Worse than they thought

[Tyron]

YIKES! This is getting crazy!!! I wonder if they were at some of the same ports? You have people checking your cards to enter the islands that could have been sick, they pick up food for the ship at some of the islands, a shop owner could have passed it on...who knows?

 

Hopefully, they'll be able to get it under control.

[Folk Singer]

Hopefully, they'll be able to get it under control.

 

i am sure they will get things under control.

[bchalker]

GMA is reporting this morning that after talking to passengers on board the Explorer of the Seas the situation on board is much worse than originally reported. They also reported that they are only refunding 50% of the cruise and offering 50% credit on future cruise. IMO that is a horrible compensation. The passengers that were not ill had a totally ruined vacation. They deserve a paid vacation for their troubles! ... and the poor sick passengers surely deserve a full refund. This is a horrible situation. I have four very good friends that are on that ship. I can't wait to see them on Thursday and get the real story. I will post a full review as reported by them.

 

100% of the cruise is horrible? sheesh:rolleyes:

 

They cut the trip what 1 or 2 days short? Cause they got sick thru no fault of the cruise line.

[ka1958]

#209 Report Post

Old January 26th, 2014, 06:38 PM

PixieX PixieX is offline

Cool Cruiser

 

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: Yorkshire, England

Posts: 6

Default Just got out of hospital after disembarking EOS on 21st

We were on for our honeymoon and disembarked on the 21st after a wonderful cruise. Unfortunately, I started being extremely ill 5 minutes after take off that evening. 6 hour flight with constant vomiting is not fun - I am so sorry for my fellow passengers and, yes, I fully expect to have infected some of them :-( I became extremely ill and was admitted to hospital on landing and they kept me in for 3 days due to the severity of my reaction.

 

There was a considerable outbreak on our cruise so I have to disagree that the outbreak on the 21st voyage was caused by selfish/unsuspecting passengers taking it on board. They have simply picked up the virus left behind by us. I've heard from 2 crew members that I've kept in touch with that staff were definitely ill with a "stomach bug" on both cruises so the ship were definitely aware that Noro was present between the 12-21.

 

The staff were maintaining a visible and persistent cleansing routine - disinfecting rails/toilets etc. and I believe that its impossible to rule out such a virus 100% (obviously!). However, I struggle with the lack of information provided by the senior management on our cruise. We were not advised once that Noro had broken out on the ship, there was no escalation of the prevention levels - such as "no self-serve" in the Windjammer etc and at the Captains Questions, on the 20th (last full day), the Head of Ops was specifically asked about Noro and talked in the theoretical, never mentioning once that many cases had already been reported by both passengers and crew.

 

This was our first cruise and we were not as clued up as we are now - it would have made a big difference to the precautions we could have taken had the Ship's Management shared the information the had - not to cause panic but to allow me to make informed decisions. Their lack of transparency here is unacceptable to me and has resulted in the worst honeymoon homecoming. :-(

Last edited by PixieX; January 26th, 2014 at 06:40 PM.

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[reallyitsmema]

#209 Report Post

Old January 26th, 2014, 06:38 PM

PixieX PixieX is offline

Cool Cruiser

 

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: Yorkshire, England

Posts: 6

Default Just got out of hospital after disembarking EOS on 21st

We were on for our honeymoon and disembarked on the 21st after a wonderful cruise. Unfortunately, I started being extremely ill 5 minutes after take off that evening. 6 hour flight with constant vomiting is not fun - I am so sorry for my fellow passengers and, yes, I fully expect to have infected some of them :-( I became extremely ill and was admitted to hospital on landing and they kept me in for 3 days due to the severity of my reaction.

 

There was a considerable outbreak on our cruise so I have to disagree that the outbreak on the 21st voyage was caused by selfish/unsuspecting passengers taking it on board. They have simply picked up the virus left behind by us. I've heard from 2 crew members that I've kept in touch with that staff were definitely ill with a "stomach bug" on both cruises so the ship were definitely aware that Noro was present between the 12-21.

 

The staff were maintaining a visible and persistent cleansing routine - disinfecting rails/toilets etc. and I believe that its impossible to rule out such a virus 100% (obviously!). However, I struggle with the lack of information provided by the senior management on our cruise. We were not advised once that Noro had broken out on the ship, there was no escalation of the prevention levels - such as "no self-serve" in the Windjammer etc and at the Captains Questions, on the 20th (last full day), the Head of Ops was specifically asked about Noro and talked in the theoretical, never mentioning once that many cases had already been reported by both passengers and crew.

