Lady_Gamecock Posted April 17, 2014 #1 Share Posted April 17, 2014 I am presently in a traffic jam in San Juan (on my way to Bacardi) and just thought that I would drop a line to all.... First and foremost: No Limes anywhere. There is some type of lime shortage out of Mexico, so those of you who love limes in drinkies - No joy! Secondly, Norovirus is running rampant on the boat. Our group of 8 has been lucky thus far; however, rooms around us all have Biohazard Bags..... Questions? Comments? I'll check back! Lady_G N Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ttnc4me Posted April 17, 2014 #2 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Oh nooo. Washy washy & good luck to your group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandaNShannon Posted April 17, 2014 #3 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Novovirus seems to be on most cruises that I read about in the past few weeks. Seriously making me worried. And I'm becoming very anxious about my cruise in feb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwane Posted April 17, 2014 #4 Share Posted April 17, 2014 What do you mean by Biohazard bags? What do they look like? Good luck, stay safe and wash your hands! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephluva2711 Posted April 17, 2014 #5 Share Posted April 17, 2014 What do you mean by Biohazard bags? What do they look like? Good luck, stay safe and wash your hands! :rolleyes: I hear when the quarantine you to your room you can only order certain things from room service, and then all your cutlery and plates etc go in the bio hazard bags! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shekim Posted April 17, 2014 #6 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Sorry about the noro... There is a major lime shortage. 2 weeks ago on Navigator no limes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megr1125 Posted April 17, 2014 #7 Share Posted April 17, 2014 there's a nationwide (maybe worldwide?? ) shortage of limes. It was one of the lead stories on the news this morning...really.... Oh the humanity...that's going to make mojitos tough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady_Gamecock Posted April 21, 2014 Author #8 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Sorry for the late response..... First off, RCCL did a great job with the huge Noro outbreak aboard ship; the Windjammer and Room Service were a different story.... But in defense of the ship, they had A LOT going on and had to reach out to everyone (Every member of the crew, including the Captain, was handing out food so Pax weren't touching it.) This strain thankfully we did not get! We had 8 in our party, ages ranging from three to 87. We did find out the magnets above the doors defined who had Noro, and how in the room were affected. Yes, Biohazard Bags are bags with special handling, normally medical waste. They're red and well marked. Also, saw men in Biohazard Suits cleaning and fogging rooms and hallways. The lack of limes nearly killed me! It's amazing how many drinks and recipes call for that wonderful little fruit! Let me know if you have questions! Lady_G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted April 21, 2014 #9 Share Posted April 21, 2014 All waste from quarantined cabins will be incinerated separately from other trash. Dishes and cutlery, if not paper/plastic, will be sanitized and then washed. All laundry will be handled separately, going into the medical washing machine where the water temperatures are kept much higher and different sanitizing products are used. Most of the Virkon fogging is done late at night, so you don't see it. This is the most effective method for sanitizing both hard and soft surfaces. Once the occupants disembark, the cabin and mattress will be fogged as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikmav Posted April 21, 2014 #10 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I was on Indy this past week as well. Can't comment on the limes as I didn't need them. However, don't mean to step on any toes Lady Gamecock, but the outbreak was not "huge". There were less than 75 recorded cases of it on the ship. The crew monitored it and took immediate action and instituted the increased sanitation measures that helped keep it at bay. The efforts were great! I'm happy that our family of 5 were healthy the entire trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising_knc Posted April 21, 2014 #11 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I was on Indy this past week as well. Can't comment on the limes as I didn't need them. However, don't mean to step on any toes Lady Gamecock, but the outbreak was not "huge". There were less than 75 recorded cases of it on the ship. The crew monitored it and took immediate action and instituted the increased sanitation measures that helped keep it at bay. The efforts were great! I'm happy that our family of 5 were healthy the entire trip. I was also on this sailing. My daughter is an epidemiologist who was very interested in the updates so I paid fairly close attention. I agree the crew did a great job of containing the virus. I hadn't heard that there were less than 75 recorded cases. At one point I heard there were over 100. I don't think the Captain ever provided accumulative numbers in his updates. I did hear that they were consulting with "public health authorities" which I take to mean the CDC and which they are required to do when more than 2% of the passengers/crew become ill. Since they delayed boarding for the next cruise after ours to do a deep cleaning I suspect our ship was at or above that 2% mark. Not huge but of concern. This was the first time I'd encountered the enhanced sanitation measures. Neither my husband nor I became ill and we appreciate the extra attention to cleanliness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady_Gamecock Posted April 21, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I was on Indy this past week as well. Can't comment on the limes as I didn't need them. However, don't mean to step on any toes Lady Gamecock, but the outbreak was not "huge". There were less than 75 recorded cases of it on the ship. The crew monitored it and took immediate action and instituted the increased sanitation measures that helped keep it at bay. The efforts were great! I'm happy that our family of 5 were healthy the entire trip. Touché, in our world of being uber sensitive regarding words, "huge" may have been the wrong word. My utmost apologies to Mr. Webster for the utilizing the wrong word and next time I will be more sensitive.... I found the limes situation to be more troublesome than the Noro! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbeansunrise Posted April 22, 2014 #13 Share Posted April 22, 2014 .........I found the limes situation to be more troublesome than the Noro! