Tami BenedictTo avoid getting sick on a cruise, wash your hands with soap and water before every meal and after the restroom, get your flu shot at least two weeks before you sail, pack seasickness and cold remedies, and report symptoms to the ship’s medical center early. Respiratory bugs are the most common problem on board, not stomach illness.
Published October 11, 2026.
How to avoid getting sick on a cruise
I plan a lot of my travel around cruises, and after years of boarding ships, the routine is familiar. There is a sanitizer dispenser at every dining room door and a health form at check-in. Coughs make the rounds on almost every sailing. The people who stay well are rarely the lucky ones. They wash their hands at the sink instead of trusting the dispenser, they sleep, and they pace the buffet and the bar.
The CDC’s advice lines up with that. Its Yellow Book chapter for cruise travelers says to wash hands often with soap and water. Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is the backup when no sink is handy. It also recommends getting up to date on vaccines, including the flu shot, and putting off a trip while you are acutely ill.
Most common illness on cruise ships
Norovirus gets the headlines, but it is not what sends most passengers to the ship’s doctor. The CDC Yellow Book breaks down medical center visits like this:
| Reason for the visit | Share of medical center visits | What the CDC notes |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory illness | 30 to 40 percent | The most common complaint; flu can spread year-round |
| Slips, trips and falls | 12 to 18 percent | An injury, not an illness |
| Gastrointestinal (stomach) illness | About 10 percent | More than 90 percent of confirmed outbreaks are norovirus |
| Seasickness | About 10 percent | Affects up to 25 percent of travelers |
The same chapter notes that about half of the passengers who seek medical care on board are over 65. It also says influenza can circulate on ships year-round. That is why the flu shot matters even on a summer sailing. Cruise ships mix travelers from many places in tight indoor spaces, and the virus does not wait for winter.
Norovirus on cruise ships
When a stomach bug does spread on a ship, it is almost always the same one. According to the CDC Yellow Book, more than 90 percent of gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships with a confirmed cause are due to norovirus. The good news in the same chapter is that stomach illness overall has dropped. Among passengers on 3- to 21-day voyages, the rate of gastrointestinal illness fell from 32.5 to 16.9 cases per 100,000 travel days between 2006 and 2019.
The CDC’s norovirus page describes it as a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Nausea and stomach pain are common too, and some people get a fever, headache or body aches. Symptoms usually start 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and most people recover in 1 to 3 days. The catch is that you can still spread it for two weeks or more after you feel better.
It spreads three ways, per the CDC. You can catch it from a sick person, from contaminated food or drinks, or from a surface you touch before touching your mouth. Ships have plenty of shared surfaces. Think handrails, elevator buttons, buffet tongs and casino chips.
Does hand sanitizer kill norovirus
Not well. The CDC’s norovirus prevention page says plainly that hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. Sanitizer can be used in addition to handwashing, but the CDC says it is not a substitute for it. The CDC asks for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
So use the dispenser at the dining room door, then still wash at a sink before you eat. Your cabin bathroom is the easiest place to do it. Wash again after the restroom, after shore excursions and after touching shared railings or game tables.
Cruise ship norovirus outbreaks
The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program covers ships that carry 13 or more passengers and sail a foreign itinerary with U.S. ports. It inspects those ships on public health standards in eight major areas. Its online Inspection Query Tool lets you look up a ship’s scores and reports before you book.
The program also posts outbreaks. A voyage makes the CDC’s public list when 3 percent or more of passengers or crew report stomach illness symptoms to the ship’s medical staff. On the 2026 list, norovirus is the most common cause named. A ship with a recent outbreak is not off limits. It is a reason to be strict about handwashing from the first day.
How to prevent seasickness on a cruise
Even on big modern ships, seasickness is common. The CDC Yellow Book says it affects up to 25 percent of travelers despite stabilizers. It also tells clinicians to consider prescribing motion sickness medication for travelers to use on their own. That means the time to ask is before the trip, not after the ship clears the harbor.
If you have been seasick before on boats or ferries, say so at that appointment. Then pack the medicine where you can reach it on the first night.
What to pack to avoid getting sick on a cruise
- Over-the-counter basics. The CDC Yellow Book suggests packing over-the-counter medications.
- Test kits. The same chapter suggests bringing COVID-19 and influenza test kits so you can check yourself early.
- Your prescriptions, plus extra. Bring enough for a delayed return, and keep them in your carry-on.
- Travel medical coverage. The CDC advises considering extra insurance for health care overseas and for medical evacuation.
What happens if you get sick on a cruise
Go to the medical center early. The CDC Yellow Book tells travelers to report every illness to the ship’s medical center and follow its advice, including any request to isolate. Shipboard medical centers, the chapter says, can provide care comparable to an ambulatory care center. About 95 percent of illnesses and injuries on board are treated or managed there.
Staying in your cabin for a day or two is no fun on a vacation you paid for. Still, it protects your tablemates. Had a stomach bug? The CDC’s general advice is to wait at least 48 hours after symptoms stop before going back to work, especially around food. That is a sensible bar for the buffet line too.
Cruise ship illness FAQ
Is it common to get sick on a cruise?
Most passengers stay well. When people do see the ship’s doctor, respiratory illness is the top reason. The CDC Yellow Book puts it at 30 to 40 percent of visits. Stomach illness and seasickness each account for about 10 percent. Stomach illness rates on ships also fell from 32.5 to 16.9 cases per 100,000 travel days between 2006 and 2019.
Can you avoid getting sick on a cruise in winter?
The CDC says norovirus peaks from November through April in the United States. The agency estimates 19 to 21 million illnesses a year nationally, with about 109,000 hospitalizations. Winter and holiday sailings fall inside that window. So wash with soap and water often, and get the flu shot early.
Can I go on a cruise if I’m sick?
The CDC Yellow Book advises travelers to put off travel while acutely ill. If you get sick on the trip, report it to the ship’s medical center. Then follow its instructions, which may include staying in your cabin for a time. Check your cruise line’s policy and your travel insurance before you decide.
How do you avoid getting sick on a cruise ship?
Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating and after the restroom. The CDC says sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. Get a flu shot at least two weeks before sailing, pack basic medications and test kits, and see the ship’s doctor early.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own situation.
Madeline Marshall
