From garden-like villas to cozy inside cabins, cruising can be fun, relaxing, entertaining, and an enjoyable vacation experience.  Every ship company has a slightly different product they sell – family, singles, luxury, affordable, romantic, or multiple themes.  The one thing they all have in common is the difficulty of maintaining healthy vessels.

Traveling by water and often in humid weather conditions, cruise ships can be toxic environments filled with stuffy air, bad water, leaky toilets, bacteria, mold, cleaning chemicals, unknown stains, and personal care samples filled with carcinogens.  Don't despair.  If cruising is your thing, there are things you can do to stay healthy on board.

Cruise Tips

Before Leaving

• Make sure the personality of the cruise line fits yours. Some cruises are known for silly poolside games and wet T-shirt contests, while others are very refined and upscale.  Also, older ships can be disappointing. Ships built prior to the mid-1990s are not as stable on the ocean and do not offer as many amenities as more recent launches.  Get to know your ship.  Know that three- and four-day cruises usually use older ships, which are more likely to be dated in terms of design, facilities and amenities.
  
• Research. The most experienced travel agent can't match the resources that are available on the Internet.   Use the Internet to educate yourself about all the cruises you might be interested in.  Depending upon where you live, some travel agents might be able to offer you better deals or throw in “on board credit” (OBC) because they have relationships with the cruise lines and book many passengers.
  
• Pack a small flashlight and a night-light.
  
  
• Bring your own toiletries, including soap.
  
  
• Pack a highlighter pen. When the brochure for the days' activities is put in your cabin, it’s an easy way to highlight what you want to do during your cruise.
  
• Pack a disposable camera.  Taking your own pictures is cheaper than buying overpriced photos on the ship.
  
• Pack light.  Nobody will care if you wear the same thing twice and sometimes the cabin space is very limited for hanging things.  Most ships have laundry and dry cleaning services.  Some cruise lines even have affordable self-serve laundries.
  
• Most cell phones don't work while at sea.  If traveling with several people, it’s a good idea to bring cheap walkie-talkies with you to contact each other while on the ship.
  
• Take Post-It notes with you so you can leave notes for your cabin crew.
  
  
• Take a lanyard with a clear card holder on it to carry your cruise charge card around your neck. It is much more accessible than having it in your wallet or having to hand-carry it.
  
• Make sure travel documents are in order, especially your passport, which is now essential.  Confirm your transportation to and from the airport or cruise location, your flights, hotels, or rental cars at least twenty-four hours prior to leaving or needing to use those services.
  
• Unless you are in a foreign country, shore excursions are cheaper when booked from independent companies.  Do your research. Get to know the culture, politics, and sites of the ports you will be visiting. Try to get away from the port itself and interact with the local people. Experience their food specialties.  Use your judgment about where to eat.  Does the establishment look clean? I like going to local bakeries. 
  
• Booking airfares through cruise companies is often more expensive than if you booked your flights independently.    Same for land transfers — just take a cab.
  
• Boarding usually begins hours before the time stated in your cruise documents. Go early and relax.
  
• If traveling with a group, try to book cabins on opposite sides of the ship so you won't miss anything.
  
• Springing for a balcony gives you your own piece of paradise when the decks get crowded.
  
• Most cruises usually have two seatings for dinner or a dine-anytime option.  Figure out which dining plan works best for you.  Many experts recommend that first-time cruisers plan on the second seating. This allows more time for your daily tours, and you won't feel you have to rush at ports.  However, if you have children, the dine-anytime might be a better option for you.

During Your Cruise

• Upon boarding your ship, first locate your room and get settled.  Unpack and relax.  If you have any anxiety, check out my stress tips.   Don’t stress about anything.  This is your vacation.
  
• Cruise lines are constantly hawking photographs.  Resist the urge to purchase all the photos that will be taken. Having you own digital camera is the way to go.
  
• Try to avoid renting vehicles in international ports.  Who needs the stress of driving?
  
• If you drink lots of soft drinks, many cruise lines have a sticker you can purchase, which is cheaper than buying drinks individually. Unless you are on a very fancy cruise, drinks are not free — coffee and tea are, but that's it. Those tropical drinks might look good but they are usually more expensive than other drinks and filled with sugar and empty calories. You don't want to have a huge bill full of drink charges at the end of your cruise full of drink charges.
  
• Tipping.  Everyone has their own philosophy.  Some say that you should tip generously to the crew because they depend on it; others believe it’s not their responsibility to fund the crew, and the price of service should be included.  I like to tip people directly.  Many cruise lines will bill you for on-board gratuities and you can add additional tips for extra service or attention you have received from specific crew members.   On-board gratuities are usually divided up among many crew members you do not see.
  
• Obey the dress code.
  
• Arrive at your port the day before in case anything goes wrong with your flight.
  
• Don't take a cruise during Spring Break, the holidays, or summer vacation if you don't like kids.
  

