Current Norovirus on some P&O ships

[Sawdan]

We are just back from Arvia and I am pleased to say we are both well!

   We took many precautions including washing and sanitising our hands regularly and only using our cabin toilet. 

   I know someone on here thinks we are being over zealous and should be building up our tolerances by not sanitising all the time. And also that the only way you can get Noro is by putting your fingers in your mouth when not clean!!!! 

   We will take a risk on not building up a tolerance to some pretty disgusting people that think it is ok to use the toilet and not wash their hands afterwards yet touch everything on their way around the ship. I bet these people have a pretty high tolerance to getting ill!!

  I have seen some disgusting behaviour this last 2 weeks that has really put me off TBH. Some passengers are ignoring rules or being ignorant to the rules and it doesn't seem that there is anyone to police this and stop it happening. When the dust settles I will do a review of our 2 week Med cruise. 

   Overall I think we have just about enjoyed it but there is too many annoying things now that don't make it as enjoyable as it used to be. 

On a side note just one of the more annoying things I saw everyday was vaping in public areas. We saw people vaping in the casino in the theatre!!! Yes the theatre!! Both sides of deck 8. We could also smell them regularly when we entered the lifts. I don't vape but think the only area is on Deck 18? Apologies if this is incorrect. Oh and anywhere on deck 13 (chuckle)

   

[Breezy5631]

24 minutes ago, Sawdan said:

We are just back from Arvia and I am pleased to say we are both well!

   We took many precautions including washing and sanitising our hands regularly and only using our cabin toilet. 

   I know someone on here thinks we are being over zealous and should be building up our tolerances by not sanitising all the time. And also that the only way you can get Noro is by putting your fingers in your mouth when not clean!!!! 

   We will take a risk on not building up a tolerance to some pretty disgusting people that think it is ok to use the toilet and not wash their hands afterwards yet touch everything on their way around the ship. I bet these people have a pretty high tolerance to getting ill!!

  I have seen some disgusting behaviour this last 2 weeks that has really put me off TBH. Some passengers are ignoring rules or being ignorant to the rules and it doesn't seem that there is anyone to police this and stop it happening. When the dust settles I will do a review of our 2 week Med cruise. 

   Overall I think we have just about enjoyed it but there is too many annoying things now that don't make it as enjoyable as it used to be. 

On a side note just one of the more annoying things I saw everyday was vaping in public areas. We saw people vaping in the casino in the theatre!!! Yes the theatre!! Both sides of deck 8. We could also smell them regularly when we entered the lifts. I don't vape but think the only area is on Deck 18? Apologies if this is incorrect. Oh and anywhere on deck 13 (chuckle)

   

There was a guy on deck 9 that would openly vape in the corridor even when the cleaners were about. Nothing was said to him at any point. 

[Josy1953]

42 minutes ago, Sawdan said:

We are just back from Arvia and I am pleased to say we are both well!

   We took many precautions including washing and sanitising our hands regularly and only using our cabin toilet. 

   I know someone on here thinks we are being over zealous and should be building up our tolerances by not sanitising all the time. And also that the only way you can get Noro is by putting your fingers in your mouth when not clean!!!! 

   We will take a risk on not building up a tolerance to some pretty disgusting people that think it is ok to use the toilet and not wash their hands afterwards yet touch everything on their way around the ship. I bet these people have a pretty high tolerance to getting ill!!

  I have seen some disgusting behaviour this last 2 weeks that has really put me off TBH. Some passengers are ignoring rules or being ignorant to the rules and it doesn't seem that there is anyone to police this and stop it happening. When the dust settles I will do a review of our 2 week Med cruise. 

   Overall I think we have just about enjoyed it but there is too many annoying things now that don't make it as enjoyable as it used to be. 

On a side note just one of the more annoying things I saw everyday was vaping in public areas. We saw people vaping in the casino in the theatre!!! Yes the theatre!! Both sides of deck 8. We could also smell them regularly when we entered the lifts. I don't vape but think the only area is on Deck 18? Apologies if this is incorrect. Oh and anywhere on deck 13 (chuckle)

   

 

I don't smoke or vape but out of interest because I hate walking through areas where either is allowed because of the smell and my belief that passive smoking is almost as bad as smoking oneself looked at the P&O site and found this : 

 

WHERE CAN YOU VAPE ON A P&O CRUISE?

