Travelore Tips: What Are The TSA Rules For Taking Medication Through Security?

Travelers commonly bring prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and medical devices on flights. While it might seem like a no-brainer to bring the medications or medical devices you use every day, traveling with medication can become complicated if you’re unprepared.

Airport security screenings, differences in laws across countries, and keeping your medications accessible and properly stored can be hurdles. Misunderstandings can cause delays or potential confiscation of medications at security and customs screenings.

Knowing the rules can help you prepare and avoid travel delays or medication challenges. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers clear guidelines to get through screening, but international travel requires more research. Here’s what you need to know about taking medications through security, whether traveling within the U.S. or taking an international trip.

TSA Medication Rules

You can pass through TSA checkpoints with medically necessary liquids over the standard 3.4-ounce limit, but you must declare them before going through security. Some medications, such as injectables, require additional screening.

For domestic U.S. travel, TSA allows:

Prescription medications (solid or liquid)

OTC medications

Medically necessary liquids over 3.4 ounces

Medical accessories, such as pill organizers, syringes, and inhalers

Prescription or original container labeling is not required, but it is helpful. You can carry medications in a pill organizer or unlabeled container when flying domestically, but if you’re concerned about misunderstandings, a label can help clarify that it’s medically necessary.

TSA doesn’t require a doctor’s letter or copy of your prescription, though bringing these details can help prevent issues, especially if your medication is injectable or contains liquids over 3.4 ounces.

Separate medications from your other carry-on items at the TSA security checkpoint. If you carry liquid medication, inform a TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process.

Medications are typically screened using X-rays, but you can request a visual inspection if you prefer that your medication not be X-rayed. Medically necessary liquids are exempt from size limits but may require additional screening, such as explosives testing.

As long as your medication is screened appropriately, you can bring as much solid or liquid medication as you need.

Domestic Travel Tips for Medications

Use these practical tips to get through airport security with medications as smoothly as possible:

Bring medications in your carry-on bag. Essentials such as medications should never be in your checked luggage, which could be delayed or lost. Medications should be accessible in your carry-on bag during travel delays or layovers.

Separate medications from other liquids. Pack liquid medications separately from other liquids so TSA agents can easily identify and screen them. If you carry liquid medication or a medically necessary liquid over 3.4 ounces, let a TSA officer know upfront.

Use a clear bag. A clear bag isn’t required for medications, but it can make it easier to inspect while keeping your items organized.

Bring extra medication. Pack a few extra days’ worth of medication in case of travel delays so you don’t have to scramble to refill prescriptions or go without.

International Travel Rules for Medications

International medication rules vary widely, and failing to comply can lead to delays, confiscation, or even legal trouble. Always research the medication laws for your destination before you travel. Although you can carry medication in a pill organizer within the U.S., many countries require the original prescription bottle and may require a doctor’s letter or permit. Medications considered routine in the U.S. may be highly regulated or banned in other countries.

Different Countries Have Different Laws

Legal and common medications in the U.S. may be classified differently in another country with its own drug regulations. Travelers must comply with local laws, even with a valid U.S. prescription.

For example, a U.S. OTC pseudoephedrine (a common decongestant) is prohibited in Japan. Stimulant medications for ADHD (such as Adderall or Ritalin), anti-anxiety medications (such as Xanax), or painkillers may be strictly controlled or prohibited in some countries.

Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates are known for strict medication rules.

Always check the medication rules for the countries you visit or transit through. You can start by visiting the government’s official website. A destination country may require preapproval or registration for some medications, such as narcotics and psychotropics. Be ready to submit an application or approval form for certain prescription drugs. You may be limited in how much you can bring; a 30-day supply is typical.

Language barriers can make bringing medication tricky, as officials may not be familiar with U.S. drug names or packaging. An unlabeled medication container may raise suspicion. To avoid confusion, it’s best to travel with your original prescription bottle when going abroad.

Countries With Specific Medication Restrictions

Some countries have particularly strict medication rules, even for drugs that are common and legal in the U.S. Failure to comply with medication restrictions may lead to detention, fines, or confiscation.

