in Okeechobee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted December 13, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 13, 2017 The spread of Noro is completely different from the spread of rhinoviruses (the main cause of coughs and colds). Nora is "hand to mouth." You touch something contaminated and get your fingers near your mouth and ingest the virus. That's somewhat simple to limit although harder in practice than in theory. Colds, on the other hand, are spread by airborne particles of virus. Someone coughs or sneezes these into the air and you inhale them. If your immune system doesn't kill off all the viral particles, you get a cold. Well, you have to breathe, and people are going to continue to cough. Wearing a mask with high filter capacity can somewhat limit what you inhale, but that's also not realistic. Having your friends and neighbors cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing is the best prevention. From there....whatever your particular favorite of immune system booster MIGHT help. The number of viral particles must overwhelm your system for you to become ill, so anything that helps your immune system will decrease illness. Unfortunately there are a lot more products making claims than there are those with scientifically proven effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaska_planner Posted December 14, 2017 #3 Share Posted December 14, 2017 what moki's mom said - colds are airborne and there is little you can do to prevent it.. all the old folk remedies just get people rich...(the ones selling them to you).. cough/colds are very hard to avoid when lots of people are sick around you and a ship is almost impossible since it's a relatively closed space.. as a grandparent, i know every winter i am going to be sick with a cold.....there is no way to avoid it with those little typhoid marys around me all the time (can you hear me coughing...i am...).. so given the above, what do i do when i travel? i always take antibiotics with me......to deal with the various bacterial infections that may result from having a cold... yes yes, a cold is a virus, but often bacterial infections can result....sinus infections, bronchial infections, etc.. so my doctor gives me the two best used for the various things that may result.. as for how to avoid catching a cold on a ship if everyone around is sick?....haven't a clue...i've never managed to not catch it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 14, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I wanted to mention that there is really no proof that mega doses of vitamin C prevent colds. I know some people think it works but I have yet to read anything that supports this. Always best to wash hands thoroughly and not touch mouth, nose or eyes. Also keep your resistance strong by getting sufficient sleep. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted December 14, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 14, 2017 One reason that respiratory illness is prevalent on ships is the dry AC air, which dries out the mucus membranes of the nose. A cheap (so the manufacturer isn't getting rich :)) saline spray will keep the nose "hydrated". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbyar Posted January 2, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Sufficient sleep and eat your greens - leafy greens have l-lysine, an amino acid that is vital to creating white blood cells in your body. If you want to take a supplement that will prevent colds, you may as well take that, as it will help support your body's natural response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STHCruising Posted January 4, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 4, 2018 I came back from a cruise last week on the Fantasy with a mild cold and cough. Lots of folks don't practice the basic hygiene of covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze. It was particularly bad on this cruise. I will survive but did visit the doctor as I had a sinus to ear infection. We are going on anther cruise at the end of the month. The doctor suggested taking Emergen-C prior to the cruise. My wife did that before this last cruise and her immune system seems to have held up better than mine. The other suggestions noted above make lots of sense as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e2011 Posted January 5, 2018 #8 Share Posted January 5, 2018 My brother is an MD and research scientist working on cold and flu DNA mapping (as well as other viruses). There is no prevention for the cold virus and flu shots are like a box of chocolates.... Nothing can help you stave off the common cold virus including massive Vitamin C or any other product. Best advice has already been given. Wash hands often and don't touch your face. (I also use only my knuckles to press elevator buttons. ) And if Americans would wear face masks when sick like they do on Asia, it would make a huge positive impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredCruiser2015 Posted January 5, 2018 #9 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I agree with the Emergen C. Take advantage of the hand sanitizers EVERY time you see one! I also take a small medicine kit the includes small amounts of Halls lozenges, Mucinex, or whtaever your preferred cold remedy is as it is not likely available on the ship. Stay hydrated. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorddunlow Posted January 10, 2018 #10 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I came back from a cruise last week on the Fantasy with a mild cold and cough. Lots of folks don't practice the basic hygiene of covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze. It was particularly bad on this cruise. I will survive but did visit the doctor as I had a sinus to ear infection. We are going on anther cruise at the end of the month. The doctor suggested taking Emergen-C prior to the cruise. My wife did that before this last cruise and her immune system seems to have held up better than mine. The other suggestions noted above make lots of sense as well.If your doctor recommends Emergen-C you should get another doctor because that is snake oil that just wastes your money. Sent from my HTC U Ultra using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STHCruising Posted January 12, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 12, 2018 If your doctor recommends Emergen-C you should get another doctor because that is snake oil that just wastes your money. Sent from my HTC U Ultra using Tapatalk From the Mayo Clinic website: “Common cold. Taking oral vitamin C supplements won't prevent the common cold. However, there's some evidence that when people who regularly take vitamin C supplements get a cold, the illness lasts fewer days and symptoms are less severe. Starting a vitamin C supplement only after you develop a cold is of no help.” We have found this to be true. And we have high confidence in the internist who recommends building Vitamin C levels to better protect the immune system. We know it is not a cure all. One thing is for sure, the cruise ship is a place to more easily catch a cold. We wash our hands frequently, and would appreciate passengers covering their sneezes and coughs. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeedsVitaminSea Posted January 18, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 18, 2018 We were just at WDW for 8 days and people were sick and coughing everywhere! We washed hands and tried to avoid being near people that were hacking up a lung. We managed to avoid getting sick but my kids are 10 and 8. I think their toddler years have shored up our immune systems by exposing us to so many viruses in the past decade! So I guess I am saying to get sick more often? There must be a better way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI66774 Posted January 19, 2018 #13 Share Posted January 19, 2018 I just stock up on comfy robes, Vick's Vapor Rub, some good tea, and have my tv remote at the ready. Even under the best conditions, people get viruses. Best to relax, rest, and watch those old reruns of CSI!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaska_planner Posted January 19, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 19, 2018 i wonder how many people are catching the flu on board ship right now... it's highly contagious this year and a real "rhymes with witch" of an illness.... i'm now on day 14, with no end in sight.... i would assume the close confines of a ship make it even more contagious!! and if you have to fly to your cruise, you're upping the ante even more... good health to everyone out there and i hope the flu doesn't find your house!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camlilia Posted January 22, 2018 #15 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Illnesses like that could ruin special vacation. In order to cope with cough and colds, cruises should bring handy cough or cold medicine to lessen their uncomfortable symptoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted January 22, 2018 #16 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Illnesses like that could ruin special vacation. In order to cope with cough and colds, cruises should bring handy cough or cold medicine to lessen their uncomfortable symptoms. The are for sale in the gift shops as well....but eliminating symptoms doesn't necessarily eliminate viral spread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now