Solstice Noro

[Wanderlost]

Having read this thread I get the impression that

 

a: There are no hand sanitizers throughout the Ship........" the crew stood there with them ".

 

b: That the norm is to help yourself at all times at the Buffet unless there is illness on board.

 

This sounds ridiculous and if true it stands to rason that the spread of Novo will be rapid.

 

Brian

There were hand sanitizers around the ship, especially entering the casino, internet room, gym and restaurants. The buffet was self serve until things got bad on Thursday or Friday. They did not close the casino or hot tubs but did remove the books from the library. On Wednesday night our pillows (on couch) were removed from our room for "washing". They were never returned. It must be difficult to eliminate the Noro once it has infected so many people. We washed our hands prior to entering the restaurants, prior to eating, and after leaving. Don't touch railings, walls or anything outside of your room which could have gotten infected. Just remember to wash hands often. We had no problems except lving with the fear of catching the viruse on a $2500.00 vacation. :cool:

[dpw1959]

They didn't take cabin numbers or names at the infirmary unless you stayed in line to see the doctor. In addition to going to the infirmary, I filled out my comment card and told them how sick I was (which certainly can be confirmed by my cabin steward) but since an infirmary receptionist or nurse (I don't know which) didn't take names unless you wanted to fill out the 4 pages of forms and wait for the doctor (of which I didn't do since I indicated I was getting better) and was given gatorage packets to mix with water and go back to your room, then you were NOT counted. I had a Celebrity rep call me two days ago to "address my concerns". She told me that if a Dr. had taken my name and diagnosed me (and then told me to stay in my cabin)(which common sense told me to do anyway so that I wouldn't explode elsewhere on the ship) then I would have been entitled to compensation. They are playing it down on the extent of the sickness but while we were there we saw the list with how many people on it AND could see how many MANY more people were in line. I am disappointed in the way this has been handled. Don't call me and say you want to "address my concerns" and then call me back a day later to say that you can't do anything for me. THEY CALLED ME.

On top of that, three more members in my party are HOME sick with it now.

[rlecocq]

"don't touch railings or walls outside your room"

 

Ummmm ok.

[dpw1959]

Having read this thread I get the impression that

 

a: There are no hand sanitizers throughout the Ship........" the crew stood there with them ".

 

b: That the norm is to help yourself at all times at the Buffet unless there is illness on board.

 

This sounds ridiculous and if true it stands to rason that the spread of Novo will be rapid.

 

Brian

 

They did have self serve hand sanitizers but from day 3 they had stewards everywhere holding bottles of them making sure you took some also they were outside of common area restrooms on day 5 going in after you were done to disinfect the area after every passenger.

Buffet service usually allows you to take your own plates and grab your own drinks. It was only after the outbreak got blown out of proportion that they went to the other method of service.

I want to be clear, they were trying to avoid the spread of the virus BUT from what I saw or heard from my relatives who were also on the ship per MY recommendation (Great for my reputation now) it was too late.

[iamdman]

I just got this from my TA:

 

We are writing to provide you with important information regarding the February 6, 2011 sailing of Celebrity Solstice.

 

During Celebrity Solstice’s last sailing, a small number of guests onboard experienced a gastrointestinal illness, thought to be a norovirus. In an abundance of caution, we are conducting some enhanced sanitizing onboard the ship and within the cruise terminal, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, to help prevent any illness from affecting your cruise.

 

Because of this additional sanitizing, check in and boarding is now anticipated to begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. We apologize for this delay to your boarding. Since parking and seating at the cruise terminal are very limited, we ask that guests arrive at the terminal between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

 

According to health experts, as many as 300 million people worldwide are affected by norovirus each year. Only the common cold is more prevalent. However, we would prefer if none of our guests became ill. Therefore, we ask that you follow the advice of medical experts who tell us that the best way to prevent gastrointestinal illnesses is to simply wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after using the bathroom and before eating anything. We also recommend that you use the complimentary sanitizing gel that is available at various locations onboard.

 

If you have experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms within the last three days, we ask that you please consider rescheduling your cruise. Similarly, if you are uncomfortable taking your cruise at this time, for reasons related to personal health or not, our staff can assist you in rescheduling your sailing for another time.

 

We hope all the information in this letter helps you understand the importance we at Celebrity Cruises place on the health and safety of every one of our guests and crew members. We want to ensure that every guest’s cruise is a fun, relaxing and healthy experience. This is why we are taking these additional measures.

