Traveling Safe

Avoid getting sick from swine flu or bed bugs while you travel. Many cruiselines are being plagued by these outbreaks along with world travelers.

Cruise ships are not the only mode of transportation suffering from outbreaks of swine flu and bedbugs or other parasites. Proper sanitation is the only way to avoid these outbreaks, but often airplanes and cruise ships do not get a thorough enough sanitation. Proper sanitation of every airplane and cruise ship would require days of labor and would literally bankrupt these companies.

Because this is the case, it is necessary for you to take matters into your own hands when it comes to sanitation during your travels. Alcohol wipes and alcohol based hand sanitizer will be your first, and sometimes, only defense of these bacteria.

Hand sanitizer dries very quickly, so you should attempt to use it constantly to avoid viruses. In order to protect yourself from viruses and parasites, you should use these protocols religiously.

It is also a good idea to consult your physician before your trip to get preventative measures. H1N1 vaccines are available and should be taken as a precaution before leaving on your trip or vacation. If you start to feel "bitten" while you are on your trip or vacation, you should immediately shower in the hottest water you can stand. Using a shampoo with either sulfur or selenium will help also. These shampoos, made for dandruff, should be left on for a minimum of five minutes, all over your body, before rinsing off. The tingling feeling on your scalp is a good indication that the shampoo is working and will hopefully protect you from an outbreak.

If you notice "bites" while you are in bed, have the steward bring you a plastic mattress cover. Zippered mattress covers that encompass the entire mattress are the best. Just be sure to get a protective barrier between you and the mattress, and remember that these bugs can travel through cloth, only plastic will protect you.

While traveling in foreign cities or ports of call, be very careful of what you eat and drink. Improper cooking of foods is very dangerous and undercooked food should be sent back for more heat or just not eaten. The higher the heat, the more bacteria that will be decimated. If you have not personally seen food prepared and think it might be unsafe, it is best to avoid it.

Bed bugs and swine flu are usually curable. So do not dwell on the thought, just be careful and have fun on your trip.

Learn more about Princess Cruiseline. Stop by Matthew Shaulis's site where you can find out all about Princess Cruises and what it can do for you.