Arcadia - gastro outbreak

[Hampshire Steve]

We are also currently on Arcadia. We would agree that there are many new crew members on board but they seem a happy smiley bunch and we have little to complain about. I don't like the noise of MDR so we tend to use Sindhu, Ocean Grill & Room service. All pretty fair so far, few minor mistakes but nothing worth a hissy fit over. 

 

We gave up with the ships buffet after the return from lock down, you could still see fairly obvious places where hygiene was not best, not necessarily things I would blame the ship for either.

 

Just a couple of days ago I saw a chap call for a lift with the bottom of his walking stick, oh yuck the rest of us people have to press that button next!

 

On our section of deck have only seen one blue tray (Isolation) left outside a cabin, no doubt more around but not a massive amount I think. CDC did get on in Boston, not New York, don't know the results yet but presume a pass otherwise we would not have continued to other ports in the US. You can see previous inspections here - https://wwwn.cdc.gov/inspectionquerytool/InspectionSearch.aspx

 

I have, in the past, had things to complain about with P&O and whilst Arcadia is a bit of an old rust bucket (we accept it's 19 years old and so will not be perfect) we have 5 more booked on it, next one is right after refit in November, be interesting to see if it's more than carpets this time. We have noticed more wifi extenders and are very happy with internet at sea (perhaps not the price), we have noticed new CAT5 connections behind the TV so assume there will be video on demand at last. We are told Sindhu is getting a make over, also told that the restaurant and so we presume bar staff will be able to take orders electronically and send direct to the kitchen/bar

 

[Selbourne]

18 minutes ago, Hampshire Steve said:

Just a couple of days ago I saw a chap call for a lift with the bottom of his walking stick, oh yuck the rest of us people have to press that button next!

I’ve seen a number of people do that. I always think that stick has been on toilet floors where there is often ‘overspill’ 🤮

[FangedRose]

11 hours ago, Selbourne said:

I’ve seen a number of people do that. I always think that stick has been on toilet floors where there is often ‘overspill’ 🤮

I think the same when I see people put them on the tables in the buffet.

 

I have also have seen the button push too, that is why I always use my knuckles to push all buttons, even when not on a ship. Especially on pedestrian crossings.

Edited September 26 by FangedRose

[zap99]

13 hours ago, Selbourne said:

I’ve seen a number of people do that. I always think that stick has been on toilet floors where there is often ‘overspill’ 🤮

I know you have views on lift etiquette.  How about the people who press the door closed button. I said to him. ' the old Lady on crutches missed it again'. Was somebody coming.....you'll never know will you.

[Son of Anarchy]

On 9/25/2024 at 2:46 AM, tring said:

Service incredibly bad as very short staffed.  Been told by a one strip senior in the restaurant that the reason is because certain nationalities of crew have great problems getting visas for USA, which of course were needed.  Will not help that two did a bunk in NY this year as is not unusual.......  

We did the equivalent cruise last year on Aurora.  A crewmember did a bunk in one of the Canadian ports prior to USA.  As a consequence shore leave was cancelled  for all crew while we were in USA apart from a very small number who were allowed ashore for work reasons.  That said we saw one of the theatre techies having a few beers at Harpoon Brewery the night we were in Boston.  Maybe he was doing some research....🍺

[Son of Anarchy]

20 hours ago, Sonyar said:

We're currently on Arcadia and are fine so far.

We tend to eat in the buffet, but not anything with our fingers.

First time on her and the service is fine in our opinion.

Passengers moaning to staff about hand washing, some still not complying, so it's not surprising some are ill.

We did Arcadia's worldie this year.  Staff were enforcing hand washing at the buffet entrances, apart from the entertainment team.  Saw them on several occasions going in avoiding washing their hands and ignoring the staff with the squirty bottles.

 

Towards the end of the cruise, gastro intestinal outbreak occured.  Captain had to make extra announcements warning pax that non-compliance of hand washing on entering the buffet or abusing staff doing their job could lead to dis-embarkation.

