Cruise Ships are more Sanitary than you May Think

Many people have the misconception that cruise ships are hotbeds for illness. The truth is cruise ships are very sanitary and rarely have an outbreak of norovirus or other illnesses.

 

According to Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the odds of contracting a disease onboard a cruise ship is 1 in 5,500. And, if someone presents signs of illness, all cruise lines have procedures in place to isolate the incidents. Guests may be quarantined to their cabin if they are known to have an infectious disease. The crew takes good care of the guests while quarantined and once they are determined to be feeling better, the guest is allowed outside their cabin again.

 

Cruise lines have a strong focus on cleanliness onboard their ships. Certain lines even have staff at the entrance to restaurants to lead guests towards hand washing stations before entering and eating. Along with regularly sanitizing ships, cruise lines require guests to fill out a health questionnaire prior to boarding to ensure anyone with symptoms is monitored or denied boarding.

 

In addition to the cruise lines themselves monitoring cleanliness standards, US-bound ships receive at least two unannounced inspections by the health department every year.

 

Although all cruise lines are staying on top of keeping the ships clean, guests are recommended to frequently wash their hands and stay well rested and hydrated to minimize the possibility of illness.