Disembarkment

• Customs and immigration procedures can be unpredictable. Don't book your return-home transportation before noon on debarkation day.

Children Tips

• Kids camps - Check the minimum age requirements and activities for the camp before you reserve your cruise.   All of the cruise companies have different programs.
  
• In-cabin babysitting by the cruise line is convenient, but I do not believe in leaving your children with strangers.
  
• Dining- Select the early dining option since most children cannot wait until 8 or 9 p.m. to eat dinner. Plus, it gives you the ability to eat as a family and then go out as a couple afterwards.  Your kids might like to have pizza or the buffet while you would prefer to dine in the dining room.  Almost all the cruise lines will work with you to accommodate your wishes.

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Cramps
• Nausea
• Chills & Sweating

• Wash hands constantly
• Wash clothes daily
• Wash bedding daily
• Keep cabin clean  -- constantly disinfect room
• Do not touch ship surfaces
• Use Purell often
• Eat healthy, wholesome foods
• Avoid sugar, refined or processed foods
• Chew on ginger or take ginger supplements
• Take magnesium
• Vitamin B6
• Go on a high-fiber diet at least two days before cruise
• Drink peppermint tea
• Rub peppermint oil under your nose as soon as you arrive on your ship

Vitamins, Herbs & Supplements

• Charcoal tablets
• Goldenseal
• Garlic
• Potassium
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
• Vitamin E
• Acidophilus
• Fiber
• L-Cysteine
• L-Methionine
• Selenium
• Milk Thistle
• Red Clover

 Seasickness Factors

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Genetics
• Poor air quality
• Overeating

Seasickness Symptoms

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Distress
• Lack of coordination
• Nausea
• Cold sweat

• Drink a cup of miso soup per day
• Eat a cup of brown rice daily
• Try brewer’s yeast
• Drink several cups of green tea daily
• Use charcoal tablets as directed

• Suck on a slice of lemon or lime
• Drink plain soda or eat whole grain crackers
• Drink sparkling water
• Avoid sugary drinks
• Avoid fried, processed, refined, sugary, or junk foods
• Avoid full-fat dairy products
• Eat olives
• Breathe deeply in fresh air

• Ginger
• Cayenne
• Papaya
• Ginko biloba
• B Complex vitamins
• Grapefruit seed extract

• repeated use of space by people who lack personal hygiene habits
• cramped conditions and limited space
• poor air and sound quality in your cablin
• stress and anxiety (what to do next)
• noisy, pushy, and aggressive people in public areas
• rich foods
• overeating
• loud & crying children
• germs
• bedbugs

Cruising affects everyone differently, so customize our advice to what suits you the best.

• Immediately remove bedspread
• Purell or use sanitizing wipes to clean the phone, remote control, and bathroom fixtures
• Wash hands
• If you see any rust-colored stains on bedding, it could be a sign of bedbugs – request another cabin
• When sleeping, wear pajamas or clothing that covers your body
• Use your bed only for sleeping – no working or snacking on it
• Ask for a nonsmoking cabin
• Try to stay out of any public pool or hot tub
• Avoid baths unless you thoroughly clean tubs with your own cleaner

• Have the following vitamins, herbs, and supplements on hand:

• Ginko biloba extract
• Ginseng
• Bach Rescue Remedy
• Lavender or chamomile oil – rub under your nose
• Zinc
• Vitamin E

• Eat lots of fruits & veggies
• Avoid sugary & salty foods while traveling
• Avoid dairy products – except low-fat yogurt
• Bring a good book, magazine, or DVD player

• 60mg of CoQ10
• 100mg of B complex
• Magnesium, potassium, calcium
• Hyland’s Calms Forte
• 3,000mg of Vitamin C
• 500mg of L-Tyrosine

• Thirst
• Dry, scratchy or bloodshot eyes
• Fatigue
• Wrinkled skin
• Bloat or constipation

• Noise
• Erratic air conditioning or heating fan
• Dry air or low humidity
• Variable temperatures throughout the room  
• Cleaning fluid smell
• Coughing & sneezing
• Cramped space

• Pack your own sheets
• Remove your shoes and wear flip flops or thick, comfortable socks – never walk bare-footed on ship flooring
• Always remove the bedspread
• Drink lots of water
• Spritz your face with water or take a wet napkin and moisten your face
• Bring your own skin moisturizer and hair care products
• Disinfect your room with Purell – wipe down all the common areas
• Wear comfortable clothes
• Exercise – use hotel gym or ask if they have any exercise equipment for your room – take long walks
• Use eyeshades for sleeping or napping – add a drop or two of lavender oil to them

• Cabin fixtures
• Carpeting
• Bedding
• Air-conditioning & heating systems
• Air ducts
• Bathroom fixtures
• Showers & toilets
• Walls 