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app I have had norovirus twice but never from a cruise ship. Both times were land based. I've even been on a "Sick" ship with no problems. I have experieinced food poision from a well known chain resturant. No limes would, however, be a problem for a margaretta drinker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted April 22, 2014 #14 Share Posted April 22, 2014 We have cruise buddies that boarded IN yesterday and they knew they were having delayed boarding due to deep cleaning/sanitizing. Hope they sanitized well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prince1099 Posted April 22, 2014 #15 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I am presently in a traffic jam in San Juan (on my way to Bacardi) and just thought that I would drop a line to all.... First and foremost: No Limes anywhere. There is some type of lime shortage out of Mexico, so those of you who love limes in drinkies - No joy! Secondly, Norovirus is running rampant on the boat. Our group of 8 has been lucky thus far; however, rooms around us all have Biohazard Bags..... Questions? Comments? I'll check back! Lady_G N Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Can you bring your own bag of Limes on board the Independence? Cruising May 4th.2014 Do they allow your own citrus fruits, or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikew0805 Posted April 22, 2014 #16 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Novovirus seems to be on most cruises that I read about in the past few weeks.Seriously making me worried. And I'm becoming very anxious about my cruise in feb Why? It's not a cruise ship thing... this is in every school, hospital, churches or any place where people gather. You cannot do anything about it if someone who is contaminated touches your food (unlikely) however you can choose to keep your hands and fingers out of your eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Also, wash them constantly... not with that crappy sanitizer either.. use simple soap and water. By doing so, you likely will not experience this GI illness. Have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilyrosemum Posted April 22, 2014 #17 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I was on Indy this past week as well. Can't comment on the limes as I didn't need them. However, don't mean to step on any toes Lady Gamecock, but the outbreak was not "huge". There were less than 75 recorded cases of it on the ship. The crew monitored it and took immediate action and instituted the increased sanitation measures that helped keep it at bay. The efforts were great! I'm happy that our family of 5 were healthy the entire trip. I agree. It is like any "town" of say 3,000-5,000 people. If 75-100 people are sick with a virus it is not exactly an epidemic. But on the "positive" side for us frequent cruisers (3-4 weeks per year) prices do tend to drop with these Noro outbreaks.... so be my guests....do carry on...I will be checking my 4 cruises booked out over the next year for price drops, lol! Be healthy everyone! My health issues are spring time allergy related....love the beautiful blooming floral stuff but misery to me. Fortunately it is not contagious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedreyling Posted April 22, 2014 #18 Share Posted April 22, 2014 There is a major lime shortage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted April 22, 2014 #19 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Can you bring your own bag of Limes on board the Independence? Cruising May 4th.2014Do they allow your own citrus fruits, or not? Can you get away with it? Probably, unless security wants to know why those golf balls in your bag have two bumps on them. Is it allowed? No. Citrus fruit is considered a "potentially hazardous, ready to eat" food and must come from documented sources and be delivered in specific conditions, and handled in specific ways. So, even at a buck or so a lime, you only risk a few bucks if they take them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenashleysmom Posted April 22, 2014 #20 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Lime shortages and noro outbreaks...maybe its really scurvy! ;) Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loujul Posted April 22, 2014 #21 Share Posted April 22, 2014 NCL also has lime shortages all the time. Hmmm... A conspiracy??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Cruise Lover 312 Posted April 22, 2014 #22 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I work at a very well known chain restaurant and even our produce suppliers are charging upwards of $107 for a case of limes, and they are probably the smallest limes I've ever seen. So the fact that its hard to keep ships in the ocean supplied with them doesn't surprise me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterrats Posted April 23, 2014 #23 Share Posted April 23, 2014 The six of us survived without getting sick. Our cabin steward was MIA the last two days so we suspect he ended up sick. Out of 14 cabins on our deck 3 were infected. They mark the sick cabins with small 1 inch square magnets on the top edge of the doors. I have heard upwards of 400 sick but all numbers have been hearsay. RCCL tried their hardest to keep everyone safe from sickness. I was served by a lighting technician one day. Painters were serving food as well. It was definitely a "All hands on deck" cruise for the staff. Hand sanitizers everywhere except near the elevators and stairs which I thought was weird. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof3cruisers Posted April 23, 2014 #24 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Lime shortages and noro outbreaks...maybe its really scurvy! ;) Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app LOL That was my exact thought upon reading the thread title. Glad you stayed healthy, OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted April 23, 2014 #25 Share Posted April 23, 2014 The six of us survived without getting sick. Our cabin steward was MIA the last two days so we suspect he ended up sick. Out of 14 cabins on our deck 3 were infected. They mark the sick cabins with small 1 inch square magnets on the top edge of the doors. I have heard upwards of 400 sick but all numbers have been hearsay. RCCL tried their hardest to keep everyone safe from sickness. I was served by a lighting technician one day. Painters were serving food as well. It was definitely a "All hands on deck" cruise for the staff. Hand sanitizers everywhere except near the elevators and stairs which I thought was weird. Joe Even at 400 ill, with a passenger and crew count of 5600+, that is still less than 1%, far below the 2% required to even trigger the first "special report" to CDC, let alone the 3% that triggers the "outbreak update" that is posted on the CDC website, so it may not even be reportable. Unfortunate for those who were ill, but by no means a major outbreak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now