Here’s a look at some countries with notable medication restrictions:

Country Common Restrictions

Egypt

Narcotics and psychotropics are prohibited; other prescriptions can be carried with up to a 3-month supply with a signed medical report and prescription

Indonesia

Strict anti-drug laws; all medications require a doctor’s letter and prescription in original packaging

Japan

Amphetamines such as Adderall and Vyvanse are banned; strict on stimulants and pseudoephedrine

Saudi Arabia

Doctor’s letter and prescription required; controlled substances may require permits; alcohol-based medications may be flagged

Singapore

Zero tolerance for cannabis products and certain sedatives; approval required for some medications

South Korea

Cannabis is illegal; approval is required for amphetamine, opiate, and benzodiazepine drugs

Thailand

Permits are required for some medications

United Arab Emirates

Approval required for narcotics and psychotropics; expect strict customs checks

Tips for International Travel With Medication

Keeping your medication organized and properly documented can help avoid customs confusion. Use these tips to make international travel with medications easier:

Pack medications and documents in your carry-on. Essential medications and documents should always be close at hand. Packing medications in your checked bag increases the risk that they’ll be lost or stolen, and you could need them if you face travel delays or a long layover.

Keep your medication in its original packaging and retain prescription labels. If you’re bringing OTC medication, keep it in its manufacturer’s packaging. Prescriptions should have a label with your name, the prescribing doctor’s name, the medication name, and dosage information. These details can help confirm the legitimacy of the medication.

Bring a doctor’s letter for some medications. Injectables, controlled substances, or large quantities of medication may require a note with the list of medications with brand and generic names, how they are administered, and how they are necessary for treatment.

Translate documents if needed. If you’re traveling to a country where English isn’t a common language, a translated prescription or doctor’s letter can help clarify information for customs agents. It’s also helpful in emergencies if a local medical professional needs to review what you’re taking.

Look up country-specific medication rules. Because medication rules vary depending on where you’re going, you should look up the regulations for any country you’ll visit, either in transit or as a destination. Start with the country’s embassy or consulate website. Some countries may require prior approval or registration to bring certain medications or restrict how much you can bring.

Don’t mix medications with purchases abroad. If you’ve purchased OTC or prescription medication at your destination, keep those purchases separate from medications you brought from home. Formulations and dosage standards vary, and could make it difficult to identify the original drug.

Add emergency contacts, doctor information, and embassy details to your phone. You might not need to contact the embassy for medications, but you’ll be glad you have emergency information handy if you need help.

Carry travel insurance or use a credit card with emergency medical coverage. If your medication is lost or stolen, or you need medical attention while traveling, a travel insurance policy or credit card with travel insurance coverage can connect you with the resources you need and reimburse your expenses.

By Jessica Merritt

Cruise Lines Require Vaccinations, Tests, Amid Virus Surge

MIAMI (AP) — Joel Steckler was eager for his first cruise in more than a year and a half, and he chose the ship that just two months ago became the first to accept passengers again after a long pandemic shutdown.

Steckler was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and that was enough to resume cruising, under initial guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Now, the 63-year-old from Long Island, New York, is going to postpone the trip he had planned for Saturday amid new, tighter guidelines prompted by the delta-variant-fueled surge in cases and breakthrough infections.

“You just have to make a personal decision,” said Steckler, who takes medication that suppresses his immune system and changed his plans after consulting his doctor. “You don’t want to be in a position where you are sick on a cruise and you have to fly home or somehow get home.”

Cruise lines have detected infections among vaccinated crew members and passengers, including in an elderly traveler who recently died. Last Friday, the CDC began advising travelers who are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness to avoid cruises. It is also recommending that passengers show both a recent negative COVID test and proof they’ve been immunized.

In addition to the surging delta virus, the CDC changed its cruise guidelines for high-risk groups because of the close proximity of ship passengers, the limited options for care on board and the challenges of medically evacuating travelers at sea, Centers spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said Tuesday.

Some cruise lines — and cruise destinations — are also revising their own guidelines.

Starting Sept. 3, the Bahamas — a favored stop for cruises — is requiring all passengers 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for ships to dock. That has prompted companies including Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Carnival to announce this week that they are adopting the same requirement. The companies will ask for a government vaccination card or a record from a health care provider.

They’ve been able to do so in Florida after a federal judge this month temporarily blocked a state law banning cruise lines from requiring passengers to prove they’re vaccinated.

The companies are also once again requiring masks in indoor areas of the ships and other places where people gather.

“Unfortunately, no venue on land or at sea is COVID-free right now,” Carnival Corp. said in a written statement.

Carnival commented on the case of a vaccinated 77-year-old woman who later came down with the virus. The company said the woman “almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship,” suggesting she was already infected when she embarked.

