CDC’s 2009-2012 norovirus outbreak report reconfirmed that while cruise ship illnesses make the news, foodborne virus outbreaks are more often linked to landlubbing food handlers. But the cruise ship folks know that the perception quickly becomes reality for vacation seekers and want to ensure they are reducing the risk of an outbreak. 

Spouting a slew of cruising tips including packing two bathing suits, Live 5 News’ Patrick Philips writes that senior newscast director Bill Blake sees himself as sort of a cruise ship aficionado. Blake suggests that cruisers should avoid saying vomit and diarrhea around the ship.

Then, there are those two little words. Blake says cruise ship passengers should be very careful about saying the words vomit or diarrhea when talking with the ship’s staff.

Granted, they’re not the kind of words most people would work into a normal conversation (there’s lots of barf and poop talk around my house -ben). 

But on a cruise ship, over-indulging can make either happen. “You’re gonna be eating rich food, you might be having some fruity drinks and a lot of people they get an upset stomach,” Blake says. “They get freaked out, they go running to the ship’s doctor, they say I’m having diarrhea or vomiting and the ship’s policy on that is to quarantine you to you for 48 hours, which means you’re going to spend two solid days sitting in your cabin with them bringing you soup and crackers.”

Blake says that’s because the nasty stomach flu norovirus is the cruise industry’s worst enemy. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.

So instead, Bill says, pack plenty of over the counter meds and try those first.

If you still don’t feel any better, it could be something more serious, and then you should go to the medical staff.