Cruise Guests Debate Peeing in Pools and the Safety of Swimming
A recent Carnival Cruise Line guest had a rather gross question that has made me question if I can ever go swimming on a cruise ship ever again.
After observing their fellow passengers spending hours in the pools, the Carnival Magic guest couldn’t help but wonder if his fellow cruisers were considerate enough to get out to use the bathroom.
Of course, this is a question that can apply to any ship, resort, waterpark, or public facilities on land that have pools. This cruiser just happened to have recently sailed on a Carnival ship.
They inquired on Reddit: “Many people seemed to stay in pool for hours at a time. Most of those people had drinks delivered to them for hours. Almost none of them seemed to get out of pool. Are these people just peeing in the pools all day long?”
They continued: “I only put my feet in once and decided not to again. At least I observed them draining and cleaning pools nightly. Are people that ignorant and don’t care?”
The idea of urinating in pools isn’t just gross, but it actually can be dangerous
While urine itself is sterile, other contaminants like sweat and microscopic fecal matter that can make people sick may come out with the stream (for lack of better terms).
As a mini chemistry lesson, chlorine and urine can also react to form irritating chemicals called chloramines, which lessen the amount of chlorine available to destroy germs and can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Unfortunately for my sanity, the cruise community largely felt that at least some of their fellow passengers were almost definitely peeing in the pool.
“Simple answer…yes.I rarely go in the pools anyway due to the crowding. I guarantee my 4 year old used the bathroom more times on that pool deck than probably more than half the adults there. And there was never a line…” one cruiser replied.
“Same as any public pool, swim at your own discretion lol,” another joked.
Others had more faith in their fellow passengers and noted that not all bladders are created equal, meaning some people might be able to stay in the water for a long time without a bathroom break.
How Carnival Keeps Passengers Safe
None of the cruise lines – Carnival included – just let passengers turn the pools into their personal toilets willy-nilly.
While there isn’t really a way to detect urine in the water, guests who are caught in the act are removed and disciplined.
For example, a woman was caught peeing on her submerged lounger last summer because she didn’t want to risk giving up her prime spot.
She was swiftly dealt with by onboard security and crew members promptly cleaned up her mess.
If a “Code Brown” happens, meaning someone has pooped in the pool, the pool is immediately shut down for draining and enhanced sanitation.
To try to avoid this, Carnival has a strict policy in which children in diapers and/or children who are not potty trained are not allowed in the pools.
Read Also: 15 Most Annoying Things People Do on Cruises
Additionally, Carnival is required to follow strict water treatment and sanitation standards that have been established by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
This includes treating the pool water and jacuzzis with chlorine to disinfect the water and consistently monitoring the chemical levels and pH of the water.
As the questioning cruiser mentioned, the pools and hot tubs are drained nightly (and more when necessary) and refilled with freshly treated seawater.
Finally, Carnival’s policy strongly urges guests to follow hygienic guidelines when swimming, including showering before entering the water and sitting out when experiencing stomach upset or fever.
Cruise Guests Debate Peeing in Pools and the Safety of Swimming