Neither cruise lines nor the federal government are reporting how many cases they have had on their ships. They have only acknowledged that there have been infections.

Officials in Belize, however, recently reported that 26 crew members and one passenger of a Carnival cruise ship — all of whom had been vaccinated — tested positive for COVID-19. They said all of them had mild or no symptoms, and were in isolation.

Jaime Katz, an analyst who covers the cruise industry for the Morningstar financial services company, said while many high-risk travelers might postpone their trips, others will continue to book for the future, betting that the current wave of cases will subside by the time their ship sails.

“Flexible booking and cancellation policies have made cruising more palatable for nervous travelers,” he said.

Companies are offering full refunds if people test positive for COVID-19 or decide to cancel after a cruise line shortens the length of a planned trip. Royal Caribbean International is also offering to fly people home if they or anyone in their party test positive during the cruise.

Chris Woronka, a Deutsche Bank analyst who follows the leisure industry, said cruisers, including those over 65, are an avid bunch — so eager to get back on the water that they won’t easily be dissuaded by the current COVID surge and more stringent travel requirements.

“I don’t think this is permanent unless we’re dealing with delta 2.0 or whatever the next one is,” Woronka said.

Federal Guidance to Fly Healthy This Holiday Season

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and State have established a new web portal where airline passengers can obtain updated information on how to Fly Healthy this holiday season. The portal walks you through every step of the process: plan your travel; at the airport; aboard the aircraft; arrival at your destination, and returning home. Passengers making plans to return to air travel during the COVID-19 public health crisis are encouraged to visit the portal before heading to the airport. The experience as an airline passenger begins at home, planning and taking precautions to help everyone have a safe journey while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Following these and other federal travel guidance will help ensure airline passengers can Fly Healthy for the holidays and safely negotiate all aspects of air travel. Recommendations include, among others:

Trip Planning: Before booking your trip, check for international travel advisories and destination-specific COVID-19 risk. Refer to individual state, territorial, tribal, and local government websites for domestic travel advisories and information about quarantine or other restrictions.

At the Airport: Once you arrive at the airport and exit your vehicle, start wearing your mask. This includes on shuttle buses, trams and any time you are outside your own vehicle on airport grounds.

Aboard the Aircraft: Wear your mask aboard the aircraft, practice good sanitation, and maintain as much social distance as possible. Be sure to pack extra masks for yourself and your party in your carry-on.

Arrival at Your Destination State, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place, including testing requirements, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine requirements upon arrival.

Returning Home: You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. Regardless of where you traveled or what you did during your trip, take action to protect others from getting sick after you return. The Federal Aviation Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborated on the guidance supporting these recommendations. Additional information to better protect airline passengers, crew, and other airport workers can be found in the Runway to Recovery publication, a joint guidance initiative from the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, and Health and Human Services https://www.transportation.gov/flyhealthy

Do's And Don'ts Of Wearing A Face Mask At Restaurants During COVID-19

NDRAJIT GUHA VIA GETTY IMAGES

Doctors suggest limiting the number of times you take off and put on your face mask to minimize contamination.

COVID-19 has changed the way we do pretty much everything, including eating out. Now that many restaurants have reopened dine-in options, with socially distanced tables inside or outdoors, a new problem presents itself: How do you wear a mask while eating?

Wearing a face mask has become a requirement in most states when entering most businesses, and for good reason. But what do you do with that mask when it’s time to take a bite? Do you place it on the table? Store it in your purse until you’re ready to leave? Do you put the mask back on when speaking to servers? And do you put it on between each bite?

As we’re all navigating this new normal, the questions are endless and understandable. HuffPost consulted doctors to get their best suggestions.

Sanitize your hands as soon as you sit down.

When you enter a restaurant, your initial thought may be to head to the restroom to wash your hands. Though generally nothing can replace hand-washing with soap and water, a few doctors suggest staying seated at your table and utilizing sanitizer in this situation.

Heading to the restroom means walking back through the restaurant to your table ― with all the possibilities for recontamination ― and then taking your mask off.

Instead, “use a personal hand sanitizer that you bring along with you [and] handle the mask by its straps to avoid possible transfer between the mask and your hands,” said internal medicine physician Vivek Cherian.

Never set your mask down on the table.

So now that you’ve safely removed your mask by the ear straps, the million-dollar question is: Where do you actually place it? Even doctors have varying suggestions, but they all agree on one thing: Putting your mask on the table is a no-no.

