Like restaurants, cruise ships have to follow some strict food quality standards to make sure passengers can dig in on their vacation without getting sick. But, no matter how closely the crew follows those standards, there's always room for error and the potential for your splurge at the buffet to turn into a toilet-hugging nightmare. If you're hoping for a breezy time on a boat a la The Lonely Island, avoid these dishes.
Raw Food
All-you-can-eat sushi is incredibly tempting, but you may want to stay away from it and anything else that isn't cooked. Why? Though sushi and other raw foods are supposed to be kept at cold temperatures that make them safe to eat (40 degrees or lower), even when they're chilled on a buffet table, ensuring they're all kept at a bacteria-inhibiting temp can be tricky. Just to be safe, skip the raw noms.
Unpasteurized Products
Unpasteurized products are breeding grounds for some scary stuff, like norovirus, salmonella, and listeria, so if you're going to be drinking milk or eating eggs, make sure they're Louis Pasteur-approved. It might be weird, but asking the dining staff if their products are pasteurized might save you from the worst vacation of your life.
(Too Much) Alcohol
We get it, if you're cruisin', you're definitely boozin' — it is vacation, after all. But be sure to keep an eye on how much you're drinking. Fruity cocktails in kitschy souvenir cups are all fun and games until you're battling an awful hangover in your cabin all day.
Late-Night Snacks
Take How I Met Your Mother's mantra to heart: Nothing good happens after 2 a.m. At least not when it comes to fourth-meal snacking. Most cruises have late-night buffets or 24-hour food options (like room service), but that after-midnight snacking — which often involves greasy, salty foods — could leave you feeling sluggish and bloated the next day.
Food That Isn't Piping Hot
Hot foods need to be kept at 140 degrees or higher to kill bacteria and be safe to eat, so the best way to make sure you won't regret your buffet dinner is to make sure the food is basically steaming (just remember to let it cool before you chow down).
Local Water
Staying hydrated is key on any vacation, especially if you're escaping to a beach destination, but it's always best to not drink the water wherever your ship is docking for the day. Many places, such as Mexico and Egypt, don't have clean drinking water, so it's safer to steer clear and bring your own supply instead.
Condiments
We often overlook condiments as something that can spoil, but when they've been baking under the hot sun for hours, they're still vulnerable to bacterial growth. If a condiment looks like it's been out for a while, you're better off asking for a fresh bottle; you may look high maintenance, but your stomach will thank you.
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