Before COVID, you generally did not need any immunizations to work onboard a ship. Times have changed. If any vaccinations are required, the cruise line will tell you which one(s).
When onboard, it is common practice to be called into the infirmary for a flu shot. This is not mandatory, but recommended.
The Norwalk virus, a gastrointestinal illness, can spread quickly on a ship, as can other diseases. Prevention is the best medicine. Here are some tips to prevent the spread of infectious disease and becoming ill:
► Hand Washing – Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs spread that way.
► Cough Etiquette – Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
► Gloves – Crew members should wear impermeable, disposable gloves if they need to have direct contact with ill passengers or potentially contaminated surfaces, rooms, or lavatories used by ill passengers. They should avoid touching their face with gloved or unwashed hands. Improper use of gloves may actually increase transmission.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
