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| Unless you just want to check out the ship’s infirmary for the sheer fun of it (like, maybe you’re an ER nurse or something like that) it’s a yucky way to spend your cruising time. Fortunately, today’s cruise ships are usually equipped with very good infirmaries and qualified medical personal. In the event of an emergency, you’ll be well taken care of. But, it’s an unfortunate waste of time and money to have to go there for non-emergency treatments. If you do have to visit the infirmary, your treatment fees will be added to your shipboard account and must be paid before you disembark, since cruise lines don’t file insurance papers. |
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| But, just like at home, though you may not be able to avoid all mishaps, you can prepare for the lesser blunders. It’s well worth it if you can avoid the time and cost of a visit to the ship’s doctor. By the way, all of this applies double if you’re traveling with kids! |
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| 1. Bumps and Bruises |
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| The biggest reason people visit the ship’s doctor is for treatments of cuts, abrasions and bumps. It probably has something to do with mixing booze, slippery surfaces, metal railings and the rolling motion of the ship. For most of your injuries, the right size band-aid and a good analgesic crème will do the trick. A simple travel or camping first-aid kit will have what you need. |
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| And just in case you're wondering what the #1 type of injury is that causes those bumps and bruises - pay attention. SCOOTER INJURIES! Uh huh, you know those cute little motor bikes that you see all those tourists zipping around on? Seems like the combination of speed and not quite knowing what one is doing can result in a few ... mishaps. |
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| 2. Sunburn |
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| The second biggest reason people go to the infirmary is sunburn treatments. Take some kind of salve or skin cream to reduce the burning feeling, and take an appropriate moisturizer to treat the skin so it doesn’t dry out and crack.. We have a favorite treatment salve that we use for sunburn (and just about any other skin boo-boo you get.) It’s called “Traumeel” and you’ll need to get it at a health-food store or some place similar. You probably won’t find it at your local drugstore. It’s a bit pricey compared to other first-aid salves (about $18 for a 6 oz. tube), but it is absolutely worth every penny. Apply it liberally at the first discomfort of sunburn, and keep reapplying it for the first several hours after you’re out of the sun and you’ll never know you got burned. This stuff is pure magic in a tube. Way better than aloe or the lidocaine-based treatments. |
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| 3. Indigestion |
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| Tied for 3rd place in the list of “Why I Went To The Infirmary On My Cruise” (along with seasickness). One of the drawbacks of having such constant access to all that wonderful rich food that cruise ships are famous for is that people eat it. And eat it. And eat some more. Unless you are a strict disciplinarian, you can expect to consume about two or three times your normal food quantity in an average day. Add to that the steady consumption of alcohol that is a hallmark of cruising and voila! Indigestion. Take along some Alka Seltzer, some Pepto Bismol and some type of antacid tablet, like Tums or Rolaids. All of these are available in tablet form. Some ships stores will have some of this, but not always and if you need it in the middle of the night you’re out of luck. |
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| 4. Seasickness |
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The best treatment is prevention. After you get it, well… yuck! Check out the various forms of Dramamine that are now available,
including pills and patches. The directions will tell you how much lead time before you hit the waves you need to get the maximum
effect. You can also get acupressure wrist bands that work really well with some people. |
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One of the best treatments we’ve found for treating seasickness once it hits you is Coke and soda crackers – lots of both. Some
people say that 7-Up works also, but I think there is something in the caffeine in Coke that helps the whole process. If you are
feeling sick, your cabin is the worst place to be unless the weather topside is really bad. Being able to get fresh air and see the
horizon helps to trigger the brain sensors that calm seasickness. |
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| 5. Headaches and/or Body Aches |
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| We all know that booze can make your head scream for mercy, but so can sun and lots of new food. If you’re not used to heavy carbs in your diet and you scarf up copious amounts of pastries, ice creams or gourmet desserts, your body can trigger the same symptoms it does when detoxing from too much alcohol. And, if you find yourself paying the price from some awesome, but physically demanding, shore excursion that leaves you with shore muscles, bumps, cuts or sunburn, a pain reliever is a really good thing. Have a supply of different types of pain reliever. Depending on the reason for your pain, aspirin may not work as well as Tylenol or Ibuprofen in a given circumstance. (Do we need to remind you to read the label and follow the directions?) |
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| One neat little idea we’ve seen on some ships (they all ought to do this) is a first aid vending machine located right outside the infirmary. It has the basics in small, individualized packages (i.e., a couple of aspirins, a few band aids, etc.) and they’re about the same price as you’d pay in a convenience store back home. More and more these days, though not on all ships, you can get complimentary samples of pain medication and other first aid items at the Purser's Desk. |
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Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
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Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
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Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
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Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
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