• Allergic reactions
  • Respiratory problems -- coughing, sneezing, wheezing, difficulty in breathing
  • Hay fever-type symptoms
  • Nose and throat irritation
  • Nasal or sinus congestion
  • Headache
  • Watery, reddened, or burning eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Red eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Dermatitis -- skin rash or irritation
• Fatigue
• Infections

• Consult a health professional immediately
• Take:

• Acidophilus
• Garlic – raw or capsules
• Turmeric extract
• Vitamin B complex
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Vitamin B5 – Pantothenic acid
• Beta-carotene
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
• Vitamin E
• Zinc
• Omega-3 oils
• Essential fatty acids
• Vitamin A
• Tea tree oil – external use only – rub on rashes

• Eat lots of raw foods
• Avoid sugar and refined foods
• Avoid meats
• Avoid full-fat dairy
• Avoid soft drinks
• Eat lots of soy
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Lack of concentration
• Nausea
• Eye irritation
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Skin irritation

• drink 8 ounces of carrot juice ASAP
• drink dandelion root tea
• buy a liver detox kit at your local health food store
• eat lots of fiber
• take:
  • Chlorella
  • Astragalus extract
  • 400mg of vitamin E
  • 30-50mg of CoQ10
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
  • Garlic oil caps
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • Bilberry
  • Apple pectin
  • Selenium
  • Zinc

• Coal tar (used in dandruff shampoos)
• Formaldehyde
• Laureth compounds
• Polysorbates 60 and 80
• D&C Red 33
• DEA
• TEA
• FD&C Blue, FD&C Green 3, FD&C Red 4, FE&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 6

When our bodies are exposed to chemicals, they may respond by producing antibodies, which can cause a reaction. Constant or repeated exposure to toxic chemicals and environmental pollutants from shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, and other products used in salons can lead to the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Low energy
• Tiredness (regardless of the amount of sleep)
• Abnormal metabolism
• Depression
• Learning & behavioral disabilities
• Skin rashes
• Watery or teary eyes
• Chronic respiratory inflammation
• Ringing in ears
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headaches

• Eat lots of fiber
• Drink 8oz of carrot juice daily
• Drink only bottled water
• Drink a cup of miso soup daily
• Buy only organically grown fruits & veggies
• Avoid processed, refined, and canned foods
• Eat legumes and superfoods
• Eat a bowl of high-fiber cereal – sprinkle with brewer’s yeast, toasted wheat germ, and lecithin granules
• Drink green and chamomile tea daily
• Take long walks
• Avoid protective waxes found on fruits & veggies
• Have as many massages, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments as you can afford
• If pregnant, avoid all hair salons during first trimester

• Garlic oil
• Dandelion
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Bilberry extract
• Astragalus
• Siberian ginseng
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C with bioflavnoids
• Vitamin E
• Coenzyme Q10
• Vitamin B complex
• Zinc
• Manganese

• Darken your room – shut the blinds, curtains, and put a towel on the floor covering the door entrance
• Eat light meals
• Eat a banana 1-2 hours before you want to sleep
• No sugary or salty foods
• Chew pieces of crystallized ginger (the sugar is minute) before you want to sleep
• Take valerian extract
• Take Hyland’s Calms Forte
• Take melatonin – 3mg to 5mg
• Take 400 IU of vitamin E
• Bring your own eyeshades
• Bring a small tincture of lavender oil and rub some oil just below your nose
• Bring your own pillowcase and use it for the airline pillow

• Irregular sleep – fitful sleep, insomnia, early waking or excessive sleepiness
• Irritability
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Headaches or grogginess
• Aches and pains -- muscle soreness
• Tender tummy, constipation or diarrhea

What to do:

• Drink 8 ounces of carrot juice 24 hours before flight
• Exercise for at least 30-45 minutes 12 hours before flight time
• Eat grilled fish or soy 24 hours before flight
• Eat whole grains, green veggies, and magnesium-rich foods 24-48 hours before flight
• Avoid caffeine
• Avoid alcohol
• Take 1-2 hours before flight:

• 8 to 16 ounces of water
• 100mg of vitamin B complex
• 1000mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids – or take an Emergen-C packet
• Beta-carotene
• 500mg of glutamine
• Echinacea and goldenseal extract
• Chew a couple of pieces of crystallized ginger

• Drink 8 ounces of water per hour
• Follow sleeping instructions above
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeine
• Do in-flight exercises
• If you have any stopovers, try taking a shower and walking throughout terminal

• Drink 8 ounces of water per hour for the first 12 hours
• Walk as much as you can in the sun
• Exercise aggressively
• Take a sauna, steam, hot shower or bath
• Try to stay up until it’s your “normal” bedtime for that time zone
• Avoid liquor
• Chew a couple of pieces of crystallized ginger
• Drinks lots of tea:  green, chamomile, and passionflower
• Eat leafy greens
• Take:

• 100mg of vitamin B complex
• 1000mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids – or take an Emergen-C packet
• Beta-carotene
• 500mg of glutamine
• Vitamin B1
• Grapefruit seed extract