“When you are eating at a restaurant, the last place you want to put the mask after you remove it is on the table,” Cherian said.

“COVID is transmitted via respiratory droplets, which can occur even when people are talking,” he explained. “So just having a simple conversation with your friend and family can cause droplets to land on and contaminate your mask.”

Do this instead.

Cherian suggested that in addition to hand sanitizer, diners should bring a clean, breathable container, like a paper bag or even a small mesh laundry bag, to put the mask in. This will keep the mask away from possible contaminants while allowing it to dry.

“Cloth masks lose their effectiveness if they are damp, even from regular breathing,” he said, adding that storing the mask inside your pocket can lead to even more moisture, especially if you’re sweating.

What if you don’t have any paper bags or forgot to bring a mesh bag? Aaron Rossi, a doctor and CEO of Reditus Laboratories, which has partnered with the state of Illinois to provide COVID-19 testing, has another solution.

“I would advise people to utilize the elasticity in masks to roll them up on one’s wrist while dining,” he said, which will help prevent exposure to other contaminants.

Placing both of the elastic straps around your wrist, with the inside of the mask (the part that comes in contact with your mouth) folded inward on itself, means you’re essentially wearing the mask like a bracelet. Rossi said not only does this keep the inside of the mask less contaminated, but it also leaves the mask accessible if you need to put it back on quickly, particularly when talking with a server.

Should you put your mask back on between bites?

The doctors we spoke with advise against too much handling of the mask, which can contaminate it as well as other surfaces it comes in contact with.

Cherian said, “Constantly putting the mask on and off between bites can actually increase the risk of spreading COVID, as you increase the [possibility] of spreading the virus from your mask to your hands and subsequently spreading it around.” He suggested that a mask be worn right up until you’re ready to eat and only placed back on when you’re leaving the restaurant.

What do you do while talking to your server?

Sometimes the server may approach the table when your mask is off.

“The safest way to protect a server, in addition to maintaining a six-foot distance, would be for the diner to also have their mask on,” Cherian said. But he added, “This involves additional risks to the diner as putting the mask on and off can increase the risk of spreading COVID from your mask to your hands.”

Clearly, you should try to limit the number of times the server must return to the table. Maybe you don’t really need more olive oil.

Another idea from Cherian: Carry a second, sanitized mask as a backup. Slip this one on ― handling the ear straps with clean hands ― instead of reaching for the mask that’s already been worn and possibly contaminated.

As far as how much risk the servers face, there’s no definitive answer, but Kent New, who has a Ph.D. in virology, said the risk is probably low. “Since the server is wearing a mask and standing, listening to seated patrons, the level of risk to the server is unknown but likely minimal,” New said.

Rossi also agrees that “the risk of transmission and infection for both servers and patrons is minimal” when staff wears masks and sustained contact is limited to a few minutes.

Chains and lanyards aren’t a great option at restaurants.

Face mask accessories like chains and lanyards, similar to eyeglass chains, are becoming increasingly popular as they allow the mask to hang from your neck when not in use. But despite their convenience, you risk exposing the inside of your mask to the coronavirus.

“These chains don’t prevent your mask from being contaminated if it is pulled away from your nose and mouth,” New said.

The same concern arises if you pull your mask down on your chin or leave it dangling from one ear.

“Allowing the inside of the mask to be exposed to air droplets breathed out by others defeats the purpose of wearing the mask. You are better off putting it away until you are finished eating,” New said.

And when you’ve finished your meal, the recommendation is to go through the same routine as when you took off the mask: First sanitize your hands and then use the ear straps to place the mask over your nose and mouth.

Whatever method you choose for storing your mask while eating, New added that the biggest risk comes not from it but from those you’re eating with.

“The most important thing when dining out is to make sure the people you are eating with have not been exposed to COVID-19 recently,” he said. “You will be most at risk of exposure from the people you are dining with.”

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/face-mask-restaurants-covid-19_l_5f4e5febc5b64f17e1435076

Travelore Tips: How To Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer

By Anne

 Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Some commercial hand sanitizer contains ingredients as scary as the germs they protect you from, so why not make your own hand sanitizer from ingredients you select? This is an excellent project for kids as well as adults since the project can be expanded to include a discussion about hygiene and disinfection. You'll save money, protect yourself from germs, and can customize the scent of the hand sanitizer so it doesn't smell medicinal.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Ingredients

• 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• 8-10 drops essential oil, optional (such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, grapefruit)
• bowl and spoon
• funnel
• recycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle

Make Hand Sanitizer

Nothing could be easier! Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the bottle. Screw the pump back onto the bottle and you're ready to go.

