Hygiene on the High Seas

PLEASE NOTE: Swine flu is in the news right now, leading me to repeat this post from January 25, 2008. In addition to info about staying healthy on a cruise there are some interesting links to the Centers for Disease Control and epidemics. Back in 2008 we were worried about bird flu now it's swine flu. Go wash your hands.

When we go on cruises we do everything possible to avoid travel-related illness, like the Norwalk virus (Norovirus).

We pack Wet Ones moist wipes, Lysol spray, Purell hand sanitizer and a pump bottle of Equate, Walmart's anti-bacterial liquid hand soap, for the cabin's bathroom. In addition, we always use the hand sanitizer stations found at every eating establishment throughout the ship. And we are very careful what we eat, drink or touch when on shore excursions.

So I was pleased to run across the following links about healthy cruising from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You can read about their Vessel Sanitation Program and the results of the periodic inspections -- with scores, reports and what corrective actions were demanded.

The CDC also has a list of cruising tips to help you stay healthy on your cruise vacation. And health news and alerts for travelers in general.

If all this information about shipboard health and sanitation isn't enough for you, check out their links to the latest news on bird flu and other pandemics.