The dirtiest area of a cruise revealed - and it's NOT the toilets

Whether it's watching the sun set over the horizon, waking up in a new port every day or tucking into a hearty buffet each evening, cruise holidays are generally an idyllic way to travel.

But unfortunately they can also be a hotbed for germs.

And cruise holidaymakers might be surprised to learn that one of the most luxurious parts of the cruise ship can also often be the dirtiest.

The USA'S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that two outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease on cruise ships were linked to private balcony hot tubs.

The unpleasant disease is a lung infection that people can get if they inhale droplets of water containing the bacteria that causes Legionnaires'.

Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, a high temperature and flu-like feelings.

Germ expert and microbiologist Jason Tetro told Reader's Digest that hot tubs are 'in essence' a 'three dimensional petri dish'.

He explained: 'All bacteria need three things: a nice warm place to grow, plenty of water and organic material they can use for food.'

Hot tubs tend to provide all three of these factors, making them much more germ prone than tourists might think.

And private hot tubs are generally more likely to put holidaymakers at risk.

Jeff explained that these type of tubs may not 'undergo the same level of testing or disinfection as the public ones'.

The CDC has advised cruise holidaymakers to ask their cruise crew a couple of questions before taking a dip.

• What was the most recent health inspection score for the hot tub?
• Are the disinfectant levels and pH checked at least twice per day?
• Are the disinfectant levels and pH checked more often when the hot tub is being used by a lot of people?