Holidaying on a cruise ship can be one of the most exciting and stress-reducing activities you can do. It was once seen as a holiday option for the more mature amongst us. However, cruising is now becoming increasingly popular with younger generations too. Depending on the type of cruise, the destination and the month you take your trip may result in you partying outside on the deck or lounging while you people watch. The soft breeze hitting your face as you glide over the still waters or a cloudy sea day may deceive you into thinking the sun is not that strong. But it is. Therefore, it’s vital that you top up with sun lotion on a regular basis. If you do not, then it can quickly lead to a very painful sunburn. So, what should you do when you get sunburn on a cruise ship?
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Apply Moisturiser to Soothe Skin
Sunburns are no joke and can be very painful if left untreated. Therefore, the first thing you should, regardless of whether you are on a cruise ship or not, is to apply moisturiser. When the skin is burned, it becomes dehydrated. This causes any type of stretching or touching of the skin to be painful. Applying moisturiser hydrates the skin and makes the pain a lot more tolerable. Ideally, you need to seek a cream that contains hydrocortisone. You can usually obtain this type of cream without a prescription and will help you avoid any allergic reactions that you might experience with other types of creams on the market.
However, this may be difficult if find if you are in the middle of the ocean. Therefore, it is advised that you take a bottle with you just in case you need it. Failing having or finding a moisturiser containing hydrocortisone, simply use whatever moisturiser you have with you. After all, something to ease the sunburn is better than nothing at all.
Locate the Medical Facility
Severe sunburn should never be taken lightly. Thus, it is important that you seek medical attention. If you have never cruised before you may not be aware that every cruise ship has one or more doctors who can help to determine the severity of your burn. It is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with where the ship’s medical facility is or who to contact should you have a medical issue upon embarkation or as soon after as possible.
They should have onboard the necessary equipment/knowledge/experience to determine if your specific burn simply needs some cream and rest or if it’s something more serious that requires more advanced care.
Recovery
Most people taking a cruise will not let sunburn stop them from having fun and it shouldn’t. However, before you hit the pool or go on that excursion you already paid for at your next port of call you must consider if you feel well enough. If you have to spend a day or so recovering, then so be it. If you can carry on, it is recommended to wear clothing that covers the skin properly and fully, especially the affected area. A good way to test out the ability of your clothing to block the sun is to hold the fabric up in the sunlight. If you can clearly see to the other side, then it might not be strong enough fabric to protect you throughout the day. And once again – do not forget to apply sun lotion.
Getting a sunburn is easily done, yet quite a serious matter that should be taken care of immediately. Understandably, it can be difficult to know how to go about treating sunburn on a cruise ship. However, if you pack some moisturiser in advance and familiarise yourself with the ship, you should be ok if you catch too much sun.
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