Cruising After 50: A Health Checklist Before You Sail
A cruise can be a relaxing way to see new places, and many older travelers enjoy them. A ship is also a place where lots of people share dining rooms, railings and elevators for days. A little planning helps you stay healthy and enjoy the trip.
This guide pulls together health advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cruise passengers. It is general information, so check your own situation with your doctor.
Why Cruise Health Planning Matters
The CDC’s guidance for older adults notes that cruises are popular, but ships can help illnesses spread. The main concerns are norovirus, a stomach illness, and respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID-19. The good news is that simple habits go a long way.
Six to Four Weeks Before You Sail
- See your doctor or a travel health specialist at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave. Tell them about the cruise, your health conditions and all your medicines.
- Ask whether your routine vaccines are up to date. The CDC names pneumococcal, shingles and the yearly flu shot as routine vaccines for older adults, and suggests asking about COVID-19 and RSV vaccines too.
- Check the cruise line’s health requirements for your sailing.
- If your immune system is weakened, talk to your provider before booking.
- Ask your doctor about medicine for seasickness if you are prone to it. The CDC says some common medicines can make seasickness worse, so ask before you pack anything.
What to Pack
- Enough of every prescription for the whole trip, plus extra in case of delays. Keep them in your carry-on bag.
- A written or electronic list of your medicines and health conditions.
- Your health insurance card and your official immunization records.
- Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. The CDC says to use it even on cloudy days.
- Insect repellent, since some ports have mosquito-borne or tick-borne diseases.
Insurance: Check Before You Go
The CDC suggests checking whether your health insurance covers care abroad. Travelers usually pay medical bills out of pocket overseas. It also suggests considering extra coverage for health care and emergency evacuation, especially for remote trips. For Medicare rules, read Does Medicare Cover You When You Travel Abroad? and Travel Insurance Basics: What It Covers and Questions to Ask.
On Board: Simple Habits
- Wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom.
- Wash up after touching shared surfaces like stair railings. Try not to touch your face.
- If you feel sick, report your symptoms to the ship’s medical center and follow their advice.
- Consider a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas if you are concerned about respiratory illness.
Before You Book: Look Up Ship Inspections
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program inspects cruise ships that carry 13 or more passengers on foreign itineraries with U.S. ports. The CDC says it inspects ships in eight major areas, and it publishes inspection scores and reports online. You can look up a ship before you book on the CDC inspection search tool.
If You’re Not Feeling Well Before You Leave
The CDC says if you are sick before sailing, don’t travel. Ask the cruise line about rescheduling or reimbursement. Check your cruise and insurance policies in advance so you know your options.
After the Trip
If you feel sick after you get home, especially with a fever, see a health care provider and tell them you have been traveling.
Safety note: on a moving ship, hold the handrails, wear flat shoes with good grip on wet decks and take stairs slowly.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own health.
More on Seniors Tips
- Healthy Travel After 50: A Pre-Trip Checklist From the CDC
- Travel Insurance Basics: What It Covers and Questions to Ask