On a P&O cruise, vaping is not allowed anywhere indoors, even in guest rooms, and is not permitted on balconies. Electronic cigarettes can only be used in the designated smoking areas, which are signposted and listed in the newsletter onboard.

 

I will be complaining on board if I have to walk past vapers anywhere other than the permitted areas when we are on Aurora later this year.

Edited June 23 by Josy1953

[Fionboard]

Stick to small ships. Much less of these problems on those.

[Sawdan]

1 hour ago, Fionboard said:

Stick to small ships. Much less of these problems on those.

Yes, I think that may be the best solution 

[Sawdan]

1 hour ago, Breezy5631 said:

There was a guy on deck 9 that would openly vape in the corridor even when the cleaners were about. Nothing was said to him at any point. 

Yes it's not great that these people flout the rules. It's not great that staff do bot intervene and it's not great that you have to smell candy floss and other sickening smells  and breathe in passive smoking when you are trying to enjoy your holiday.

  For the record I am sure that most people that vape abide by the rules and are not selfish. However I see many that do not. 

   This is not just a P&O thing by the way. I have witnessed on multiple cruise lines and in everyday life situations.

  Bring back smoking it's a lot harder to hide and disguise. 

   

[LinniB]

My 88 year old mum is going solo on the Ventura tomorrow and has had an email saying boarding delayed for deep clean again !

Just hoping they manage to get rid of “ the problem “ finally.

It seems to be going on too long !

 

 

[Megabear2]

This was posted 9 hours ago on the BBC.  Assuming they told passengers before now.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr4x254yrxo.amp

[LinniB]

Mum got the email on Wednesday but only showed us today!

[purplesea]

My friend is due to sail on Ventura tomorrow, but didn't mention having received an email when we were discussing this, when we met on Wednesday.

Edited Friday at 08:42 PM by purplesea

[CruisingSarah]

Apologies if this has already been addressed on this thread, I’ve been following but haven’t read every page but we’ve been wondering at what point and if they ever do cancel/curtail an itinerary to allow days for cleaning rather than an extra two hours every few weeks? If Ventura didn’t sail for a week would that finally sort out the issue? It seems it has been rumbling on since around December now, at what point do they admit defeat? 

[terrierjohn]

6 minutes ago, CruisingSarah said:

Apologies if this has already been addressed on this thread, I’ve been following but haven’t read every page but we’ve been wondering at what point and if they ever do cancel/curtail an itinerary to allow days for cleaning rather than an extra two hours every few weeks? If Ventura didn’t sail for a week would that finally sort out the issue? It seems it has been rumbling on since around December now, at what point do they admit defeat? 

Even if they cleaned it for months, as soon as it went back into service it would be likely to succumb to further outbreaks. Its infected passengers more than infected ships that cause Noro outbreaks.

[Snow Hill]

13 minutes ago, CruisingSarah said:

Apologies if this has already been addressed on this thread, I’ve been following but haven’t read every page but we’ve been wondering at what point and if they ever do cancel/curtail an itinerary to allow days for cleaning rather than an extra two hours every few weeks? If Ventura didn’t sail for a week would that finally sort out the issue? It seems it has been rumbling on since around December now, at what point do they admit defeat? 

Probably won’t unless the Port Health has the power to detain the ship in order to deep clean the ship fully, to seek to ensure the ship is free of the virus, unfortunately can’t deep clean passengers.
 

 

Edited Friday at 09:42 PM by Snow Hill

[Snow Hill]

Apparently there is a new strain of the Norovirus which has caused a significant increase in cases in the U.K. and other European countries. There is lower immunity which could explain the continuing outbreaks on cruise ships. 

[CruisingSarah]

57 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Even if they cleaned it for months, as soon as it went back into service it would be likely to succumb to further outbreaks. Its infected passengers more than infected ships that cause Noro outbreaks.

I get that but why is it that it’s so particularly bad on Ventura? We’re not hearing the same of other ships.
Can’t it be a crew issue now? 

[carlanthony24]

41 minutes ago, CruisingSarah said:

I get that but why is it that it’s so particularly bad on Ventura? We’re not hearing the same of other ships.
Can’t it be a crew issue now? 

They had the port authorities onboard a couple of weeks ago so they must of been happy with everything the staff are doing. Crew will be quarantined if they show symptoms and have to attend the medical center. Other cruise ships are having the same issue. Maybe not bad but its rife in many places. 