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

We were told that hand gel does not kill the norovirus bug, only washing hands with soap will do it. Having said that, catching norovirus is not the end of the world. 2 days confined to cabin (balcony hopefully)  with room Service and everything should then be okay.

[gsmt47471015]

On 9/26/2024 at 3:18 PM, Son of Anarchy said:

We did Arcadia's worldie this year.  Staff were enforcing hand washing at the buffet entrances, apart from the entertainment team.  Saw them on several occasions going in avoiding washing their hands and ignoring the staff with the squirty bottles.

 

Towards the end of the cruise, gastro intestinal outbreak occured.  Captain had to make extra announcements warning pax that non-compliance of hand washing on entering the buffet or abusing staff doing their job could lead to dis-embarkation.

I may have been misquoted by a passenger on that cruise but I was told that two passengers were actually taken off the ship for non compliance? That been said from what I frequently witnessed a lot more could have been thrown off for non compliance to the point of a arguing with staff as to why they shouldn’t have to clean their hands😟

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

17 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

I may have been misquoted by a passenger on that cruise but I was told that two passengers were actually taken off the ship for non compliance? That been said from what I frequently witnessed a lot more could have been thrown off for non compliance to the point of an arguing with staff as to why they shouldn’t have to clean their .

Edited September 27 by PRINCESSTHE BEST

[tring]

On 9/26/2024 at 3:10 PM, Son of Anarchy said:

We did the equivalent cruise last year on Aurora.  A crewmember did a bunk in one of the Canadian ports prior to USA.  As a consequence shore leave was cancelled  for all crew while we were in USA apart from a very small number who were allowed ashore for work reasons.  That said we saw one of the theatre techies having a few beers at Harpoon Brewery the night we were in Boston.  Maybe he was doing some research....🍺

 

We were on Aurora last year as well.  It was Boston when a crew member went missing, hence no more shore leave in the other US ports.  

 

We were told by crew last year that it is normally New York when one of more go AWOL.  Easier to get lost there, but also it seems that they will have had it all arranged before they jump ship.

 

Two went missing in NY this year - someone from the galley and a buffet attendant.

 

[Son of Anarchy]

15 hours ago, gsmt47471015 said:

I may have been misquoted by a passenger on that cruise but I was told that two passengers were actually taken off the ship for non compliance? That been said from what I frequently witnessed a lot more could have been thrown off for non compliance to the point of a arguing with staff as to why they shouldn’t have to clean their hands😟

Now that you mention it, that rings a bell with me as well re the chucking off.  I just don't get why both passengers and staff don't either wash their hands or use the sanitisers before entering dining venues.  As for arguing with staff about it, I found it incredible that the Captain had to announce about it over the tannoy.  Good that the Captain supported his crew in this matter.  I remember seeing some tours team having to do handwashing/sanitizer duty.  They told us it because it was less likely that passengers would argue with them.  Incredulous that some people argue over a safety matter like that.

[Son of Anarchy]

14 hours ago, tring said:

 

We were on Aurora last year as well.  It was Boston when a crew member went missing, hence no more shore leave in the other US ports.  

 

We were told by crew last year that it is normally New York when one of more go AWOL.  Easier to get lost there, but also it seems that they will have had it all arranged before they jump ship.

 

Two went missing in NY this year - someone from the galley and a buffet attendant.

 

Explains why we saw the light & sounds techie in Harpoon Brewery. Pity we didn't have an opportunity to go ashore for two nights whilst there last year.

[Hampshire Steve]

A couple of points I don't understand regarding this outbreak......

 

Captain had announced that Canadian Health had said the only recommendation was for staff to serve in the buffet, so he said that would happen until we left Canadian waters, if it's the right thing to do why stop it?

 

Last night his announcement was that the outbreak was pretty much over and enhanced cleaning protocols would finish and whilst he would no longer insist on hand washing he recommended it, again why stop?

