Guest Author - Shasta Wilson

A travel rule of thumb: it's not always safe to drink the water.

What exactly does this mean? Well, for most travelers, it's a good way to remember that our bodies are living, breathing ecosystems that are home to swarms of 'friendly bacteria' that we acquire through our local diets. In a foreign country, the bacteria found in those local diets are likely to be completely different, and when ingested can cause temporary gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.

That said, water on a cruise ship does not have the same caveat emptor as local drinking water. Fresh water on a cruise ship is a serious undertaking, and includes large-scale purification and/or desalination systems. Cruise ship passengers have a massive, and constant, need for fresh water, so keeping the water supply safely available is a cruise ship's chief concern.

Cruise ship fresh water is also subject to regulation from any country where the ship may dock. Government agencies from numerous countries worldwide frequently make unannounced inspections on ships docked in port, and the cruise ship must be able to meet stringent requirements. International groups like the World Health Organization have also been known to get involved with monitoring the health and safety of cruise ship passengers.

So what does all this mean for cruisers? To begin with, you can be reasonably assured that when sailing on a ship, the fresh water you're drinking or showering with is clean. Most people with healthy digestive systems will not notice any difference in the way they feel. Those passengers who know they have especially sensitive stomachs might need a few days to adjust. Food on board is prepared using the cruise ship water, as is ice. There's always bottled water available for purchase both in the dining room and on deck, if preferred.

Travel agent tip: After having traveled to countries where we've had to brush our teeth with bottled water, dump out soft drinks with ice, and not eat salads washed with water, I can say that cruise ship water gives me no concern. Common cruise ship illnesses, like Norwalk virus, are not passed through contaminated water, and the local bacteria that cause travelers so many stomach woes are filtered almost entirely through the water treatment systems on board. In fact, cruise ship water is treated and filtered far more than the water you might find in an extremely rural village. If you're still unsure, try to ingest as little water as possible. Only eat hot foods (the heat will have killed most any bacteria) and only drink water from a bottle. Don't be scared of showering or brushing your teeth - the water you might ingest is unlikely to cause a problem.