[LittleTinker]

10 hours ago, CruisingSarah said:

Apologies if this has already been addressed on this thread, I’ve been following but haven’t read every page but we’ve been wondering at what point and if they ever do cancel/curtail an itinerary to allow days for cleaning rather than an extra two hours every few weeks? If Ventura didn’t sail for a week would that finally sort out the issue? It seems it has been rumbling on since around December now, at what point do they admit defeat? 

 

It's not the ship that's the issue. Its people.

Norovirus is prevailent in places where large numbers of elderly people gather.

 

[CruisingSarah]

3 minutes ago, LittleTinker said:

 

It's not the ship that's the issue. Its people.

Norovirus is prevailent in places where large numbers of elderly people gather.

 

I understand that it’s a people issue. 

 

It’s more of a why is it so particularly bad for such a protracted length of time now on Ventura? Why just Ventura? Why is it so much worse on Ventura than any other ship? 
 

You mention elderly people, but we’re not hearing the same about Azura or Britannia which attract a similar demographic to Ventura. We’re not hearing it about Arcadia and Aurora which really do attract an older demographic. In fact the only other P&O ship that’s been mentioned recently is Arvia and that one attracts a more mixed age crowd. 

[jeanlyon]

13 minutes ago, LittleTinker said:

 

It's not the ship that's the issue. Its people.

Norovirus is prevailent in places where large numbers of elderly people gather.

 

Not particularly elderly.  2 young friends of mine have just come back from holiday in Santorini, both went down with it and so did others.

[LittleTinker]

7 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Not particularly elderly.  2 young friends of mine have just come back from holiday in Santorini, both went down with it and so did others.

I didn't say it was exclusive to elderly.

It's more prevalent where more elderly visit in large numbers.

 

 

[terrierjohn]

10 hours ago, CruisingSarah said:

I get that but why is it that it’s so particularly bad on Ventura? We’re not hearing the same of other ships.
Can’t it be a crew issue now? 

It could well be infected crew, but Moley did say ships have a protocol for infected crew to be kept isolated until they are clear of infection.

[LittleTinker]

15 minutes ago, CruisingSarah said:

I understand that it’s a people issue. 

 

It’s more of a why is it so particularly bad for such a protracted length of time now on Ventura? Why just Ventura? Why is it so much worse on Ventura than any other ship? 
 

You mention elderly people, but we’re not hearing the same about Azura or Britannia which attract a similar demographic to Ventura. We’re not hearing it about Arcadia and Aurora which really do attract an older demographic. In fact the only other P&O ship that’s been mentioned recently is Arvia and that one attracts a more mixed age crowd. 

 

Many factors affect it such as ship layout and features......due to the flow of people.

And time of year and destination will affect it.

 

[purplesea]

29 minutes ago, LittleTinker said:

 

It's not the ship that's the issue. Its people.

Norovirus is prevailent in places where large numbers of elderly people gather.

 

Not just elderly. My daughter works in a primary  and junior school and has said that a lot of the teachers and pupils are off.

[CruisingSarah]

3 minutes ago, LittleTinker said:

 

Many factors affect it such as ship layout and features......due to the flow of people.

And time of year and destination will affect it.

 

Maybe but it doesn’t really make sense, as similar ship layout to others in the fleet. Similar destinations and time of year to others in the fleet. 

[Megabear2]

30 minutes ago, LittleTinker said:

Norovirus is prevailent in places where large numbers of elderly people gather.

 

That's rather skewing the facts though.  Yes, elderly people do have the largest number of reported cases but that's because a very large proportion of cases reported are from the care home setting.  In April 20% of all reported UK cases were from schools.

 

And we are of course talking about reported cases only to get the overall picture for the Government and health officials.  A great number of all age groups will have had it but self treat at home, doctors' surgeries of course will not see those with general symptoms only the very sick.  Hence care homes being monitored on a daily basis produce the highest reported number of cases.

 

Regarding cruise ships, this is from the CDC in the US:

 

Cruise ships

Norovirus is the most frequent (over 90%) cause of outbreaks of diarrheal disease on cruise ships. These outbreaks often get media attention, which is why some people call norovirus the "cruise ship virus." However, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only a small percentage (1%) of all reported norovirus outbreaks.u