 

This was our first cruise and we were not as clued up as we are now - it would have made a big difference to the precautions we could have taken had the Ship's Management shared the information the had - not to cause panic but to allow me to make informed decisions. Their lack of transparency here is unacceptable to me and has resulted in the worst honeymoon homecoming. :-(

Last edited by PixieX; January 26th, 2014 at 06:40 PM.

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Not really sure what, if anything, you are saying here. Is this a quote from another thread? Some looks like it might be from this thread but not sure.:confused:

[ka1958]

I been on 2 cruises in 2013. One in February and one in November. On both cruises I noticed there were a lot of people sick.....Common colds sinus problems etc. The flu was going around on the one in February.

 

I always use hand santizer when available and wash my hands every moment I can get the chance too. I have to say there are a lot of people that don't use the sanitizer unless someone is putting it on them. I always complain to Guest Services when I see this. I don't want to get sick from someone elses stupidity. This is just me. I like everyone else is on vacation and want to enjoy myself. Any cruise line provides the sanitizer people need to be more curtious and use it. Also I feel that when passengers are checking in. The person checking in the passengers should closely watch to see if there are anyone that is ill. These passengers should be seen by a ship medical personel before allowing a sick passenger to board the ship. Shame on RCI for allowing people to board when they new there was the slightest possibility of the NOROVIRUS on the cruise prior. This is when they should have delayed and sterilized the whole ship. Maybe 700 passengers would not have gotten sick.

 

I also pack lysol, gloves and masks. I bring antibiotics, cough medicine and whatever else I see fit. My hubby got a sinus infection on a cruise and spent 2 days in bed one time. Ever since he swore that would not happen again so we try to be prepared. It is sad we have to protect ourselves this way. You can pick up an illness from anywhere..........Not only a cruise ship.

[ka1958]

Not really sure what, if anything, you are saying here. Is this a quote from another thread? Some looks like it might be from this thread but not sure.:confused:

 

Yes I saw it on another post. Unfortunately it may have come from the cruise before.

[Docker123]

it can happen in the "nicest" of places --- even Michelin starred restaurants:

 

TV chef Heston Blumenthal shuts London restaurant after vomiting virus outbreak

 

 

 

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/tv-chef-heston-blumenthal-shuts-london-restaurant-after-vomiting-virus-outbreak-20140203-31vjn.html

[caribbean sailor]

Lets see, let me figure this out. Being refunded 50% off this cruise and 50% off the next. Isn't that the cost of a free cruise?

How do you know those not sick had a ruined vacation?

 

We were not sick or vacation was ruined,Missed our beach day in labadee,also missed our beach day in Saint Martin.Then we all had the fear we may become sick.Cruise cut short by two days.:mad:

[BonnieSte]

GMA is reporting this morning that after talking to passengers on board the Explorer of the Seas the situation on board is much worse than originally reported. They also reported that they are only refunding 50% of the cruise and offering 50% credit on future cruise. IMO that is a horrible compensation. The passengers that were not ill had a totally ruined vacation. They deserve a paid vacation for their troubles! ... and the poor sick passengers surely deserve a full refund. This is a horrible situation. I have four very good friends that are on that ship. I can't wait to see them on Thursday and get the real story. I will post a full review as reported by them.

 

So if I get the virus at my grocery store, should I get free groceries? I don't mean to sound disrespectful honestly. But come on. How many of these people got sick on the plane? How many people boarded the ship already sick? How many people boarded that ship not even knowing they were sick?

[kruzerci]

So if I get the virus at my grocery store, should I get free groceries? I don't mean to sound disrespectful honestly. But come on. How many of these people got sick on the plane? How many people boarded the ship already sick? How many people boarded that ship not even knowing they were sick?

 

I think the compensation is more than adequate. Especially for the 2500+ who did not catch the virus.

 

I can understand that having the virus would be a vacation ruiner, but you could contract the same virus at any resort on land. I had it the week after Christmas. Passengers are essentially getting a refunded cruise between the 50% off this cruise and the next cruise. And I those who were sick were not sick the entire 8 days the ship was gone.

[tbill]

I think the compensation is more than adequate. Especially for the 2500+ who did not catch the virus.

 

I can understand that having the virus would be a vacation ruiner, but you could contract the same virus at any resort on land. I had it the week after Christmas. Passengers are essentially getting a refunded cruise between the 50% off this cruise and the next cruise. And I those who were sick were not sick the entire 8 days the ship was gone.

 

The 2500 that didn't catch the virus had canceled shows, closed pools, hot tubs and other venues instead of the cruise they thought they were getting when they paid for it.

[tbill]

So if I get the virus at my grocery store, should I get free groceries? I don't mean to sound disrespectful honestly. But come on. How many of these people got sick on the plane? How many people boarded the ship already sick? How many people boarded that ship not even knowing they were sick?