[daz1107]

Quick question to all the hand cleaning experts out there. 

Tesco sell a product called 'Milton Anti Bacterial Hand Gel', which seems to state that it is effective against norovirus and gastro-enteritis virus.  It's around £2.20ish for a 100ml bottle. 

Has anyone tried it? 

 

[jeanlyon]

Well one is a virus and the other is a bacteria.  So can't see how that is effective against noro which is a virus.  Looks like it's more for babies.

Edited September 28 by jeanlyon

[daz1107]

30 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Well one is a virus and the other is a bacteria.  So can't see how that is effective against noro which is a virus.  Looks like it's more for babies.

Thanks for that. As I said, it just seems to imply it kills both, but I'm happy with soap and water. 

[Snow Hill]

According to the manufacturers website it is also virucidal and lists norovirus

 

https://www.milton-tm.com/en/consumer/products/colour-free-antibacterial-hand-gel

[snaefell]

Not an unusual occurrence for Arcadia,we seemed to see a number of posts indicating previous outbreaks,including our 19 night Med cruise in May last year,is it a lucky break that she is due for downtime,will it give them chance for some intensive cleaning that can't be done when she is in service?

We are back on her in May 2025,looking forward to seeing her again post refit,hopefully without the crew serving on the buffet.some of them so obviously didn't want to be doing it!😎

[daz1107]

2 hours ago, Snow Hill said:

According to the manufacturers website it is also virucidal and lists norovirus

 

https://www.milton-tm.com/en/consumer/products/colour-free-antibacterial-hand-gel

Thanks for the helpful response. 

That's what I saw, but I'm no expert in these matters, which is why I asked the question. 

I'll probably get a bottle, for the cost of a couple of quid, to use when out and about, but use soap before dining. 

 

[tring]

On 9/28/2024 at 9:24 AM, Son of Anarchy said:

Explains why we saw the light & sounds techie in Harpoon Brewery. Pity we didn't have an opportunity to go ashore for two nights whilst there last year.

 

Just come off Arcadia.  A fellow passenger told us a couple of days ago that when crew go AWOL, P&O get charged 25,000 dollars per member of crew who went missing. 

 

Although that was only from a fellow passenger, it was someone who seemed well informed and level headed, so we are inclined to believe that could well be true.

 

[Mollag]

On 10/3/2024 at 5:29 PM, tring said:

 

Just come off Arcadia.  A fellow passenger told us a couple of days ago that when crew go AWOL, P&O get charged 25,000 dollars per member of crew who went missing. 

 

Although that was only from a fellow passenger, it was someone who seemed well informed and level headed, so we are inclined to believe that could well be true.

 

Currently on Aurora and 2 jumped ship in Sept Iles earlier this week and yes they get fined 25000dollars every time

[jeanlyon]

I note Ventura also has a noro / tummy bug outbreak now as well.  Seems to happen to cruise ships a lot.

[zap99]

12 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

I note Ventura also has a noro / tummy bug outbreak now as well.  Seems to happen to cruise ships a lot.

Not just ships. Hotels, planes, pubs, public transport...All over the place..Paignton, Salcombe, that London. Everywhere.

[Selbourne]

13 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

I note Ventura also has a noro / tummy bug outbreak now as well.  Seems to happen to cruise ships a lot.

Some family members disembarked Ventura yesterday and didn’t mention this, but I’m speaking to them later so will post back if they confirm this. There were a lot of very unhappy passengers on the cruise, but this was because they only made it to two of the four ports across the seven days. 

[kalos]

13 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

I note Ventura also has a noro / tummy bug outbreak now as well.  Seems to happen to cruise ships a lot.

 

It's all over the place,our Granddaughter flew back from Spain and phoned to say they

have come down with it ,yet her Mum and brother have not.

Our Heating engineer was coming for our boiler service but his lad came home from

school feeling yuk and now over the weekend the full household is down with the bug.