NOROVIRUS ON CRUISES – CAN WE JUST DISCUSS

[ColeThornton]

1 hour ago, HowardK said:

But at least no one else is drinking from them- who knows how well they are cleaned

 

 

Well, in that case are you going to take your own paper plates, plastic knives and forks, etc?  I mean do whatever eases your mind but there are only so many reasonable precautions you can take no matter where you are.

Edited November 30, 2019 by ColeThornton

[julig22]

Not fun to be sick on vacation but when reports of random people getting sick, rather than entire groups traveling together getting sick, the first thing that comes to my mind is food poison, not noro or flu.  Think recent recalls of lettuce.  All the handwashing and disinfecting in the world won't help that.  So watch the raw veggies.

 

But illness on board could be any or all of the above -  I still plan on traveling but will keep my hand sanitizer close.  I'd much prefer to take my chances on a cruise ship than at the shopping mall on Black Friday!

[gizfish]

21 hours ago, Gimmiethebeach said:

I'm on the Joy Dec. 15th and since it is on it's second consecutive cruise with a Noro outbreak (Panama Canal cruise confirmed by CDC, current week "reported" on social media but obviously not on CDC website yet), I appreciate the tips.  I can't see carrying around gloves, but I will carry wipes with me that are on the EPA list of disinfectants that kill Noro (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/list_g_norovirus.pdf) and obviously wash my hands all the damn time.  My fear is getting noro at the beginning of the cruise and being confined to the cabin for the entirety!  So we will wipe down the cabin and be very vigilant about what we touch.  I agree with Deeliteful - how in the world do they disinfect ALL of the casino chips between cruises?  Does anyone know what they do in that area?  My husband plays a lot of blackjack!

FYI, if the medical staff are made aware you have a stomach illness, they give you a shot for the vomiting and pills for the diarrhea.  You are quarantined for only 24 hours after your last "episode," and the meds do an excellent job controlling that.  So it's basically 24 hours confined from the time you go to the infirmary.

[mumbumone]

Ended up with Noro debark day after cruise this past March.  Drove from Miami to Chicago 3 days.  HORRIBLE

My husband and I got it from our son who attended the kids club a few nights.  50% sure he got it there and passed it to us on debark.  

[MoniMommy]

On 11/30/2019 at 8:32 PM, gizfish said:

FYI, if the medical staff are made aware you have a stomach illness, they give you a shot for the vomiting and pills for the diarrhea.  You are quarantined for only 24 hours after your last "episode," and the meds do an excellent job controlling that.  So it's basically 24 hours confined from the time you go to the infirmary.

Do you have to pay for the shots and meds?

[GA Dave]

Wife and I boarding our next cruise.

Edited December 4, 2019 by GA Dave

[casofilia]

We have just debarked from a ship that had Noro and the crew were wonderful.  Anyone that had constant contact with passengers, dining room staff and stewards, work even harder than they normally do.  Officers were NOT seen round the ship and didn't attend either of two Meet & Greets while we were under "Code Red".   One day we were asked to put all personal stuff in draws or cupboards and every surface was disinfected while we were out of the room.  Then again all rooms that people debarked from were done again before any embarking passengers were allowed on.

 

Take the precautions that are repeated frequently in the daily newspaper and over the communication system.   Wash your hands frequently with soap and then use hot water.  The sanitizer is only a back up.  Don't get "stroppy" with the poor dining room person who asks you to wash even if you did it 5 minutes earlier when you left your cabin, you are bound to have touched surfaces round the ship between the two places.

[gizfish]

5 hours ago, MoniMommy said:

Do you have to pay for the shots and meds?

Not only do you have to pay for the shot and meds, you have to pay for the doc visit as well.  Unlike other cruise lines who don't charge you when you do the right thing and report a GI issue.  

[MoniMommy]

1 minute ago, gizfish said:

Not only do you have to pay for the shot and meds, you have to pay for the doc visit as well.  Unlike other cruise lines who don't charge you when you do the right thing and report a GI issue.  

I have cruise insurance. So it would be covered but you still have to wait be reimbursed. This cost would prevent people from getting help and perpetuate the spread.

[fshagan]

We use disposable wipes on both the airplane and the cabin. On the airplane we wipe the armrests, tray table and anything else we may need to touch. Then in the cabin we wipe down the bathroom, tv remote, phone and door handles. We wash our hands frequently in any case, and do use the sanitizers while on board.

 

I have been sick on one cruise and stayed in my cabin until I was feeling better.

[Kilo November]

3 hours ago, gizfish said:

Not only do you have to pay for the shot and meds, you have to pay for the doc visit as well.  Unlike other cruise lines who don't charge you when you do the right thing and report a GI issue.  

 

We were on the JOY November 24 sailing. When the captain told us that there were still passengers coming ill on our cruise, he stated that any visits to the docs would be free of charge.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

After reading the CDC website on the norovirus from what I can tell the best thing you can possibly do to protect yourself is to not eat food that you have touched with your hands and keep your hands (or others hands) out of your mouth.  Even after washing your hands you can contaminate yourself by touching anything.  Washing your hands only prevents you from contaminating anything until you touch something.  Only bleach and Hydrogen Peroxide can kill norovirus, regular alcohol sanitizers or cleaning wipes cannot. 

[doverboy]

Germaphobes often seem to be the people getting sick. Your body can deal with germs and builds up protection against many. The constant and continuous wiping of handles and armrests and shopping cart handles is often doing a disservice to your body. Yes, I use the stations in ships and hospitals.  Yes I clean after using a restroom but I am saddened that our society has decided to throw discarded towels into the corner of restrooms or on the floor after they "cleanse" their area

[ray98]

1 hour ago, doverboy said:

I am saddened that our society has decided to throw discarded towels into the corner of restrooms or on the floor after they "cleanse" their area

Well.....if there was a speck of common sense on behalf of the business there would be a waste basket in that corner.  Washing your hands and grabbing a high traffic door handle on the way out pretty much negates the benefit.

[gooch47]

I have had Norovirus a few times on ships and one case of bacterial diarrhea which I wouldn't wish on anyone.

 

My husband has never had an intestinal problem.

 

The difference is I simply cannot keep my hands away from my face.  And I touch railings, door handles, buttons on elevators, etc.  You'd think I'd learn.

[GA Dave]

Common Sense Advise

[gizfish]

15 hours ago, Kilo November said:

 

We were on the JOY November 24 sailing. When the captain told us that there were still passengers coming ill on our cruise, he stated that any visits to the docs would be free of charge.

That was because that sailing had such a large "reportable" outbreak.  When you come down with anything GI and do the right thing by going to medical, if there is no "outbreak" they charge you.