Staying Healthy On A Cruise

So you're taking a cruise vacation, and you want to prepare yourself for a great, worry-free time away from it all. Deciding what to pack can be hectic. People remember (and forget) all kinds of things, but one area many people don't consider is that of medical and health supplies. It's a little known fact that oftentimes cruise ships are not required to have any minimums of medical staff or medical equipment on board. Although emergencies should be left in the hands of the professionals, you can save yourself a lot of time (and headaches) by preparing yourself in advance for the little things.

For starters, far too many people boarding cruise ships forget the simplest thing of all: sunscreen. Sure, if you choose to, you can spend a lot of your cruise time indoors, but why would you? The views, the sunshine, and the endless water are all up on deck. Go up and enjoy them, but don't do it without sunscreen. Not only will it protect you against the obvious things like skin cancer and sun damage, but it will also ensure you don't spend half of your vacation lying down with a miserable case of sun sickness or sunburn! If you do forget your sunscreen, you can purchase some on board most cruise boats, but it's a lot more economical to bring your own. Along with sunscreen, don't forget other sun-protecting items like a wide-brimmed hat, a sheer cover-up or tee-shirt, and lip balm. Bring some aloe vera in case sunburn does occur, and a box of baking soda for cooling baths if necessary. These things don't take up much space in your suitcase, and if you need them you'll be awfully glad you have them.

The same goes for over-the-counter medications. It goes without saying that you must remember to bring any prescription drugs you have been prescribed, but if you bring your own over-the-counters like aspirin, cold pills, and flu medicine, you will be that much further ahead of the game. Purchasing these things on board may blow half of your vacation budget if you're not careful. Don't forget to bring stomach medication and perhaps some seasickness tablets. Getting stomach aches on board is fairly common due to the water and the sunshine- not to mention all the rich and exotic foods people on vacation tend to eat! Also, if you do carry prescription medications on board, make sure to keep copies of all of your prescriptions. Should the need arise either on ship or in port somewhere, you will want to be able to prove that you have the prescriptions under a doctor's orders.

Your mother probably told you that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… well, she was right. Don't leave your health, or the health of your family, in the hands of someone else. Make sure your vacation is an enjoyable one by being ready for what may come up. After all, you wouldn't venture to a foreign city without packing some supplies, so why would you board a cruise ship without being equally prepared?

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