The cruise industry faces health issues that few other vacation options have to deal with.
When people go to, for example, a Walt Disney or Universal Studios theme park, they face many of the same risks they would on a cruise.
A lot of people are crammed into a small amount of space, and no matter what precautions are taken, some people get sick. On a cruise, however, unlike at theme parks, concerts, and sporting events, there's no plausible deniability.
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Even if a passenger actually caught covid at the grocery store, in the airport, or while on a shore excursion, they're going to blame the cruise ship.
That's not a problem that the covid pandemic created. Norovirus and other illnesses travel fast in confined spaces, and in the very rare cases of widespread cruise-ship outbreaks, well, the images have been pretty terrible.
That's why Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) -) and the rest of the industry take health so seriously. When someone gets sick on a cruise ship, it can spread quickly.
The industry has improved air filtration on cruise ships and continues to encourage common-sense methods to prevent illness. Hand-sanitizer stations are everywhere on ships, and unlike on land, they're actually full. And people are reminded to wash their hands frequently.
Viruses, however, are not the only danger facing cruise-ship passengers. Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) -) Brand Ambassador John Heald recently shared another warning with the cruise line's passengers. Royal Caribbean, (RCL) -) Norwegian and other cruise-line passengers should pay attention.
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Beware a hidden cruise-ship danger
Heald spends much of his day fielding questions on his Facebook page. Sometimes, he answers people on line, and on other occasions he highlights a question by calling it out in its own post.
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One Carnival customer Heald identifies as "M" asked an important question on Oct. 4.
"Does Carnival still have warnings on using mosquito repellent and does the cruise line provide it for free? If not why not?" the person asked.
Heald thanked "M" and responded in a fashion that was a little more serious than his typical post.
"We do not provide it 'M' but it’s a great point worth reminding everyone about. There are some ports where Carnival suggests you bring mosquito spray to protect you against everything that these little bastards of nature can hurl at you," he wrote.
Heald then went on to issue a further warning, albeit in his typical "FFS" (for fun's sake) style.
"Get bit by the wrong mosquito and, according to Uncle Google, you can experience vomiting, headaches, fever, a rash, and worse. Of course many of these cases are not reported because even though men have all these symptoms, they refuse to admit anything’s wrong and refuse to see the doctor. Oh, and Mosquitoes fly close to the ear because they love it when people punch themselves in the face," he added.
Many of the comments thanked Heald for the warning as some of his followers were not aware that mosquito repellent was a good idea in many ports.
"I never have but will start now," Debbie Pittenger Boyd wrote.
Many posters pack it and some seemed surprised that "M" would suggest the cruise line should provide it.
"I don’t expect Carnival to provide anything more than soap in the shower. It is my vacation and I bring what I think I need," Frank Maciuska posted.
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"Yes, I do. I don’t expect carnival to supply it just like I don’t expect carnival to supply my sunscreen," Carol Hartman Nored added.
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