 

Sincerely,

Celebrity Cruises

[clementine]

I guess people are sick on this weeks cruise too. Hope this will clear things up before the end of the month when I sail.....

[jcrandle]

There's a good chance that the injection was merely something for the nausea. Hard to give people pills for nausea when they aren't keeping anything down. Probably Compazine or Zofran. Not a cure for Noro, but symptomatic relief.

 

Agreed, for severe nausea, most MDs will treat the symptom with either an injection or a suppository with a med that relieves the symptoms. Which brings to mind my DFIL's comments on suppositories, "Not only do they taste awful, but for all the good they do, you might as well shove them ...."

[lobster129]

I have read every post on this thread. We were also on Solstice 1/23-1/30. I have posted our experience (my observations) elsewhere...but will add to this thread since it seems to be getting the most activity.

 

Since they my "suspect" Norovirus due to symptoms (nausea, vomiting & diarrhea) but they do not confirm (by lab results) that you have Norovirus...I'm not sure what they report to the CDC.

 

I CAN confirm they do not report all suspected cases that they treat from our personal experience on Sunday 1/30/11. My DH awakened with the classic Noro symtoms above around 5Am on disembarkation day. After 3.5 hours the elevator traffic had decresed enough that I could get him to Medical Care Clinic for treatment.

 

They did treat him including a shot and pills. They DID NOT ask for any medical info about him other than allergies. NO name, DOB, cabin number or any other way of identifying him. He did not present his sail card. Also no assessments were made other than asking how many episodes of the above symptoms had he experienced. No vital signs....nothing. I work in health care. In the USA, one must document treatment. This would require some sort of patient identification. Hmmm...cannot expect they felt comprelled to report to the CDC since they did not make a record of his visit. He was seen and treated by an RN (per her name badge, not introduction). He was not seen by the physician.

 

Others I am aware of on our cruise that were ill prior to the last 24 hours of the cruise were placed on isolation in their cabins. Many I saw appeared to be much more ill than my DH, even teens.

 

The cruise prior to our had Norovirus and embarkation was delayed more than an hour on 1/23. I fully support whatever they need to do to make the ship safe for passengers. I did confirm from several staff that they had "much more" Norovirus on our sailing 1/23 than the previous week.

 

I think Celebrity did an excellent job of continuous cleaning and making other adjustments to help decrease the spread. They were also upfront that passengers were ill...just not the volumes. I honestly can understand that they could create a panic like mode in passengers by reporting this while still on board...so I find this lack of transparency to be somewhat defendable.

 

I do have concerns about the lack of medical assessment and documentation that I observed. I did receive an email back today. Bottom line...Medical staff are independent contractors and a service provided as a convienience to the passengers.

 

I am an advocate for at least minimum patient care standards being met. In this case, I did not observe that goal to have been achieved.

 

Good news is that DH is much better with the assistance of meds and time. He was one of the more fortunate ones.

 

For those that had a question about what meds were given (since it is a virus, you can only treat symptoms). He was given a shot of Phenergan in the arm and pills to take once vomiting subsided. The pills were Immodium for diarrhea. Phenergan requires a prescription. You can purchase Immodium over the counter.

[Granny&Pap]

As I posted the other day....we had 5 out of 12 come down with 'something'....Today another one started while they were on a 10 hour trip to Alabama...the throwing up, etc. I spent the afternoon on the couch...just feeling 'yukky'.:(

Has anyone come down with the 'sickness' since returning home/being off the ship?? Some of the twelve of us were all together after departing Solstice and before leaving for homes in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Kentucky....everyone is home now. Mostly lasted about 36 'terrible' hours.

Our Florida house smells like a hospital clinic.:eek:

[ProfessorMom]

My sincere sypathy to all of those whose vacations were ruined by illness. It sounds like some of the staff was more helpful than others in a stressful situation.

 

Arriving at work this morning I ran into several people describing a noro-type illness going through their families this week. I offered my sympathy (and stayed away from them). I couldn't help thinking how much more miserable illness is when away from the comforts of home. Being ill at home you have the advantages of laundry, multiple bathrooms, etc. I have had kids ill on vacation before and the emotional disappointment of a ruined vacation further compounds the situation.

I'm not sure if there is any way to completely prevent the transmission of these illnesses. Taking the precautions described and educating people about transmission may be all that we can hope for.

[BAPON]

I guess people are sick on this weeks cruise too. Hope this will clear things up before the end of the month when I sail.....

I have read that norovirus outbreak has been documented on up to 5 successive cruises of the infected ship. Sounds like the one at sea now may be the third. Since I'm boarding this Sunday, I hope its reasonable to assume that after two deep cleaning & sanitizing cycles of the ship the virus will be gone!