How It Works

The active ingredient in this hand sanitizer recipe is the alcohol, which needs to comprise at least 60% of the product in order to be an effective disinfectant.

Essential Oils in Hand Sanitizer

In addition to adding fragrance to your hand sanitizer, the essential oil you choose may also help protect you against germs. For example, thyme and clove oil have antimicrobial properties. If you are using antimicrobial oils, only use a drop or two, since these oils tend to be very powerful and might irritate your skin. Other oils, such as lavender or chamomile, may help soothe your skin.

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/make-your-own-homemade-hand-sanitizer-606145

Zika Virus And Travel Insurance: What You Need To Know

TravelPulse file photo

With news of the Zika virus dominating current news cycles, it’s not surprising that top travel insurance providers are fielding a high volume of calls from policyholders concerned about the virus’ potential to impact their upcoming travel.

“We have seen an astronomical increase in the number of policyholders calling our 24/7 Assistance team asking about their plans’ coverage and how the benefits apply to the Zika virus,” said Jason Schreier, CEO April Travel Protection.

“We’ve received about 300 calls from customers who are concerned about Zika and want to know how travel insurance can help,” added Dan Durazo, director of communications for Allianz Global Assistance.

Generally, travelers who purchased “cancel for any reason” policies prior to the virus’ outbreak may cancel their travel plans over concerns regarding potential infection. But providers say to date there’s been no noteworthy increase in this area. Durazo said Allianz has received about 100 claims related to Zika.

READ MORE: How Travel is Reacting to Zika Virus

Beyond cancel-for-any-reason policies, the Zika virus outbreak is not covered under most “trip cancellation” plans sold by travel insurance providers. “The Zika virus outbreak doesn’t alter policy guidelines for trip cancellation, said Schreier. “Per the Centers for Disease Control, the virus alert is set at level 2, which means policyholders can still travel to the affected destinations and practice enhanced precautions.”

The Zika virus’ risks are most serious for pregnant women, as the birth defect microcephaly, which health officials have linked to Zika, was recently declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization.  Durazo notes that “Some Allianz travel insurance products do allow customers to cancel their trip if a member of their party becomes pregnant after the insurance is purchased.” 

He added, “Customers who do have cancellation coverage could receive a refund for the pre-paid, non-refundable travel payments that they might otherwise lose.” Durazo advised Allianz policyholders with additional questions to contact the company.

Schreier said pregnancy “is not a covered reason for trip cancellation,” even if a physician statement preventing travel is submitted. However cancellation of travel to a Zika-affected destination due to pregnancy would be covered under an optional “Enhanced Unforeseen Events” upgrade to the April’s “Choice” policy package.

READ MORE: What Travelers Need to Know About Zika Virus

To date, neither official has observed a surge of policy purchases in connection with travel to Zika-impacted regions. Schreier has noticed only a “slight increase in the number of trip cancellation and Choice policies booked through our aggregator partners."

In addition, The Caribbean Tourism Organization issuing a statement Wednesday saying its 28 member destination report “very few cancellations as a result of Zika.”  

Both Allianz Global Assistance and April Travel Protection are advising policyholders to monitor Centers for Disease Control notices and contact their hotlines should they become ill during their travels. “Allianz customers who become ill with the Zika virus may also be covered for emergency medical treatment,” said Durazo. “Customers who are traveling and need help should call our Travel Assistance department.” 

Schreier added, “If a traveler contracts the virus while traveling, April would cover and coordinate all assistance for emergency medical, medical evacuation, and trip interruption.”  

By BRIAN MAJOR

Find Out What The Germiest Place On The Airplane Is (Hint: It's Not The Bathroom)

Vicki Beaver / Alamy

Tray tables take the cake for most germs per square inch on airplanes

Airports and planes are breeding grounds for germs—this most likely isn't a surprise for anyone, given how many people travel through them every day. Travel Math, a website focused on breaking down trips by the numbers (think: miles traveled, cost of driving, flight times, etc.), recently released some information shining some light on the germiest places in said travel hubs.

