Enchantment of the Seas - Feb 19th - Not starting out well. Key West canned & delays

[time4u2go]

Very interesting articles! Hope Gunther read them both. I'm certain it won't change his mind about using the sanitizer.

 

It's great that some folks stop at the nearest bathroom and wash their hands before entering the buffet or dining room. However not everyone does this so in order to protect all of us everyone needs to use the sanitizer if it's provided. You can't pick and choose who uses it and who does not.

 

I have to wonder if some people don't wash their hands thinking that the sanitizer will somehow "cover" them.

[dixieva]

Gosh I hope not!

[wrp96]

I have to wonder if some people don't wash their hands thinking that the sanitizer will somehow "cover" them.

 

Gosh I hope not!

 

Unfortunately that's exactly what they think.

 

One of my coworkers decided the soap our company provides was drying out her hands, so now she just uses the hand sanitizer. This is the person that has given me norovirus - twice!

[Charles4515]

I am not refusing to wash my hands with soap and water.

 

I do refuse to place a chemical on my skin -- there is a big difference.

 

I would like to see any cruise line try to deny my boarding or kick me off the ship because I refuse to place a chemical on my skin while at the same time offer to wash my hands with soap and water in the presence of the security guard.

 

The only chemical that's been proven to fight noro virus is bleach.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

 

They can't force you to use the Purell but they can deny you boarding or put you off for not following their regulations. I am not saying they would do for not using Purell that but they could.

[crisndeefromde]

and why exactly was Key West scraped? it was the second port of call.

 

lots of noro in schools right now. my best friend raises her grandson and she posted a pic of him with his head in a large bowl where he fell asleep....thankgoodness the sickness had stopped but he was exhausted. poor fellow

[mickey557]

I have to wonder if some people don't wash their hands thinking that the sanitizer will somehow "cover" them.

 

 

I actually think this is the root of some of the problem. Hand Sanitizers are extremely effective against some things while with others it does nothing for the person. The CDC states while hand sanitizer is better than nothing it will not reduce the spread of the noro virus. Washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 30 seconds ( think happy birthday song twice) will help but the noro virus is really awful and can only be destroyed by bleach and not even then unless it is applied correctly and left for the minimum amount of time. Which explains the time involved to decontaminate the ship. Even lysol wipes and those things aren't going to help ( think casino chips etc)

I think often we are so used to thinking we are safe with the sanitizer we don't realize there are things it just won't kill and old fashion hand washing and not touching surfaces will prevent much better.:(

[Merion_Mom]

The sanitize gel thing was all over the ship.

In fact John and Katrina(loved them) would ask you to sanitize at the Wind Jammer entrance. Then the trombone player served you eggs from the buffet.

I did karaoke and I was not allowed to touch the selection book or the microphone. Really the comedians on the ship had lots of material.

 

Ok and this may sound funny but in Tortola I was in a drug store and one of our elder passengers was asking the clerk for adult diapers. Hmmm I wonder if the no diaper policy extends to adults. ? Forgive me but I was so paranoid that I was checking folks out at the pool... I thought I saw one.

It was a strange cruise.

 

Yes, the "no diaper" rule includes ANY AGE person.

[Ocean Boy]

I believe soap contains a number of chemicals, some quite harsh.

 

Regarding hand sanitizer and norovirus: http://www.handwashingforlife.com/new_norovirus_alcohol_hand_sanitizer

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825203224.htm

 

You could actually post references and studies for a myriad of drugs that were released as being God's next great gift to mankind only to have them taken off the market after several years due to their effectiveness not being what it was supposed to be or side effects making their mark after widespread use.

[Aquahound]

They can't force you to use the Purell but they can deny you boarding or put you off for not following their regulations. I am not saying they would do for not using Purell that but they could.

 

Since when is it a regulation you have to use the hand sanitizers? No, they cannot and will not remove you for refusing to put an alcohol based product on your skin. Many people have legitimate reasons for not using it.

[Ninababy88]

Yes, the "no diaper" rule includes ANY AGE person.

 

That is good to know. I hope those cruising now have a good experience. It is really a shame this Virus is all over. I had a mild case and it was awful. Safe travels.

[Charles4515]

Since when is it a regulation you have to use the hand sanitizers? No, they cannot and will not remove you for refusing to put an alcohol based product on your skin. Many people have legitimate reasons for not using it.

 

I did not say they had such a regulation but could if they want to. No they can not force you to but they can say you can't cruise if you don't. Just like at the airport, you can refuse to be scanned and searched but if you don't they won't let you on the plane. Yes, they can remove you for whatever reason they want to.

[Cruzaholic41]

Yes, they can remove you for whatever reason they want to.

 

No, they cannnot.

[Ninababy88]

I talked to RC customer service today. They told me that the hand sanitizer and other stuff are dictated by the CDC. So I don't know if that means anything. I did see them tell someone they could not enter the windjammer without sanitizer. I hate that stuff too but because of dry skin. I used It anyway. Really it is just alcohol. If you are hungry you lower your standards.

[dramaqueen4lyfe]

Per Email from a crew member today. "Things are going well now"

[publicpersona]

No, they cannnot.

Yes. They most certainly can.

