You're likely fine eating salads, fruit, and raw seafood on reputable cruise lines—they have strict guidelines for keeping foods clean—but avoid them when you're dining on land, particularly in less developed regions.
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Eat a big salad every daySalad bars on cruise ships are usually absolutely beautiful and full of fresh veggies, fresh fruit, and toppings. Take advantage of the salad bars and be sure to have a fresh green salad at least once a day to get healthy fiber and vegetables.
Use proper handwashing techniques throughout your voyage, but especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid any food or water that you think may be contaminated. Avoid raw or undercooked shellfish. Avoid unnecessary direct hand contact with surfaces such as public toilet room door handles.
Norovirus—a common cause of foodborne illness—is a regular passenger on cruise ships. When infected by norovirus, you're likely to experience diarrhea and vomiting.
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge after years of decline. Halfway through the year, there are already more confirmed outbreaks in 2023 than there have been since 2012. Data for 2023 is through the end of June. Other years capture the total number of outbreaks for the full calendar year.
Cruise ships are often associated with norovirus because of the enclosed spaces, close living quarters, communal dining and high turnover of passengers, experts note. That said, outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illnesses are relatively infrequent on cruise ships compared to settings on land, the CDC notes.
The safest way to eat an egg aboard a cruise ship is to get it hard-boiled, according to the CDC. Runny or undercooked eggs can cause you to fall ill with possible salmonella or listeria poisoning if they aren't cooked to at least 160 degrees.
Buffets are a favorite dining option on cruise ships, but they can present unique challenges for food safety. To minimize risks, use utensils when serving yourself, avoid touching food directly, and maintain a safe distance from other passengers to reduce the risk of contamination.
There's breakfast standards like oatmeal, granola and a generous selection of fresh fruits and cereals. Add crispy bacon, awesome sausage — which is actually the only kind — or ham to any dish… or go for more of a curated flavor with a selection of breakfast entrees, including some lighter choices.
P&O Cruises also reported an outbreak on its Arcadia cruise ship this year. The CDC's tally of norovirus outbreaks so far confirmed on cruise ships in 2023 is already higher than any annual outbreak tallies since 2012, when the health agency recorded 16 outbreaks.
Serving expired foods, failing to enforce kitchen sanitation practices, cross-contamination and other issues involving improper food handling and safety practices are among the leading causes of food poisoning onboard cruise ships.
One of the biggest misconceptions about cruise ships is that they're germ incubators—that you can't escape. But the likelihood of catching a stomach bug on a seven-day voyage is less than 1 percent—which is about a third the risk of getting infected in your day-to-day life back home, says Dr.
“The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said. “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships.
Environments Where Norovirus Spreads Quickly“The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. Rates are much higher in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.”
If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. In serious cases of travelers' diarrhea, oral rehydration solution—available online or in pharmacies in developing countries—can be used for fluid replacements.