Ruby has Noro again....

[Strolling Stones]

Looking forward to your review of the UBD! What were your special requests?

[dick731]

Truth is it doesn't really matter whether it is true or not. It also doesn't matter whether they sanitize the terminal either. There are cases of Noro everyday in schools, nursing homes, jails, hospitals, everywhere you go. Noro on the Ruby isn't news - it is an unfortunate part of everyday life. Unless you close down the entire world for a week and sanitize every nook and cranny Noro will always be a part of our everyday life. Washing your hands isn't a cure all nor is it a quarantee that you won't get Noro. It is simply the best preventative available. You can take all the precautions you want and it is still a roll of the dice. The real winner in all of this Noro talk is Purell.......doesn't work against the Noro virus but everyone wants to use it $$$ Venting is over.....OMG I feel so much better:D

 

But "they" can put a man on the Moon. Whats the problem here?

[robgvic]

I am sure that if you continually wash your hands for at least 30 seconds you wont have any problems. Princess doesn't bring Noroviris on, it is brought on by passengers. I think you will find that experienced cruisers will rarely get it as they are taking precautions.

[dick731]

I am sure that if you continually wash your hands for at least 30 seconds you wont have any problems. Princess doesn't bring Norovirus on, it is brought on by passengers. I think you will find that experienced cruisers will rarely get it as they are taking precautions.

 

Experienced cruisers will contract the virus( hopefully not ) if the inexperienced cruisers do not follow the suggestions of experienced cruisers,right?

[geocruiser]

The virus can be brought on by both PAX and crew/staff. Both PAX and crew get on and off the ship in ports. It could come from any of the people getting on and off a ship.

[Esjohnso]

The CDC says people can continue to spread the virus after they feel well. I wonder if that is part of the problem? I don't know about Noro, but for many diseases some people can spread it before they have any symptoms. It is very hard to contain if you don't know you have it. Alcohol foams/wipes seem to help, but don't work as well as Wet Ones, etc. And none of those work as well as washing your hands.

Now my two anxieties are colliding: do I use the handrails to keep from falling down the stairs or not touch them to keep from getting sick!?! Ack!:eek:

[RBTraveler]

Got word from Princess embarkation delayed until 3:00 pm Sunday.

[ChevyCruiser]

Experienced cruisers will contract the virus( hopefully not ) if the inexperienced cruisers do not follow the suggestions of experienced cruisers,right?

 

It's easy to see who doesn't. They'll be the ones in sick bay.

 

I do not hestitate to touch any surface, anywhere, BUT, I'm also careful to wash my hands before I eat and try to make sure that my eating utensils and anything that touches my mouth is clean.

 

The key is to break the chain of contamination between everything else and what you stick in your mouth.

[moniquet]

If as claimed, the virus is brought onto the ship, why is it that some ships have many more outbreaks than others:confused: Is Princess just unlucky!

[contentsam]

New emergence email from Princess saying they are delaying our embarkation on Sunday to disinfect the ship!

We cant board until 3pm. Wonder when we will actually sail.

I would rather not wait forever in line getting exposed to other people but don't want to be late boarding.

Any suggestions on when to arrive for this kind of problem?

We cruise the Ruby, 2/5 and there was delayed boarding because they had to disinfect the ship. They started boarding at the exact time (I think it was 3). They took the Eilte members on first followed by Platinum etc. They did it by group numbers. It was very fast. Princess had coffee, OJ and ice tea in the convention center. You could purchase food in the convention center.

Sam

[cats36]

Today is the first time I have heard people talking about people they know who have the virus on board. Maybe that is because we are all here on the ship today and not on an island.

 

I don't know if it helped me and my husband, but because of past outbreaks before us, I brought bleach solution with me and sprayed surfaces in our cabin before we unpacked. We have only eaten in places that serve us this week (dining rooms, pizzaria, hamburgers, Intgernational Cafe) and have stayed away from any salads with lettuce. So far so good.

 

All the talk about bringing it onboard, etc -- still, it is stubbornly still on this one ship and that means a problem with this one ship -- need a Public Heaklth Investigation to pinpoint possible sources on this ship and deal with them.

[tmt218]

So, is it better then to wipe down your cabin with Wet Ones vs. the green packaged Chlorox wipes? :confused:

 

 

From the CDC website it states to use a bleach based product to clean down surfices with. Lots of great information about Noro on there. It also states to use a 67% ethanol based hand sanitizer.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-keyfacts.htm

[wallypbear]

Today is the first time I have heard people talking about people they know who have the virus on board. Maybe that is because we are all here on the ship today and not on an island.

 

I don't know if it helped me and my husband, but because of past outbreaks before us, I brought bleach solution with me and sprayed surfaces in our cabin before we unpacked. We have only eaten in places that serve us this week (dining rooms, pizzaria, hamburgers, Intgernational Cafe) and have stayed away from any salads with lettuce. So far so good.

 

All the talk about bringing it onboard, etc -- still, it is stubbornly still on this one ship and that means a problem with this one ship -- need a Public Heaklth Investigation to pinpoint possible sources on this ship and deal with them.

 

Thank you cats36 for your post. Hope you and your husband are well and enjoying you day at sea.

[fandlmom]

So when you have a delayed boarding situation (we leave next Sunday, so just asking *just in case*), how does that change your sailing? You may leave later, but does that change the rest of your trip at all?

[Nymue]

What a WONDERFUL idea!! We leave on the Ruby tomorrow, already received the 'Urgent Alert' email about boarding delay.

