There are few things more fun than relaxing in the sun on a cruise. The only problem: those terrible sunburns. Most people who have gone on a cruise have experienced the pain of a nasty sunburn from the rays of the southern sun. Luckily, it’s not actually that hard to avoid getting burned – and no, the solution isn’t to just sit in your cabin all day. You can still enjoy the beaches and the water while keeping your skin healthy.
The first step that you should look into is actually covering up your skin that is going to be exposed to the sunlight. We know, you probably want to be chilling in a swimsuit and working on your tan while you’re on a cruise. But covering up when you’re not sunbathing is a great way to give your skin a break and reduce the chances of being sunburned.
If your cruise is particularly warm, you may want to look into lightweight clothing designed for sun protection. Sun shirts or hoodies cover your entire upper body without making you too hot to function. Many sun shirts also come equipped with SPF built into the fabric. This is another fantastic tool against the sun you can utilize.
Of course, covering up during your entire vacation isn’t reasonable – nor is it fun. So that means you’re going to need some proper sunscreen. In addition to having one bottle of it, we would recommend bringing an extra bottle or two sunscreen in your bag. You also want to make sure that your sunscreen is both powerful (that means a high SPF rating) and, more importantly, WATERPROOF.
Many cruise travelers forget that they will be in the water both in the pools on their ship and in the ocean when they get off the ship. They’ll pack powerful sunscreen and proceed to completely wash it off in the water. That’s a surefire way to get burned. Double and triple check that your sunscreen can withstand being in water.
Additionally, don’t underestimate how useful reapplying sunscreen can be. Even if your sunscreen is meant to be used in water, we recommend putting more on whenever you stop swimming. A new layer every hour or two can also really help cut down on how much sun you receive.
Finally, you might just want to take advantage of shade. Although lounging in the sun does feel good, it’s ultimately not too good for you to do it for long periods. You can get sunburned, but prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause some other negative health effects. If you’re ever feeling like you’ve maybe gotten a bit too much sun, just head under an umbrella or anything else that offers shade. Your skin will thank you.
Sunburns are a pain, but you can easily avoid them with smart decision making and proper supplies. But don’t forget to pack some aloe. You know… just in case.