A microbiologist visited five airports and four different flights to take some samples to determine the bacteria population on each per square inch. You can check out the fullinfographic here, but we pulled out a few particular, um, problem spots. Read on (and don't forget the hand sanitizer on your next trip!):

Tray Tables

If you thought airplane bathrooms were gross, you don't even know the half of it. As it turns out, tray tables host the most germs on airplanes with a bacteria population of 2,155 per square inch.

Water Fountains

Only second to the germ-laden tray table is the communal water fountain. Coming in at 1,240 bacteria populations per square inch, you may be better off shelling out the extra money for bottled water.

Bathroom Stall Locks

Surprisingly, stall locks in airplane and airport bathrooms came in at the bottom of the list with only 70 bacteria populations per square inch. 

The Good News: No E. Coli

All 26 samples came back negative for fecal coliforms (it's as gross as it sounds), meaning there was no E. Coli present in any of the airports or airplanes. 

By Erika Owen, the Audience Engagement Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @erikaraeowen.

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

7 Travelore Tips For Staying Healthy On A Cruise

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

Every time there is another outbreak of the “dreaded” norovirus on a cruise ship, everyone is up in arms about how they are never going to go on one of those “dirty” cruise ships ever, or ever again.  The truth of the matter is that gastrointestinal viruses are as common on land as they are at sea, but the cruise industry is just more visible than the three people at your work that are out with the same thing. 

There are a few things you can do, however, to help keep yourself in tiptop shape while you are on your cruise.  Here are a few tips to remember.

Wash Your Hands 

Remember when mom and dad used to tell you to, “scrub those hands until you have sung happy birthday twice?" They weren’t wrong. It may seem like common sense, but one of the best things you can do while you are onboard is to wash your hands often and at length. 

The reasons that they put hand sanitizer all over the place on cruise ships is so you can use it. Get the kids to think of it like a game; every time they see one of those dispensers, they need to use it. This simple prevention can do you and your family wonders.

Drink Lots of (Bottled/Filtered) Water

I know you bought the unlimited soda refill, but make sure you are drinking plenty of water, too. Keeping your body hydrated will replenish the much-needed fluids you have sweat out up there on the pool deck or out on an excursion. The water onboard is already filtered, but if you are unsure if you are going to like the taste and don’t want to hike to the buffet, bring a water filter pitcher from home and filter your water right there in the cabin.

When you go on excursions, try to keep to the bottled waters as some of the stops may have bacteria in their water that will not agree with your digestive system. 

Get More R and R

This is why you came on a cruise to begin with: to rest, relax and rejuvenate.  Make sure that you are giving your body enough down time each day to recover from the late nights, copious amounts of adult beverages and strenuous activities.  This is the time to sleep in, take naps and just do nothing in a poolside chair.  The buffet, bar and beach will still be there when you wake up.

Eat Intelligently

Notice we didn’t say, “Eat Healthy.” Obviously, you get out what you put in, and sure the choices of healthy food are going to do your body better in the long run, but this is a vacation. You can splurge; you just have to be smart about it. 

If you know you are going out to the steak house tonight, put lots of fruits and veggies in your body at breakfast and lunch that day.  And maybe forgo the second plate of prime rib and just have it again tomorrow instead. Your body will thank you in the morning.

Take the Long Way Home

One of the best ways to make sure you are working off those extra lobster tails that you had at dinner or that late night pizza binge you had after hitting the casino is to take the stairs. Walking everywhere will make up for some of those extra calories. Figure out where you can walk when you get to your destination for the day instead of paying for a cab. You will save yourself some moolah and work off those margaritas. 

Watch your P’s and Q’s (Pints and Quarts)

Speaking of those margaritas, a word to the wise — you can totally bring down your immune system by over-consuming alcohol. And as mentioned above, you are dehydrating yourself pretty well when you drink so don’t forget to space out your beverages with some water every once in a while. Also, and this would be in the extreme cases (let’s be honest, most of us have been there once in our lives), you could forget your sanitation in the restroom; walk into a wall with the rocking of the ship, or worse.

Plan Ahead

This is probably the best advice you can receive.  If you know that you are prone to getting seasick, go see about a patch or grab some pills and take them before you get onboard. If you are feeling a little drained a couple of days before, go see the doctor and have him or her put you on a level one antibiotic so that you are already on the mend before it gets worse. Pack the extra vitamin B and C and Airborne/Emergen-C. If you are going to cruise overseas, arrive a day in advance to give your body some time to shed the jet lag. 

So there you have a few tips to keep up your health and get the most out of your cruise.  What do you do to stay healthy?  Let me know in the comments below.

