Norovirus on Summit

[Redtravel]

I was on the Infinity last spring with the virus. It was terrible. Be ready for long lines and lengthy delays. Also, many venues were closed. Bring your own books. Library was closed. I bring wet ones and use them after holding menus, etc. Keep washing hands and hope that you escape the virus. Good luck. Virus does not target certain types of cruise cabins. You are equally likely to get it in all cabins. Suite folks just pay more.

[CruisingChick]

It hadn't reached the proper level pursuant to CDC guidline.....

 

Well it has now. I'm sure the passengers that are sick on this current cruise wish they had.

[M&Dcruisers]

I took the Summit cruise ending on Sept 21 and the day after I was VERY sick with vomiting and diarrhea. I could not keep any food down for two days. I can not remember ever being so sick. It took me 5 days to feel better. I can see now that I caught it onboard the ship!:(

[C 2 C]

We were on Equinox several years ago and both my wife and I were sick for a couple of days. When we went to the infirmary it was closed. We just wanted to report that we had been sick but no one was there and Guest relations did not record the issue as well. We would have guessed that sequentially, well over 200 became ill but reporting it would have put Equinox over the threshold, a label they wanted to avoid.

[Celebrity Cruises]

Hi all, we have some information to share regarding the upcoming Celebrity Summit – October 5, 2013, sailing.

 

During Celebrity Summit’s last sailing, a small percentage of guests experienced a gastrointestinal illness. When the ship arrives to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 5, we will conduct enhanced sanitizing onboard the ship and within the terminal to help prevent any illness from affecting the next cruise. Because of this, check in and boarding will be delayed. Space and seating in the terminal is limited. We ask that guests not arrive for check in before 2:00 p.m. Check in will take place between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

[cpj]

I would hope you throw all the food out to because most of it is probably contaminated. It really does get into the food supply. And I also hope you close the casino because a lot of it is spread there.

[C 2 C]

Hi all, we have some information to share regarding the upcoming Celebrity Summit – October 5, 2013, sailing.

 

During Celebrity Summit’s last sailing, a small percentage of guests experienced a gastrointestinal illness.

 

From the CDC:

Investigation Update on the Celebrity Summit

 

Voyage Dates: September 21 – October 5, 2013

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 307 of 2112 (14.5%)

 

Are these numbers from two different sailings or is nearly one of every six passengers, a "small percentage"?

[CruisingChick]

The time to clean ship should have been after the September 7-21 cruise when passengers first started getting sick with noro virus.

 

Don't they realize it spreads like wildfire?

[JEDIKNIGHT]

And this excludes the innocent who just happen to touch the wrong place or breath the wrong air.

 

 

1.)There's people who do not know how to wash their hands after using the washroom.

 

 

2.)There's people who even IF they are sick, be it with a sore throat or Noro....REFUSE to just stay home or stay in their cabin. They just gotta be at dinner. They just gotta be at the show to hear some average singer belt out strains of Sweet-Caroline-Ba-Ba-Ba-good-times-never-seemed-so-good.

 

We do this to ourselves.

[NorthCarolinaBelle]

Ugh... I'm bringing my four year old son on the October 19 sailing. Hope it's gone by then.

 

According to my pediatrician, you should avoid the buffet (he called it the trough) and any other place where guests serve themselves.

[Oville]

There's people who even IF they are sick, be it with a sore throat or Noro....REFUSE to just stay home or stay in their cabin. They just gotta be at dinner. They just gotta be at the show to hear some average singer belt out strains of Sweet-Caroline-Ba-Ba-Ba-good-times-never-seemed-so-good.

 

.

 

Have you ever had a stomach bug aka Noro virus? The last thing you want to look at is food let alone going to a show. If I recall the biggest problem is you can have and spread the virus before symtoms.

 

Are you sure the virus is airborne? Must be something new.

[ariawoman]

Im on the 10/5 sailing, so I contacted my TA about getting my cabin deep cleaned and this is what celebrity is saying:

 

I spoke directly with Celebrity regarding your concerns. They have assured me that every single room is going to be deep cleaned. Additionally, they are delaying the departure by 3 hours to ensure everything is completely free of any virus. The ship will now depart at 8:00 p.m. with no delays in the itinerary.

They are also going to completely clean the cruise terminal, so they advise not to get there before 2:00 p.m. To be on the safe side, I would recommend bringing those disposable gloves when handling any items in the buffet. The ship provides anti-bacterial hand cleaner as well.

[c-legs]

Near 15% of passengers affected (plus those who did not report) is a significant outbreak.

I hope that the next sailing will be free of an outbreak but be prepared.

This problem seems to hang around even though at much lower levels for several cruises.

And it seems to affect the Canada/NewEngland voyages disproportionately;almost evry line gets ''hit'' during one out of the usual 3 cruises in that market every fall.....or just about...

C

[Salacia]

Best wishes to our friends on Celebrity Summit.

 

Unfortunately, I wouldn't count on the CDC for updates or any further action due to the "Government Shutdown"

 

Due to the lapse in government funding, only web sites supporting excepted functions will be updated unless otherwise funded. As a result, the information on this website may not be up to date, the transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. - copied from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

 

Good luck & best wishes,

Salacia

[Allis154]

Im on the 10/5 sailing, so I contacted my TA about getting my cabin deep cleaned and this is what celebrity is saying:

 

I spoke directly with Celebrity regarding your concerns. They have assured me that every single room is going to be deep cleaned. Additionally, they are delaying the departure by 3 hours to ensure everything is completely free of any virus. The ship will now depart at 8:00 p.m. with no delays in the itinerary.

