Cruise ship holidays are very popular with Britons – and more and more British holidaymakers are now taking to the seas and rivers of the world. Cruises can be more affordable these days for those on the look out for cheaper holidays. However, it’s still important not to let the prices rack up while you’re away. If passengers are savvy when it comes to packing luggage then can avoid splurging unnecessarily when on the ship.
Cruise expert Adam Coulter, UK managing editor at Cruise Critic, has revealed one thing travellers should always pack in their baggage.
Coulter explained the importance of packing a first-aid kit – as buying such items onboard could prove costly.
“Medicines and bandages or plasters can be hugely expensive on a cruise, so it really is worth bringing your own first-aid kit to cater for the family,” Coulter told Express.co.uk.
“Buying Band-Aids or over-the-counter meds you have at home might not be readily available on a cruise ship or in a foreign port – and if so, they will be expensive.”
Coulter shared his recommended list of medical necessities to get before you travel.
“We recommend stocking a first aid kit with items like plasters, alcohol swabs, antibiotic ointment, cold pills, cough drops, painkillers, seasickness remedies and meds for heartburn and upset stomachs,” he said.
On the subject of health, it’s vital to be truthful when filling out the obligatory health questionnaire.
“Wilfully lying on the public health questionnaire is subject to a fine and in rare cases, imprisonment,” said Coulter.
Women should also not sail in the third trimester of pregnancy. “You must typically be 24 weeks pregnant or less on the day of disembarkation in order to cruise,” Coulter told Express.co.uk.
If you do think you could suffer seasickness while away for whatever reason, there are steps you can take to limit this.
The main move is to choose a cabin which won’t be rocked too much by rough waters. A room in the wrong part of the ship could make seasickness much worse.
Ex cruise ship crew member Joshua Kinser recommends avoiding the cruise cabins in the middle and opting for lower decks instead.
“Lower decks will not have as much rocking and motion when in high seas,” he told Express.co.uk. “So if you’re concerned about seasickness, these are good choices.”
There is also a rather unlikely location onboard that you can go to if you’re feeling queasy.
Doctor Ben MacFarlane explained his book Cruise Ship SOS that casinos are designed to be the most stable room on the ship and could help you feel better.
A colleague tells him: “’They don’t want to compromise the roulette ball. Nor do they want any seasick passengers heading back to their cabins and interrupting a losing streak.
“If you’re feeling queasy onboard then Kieran reckons the casino is the only place to be.”