By TOM BASTEK 

Travelore Tips: How To Keep From Getting Sick On A Cruise Ship

© 2007 JOHN GREIM

The Explorer of the Seas calling on Bermuda, in 2007.

UPDATE 1/31/14: Another norovirus outbreak has struck, this time on Princess Cruises'Caribbean Princess. The ship is sailing back to Houston a day early, with at least 176 sick passengers onboard, cutting short another cruise vacation. This is the third outbreak of illness on a cruise ship this year. At least 142 passengers fell ill aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Star (which I myself have sailed on) on its January 5 cruise out of Miami. Note that all three cruises were in the Caribbean—a region so saturated with cruise ships this year that big deals are on offer. This bad publicity will only force the cruise lines to cut prices even more. So, if you can stomach the risk (pun intended), consider taking advantage of the bargains to come.

ORIGINAL 1/28/14: We all hate getting sick. But getting sick on vacation is the worst. Unfortunately, that's what happened to the 600 people who became ill on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. They were felled by norovirus—a gastrointestinal illness characterized by vomiting and diarrhea—on a Caribbean cruise, and the ship had to return to New Jersey two days early so it could be disinfected from top to bottom.

But don't let infrequent norovirus outbreaks convince you to rule out cruising altogether as a vacation option. Your risk of contracting norovirus on a ship is actually a lot smaller than you might think. Norovirus outbreaks are just much higher-profile when they strike a cruise ship than when they strike, say, a hotel (where people come and go, and you never know if other guests got sick) or a theme park (where visitors disperse at day's end) or that roadside fish-taco stand you pull into along the interstate. By contrast, on a ship the outbreak is confined to one small, highly populated space; everyone is in that same place for usually about seven days; and everyone uses the same medical center.As the CDC notes, "Outbreaks are found and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land." And cruise-ship outbreaks are highly publicized too, perhaps because there's something so dramatic and riveting about hundreds of people trapped in a floating petri dish, with apparently little control over their fate.

You do have some degree of control, though. Here's the advice I give about precautions to take on a cruise ship—because they're what I do every time I take a cruise (and I've survived 23, with no norovirus yet):

Wash your hands every opportunity you get.

When shipboard staffers try to spray sanitizer into your hands on your way into the dining areas, let them.

When you pass a sanitizer dispenser onboard, use it. But don't think sanitizer is a replacement for soap and water. In its advice about keeping hands clean on cruises, the CDC points out that plain old soap and water disinfect better than alcohol-based products like Purell.

Pack antiseptic wipes.

Avoid the ship's public bathrooms and go back to your cabin.

As compensation for the illness and for cutting the cruise short by two days, Royal Caribbean is offering passengers onboard credit and 50% of the cruise fare they paid in the form of a certificate toward a future cruise. If I were one of those sick passengers, though, what I'd really want is for Royal Caribbean to convince my workplace to count my time away as sick leave and not precious vacation days!

Contributed by Wendy Perrin, cntraveler.com

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Travelore Tips: The Flight Attendants Guide To Dealing With Jet Lag

It’s perhaps the biggest complaint about travelling from one time zone to the next is the dreaded jet lag. It can literally make or break a trip – because often, it could mean hours of sleep while you should be enjoying the city you’re in!

By KarryOn 

What are the pro’s tips to getting through it? While they may not work on everyone, it’s worth a shot to read through these 7:

1. Be in the best shape you can be before your trip. If you have advanced notice, start eating healthy, take your vitamins and get plenty of sleep while you can.
2. Once on your flight, set your watch to the time zone you will be arriving in.
3. Plan to “be” on the time zone you will be arriving in. Once on your flight try to sleep if it is night time at your arrival destination. Set an alarm to wake when it is morning at your arrival city.
4. Once you arrive, if you must take a nap, limit yourself to 1-3 hours. This is difficult and you’ll want to sleep longer (in fact you may want to shoot yourself, rather than get up) but if you do you will have trouble going to sleep on time in your new time zone.
5. Try melatonin. It worked for me, but I had crazy dreams so I don’t like it. I know many people that love it.
6. Have a night cap! No, not the alcoholic version. As tempting as that may be, your sleep will be interrupted enough without adding alcohol. Stick with a night time tea, like chamomile.
7. Go to bed at the time of night you usually go to bed, in your new time zone. You may still feel groggy the next day and/or wake through the night, but this is the quickest way to be on the local time zone so you can make the most of your trip.