Time for a public service…
Lots of people pick this sometimes-cruel month to go on a cruise. Sometimes the cruelty comes in the form of a bug named 'flu, and that's clearly more of an issue than ever in 2013.
So, here are some tips for staying healthy on a cruise ship…
1. Use the antiseptic fluids in those containers that are all over cruise ships as much as possible to keep your hands clean. What can it hurt?
2. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Again, there's no down side.
3. Avoid using handrails unless you feel they're needed, because as much as cruise-ship staff keeps them clean, you have to assume somebody with bacteria has touched them.
4. Wash your hands often, more often if you hear that there are sick people on the ship.
5. Carry insect repellent, and be prepared to cover up if you're around mosquitoes (which carry malaria) at dawn or dusk, when they tend to linger near the ground.
6. If you're going to be in a tropical location, check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find out if there are any outbreaks of diseases in the area where you're going.
7. If you think you might be sick, go to the ships' medical department and don't worry about what it may cost. There are some things on which you can't put a price.
Carnival Glory
7 nights
March 3, 2013
Miami (return): Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, Grand Cayman
Inside: $469
Cost per day: $67
www.carnival.com