They are also going to completely clean the cruise terminal, so they advise not to get there before 2:00 p.m. To be on the safe side, I would recommend bringing those disposable gloves when handling any items in the buffet. The ship provides anti-bacterial hand cleaner as well.

 

As I said early, I was on the Solstice during her outbreak in the spring. It was during the 2 of 4 b2b cruises. We didn't change cabins, lucky in having the same stateroom for all 4 cruises.

 

X did a deep clean between cruise 2 and 3, delaying embarkation for hours. Even though we weren't changing staterooms, and hadn't had any symptoms, they still deep cleaned our cabin. We had to pack nearly everything...all but the drawers and closet. Those they sealed with plastic before spraying everything with a disinfectant.

 

Next cruise, I think there was only a couple of reports. Really well done Celebrity.

 

Of course, they oncoming passengers were mighty PO about the delayed embarkation (it was very, very delayed).

[MEcruzr]

Have you ever had a stomach bug aka Noro virus? The last thing you want to look at is food let alone going to a show. If I recall the biggest problem is you can have and spread the virus before symtoms.

 

Are you sure the virus is airborne? Must be something new.

 

You can spread it AFTER you feel better, too! It's still in you. I read on the CDC site that it's still active for a couple of weeks so you'll remain "contagious". It's especially important for these people to maintain proper hygiene.

 

As for being airborne, yes... it can be, as the virus is in vomitus. If you walk into a public restroom and smell vomit, get out fast. The people who come to clean up will be in full suits with gloves and masks.

 

If was on the Summit I would NOT be using any public restrooms. That's just asking for trouble. I would also not be eating anything with my fingers/hands. Whatever is on your hands is transferred to your food and then you eat it... use a utensil!

[MEcruzr]

And it seems to affect the Canada/NewEngland voyages disproportionately;almost evry line gets ''hit'' during one out of the usual 3 cruises in that market every fall.....or just about...

C

 

I just checked the CDC site to see if they tell where the ship was sailing when noro hit it but it doesn't say. I found this interesting, in 2012 two X ships had noro confirmed, both in January. Nothing the rest of the year! So far, in 2013, 4 (all different ships) of the 7 cases of confirmed noro are X ships.

 

Here's the site, if anyone is interested:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

[phoenix_dream]

No the sanitizer has zero effect on noro, in order to have any effect on a virus it would need to be a chlorine based sanitizer which they do not use, the only thing that can effect noro is good hygiene, people need to wash their hands properly with soap in order to destroy the virus.

Not true - the use the Advanced Purell, which contains a high concentration of alcohol which according to reports on the CDC website, does in fact do a decent job of killing norovirus. It does not kill 100% but is much better than the older formula.

[phoenix_dream]

Did anyone notice the inequity between 14.5% of passengers versus 1.5% of the crew?? Seems to me the crew may be reluctant to report it even if they get it - maybe afraid of how they might be perceived, or fear of missing out on badly needed tips. I suspect this is part of the problem with how this stuff spreads so fast. They are handling our food, our drinks, etc.. If they do not report, they are really adding to the problem. Can't prove this but the numbers seem suspicious to me.

[C 2 C]

Did anyone notice the inequity between 14.5% of passengers versus 1.5% of the crew??

 

Those who come from the most sterile backgrounds are more likely to get sick because they have not built up immunity.

It is very difficult to hide hurling as an employee. Cruise companies understand the cost of spreading illness and urge employees to seek immediate medical help.

I believe that children that have grown up with pets generally have a better resistance to many "bugs". Eating dirt as a youngster or visiting a farm is supposed to help as well.

[DebbieMacG]

Did anyone notice the inequity between 14.5% of passengers versus 1.5% of the crew?? Seems to me the crew may be reluctant to report it even if they get it - maybe afraid of how they might be perceived, or fear of missing out on badly needed tips. I suspect this is part of the problem with how this stuff spreads so fast. They are handling our food, our drinks, etc.. If they do not report, they are really adding to the problem. Can't prove this but the numbers seem suspicious to me.

 

Crew must report it or it becomes a very big deal. I think it's more likely that the crew wash their hands and use sanitizer more often than passengers as its part of their daily routine. They know the risks where some passengers are blind to them!

[DebbieMacG]

I just checked the CDC site to see if they tell where the ship was sailing when noro hit it but it doesn't say. I found this interesting, in 2012 two X ships had noro confirmed, both in January. Nothing the rest of the year! So far, in 2013, 4 (all different ships) of the 7 cases of confirmed noro are X ships.

 

Here's the site, if anyone is interested:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

 

There was also noro on the Eclipse in May this year and its not on there :eek: there were enough cases to go to "code red" on the cruise I was on (11-25th May) and boarding was delayed because of deep cleaning after the cruise

[cherylroslyn]

Well it has now. I'm sure the passengers that are sick on this current cruise wish they had.

yes...I am sure too:) I am sad for them.

[ORV]

And it seems to affect the Canada/NewEngland voyages disproportionately;almost evry line gets ''hit'' during one out of the usual 3 cruises in that market every fall.....or just about...

C

 

Great, something to look forward to. I don't suppose you have a source on this? Of are you just speaking from observation and memory?

[ariawoman]

I'm getting way freaked out about boarding this ship on 10/5. Ugh.