[GRBlizz]

I have read that norovirus outbreak has been documented on up to 5 successive cruises of the infected ship. Sounds like the one at sea now may be the third. Since I'm boarding this Sunday, I hope its reasonable to assume that after two deep cleaning & sanitizing cycles of the ship the virus will be gone!

 

FIVE cruises? Oh, dear. We sail on the 13th, which would be the 4th. I am traveling with a wheelchair-bound husband and a Mom who is recovering from her second round of chemo.

 

We'll have to watch developments carefully to see if it still makes sense to proceed. I really hope it goes away!

[dpw1959]

As I posted the other day....we had 5 out of 12 come down with 'something'....Today another one started while they were on a 10 hour trip to Alabama...the throwing up, etc. I spent the afternoon on the couch...just feeling 'yukky'.:(

Has anyone come down with the 'sickness' since returning home/being off the ship?? Some of the twelve of us were all together after departing Solstice and before leaving for homes in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Kentucky....everyone is home now. Mostly lasted about 36 'terrible' hours.

Our Florida house smells like a hospital clinic.:eek:

 

We had 8 of us go on this cruise. Four of us got it while we were on the ship and 3 more of us got it when they got home. WASH EVERYTHING! SPRAY THE SUITCASES with lysol and wash your hands often after putting the laundry in the washing machine. The workers who were unloading the lugguge and even the parking lot attendants who were taking payment when you went to get your car weren't wearing gloves and masks for nothing!

[vulnonvic]

Having read this thread I get the impression that

 

a: There are no hand sanitizers throughout the Ship........" the crew stood there with them ".

 

b: That the norm is to help yourself at all times at the Buffet unless there is illness on board.

 

This sounds ridiculous and if true it stands to rason that the spread of Novo will be rapid.

 

Brian

 

Clarification

There were hand santizers stations throughout the ship. At all of the elevators (every floor), entrances to the all of the dining areas and when embarking and debarking the ship on port days. The employees with bottles of hand sanitizers were in addition to this.

 

We only ate at the buffet dining twice. Once early in the week for lunch (still self serve) prior to San Juan and for breaky later on in the week (we were served by the staff). We are not fans of buffets because of the multiply handling of utensils and the coughing and sneezing around the open food.

So the inconvenience of the staff serving us was a welcome site for us and did not mind the precautionary measures.

[jill1970]

There were hand sanitizers around the ship, especially entering the casino, internet room, gym and restaurants. The buffet was self serve until things got bad on Thursday or Friday. They did not close the casino or hot tubs but did remove the books from the library. On Wednesday night our pillows (on couch) were removed from our room for "washing". They were never returned. It must be difficult to eliminate the Noro once it has infected so many people. We washed our hands prior to entering the restaurants, prior to eating, and after leaving. Don't touch railings, walls or anything outside of your room which could have gotten infected. Just remember to wash hands often. We had no problems except lving with the fear of catching the viruse on a $2500.00 vacation. :cool:

yup this is how we feel too. i just wanted to have peace, rest and tranquility.. not worry or illness. this is life on earth i guess, not heaven lol

[Granny&Pap]

We had 8 of us go on this cruise. Four of us got it while we were on the ship and 3 more of us got it when they got home. WASH EVERYTHING! SPRAY THE SUITCASES with lysol and wash your hands often after putting the laundry in the washing machine. The workers who were unloading the lugguge and even the parking lot attendants who were taking payment when you went to get your car weren't wearing gloves and masks for nothing!

Didn't think of suitcases....WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT. So far, haven't heard of anyone else in our group coming down with anything. "Yukky" feeling has gone. Still spraying as have company coming from 'their' cruise on the Royal's Freedom of the Seas.... Perhaps I should meet them at the door with 'hand sanitizers and Lysol Spray'!!:D

[Moeve]

We were in Asia 2009 and boarded the Azamara Quest the days she returned from Beijing with 127 cases of Noro this is on a ship with 690 odd passengers at full capacity. They never did shake it that cruise and I too spent a day in my cabin just to be sure.

[rlsii488]

...... and then you call not even 2 hours after! Just relax you will be fine. The more you stress yourself out the less you will enjoy your cruise. If anything you will find yourself suffering from Paranoia and not the actual virus!

 

 

Why would you tell some one to relax, that sounds like you are promoting "laziness" something I think you are against.

[dpw1959]

For those of us who got off last week after the "deep clean", it seems like it wasn't enough. If you read another posting you will see that boarding of the NEXT Solstice voyage is delayed due to the Noro Virus as well but this time the cleaning is being mandated by the US GOVT body.

[bighairtexan]

I read that this cleaning was "recommended" not mandated.

[travlindoc]

Sitting in Cellar Masters waiting for our group to be called. Untold numbers ill with noro this trip. Unclear whether worse than last week, when according to one couple who were both sick (one the week before and one this week on B2B), numbered in hundreds (compared to "official" tally of 38 per rep at check-in). Everything served to us. Sad for my first trip on Celebrity. Arrived excited at 10:30 only to wait in terminal until boarding at 1:30 with stateroom not ready until after drill at 7:45. Sail away delayed until arround 5:30. We were lucky, though, because we got to sit in upper "lounge" for the 3 hours, as opposed to most who arrived later and had to sit outside the terminal on the curb. Amenities like flowers, bottle of bubbly, etc in AquaClass didn't arrive until day 2-3, and we never saw binoculars, makeup mirror for mom, etc (all cleaned but never returned). Know it comes with the territory of a sick ship, but still diminished the AquaClass experience. Heard " For crew only, Mr Purell please go to xyz..." over intercom 6-8 times. Equated to sick passenger tossing their cookies wherever called (one lady noted it shut down salon for a complete cleaning and she couldn't get her hair done). Didn't receive any notice that the ship was sick until we arrived at terminal. Celebrity knew since Weds of preceding cruise. Word is the ship will be hosed down again today and people not allowed to board until 3-4. Saw countless people in hazmat suits as we were leaving preparing to commence spraying. Good luck to the next group. Despite it all, already thinking about my next time on Celebrity. Wonderful ship and trip. PS, got lucky and nobig for me or mom :)

[travlindoc]

Sorry, meant to say "no bug for me and mom" at end of last post. Many not so lucky, with some reporting IV fluids and meds received in the med facility and/or quarantine in their rooms.

[Wanderlost]

Sitting in Cellar Masters waiting for our group to be called. Untold numbers ill with noro this trip. Unclear whether worse than last week, when according to one couple who were both sick (one the week before and one this week on B2B), numbered in hundreds (compared to "official" tally of 38 per rep at check-in). Everything served to us. Sad for my first trip on Celebrity. Arrived excited at 10:30 only to wait in terminal until boarding at 1:30 with stateroom not ready until after drill at 7:45. Sail away delayed until arround 5:30. We were lucky, though, because we got to sit in upper "lounge" for the 3 hours, as opposed to most who arrived later and had to sit outside the terminal on the curb. Amenities like flowers, bottle of bubbly, etc in AquaClass didn't arrive until day 2-3, and we never saw binoculars, makeup mirror for mom, etc (all cleaned but never returned). Know it comes with the territory of a sick ship, but still diminished the AquaClass experience. Heard " For crew only, Mr Purell please go to xyz..." over intercom 6-8 times. Equated to sick passenger tossing their cookies wherever called (one lady noted it shut down salon for a complete cleaning and she couldn't get her hair done). Didn't receive any notice that the ship was sick until we arrived at terminal. Celebrity knew since Weds of preceding cruise. Word is the ship will be hosed down again today and people not allowed to board until 3-4. Saw countless people in hazmat suits as we were leaving preparing to commence spraying. Good luck to the next group. Despite it all, already thinking about my next time on Celebrity. Wonderful ship and trip. PS, got lucky and nobig for me or mom :)

Sorry to hear the virus is still active. We love Celebrity, especially the Solstice and know things will be ok for our crossing in November. :cool:

[iamdman]

This is like 5 sailings in a row with Noro on solstice. Been monitoring this and hoping for a decrease in the virus but it seems to be staying the same or worse. I am thinking of finding another ship for my March 20th vacation.

[mclaire57]

This is like 5 sailings in a row with Noro on solstice. Been monitoring this and hoping for a decrease in the virus but it seems to be staying the same or worse. I am thinking of finding another ship for my March 20th vacation.

 

Perhaps I missed earlier discussions about this, but the first post in this thread is dated 1/29, and states it is the 2nd trip with virus. so this last week would be the 3rd sailing, not the 5th. Please let's be careful not to fearmonger, folks.

 

We are sailing 2/27, so I am watching this, but it's hard to know how concerned to be with all the speculation and the "telephone" effect... Y'all remember that game, right? Person #1 says "3 of 2800 had a bug", and by the end of the line, the message is "massive outbreak"...