 

 

h. Carrier may refuse to transport any Passenger, and may remove any Passenger from the Vessel or Transport at any time, for : [...] failure to comply with Carrier's rules and procedures,

 

The cruise contract is written by their lawyers who have spent years developing a contract that covers every contingency. Almost all passengers agree to it in seconds without even reading it.

 

Please read this carefully: There is a difference between what the contract technically allows RC to do vs. how they need to behave to ensure business.

 

If they wanted to, the contract allows them to video you in your stateroom doing the nasty, Photoshop it up so you look extra silly, and post it on the Internet. Yes, that's in the contract if you know how to read it. Of course, there is no way they'd do such a thing and stay in business.

 

I assert this because many people on CC fall back on "Well, it's in the contract" but the reality is *everything they want is in the contract* but what they actually could do and get away with as a business is a different matter.

[BoyntonBeth]

Per Email from a crew member today. "Things are going well now"

 

I had similar information yesterday. At that point they had removed the WJ restrictions, people were able to serve themselves again, and crew was able to rest after all their extra duty.

 

We tend to focus on passenger so much, that we overlook the impact it has on the crew and that's in addition to their risk of contracting noro.

 

All's well that ends well.

[Eng23]

and why exactly was Key West scraped? it was the second port of call.

 

lots of noro in schools right now. my best friend raises her grandson and she posted a pic of him with his head in a large bowl where he fell asleep....thankgoodness the sickness had stopped but he was exhausted. poor fellow

Key West was scrapped because of the departure time from Baltimore and the steaming time and speed of the ship would not allow for a timely arrival. The ship was averaging 19 knots just in the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore all the way to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and that took 8.5 hours. 19 knots is close to the ships top speed and is what you would call "hauling butt" especially in the Chesapeake Bay. One whole sailing day was lost due to the delayed departure from Baltimore a 10 1/2 hour delay.

[cpq]

1. My phone number (and email) was updated on RCI website, and booked directly with RCI. Even had a pre-night hotel reservation setup with them. No phone call about the outbreak, or to even get to the port later. It seems people *with* travel agents did get the call, I didn't. No voicemail either. My profile is very up to date. I didn't find out about the delayed boarding until after sitting in a 2+ hour line to park, followed by a few more in a crowded port terminal.

 

2. TERRIBLE sewage smell in my room (almost a sulfuric acid / sewage smell, room 3524, front of ship) in my bathroom the entire time which emanated into the room. Had to purchase Ozium and Febreeze in port.

 

hansolosmom, I got no call from the cruise line, and all of my information is up to date. If I knew there was an outbreak, having family work in a hospital, and being quarantined once in my life from MRSA, I would have re-scheduled. SeaUs, same answer. If they had contracted a crew who were ready to clean the ship, knowing the woes of the previous sailing, people would not have had to awkwardly sit around the ship with their luggage until 4pm, with many rooms only being ready past 5:30-6:00pm. The rooms weren't ready, but we were asked to drop our luggage off, for the muster drill at 4:00 pm regardless.

 

I'm not complaining about the weather, or the fact there was an outbreak, the way it was managed at the port, the hours of delayed rooms (maybe have a crew ready to help clean the ship, rather than have random staff help prep rooms / make beds at 6pm. I tried covering the bathroom drain in my room due to the smell, but that didn't quite work. I ended up using Ozium, taping and re-taping it shut, and using Febreeze.

 

It's the major things like this I wish I was compensated for. There were smaller issues like My Time Dining never having a table ready (despite reservations) or the sub-par food, up until Day 9, but these don't really bother me. The times I was asked to come back later for MTD, I ordered room service. There were many couples / guys yelling furiously about missed plans and family connections in Key West, etc. which trumps the non-refundable trip I made (not through RCI) - I try not to sweat the small stuff, but when a smell is so noxious it gives you a headache, something's wrong...

 

I made the mistake to try this ship out after sailing the Explorer of the Seas happily many times. It was the RCI channel on the Explorer touting the rejuvenation of the Enchantment of the Seas that made me book it. A whole 30 minute feature on how it was re-done, re-fitted, etc. Guess the refurbishing guys missed my room as it was totally no frills, as it was in 1996. 13' Trinitron TV set from 1994 and no Interactive TV system. I expected more, as the 'interior' rooms I've booked on the Explorer have been roomier (not even a sofa in a "large" oceanview stateroom.)

 

Eng23 is correct about the reasoning for scrapping Key West. Being at the tip, it was too many miles for the ship to get to with 10+ hours lost from the weather and wind.

[gonnacruise]

Just returned from the 2/19 eos cruise. Although things got off to a slightly rough start, All in all the cruise was fine. We were a little disappointed that we had to miss key west, but what are you going to do? Cant blame royal for the high winds causing us to leave Baltimore late. By day 3 (or 4), the windjammer restrictions were lifted...we could then serve ourselves. The ship is older so it isn't going to be in perfect shape. I was in an inside cabin on deck 2 (my first inside!!!)and i found it to be quite sufficient. We loved cococay!! The weather was great and we had smooth sailing!

 

Ann

[pinma]

Yes, Coco Cay was fantastic!

 

The weather from Port Canaveral on was just FANTASTIC. I could not have asked for more. My husband's big regret was not packing more warm weather clothing. (As an aside... do NOT worry about being cold in the A/C. We were hot pretty much everywhere in our dinner clothes. Apparently that's the temp 'most' cruisers like.)