Cruise Travel Health Tips for Holidaymakers in Brampton

For many Brampton families, a cruise is the perfect escape from a long Ontario winter. Fly out of Pearson to Florida, board a ship, and spend a week moving between Caribbean islands with everything taken care of. Others choose Alaskan cruises in summer, Mediterranean sailings, or river cruises in Europe. Cruises are popular with multigenerational groups too, since grandparents, parents and children can all enjoy the trip at their own pace.

Cruises have their own particular health considerations. Thousands of people share enclosed spaces, food is served buffet-style, the ship moves, and each port brings a different destination with its own risks. None of this should put you off. With a little preparation, most cruise travellers stay well and enjoy the trip.

This article covers the main health topics to think about before you sail. Wellness Point Pharmacy, 115 Dufay Road can help you plan through its Travel Health Clinic, and the pharmacy team can help with medications and supplies.

Motion sickness: plan before you board

Even large modern ships move, especially in rough weather. Some people never notice; others feel queasy from the first evening. Motion sickness happens when your inner ear senses movement that your eyes do not match, such as when you are inside a cabin.

Practical tips include:

• choosing a cabin in the middle of the ship and on a lower deck, where movement is less noticeable
• spending time on deck looking at the horizon
• avoiding heavy, greasy meals and alcohol early in the trip
• getting fresh air and lying down with your eyes closed if you feel unwell

Several medicines can help prevent or treat motion sickness, including over-the-counter options and prescription products. Many work best when taken before symptoms start, and some cause drowsiness or are not suitable for people with certain conditions such as glaucoma or prostate problems, or for young children. Ask the pharmacist which option suits you, and follow the label directions. If you have had severe motion sickness before, mention it.

Norovirus and other stomach bugs

Cruise ships are well known for outbreaks of norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Outbreaks happen in other crowded settings too, such as hospitals, schools and care homes, but cruise ships attract attention because illness is tracked and reported closely.

Norovirus spreads easily through contaminated hands, surfaces, food and close contact. Hand sanitizer is less effective against norovirus than handwashing, so:

• wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after using the toilet, and after returning from shore
• use serving utensils at buffets rather than your hands, and avoid touching shared surfaces before eating
• report any vomiting or diarrhea to the ship’s medical centre, as cruise lines usually ask passengers to do

If you do get sick, rest, drink fluids and use oral rehydration salts, which are worth packing. Stay in your cabin as advised to avoid spreading it. Older adults, young children and people with chronic conditions can become dehydrated quickly, so seek medical help on board if symptoms are severe or do not improve.

Respiratory infections in close quarters

Coughs, colds, influenza and COVID-19 can also spread on ships. Being up to date with seasonal vaccines, such as flu vaccination, before you travel is sensible. Pack tissues and a few masks, and wash hands often. If you develop a fever or cough, contact the ship’s medical centre.

Port stops and destination health

Each port of call is a destination in its own right, with its own health considerations. Caribbean and Latin American ports may have mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya. Some excursions involve local food, swimming or hiking. A cruise that stops in South America or Africa may raise questions about yellow fever vaccination or malaria prevention.

Bring the full list of ports to your travel consultation. The pharmacist can look at the overall itinerary and advise whether any vaccines, such as hepatitis A, are worth considering, and what precautions to take on shore. Insect repellent and sunscreen should be in your day bag for every excursion.

On shore, the usual travel food and water precautions apply, even if the ship’s own food and water are carefully controlled. Street snacks, ice in drinks and fresh juices at a beach stand may not meet the same standards. Water activities bring their own considerations: snorkelling and swimming are generally low-risk, but avoid swallowing water, protect cuts from coral, and be cautious about swimming in fresh water in regions where parasites are a concern. Animal encounters, such as with stray dogs or monkeys, should be avoided; if you are bitten or scratched, seek care promptly.

Sun, heat and alcohol

Many cruise days are spent by the pool or on a beach, often in strong sunshine and heat. Sunburn, heat exhaustion and dehydration are common cruise complaints. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply after swimming, wear a hat and sunglasses, drink water throughout the day, and seek shade during the hottest hours.

Drinks packages can make alcohol easy to overdo. Alcohol increases dehydration and sunburn risk, affects balance on a moving ship, and interacts with many medications. Some medicines also increase sensitivity to sunlight. Ask your pharmacist if any of yours do.

Medications at sea

The ship’s medical centre can handle many problems, but it is not a full pharmacy, and medical care on board can be expensive. Bring everything you need:

• enough of your regular medications for the whole trip plus several extra days, in case of delays or itinerary changes
• your medications in original labelled containers, in your carry-on, not checked luggage
• a written list with generic names, doses and allergies
• a small kit with pain relief, antacids, motion sickness remedies, oral rehydration salts, bandages and any personal-care items

Request refills before departure through the prescription refill page. If you take medicines that need refrigeration, contact the cruise line ahead of time to ask about storage.

Mobility and older travellers

Cruises are popular with older travellers, and ships are generally designed with accessibility in mind. Still, decks can be slippery, ships move, and shore excursions may involve stairs, tenders (small boats to shore) or uneven ground. Choose excursions that match your mobility, bring comfortable non-slip shoes, and be careful on wet surfaces.

Long flights to the port of departure can also raise the risk of blood clots for some people. If you have risk factors, ask the pharmacist or your physician whether compression stockings or other precautions make sense.

Children on board

Kids often love cruises, with pools, clubs and endless food. They also pick up stomach bugs and colds easily, and they are more vulnerable to sunburn and dehydration. A few family-specific steps help:

• make sure routine childhood vaccines are up to date before you leave
• pack child-appropriate fever and pain relievers with the correct measuring device, plus oral rehydration salts
• ask the pharmacist whether any motion sickness product is suitable for your child’s age, since many are not recommended for young children
• teach children to wash their hands before every meal and after the washroom, and supervise younger ones at the buffet
• use water-resistant sunscreen, hats and swim shirts, and reapply sunscreen after swimming

Pool areas can be crowded and slippery, so supervise children closely around water even when lifeguards are present. If your child becomes unwell with vomiting or diarrhea, check with the ship’s medical centre before returning them to the kids’ club or pool, since most cruise lines have rules to prevent outbreaks spreading.

Insurance and medical care on board

Ship medical care is usually billed separately and is often not covered by provincial health insurance. Medical evacuation from a ship can be very costly. Make sure your travel insurance covers cruises, pre-existing conditions, and medical evacuation. Keep your policy details and emergency contact number easy to find.

The Government of Canada’s travel health and safety page has general guidance on insurance and staying healthy while travelling.

A short cruise health checklist

• Book a travel consultation with your full port list
• Update seasonal vaccines before departure
• Ask about motion sickness options and test any new product before you sail if advised
• Pack regular medications plus extra, in your carry-on
• Bring oral rehydration salts, sunscreen and repellent
• Wash hands with soap, especially before meals
• Confirm travel insurance covers cruises and evacuation

Plan your cruise health with Wellness Point

A cruise is meant to be relaxing, and a bit of preparation helps keep it that way. Bring your itinerary and medication list to a consultation, and the pharmacist can help you prepare for life on board and at each port.

Drop in at Wellness Point Pharmacy, 115 Dufay Road, Brampton, ON L7A 0B5, or give us a call at (905) 843-7155. Store details are on the contact page, and you can request an appointment on the booking page. Bon voyage, and let us know if there is anything we can help you pack.

This article provides general information for cruise travellers. Medication choices and vaccine recommendations should be discussed with a pharmacist or other health care provider who knows your health history.