Sick?????

[newmexicoNita]

The last 5 NCL cruises I have been on, I get a cold a couple of days after I get home. Doesn't matter where we cruise, or what time of year. Anybody else have this? Is it in there water system for the showers? Legionnaires or something???

Nope, never had that experience. We have been lucky. We did get off one sailing many years ago and the next day I had stomach problems: hubby developed the same thing a day later. It could have been bad food as we spent one night on the road or it may have been Noro. We were with our family of 12 We were the only 2 that had any problems.

[newmexicoNita]

We get sick too. I think it is the air system. We are in inside cabins and don't get any fresh air in the cabin. Plus, it is so cold on the ships most of the time which doesn't help. Also, people just don't practice good hygiene. I do, I am a retired health care professional and in 35 years or caring for patients, I never got as sick as often as I do after or during a cruise.

But, as to the water. Once my husband got an eye infection and some one who casually knew onboard also got one. When my hubby went to the MD on board, he said, "it is probably from the water when you are showering" I am not kidding, the MD onboard said that. So, you never know.

I can't believe it would have anything to do with the water: I know it has nothing to do with how cold they keep the ships. The temps have little to do with getting a cold. As someone retired from the medical field you must know that. I do think hygiene plays a part.

[cruiselover19811981]

A doctor yrs ago told me sugar suppresses the immune system; for me it's true. More desserts, more, alcohol, less rest, more time in crowds, when cruising/flying ?

So true. I've read this. Hence why so many get ill around the holidays.

 

I bring Lysol wipes into my hotel room before cruise, on the airplane, and in the stateroom. I just think we can be as careful as we want, as others have mentioned, it is other people who don't share the same hygiene practices. We bring antibacterial hand soap pumps, and constantly wash our hands, use paper towels to open the public restroom doors, etc. But I still think it wasn't on the ship we picked it up. It was our 2 flights home:rolleyes:

[newmexicoNita]

So true. I've read this. Hence why so many get ill around the holidays.

 

I bring Lysol wipes into my hotel room before cruise, on the airplane, and in the stateroom. I just think we can be as careful as we want, as others have mentioned, it is other people who don't share the same hygiene practices. We bring antibacterial hand soap pumps, and constantly wash our hands, use paper towels to open the public restroom doors, etc. But I still think it wasn't on the ship we picked it up. It was our 2 flights home:rolleyes:

I never have used the Lysol wipes, but it sounds like a good idea to me. I think I will start taking them with us, even if we never seem to get sick.

[TheCruisingBrewers]

It is actually pretty understandable... You may or may not fly to the cruise, stay in a hotel a few nights and then are basically stuck on a big floating hotel where bugs get shared.

 

Norovirus is the most notable causes and is a GI illness, but lots of common colds are viruses and flit from person to person aboard a ship. (we won't even talk about the ports!). You do get a sort of immunity to the mundane bugs as you travel. I have been on two ships that had Norovirus and never got sick.

 

Legionnaires is a SERIOUS pneumonia and if you get it you would be in the hospital. My worry is more on measles, mumps and Rubella or Chicken Pox (have you had your boosters)? There are a huge number of measles cases in Europe right now. I do not want to get into the immunizations debate here...I am just saying most millennials through baby boomers are at risk especially of we do not get boosters.

 

Using simple common sense things are best, try not to use the public restrooms, wash your hands OFTEN. let Washy Washy spray your hands, take hand sanitizer and use it. Wipe remotes and bath fixtures down. avoid the buffet, do not touch handrails or elevator buttons and if you see someone sick avoid them. If someone is sick in a bathroom. leave. Hate to say it but I also avoid the hot tubs and saunas for the same reasons. Drink enough water, and while some suggest Airborne there are no real good scientific article that support it. If you are sick stay away from large public places.

 

Post cruise colds ARE common both my daughter and SIL came back with one last week. But they were on a cruise ship with 1800 kids.... it is bound to happen.

[Tiggertastic]

It’s like the first week of college/university, such a large mix of people from different places and you end up with the sniffles. I get it from being in an air conditioned environment

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[jaja]

Last 2 cruises came down mid cruise with upper respiratory infections. Should have expected it..on both..heard lots of people coughing. Was using wipes..but let's face it..can't wipe down the whole ship;) BTW--now I will never travel without Nyquil and nose spray!!!

[tutuwahineLV]

Here's my 2 cents worth. I travel with my Mother, who is in her middle 70's. She used to get sick every time we came home from a trip, I did as well but only occasionally. And the cold cough started to hang around longer and longer. I did a little digging on the interwebs, to see what people did as precautions. We started what we like to call our 'Public Protocol" and haven't gotten the crud since. Here's what works for us::

1. Essential oil diffuser necklace, worn every time we leave the house. We use Thieves Oil with a drop or 2 of Frankincense as well. We won't fly without this.

2. probiotics . We start these about 3 weeks before travel, and take them throughout the trip. Healthy Gut is a superhero crud fighter. (between the lack of fresh food in our diets, and the prescriptions Dr's push at us.....most are lacking in good gut biotics)

3. Hand sanitizer. This is in conjunction with lots of soap and water, but there are times you just don't think about it. Sanitize those hands, ESPECIALLY after you've handled and perused a menu. Be it a land based restaurant, or the MDR on your ship. Stop to think about how many others have held that menu....... If you can't hit the washroom conveniently, hand sanitizer is your friend.