 

If you get it at the grocery store you are still leaving with the groceries you are paying for. Apple to Orange analogy ... sorry.

[tbill]

We were not sick or vacation was ruined,Missed our beach day in labadee,also missed our beach day in Saint Martin.Then we all had the fear we may become sick.Cruise cut short by two days.:mad:

 

It is so easy for people that were not on the cruise to say the compensation was fine, the cruise was fine... if the $$ and vacation time, dog sitters, child care sitters, house watchers, etc. came out of their pockets they might sing a different tune.

[tbill]

100% of the cruise is horrible? sheesh:rolleyes:

 

They cut the trip what 1 or 2 days short? Cause they got sick thru no fault of the cruise line.

 

They did not get anywhere near 100%. Sheesh :rolleyes:

[kruzerci]

The 2500 that didn't catch the virus had canceled shows, closed pools, hot tubs and other venues instead of the cruise they thought they were getting when they paid for it.

 

That's true. I see where you are coming from. However, I still think the compensation is more than adequate.

[BND]

It is so easy for people that were not on the cruise to say the compensation was fine, the cruise was fine... if the $$ and vacation time, dog sitters, child care sitters, house watchers, etc. came out of their pockets they might sing a different tune.

 

Apparently, plenty who were onboard thought it was fine. There are posts from several who were and you weren't. Why is this your crusade? You weren't onboard. You're like a dog with a bone. Let it go.

 

They missed two days and a couple of ports. So, why should they get 100%? You need to learn that things happen and they're not always someone's fault.

Edited February 3, 2014 by BND

[kruzerci]

Apparently, plenty who were onboard thought it was fine. There are posts from several who were and you weren't. Why is this your crusade? You weren't onboard. You're like a dog with a bone. Let it go.

 

They missed two days and a couple of ports. So, why should they get 100%? You need to learn that things happen and they're not always someone's fault.

 

"Like"!

[WetToes]

OP - Where's the review from your friends?

[Folk Singer]

it can happen in the "nicest" of places --- even Michelin starred restaurants;

 

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/tv-chef-heston-blumenthal-shuts-london-restaurant-after-vomiting-virus-outbreak-20140203-31vjn.html

 

 

That is so true. :):)

[20pluscruises]

it can happen in the "nicest" of places --- even Michelin starred restaurants:

 

TV chef Heston Blumenthal shuts London restaurant after vomiting virus outbreak

 

 

 

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/tv-chef-heston-blumenthal-shuts-london-restaurant-after-vomiting-virus-outbreak-20140203-31vjn.html

 

...and it came from the food. Not sure RCCL wants this out there, on top of the fact that he closed a very small restaurant for a whole week.

[nelblu]

I was at Bally's Casino in A.C. for a Super Bowl party and noticed in the Wild Wild West area of the casino that a bunch of people were playing "Beer Pong". The ping pong ball used in these games kept missing the cups and falling on the floor, the players simply placed it in a beer glass, picked it up and continued playing. My big question is why don't these players come down with some form of disease/illness. It is not the cleanest of games. This was also noticed in Las Vegas.

[molly361]

Apparently, plenty who were onboard thought it was fine. There are posts from several who were and you weren't. Why is this your crusade? You weren't onboard. You're like a dog with a bone. Let it go.

 

They missed two days and a couple of ports. So, why should they get 100%? You need to learn that things happen and they're not always someone's fault.

 

 

True- I can't believe that the mods have not closed this thread. I guess not enough people hit the little red triangle buttom:rolleyes:

[OV8]

Starting to research our next cruise - 5 years after our last one: & yes this NORO outbreak has gotten us alarmed.

 

Esp. since we will be bringing grandparents & small children along.

 

That said, we would have physicians in the family on this potential trip & we are aware that this type of thing could happen in ANY OTHER environment.

 

If we are strictly talking compensation & economic - 50% off a cruise of 5 days isn't a bad termination fee for people who aren't sick.

 

Of course, those that are sick, well no amount of comp can replace the pain & agony & potential death I guess.

Edited February 3, 2014 by OV8

[20pluscruises]

I was at Bally's Casino in A.C. for a Super Bowl party and noticed in the Wild Wild West area of the casino that a bunch of people were playing "Beer Pong". The ping pong ball used in these games kept missing the cups and falling on the floor, the players simply placed it in a beer glass, picked it up and continued playing. My big question is why don't these players come down with some form of disease/illness. It is not the cleanest of games. This was also noticed in Las Vegas.

 

50% of it comes from food...smaller percentages of the pie for other causes.

Was it on this thread that the cruiser saw the huge dumpsters being removed from the ship filled with food? That also could have been a crew member being ill and near said food.....who knows?