Now to head to the store for Immodium. I'll use Immodium every morning in my coffee instead of cream :)

I LOVE it :)

 

Yikes!!! :eek: I am going to go home tonight and mix my Milkshake Martini with Immodium AD -- that way I will be ready for my Ruby cruise on 3/11/12... I love to invent new cocktails for the cruise...

 

Seriously, we have been through this several times and as long as we take the proper precautions -- we should all be fine.

 

Everyone have a great weekend -- now it's time for my "MilkyImmod" Martini -- LeChaim --Yummy...:)

[AmberTeka]

CHLOROX WIPES. I READ IT HERE ON CC. I TOOK A LARGE BOX. WIPED DOWN THE TOILET HANDLE....THE BATHROOM..PHONE..SAFE..THE AREA AROUND PHONE..DOOR ENTRY.....TOOK ONE TO CASINO....QUIETLY WIPED BUTTONS...sometimes ......

 

I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA. SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED.MADE ME FEEL BETTER. GET DOOR HANDLES. ALWAYS USE YOUR RESTROOM IF POSSIBLE. EAT IN THE MDR.

[ChevyCruiser]

Does anyone currently or recently on-board the Ruby know if they are still setting the tables in the Horizon Court?

 

In my experience and observations during three Princess cruises last year, the Horizon Court could be the major cross-contamination point.

 

The same staff who bus the tables turn around and reset the tables without washing or sanitizing their hands. There were no hand sanitizer dispensers at the dirty dish area.

 

The table tops were wiped with a wet rag of unknown origin. Never saw a squirt bottle of sanitizer.

 

Tumblers and coffee cups were placed rim-side down on the "clean" table top.

 

If two of us sat at a table for four, the unused tumblers and coffee cups were returned to a tray with other "clean" tumblers and cups.

 

On more than one occasion, I observed staff clear a table of dirty dishes, then grab a handfull of forks and spoons, cradle the business end in one hand to line the up, and then proceed to set the table with these "clean" utensils.

 

I think it's the staff we need to worry about and the staff could be the common denominator. You can wipe down the ship all you want, but if the Horizon Court staff do not wash their hands between handling dirty utensils and then clean utensils (as required by all food service sanitation standards/codes) all other efforts are for naught.

 

My next cruise I plan to grab some silverware on embarkation day, wash it myself in my cabin, roll it in a clean napkin, and use it. At least I'll know it's clean. I'll do the same with a tumbler and coffee cup. May be a little over the top, but I don't scratch my hiney, pick my nose, dig in my ear, cough into my hand and THEN handle clean utensils. Can't say the same thing for the staff.

[fandlmom]

I was totally considering bringing my own disinfected silverware. :o

[DTW Cruiser]

We also wipe down all surfaces in our cabin with disinfectant wipes as soon as we arrive. Then we wash our hands every time we enter our cabin, but the bar of soap bothered me so we bought liquid antibacterial soap in a pharmacy on the next island. I highly suggest taking a small bottle along for your cabin! Just a suggestion for peace of mind.

:)

Elaine

[capriccio]

If I only read these blogs I would think that there was mass hysteria among the cruising public (good thing the majority of cruisers have never heard of Cruise Critic:D).

 

Not to diminish the effects of noro (I think I had it years ago before it had a name) or the disappointment in getting seriously (in the sense that you want to die for 24 - 48 hours) ill on your vacation (been there, done that too), even when 3% of the cruisers on a 3,000 passenger ship get ill that is only 90 passengers.

 

If you are cleaning your cabin top to bottom do you do the same for every hotel room you stay in or airplane/airport seat you sit in or rental car/taxi/elevator you ride in?

 

Wash your hands thoroughly (and I do use the sanitizers in the dining areas even if they aren't proven to be effective against noro since I figure they don't do any harm), be considerate of your fellow travelers and don't touch food in the buffet, and if you do get ill quarantine yourself.

[luvtheships]

Truth is it doesn't really matter whether it is true or not. It also doesn't matter whether they sanitize the terminal either. There are cases of Noro everyday in schools, nursing homes, jails, hospitals, everywhere you go. Noro on the Ruby isn't news - it is an unfortunate part of everyday life. Unless you close down the entire world for a week and sanitize every nook and cranny Noro will always be a part of our everyday life. Washing your hands isn't a cure all nor is it a quarantee that you won't get Noro. It is simply the best preventative available. You can take all the precautions you want and it is still a roll of the dice. The real winner in all of this Noro talk is Purell.......doesn't work against the Noro virus but everyone wants to use it $$$ Venting is over.....OMG I feel so much better:D

You hit the nail on the head..and your post beat me to it!:D

 

Much ado about and everyday occurance! Of course making a big deal about things is what CC is for:D

[luvtheships]

I was totally considering bringing my own disinfected silverware. :o

If you must do this...just bring good quality disposable....unless of course you want to wash it after each use...

 

That should be fun..back to cabin to do the dishes!!!LOL

[moniquet]

Maybe a mask and white cotton gloves would help.;)

[ChevyCruiser]

If you must do this...just bring good quality disposable....unless of course you want to wash it after each use...

 

That should be fun..back to cabin to do the dishes!!!LOL

 

LOL also, but it's better than back to the cabin for several hours of explosive diarrhea and vomiting.:eek:

 

I've investigated several cases of reported "food-bourne" illnesses in institutional settings and always looked for the common cross-contamination point. It was, in most all instances, faulty food and/or utensil handling by food service workers. That's one reason I can't help but notice and speak up when I observe faulty practices and cross-contamination situations.

 

The Horizon Court is such a place.

[Mimi39]

My daughter is a nurse at a huge prison in California ... she says noro isn't a problem there, so it seems like the best way to avoid the norovirus is to be incarcerated 25 to life!:rolleyes: