I know why I get the flu on Princess.

[GRAYTech]

...My theory is that the elevators are the culprit, you can always hear hacking and coughing and people are in close proximity. Therefore I do my best to stay off and use the stairs, but sometimes it is just too far to walk up.

 

Agreed. Stay out of the elevators if possible and don't touch the railing as you walk the stairs. The less you touch the better off you will be.

 

When you return to your cabin head straight to the bathroom to wash your hands. Treat your cabin as your safe place away from germs and everywhere else on board like a hot zone. We even bring the wipes and do the cabin / tv remote / door handles etc when we first board and then periodically throughout the cruise.

 

Knock on wood - No illness on any of the cruises that I can recall. Certainly never had the flu while on board.

[cruisemom42]

Your post is confusing and makes little sense. How exactly are you defining 'the flu'? Are you simply talking about an upper respiratory infection (e.g., the common cold)?

 

First, I would love to see your basis for suggesting most doctors say one must sleep in a cold room in order to sleep well. As far as I can tell, "most doctors" will tell you to sleep at a temperature that is comfortable for you -- that may be either cool OR warmer. See, for example: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/cant-sleep-adjust-the-temperature#1

 

Second, can anyone else corroborate having seen this message from Princess onboard doctor about the sodium? (As well, would like to see the Princess letter that the OP references...)

 

Third, when you are talking about a sign on Princess at the captain's party, are you talking about norovirus? (Which isn't what most people normally refer to as 'the flu'.)

 

Fourth, if what you say is true, why aren't these boards filled with Princess cruisers complaining of flu?

 

And finally, if flu seems to be a problem for you in particular -- why not get a flu shot?

 

 

.....sounds to me like cruising with Princess isn't for you. But I suspect it's fine for thousands of others. :rolleyes:

[elliair]

We've never had the flu on any cruise we've ever been on. On our last cruise (Caribbean Princess and the Royal), we did not sleep well - it was due to the time difference. The only thing we caught this time was the kennel cough. There was noro on board and we've never caught noro. BTW, we don't get flu shots either. I don't believe in injecting foreign substances into my body JIC I might contract something. May be why so many people get sick.

 

It sounds like traveling isn't for you if you must stay in a hotel, or other places where you can't control the temperature. Maybe worrying about it before you get there can compromise your immune system. It could be a psychological issue.

[floridalover5623]

I'm curious what ship this was. We were on the Emerald recently and found the cabin to be uncomfortably hot. Ship personnel confirmed that the Emerald has an AC issue. I'm going to start bringing a fan with me.

Never got the flu though thank God.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

They've had a major issue with the AC on the Emerald for years now and even after dry dock at the beginning of this year it hasn't been solved.

I suspect it's a design issue that can't be corrected.

Yes, many people will say there's no problem with it & they obviously had one of the unaffected cabins/decks but we've been on the Emerald a number of times and our experience had been from really bad to just OK.

We've never had a cabin with AC that was cold.

The Emerald will be our last choice based in previous sailings as long as there's another ship to choose from.

[Cruiserkenn]

OP - I have greatly improved my cruise experience by not going to hot places, such as Martinique , or deep into tropical rain forests. Too hot for me! I only cruise cool places, now, such as Alaska, Norway, Transatlantic. New Zealand in October was cool and pleasant. It really helps to cruise cool climes.

 

I wash my hands thoroughly after using the computers.

 

I use the hand sanitizer before the buffet, and immediately after going through the buffet line, too.

 

I use my knuckles on the elevator buttons, rather than my finger tips.

 

Avoid touching your nose and face!

 

I move away from people who are coughing or otherwise acting sick.

 

I wipe down my room surfaces, such as light switches, faucets, door handles, and remotes, with Wet Ones.

 

I haven't been sick on several recent cruises:) :) :)

 

These steps have really helped!

Edited November 28, 2016 by Cruisin'Rabbit

[chengkp75]

In many cases, the low humidity of the AC air on the ship dries out the mucus membranes in your nose, which are the first line of defense against airborne illness. If you have a problem with respiratory illness when cruising, try using a saline inhaler to restore moisture.

[floridalover5623]

 

I move away from people who are coughing or otherwise acting sick.

 

 

What do you do when you get to the show lounge early to get a decent seat & someone sits behind or along side of you with the sniffles or a hacking cough?

Tough decision. :(

[JF - retired RRT]

Are you sure it's the flu and not a cold (as in you have a fever, vomiting, body aches).

 

The symptoms of flu can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue (tiredness). Cold symptoms are usually milder than the symptoms of flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

 

Many assume when they are ill with vomiting that they have the flu (some even call it "stomach flu"). That's not what it is. Almost always vomiting with or without fever is food poisoning.

Edited November 28, 2016 by JF - retired RRT

[chengkp75]

 

Many assume when they are ill with vomiting that they have the flu (some even call it "stomach flu"). That's not what it is. Almost always vomiting with or without fever is food poisoning.

 

Actually, what folks call "stomach flu", and is characterized by either vomiting or diarrhea, or both, and is far more common than food poisoning is noro.

[VTX-AL]

It has happened 7 out of our last 8 cruises. Once, the ship's doctor prescribed antibiotics...she thought it was bacterial. Yet the letter from the fleet doctor warns of influenza which is viral. Either way, it is nasty and lasts for over a month. DH gets it about half as often as I do.

 

We both travel by air for work and non-cruise leisure and very rarely get sick. So the airport or airplane is probably not the problem. What is different about cruising?

 

We don't sleep as well on the ship. Even one bad night compromises the immune system. We had known we were not sleeping as well on the ship as at home, or even in hotels, for some time and had tried to fix the problem.

 

First, we bring our own mattress topper. I have never stayed in any hotel where the mattresses were as substandard as on a Princess ship.

 

Second, after watching the ship's doctor on TV on embarkation day, we realized the very high level of salt in the food was causing us to awaken repeatedly to use the bathroom. Easy fix...we requested low sodium meals. But why so much salt, especially with so may older people with high blood pressure? To make us drink more?

 

The final thing that is wrecking our sleep is not an easy fix and we may need to give up cruising. The room is too hot. At home, we keep the room in the 60s for sleeping. This is what doctors recommend and it works for us. Same in hotels. But Princess will claim the air conditioning is working even when it is in the 70s at night. It is worse than that, we discovered that the air conditioning turns off when the lights turn off. So we tried leaving the lights on and using sleep masks. The air conditioning still turned off around 3:30 am. We know because we awakened covered in sweat. My hair was wet. DH doesn't have hair, he still woke up sweltering. Princess would not fix the air conditioning, they claim it is fine.

 

Finally, we can quantify the problem because we wear watches that estimate how much deep sleep we get. At home it is around 70 percent. On our last cruise, it was in the 30s, about half as much deep sleep as at home or in hotels. Deep sleep is when the immune system repairs itself.

 

How much money does Princess save by reducing the air conditioning? Have they no regard for the comfort or health of their passengers? If we bring a fan and extension cord will either be confiscated? Should I need to work this hard for a good night's sleep?

 

For those of you who are getting respiratory infections, try checking how much deep sleep you get on the ship vs home. Many people have watches that can estimate this now. The watches may not be that accurate, but they do measure something. It could be very eye opening for you...it was for us.

 

Why do you keep torturing yourselves by constantly repeating your terrible experiences? :confused: I know that if I was in your shoes I would either find a more suitable cruise line, or find a more suitable way to holiday.

 

...VTX-Al

[Cruiserkenn]

What do you do when you get to the show lounge early to get a decent seat & someone sits behind or along side of you with the sniffles or a hacking cough?

Tough decision. :(

 

I move anyway. For me personally, it is not worth the risk. I always move.

[Aquajac]

OP your post was interesting to me because I had some of the same issues on a month-long Princess cruise that traveled through a variety of countries and climates. I wonder if what you experienced could be caused by a reaction to food allergies you might not know you even have. Reactions can be triggered by all the foods you eat or drink onboard that you don't normally indulge in.

 

Here's the reason I suggest this: On my long Princess cruise I had severe congestion on and off throughout the month. Some days were worse than others and some nights I found it hard to sleep because I was so stuffed up. Other days I'd feel fine except for being tired from lack of sleep.

 

It took nearly the entire cruise to realize that the cause was the Princess ice cream I was frequently enjoying. On the days I didn't eat ice cream, I felt well, but on the days I did, that night and the next day I'd be blowing through Kleenex constantly. I don't usually eat much ice cream at home, so I had no idea that too much of a good thing could affect me like that. Also, it could have just been the particular ice cream mix that Princess uses that was the culprit. What I do know is when I stopped eating it I got completely over my symptoms and finished the cruise in good shape.

 

Maybe this is your issue too. At least it's something to think about? I wish you well.

Edited November 28, 2016 by Aquajac

[hightownCO]

 

When you return to your cabin head straight to the bathroom to wash your hands. Treat your cabin as your safe place away from germs and everywhere else on board like a hot zone. We even bring the wipes and do the cabin / tv remote / door handles etc when we first board and then periodically throughout the cruise.

 

.

 

I do exactly what you say. Out of all my cruises, worst I've gotten is an occasional cold. I've observed so many not washing their hands in the restroom it unbelievable.

 

Also make it a point to keep your hands away from your face!

[ellie1145]

If the OP is so prone to getting influenza then why doesn't she (and her husband) have a flu shot? It is freely available in the UK, and very cheap (under $10) but maybe it is not so easily obtained in the USA, though that would be very surprising bearing in mind the way antibiotics seem to be prescribed willy nilly over there, just in case!

 

I have to agree that food on all American cruise ships is way too salty, particularly in the buffet. We don't add salt to our food so maybe we notice it more.

 

Perhaps the OP should admit defeat and finally leave cruising behind. With the repeated illnesses, lack of sleep and problems caused by salty food it would seem time to say 'enough's enough!' Certainly doesn't sound like much of a vacation to me.

:eek::eek::eek:

[Colo Cruiser]

Okay, this I don't follow at all. Did the doctor on TV tell you you were eating too much salt and therefore waking you up? I guess I missed that on the last Princess TV I saw.

 

Also, if cruising makes you sick 7 out of 8 times, maybe you shouldn't cruise.

 

 

Well he did appear a bit puffy.

[Loreni]

Certainly crowded conditions are part of the problem. The only time one or both of us have not gotten sick in the past few years was on the Pacific Princess.

 

Also, since the balcony furniture was replaced with the uncomfortable furniture we don't spend much time on the balcony, if we even book one, and instead are spending more time in public spaces. We used to believe a Princess mini-suite was the best value in cruising before they changed the furniture.

 

So, yes crowded conditions are part of the problem. The other part is an immune system that is not as robust as it could be, this is where poor sleep comes into the equation.

 

And no it is not a cold. A fever and coughing up discolored sputum is not a cold. It is curious to me that the ship's doctor immediately suspected bacterial infection, while my own doctor (on a different occasion) suspected viral. By the way the waiting room on the ship was full of people coughing. Of course we get flu shots...they don't protect you from all strains of flu.

 

So can the sleep problem be addressed? A low sodium diet and mattress pads are very easy fixes...although the mattress pad takes up an entire suitcase, it's worth it.

 

Fixing the room temperature is not as easy. I agree with the suggestion of colder weather destinations. We will try either Norway or Alaska next. Maybe both, depending on the results of the first choice.

 

We will also book a room with a balcony, even though we won't use it much with the miserable furniture and cold destination. I would never sleep with the balcony door open...imagine if your door was open during the Star Princess fire. However, I read another thread where a passenger with COPD had been told by the ship's doctor to leave the door open for twenty minutes to get fresh air. This could be an option.

 

For those who think the AC does not turn off, I noticed a trickle of air coming into the room at all times, but when the AC was off (regardless of the room being hot and the thermostat set on the lowest setting) no cold or cool air was flowing. This is how I define the AC being off...a hot room, thermostat set low, and NO cold or even cool air flowing.

 

So for now, cruising to a tropical location is not an option. We just booked a winter escape to a cottage with its own private pool...looking forward to cocooning and enjoying the weather and not having to worry about missing the ship if we relax on the beach too long.

[shredie]

Well he did appear a bit puffy.

:D

In many cases, the low humidity of the AC air on the ship dries out the mucus membranes in your nose, which are the first line of defense against airborne illness. If you have a problem with respiratory illness when cruising, try using a saline inhaler to restore moisture.

Nope. Saline=salt. ;)

 

I don't think we ever found out what ship or itinerary this was.

[nukesubsailor]

It has happened 7 out of our last 8 cruises. Once, the ship's doctor prescribed antibiotics...she thought it was bacterial. Yet the letter from the fleet doctor warns of influenza which is viral. Either way, it is nasty and lasts for over a month. DH gets it about half as often as I do.

 

We both travel by air for work and non-cruise leisure and very rarely get sick. So the airport or airplane is probably not the problem. What is different about cruising?

 

We don't sleep as well on the ship. Even one bad night compromises the immune system. We had known we were not sleeping as well on the ship as at home, or even in hotels, for some time and had tried to fix the problem.

Princess has been replacing beds on its ships. They have been great comfortable beds on our last few cruises.

First, we bring our own mattress topper. I have never stayed in any hotel where the mattresses were as substandard as on a Princess ship.

I have never stayed in a hotel where the beds are as comfortable as the ones we have had in the last year or two on Princess, and we stay in high-end hotels

Second, after watching the ship's doctor on TV on embarkation day, we realized the very high level of salt in the food was causing us to awaken repeatedly to use the bathroom. Easy fix...we requested low sodium meals. But why so much salt, especially with so may older people with high blood pressure? To make us drink more?

In dozens of Princess cruises I have never seen the ship's doctor on tv. My complaint with Princess food is the lack of salt. I figured they reduced salt to accommodate those with high blood presser because those who want more salt can always add it at the table.

The final thing that is wrecking our sleep is not an easy fix and we may need to give up cruising. The room is too hot. At home, we keep the room in the 60s for sleeping. This is what doctors recommend and it works for us. Same in hotels. But Princess will claim the air conditioning is working even when it is in the 70s at night. It is worse than that, we discovered that the air conditioning turns off when the lights turn off. So we tried leaving the lights on and using sleep masks. The air conditioning still turned off around 3:30 am. We know because we awakened covered in sweat. My hair was wet. DH doesn't have hair, he still woke up sweltering. Princess would not fix the air conditioning, they claim it is fine.

Sleeping under the duvets Princess has on their beds causes your body heat to remain trapped under it and that heat builds up over time. We always tell our cabin steward we want a top sheet and do not sleep under the duvet. In dozens of cruises we have never had air conditioning automatically shut off. Some people sleep with their balcony doors open which screws up the air conditioning for their cabin and other cabins on the same duct work.

Finally, we can quantify the problem because we wear watches that estimate how much deep sleep we get. At home it is around 70 percent. On our last cruise, it was in the 30s, about half as much deep sleep as at home or in hotels. Deep sleep is when the immune system repairs itself.

Nice watch. Mine just indicates the time and date.

How much money does Princess save by reducing the air conditioning? Have they no regard for the comfort or health of their passengers? If Princess had no regard for the comfort or health of their passengers, they would have gone out of business a long time ago. If we bring a fan and extension cord will either be confiscated? Should I need to work this hard for a good night's sleep?

No you shouldn't take an extension cord as many are unsafe and you would endanger other passengers and crew.

For those of you who are getting respiratory infections, try checking how much deep sleep you get on the ship vs home.

I always sleep better on a Princess ship than I do at home and I am aware of that without having a watch to tell me so.

Many people have watches that can estimate this now. The watches may not be that accurate, but they do measure something. It could be very eye opening for you...it was for us.

 

Unless there is a doctor reading your post, your best bet might be to consult your primary care physician. If he doesn't know the answer to your problem then ask him to refer you to a specialist ---perhaps one who treats hypochondria.

[chengkp75]

 

 

For those who think the AC does not turn off, I noticed a trickle of air coming into the room at all times, but when the AC was off (regardless of the room being hot and the thermostat set on the lowest setting) no cold or cool air was flowing. This is how I define the AC being off...a hot room, thermostat set low, and NO cold or even cool air flowing.

 

 

So did the air flow change at various times during the day, or was this "no air flow" a constant thing? It may help to understand ship's AC systems and how they differ from those in your house.

 

80% of the cabin's volume is recirculated every hour by a fan and cooler unit that is just for your cabin. This is what the thermostat controls, and it does not control the speed of the fan (the air flow) it simply controls whether the chilled water that is circulating around the ship goes to the cooler coil or not. So, if there is no air flow from the register, this is most likely a blocked filter in this fan circuit, and can be remedied by a call to guest services.

 

The remaining 20% of the cabin's volume is exhausted via the bathroom exhaust vent. This is compensated for by supplying 20% of the volume in fresh air. Most homes rely on structural leakage of air to provide fresh air to the home, or some ultra-insulated homes use an air to air heat exchanger to bring in fresh air and exhaust stale air. This supply air is from the outside, and is cooled in large fan/cooler units (typically in the areas between the interior cabins) that supply air to all the cabins on one deck, within a given fire zone. This air is cooled by the same chilled water as your cabin, but it is on a fixed temperature control, and there is no adjustment you can make in your cabin, and the air flow does not change.