 

Since we've started these practices religiously, neither one of us has has the post trip crud.

 

Hope this helps. Oh, and we found our oil necklaces, and the oils on that amazing A-Z website.

[Trimone]

Has anyone got an STD on a cruise? On some cruises it’s EASIER to catch than a cold... not on NCL

[merle65]

Me and my husband few to For a road trip driving down California coast last year for 10 days.My husband was fine when we left,during our 2 flight to Oregon my husband started sneezing and didn't stop for 4 days it came with a cough too. Will never leave home without cold medicines plus others we may need. Leaving for a cruise in a few weeks Alaska we got all the medicines packed already.

[phoenix1181]

I always travel with what my DH refers to as my pharmacy. Basically, I try to cover all possibilities & have what I know works for us on hand. There's nothing worse than not being able to find the cold medication you want or needing it at 2 am with no chance of getting anything for several hours.

 

For us, the most important item is plenty of Purel. Washing up is, of course, the best but when it's not realistic, out comes the Purel. We always use it when we are ready to pick up our utensils to eat or after touching the hand rail on stairs or buttons in the elevator. Washy Washy at the buffet is fine but after touching the serving utensils, we need another shot before picking up that sandwich!

[seemoreroyals]

In addition to washing our hands and moderate use of sanitizers we use a product mfd by Ester-C called 24 hour immune support. We go on average 1 to 2 cruises a year, probably one airplane trip every other month, and at least one to two days per month in a casino. Neither my wife or I has has any issues with colds or similar viruses and we both think taking this immune support pill has a lot to do with it. We buy it OTC at Wal-Mart and it is inexpensive and in our opinion a great defense against getting a cold or coming into contact with some contagion.

[Medtech2]

A week before travelling I start pre and pro biotics, Airborne, eat right, etc. Take wipes for trays, seats, armrests, belt buckle on plane. Wipe same in cabin on ship. Use elbow to push buttons and forearm to steady on stairs, not hands. Wash hands religiously. Don’t touch nose or eyes. Knock on wood.

[cruisinginmay]

I used to get very sick every time I flew. Last two trips, I took sanitizing wipes and wiped down virtually every surface I touched on the planes: seatbelt buckles, tray tables, touch screens, headrests...all of it. Some people stared, but I didn't get sick. It's not hard to do. I recommend it.

 

I agree. Once I started wiping down armrests, tray table, seat belt buckle, touch screen, etc. I rarely get sick. Used to be every time I flew.

[chefchick]

Start drinking heavily as soon as you board...you may still get a cold, but you won’t care.

 

You’re welcome.

[Shoppie124]

Start drinking heavily as soon as you board...you may still get a cold, but you won’t care.

 

You’re welcome.

 

 

 

I travel a lot and I second this advice![emoji485][emoji483][emoji484][emoji898][emoji482]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[cincicruisers]

Start drinking heavily as soon as you board...you may still get a cold, but you won’t care.

 

You’re welcome. ��

 

Best advice ever...

[newmexicoNita]

Best advice ever...

I am sure many of us will take that advise if we don't already. :D

[marktwothousand]

Start drinking heavily as soon as you board...you may still get a cold, but you won’t care. You’re welcome. ��

+1/FTW. Sore throat lozenges and tylenol don't hurt either.

 

I get sick almost every time I travel, if its not the actual travel itself, its usually the stress associated with getting ready for travel that runs me down.

[Toofarfromthesea]

I sometimes wonder if the problem is that all of the extreme hygiene measures just reduces resistance to colds. Personally I do none of them and hardly ever get colds, and none associated with travel. OTOH, I may just be lucky.

[newmexicoNita]

+1/FTW. Sore throat lozenges and tylenol don't hurt either.

 

I get sick almost every time I travel, if its not the actual travel itself, its usually the stress associated with getting ready for travel that runs me down.

I can say about the same; luckily, usually by the time I get on the ship or plane, whatever I am ok, but the week or two prior to travel I stress and yes, do have trouble with feeling up to par. It seems I get a cold, a sinus infection, last time an ear infection, whatever.

 

Toofarfromthesea: I too think we are inclined to go overboard with the sanitary wipes, etc. We all lived years without all this using wipes for everything. My granddaughter who is a nurse practitioner says the same thing. She says going overboard with the wipes or depending too much on antibiotics can do more harm than good.

[Shellbelle28]

Got off the Pearl Sunday, Monday evening throat was sore, Tuesday, on my back in bed.

And I washy-washed so dang much my phone stopped recognizing my fingerprints!

[pianoetudes]

Days before the cruise, take probiotics to boost beneficial flora in your body.

 

Sent from my HTC U11 life using Tapatalk

[lyannea]

Never been sick but did get the chills once after returning from Juneau where it was warm out and I was overdressed

 

On a daily basis:

I bring single packets of Emergen-C and drink one every night +

I use saline eyedrops after every shower+

Use xtra strength Listerine in the AM +

Never touch the elevator buttons +

Avoid putting my arms/hands on the Guest Services counter

Other than that

I’m good

[Something fun!]

A doctor yrs ago told me sugar suppresses the immune system; for me it's true. More desserts, more, alcohol, less rest, more time in crowds, when cruising/flying ?

 

All of this. Your body has been overloaded.