 

Typically, there is only one supply vent in the cabin, but if you look closely inside it, it will be divided in two, one half for the cabin recirculation cooler and one half for the supply air. If the air flow to both sides is low, then the air filter in the AC room supply cooler may be blocked.

[Bill B]

Second, after watching the ship's doctor on TV on embarkation day, we realized the very high level of salt in the food was causing us to awaken repeatedly to use the bathroom.

 

Hmmm. Considering salt makes you retain water, isn't it the opposite of a diuretic?

 

I find it difficult to believe the doctor would say there is a high level of salt in the food; and, I think the chef would be upset with him or her if they did.

[GRAYTech]

Hmmm. Considering salt makes you retain water, isn't it the opposite of a diuretic?

 

Agreed. The whole argument just didn't make sense. Don't know for sure but if I enjoy after dinner cocktails I'm up more frequently at night. It's not the salty food, it's the booze...

[elliair]

If the OP is so prone to getting influenza then why doesn't she (and her husband) have a flu shot? It is freely available in the UK, and very cheap (under $10) but maybe it is not so easily obtained in the USA, though that would be very surprising bearing in mind the way antibiotics seem to be prescribed willy nilly over there, just in case!

 

:eek::eek::eek:

 

The flu vaccine is widely available here. We have drug stores that give it to you right in the store - RiteAid and Walgreens and even our local grocery store that has a pharmacy inside. I avoid all vaccinations.

[Shmoo here]

Hmmm. Considering salt makes you retain water, isn't it the opposite of a diuretic?

 

I find it difficult to believe the doctor would say there is a high level of salt in the food; and, I think the chef would be upset with him or her if they did.

 

Yes. But what's happening is that your body retains more water when you consume excess sodium. Then, at night, your body tries to correct the excess water by eliminating it.

[riclop]

It has happened 7 out of our last 8 cruises. Once, the ship's doctor prescribed antibiotics...she thought it was bacterial. Yet the letter from the fleet doctor warns of influenza which is viral. Either way, it is nasty and lasts for over a month. DH gets it about half as often as I do.

 

We both travel by air for work and non-cruise leisure and very rarely get sick. So the airport or airplane is probably not the problem. What is different about cruising?

 

We don't sleep as well on the ship. Even one bad night compromises the immune system. We had known we were not sleeping as well on the ship as at home, or even in hotels, for some time and had tried to fix the problem.

 

First, we bring our own mattress topper. I have never stayed in any hotel where the mattresses were as substandard as on a Princess ship.

 

Second, after watching the ship's doctor on TV on embarkation day, we realized the very high level of salt in the food was causing us to awaken repeatedly to use the bathroom. Easy fix...we requested low sodium meals. But why so much salt, especially with so may older people with high blood pressure? To make us drink more?

 

The final thing that is wrecking our sleep is not an easy fix and we may need to give up cruising. The room is too hot. At home, we keep the room in the 60s for sleeping. This is what doctors recommend and it works for us. Same in hotels. But Princess will claim the air conditioning is working even when it is in the 70s at night. It is worse than that, we discovered that the air conditioning turns off when the lights turn off. So we tried leaving the lights on and using sleep masks. The air conditioning still turned off around 3:30 am. We know because we awakened covered in sweat. My hair was wet. DH doesn't have hair, he still woke up sweltering. Princess would not fix the air conditioning, they claim it is fine.

 

Finally, we can quantify the problem because we wear watches that estimate how much deep sleep we get. At home it is around 70 percent. On our last cruise, it was in the 30s, about half as much deep sleep as at home or in hotels. Deep sleep is when the immune system repairs itself.

 

How much money does Princess save by reducing the air conditioning? Have they no regard for the comfort or health of their passengers? If we bring a fan and extension cord will either be confiscated? Should I need to work this hard for a good night's sleep?

 

For those of you who are getting respiratory infections, try checking how much deep sleep you get on the ship vs home. Many people have watches that can estimate this now. The watches may not be that accurate, but they do measure something. It could be very eye opening for you...it was for us.

 

I have never read such nonsense as what you wrote. GEEZ!!!!

[GRAYTech]

...I avoid all vaccinations.

 

Just curious why is that? Are you able to avoid the flu so you just don't feel the need for it?

 

 

I get the flu vaccine every year and my insurance covers the cost. If I get the flu, which I seemed to every year before being vaccinated, I was out of work for 7 to 10 days which cost me thousands being self-employed.

 

I think I actually had the flu last season even though I had the flu shot. Only lasted a couple days and wasn't bad, more like a cold but with the shivers.