Dawn Virus 11/2/08 sailing

[starwood401]

Does anyone have info on the virus from this sailing? What was it, how many people had it? Are you still sick?

[bakerintn]

I don't have any specific information, but any major outbreak requires reporting to the Center For Disease Control. Here is a link to the CDC website that has reports of virus outbreaks on cruise ships. Note that at least 3% of the passengers + crew have to have reported symptoms to the ships doctor before these "outbreak" reports are posted there.

 

The Norwegian Dawn has not had an 'outbreak' report of virus since Oct 2007.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/GIlist.htm#2008

[starwood401]

This is a great link - I'll reveiw this next time a book a cruise. I got sick the last day of the cruise - it was the worst. I've been cruising since 1982 and this is the first time i got sick. NCL did everything thin their power to keep us healthy. BUT it up to us the passengers...

 

While waiting to leave the ship the person next to me was bragging about how he had been sick for three days but didn't want to stay in his cabin. I thanked him for getting me sick.

 

Please, if you do get sick while cruising, call the doctor, stay in your cabin and wash your hands often. NCL took great care - the nurse came to my cabin, examined me, gave me medicine. They asked me to stay in my cabin, fluids and food were brought to my cabin. They followed up every few hours on my progress. They also arranged private transportation for my husband and me when the cruise was over. I cannot say enough about how great NCL was.

[meaclasact2]

This is a great link - I'll reveiw this next time a book a cruise. I got sick the last day of the cruise - it was the worst. I've been cruising since 1982 and this is the first time i got sick. NCL did everything thin their power to keep us healthy. BUT it up to us the passengers...

 

While waiting to leave the ship the person next to me was bragging about how he had been sick for three days but didn't want to stay in his cabin. I thanked him for getting me sick.

 

Please, if you do get sick while cruising, call the doctor, stay in your cabin and wash your hands often. NCL took great care - the nurse came to my cabin, examined me, gave me medicine. They asked me to stay in my cabin, fluids and food were brought to my cabin. They followed up every few hours on my progress. They also arranged private transportation for my husband and me when the cruise was over. I cannot say enough about how great NCL was.

 

Hope you're feeling better...the virus (if that was what you had) is self limiting and moves on in a few days. And I wholeheartedly agree, the passengers must take on personal responsiblity when it comes to this issue. NCL can do so much...what is that saying? "It takes a village..."

[Cosmopolitan]

This is a great link - I'll reveiw this next time a book a cruise. I got sick the last day of the cruise - it was the worst. I've been cruising since 1982 and this is the first time i got sick. NCL did everything thin their power to keep us healthy. BUT it up to us the passengers...

 

While waiting to leave the ship the person next to me was bragging about how he had been sick for three days but didn't want to stay in his cabin. I thanked him for getting me sick.

 

Please, if you do get sick while cruising, call the doctor, stay in your cabin and wash your hands often. NCL took great care - the nurse came to my cabin, examined me, gave me medicine. They asked me to stay in my cabin, fluids and food were brought to my cabin. They followed up every few hours on my progress. They also arranged private transportation for my husband and me when the cruise was over. I cannot say enough about how great NCL was.

 

Our last cruise....the virus was all over the ship...credit to NCL...they were sanitizing the ship constantly.

If you are ill....STAY IN YOUR CABIN! Follow the rules!

 

We became ill the day after we returned from the cruise...MISERABLE beyond words. And, we kept passing the virus back and forth to one another.

 

WASH YOUR HANDS:-)

[logcabin]

NCL usually has some of the lowest reports of Noro-Virus than most other cruise lines. They spray your hands when you first board, have sanitizers all over, have them by each enterance, etc. They do an outstanding job of sanitizing everything on every cruise. I have been on other major lines that have done nothing as far as hand sanitizers. I just don't understand that. However, NCL is very good about it.

[mbarnaby99]

I was on the sailing and was told that on the next to our last day there were around 75 cases. I have to give NCL credit for working to make sure the entire ship was sanitized. I know some passengers were upset at some of the mesures taken but I thank NCL for handling it the way they did.

[BuckeyePat]

I was on the sailing and was told that on the next to our last day there were around 75 cases. I have to give NCL credit for working to make sure the entire ship was sanitized. I know some passengers were upset at some of the mesures taken but I thank NCL for handling it the way they did.

What measures were passengers upset about? Thanks.

[mbarnaby99]

What measures were passengers upset about? Thanks.

 

All the salt and pepper shakers were removed from the tables. You could not longer get your own drink for food at the buffet. It's just funny to me how some get upset over the smallest things. NCL was doing what they could but you can't please everyone. Also, this was only during the last four days of a 13 day cruise.

[mollymg]

My husband and I were also on the cruise and we thought NCL did a great job with trying to keep the virus contained. When those kind of measures are being taken you know that there must be quite a few cases on board. I was happy to be "sprayed" and given food and drinks items by the crew on board. Supposedly there was a couple that left their room after being quarintined and had to be hunted down by the crew and was found in the casino, that couldn't have helped with the spread of the virus.

[dark star]

My husband and I were also on the cruise and we thought NCL did a great job with trying to keep the virus contained. When those kind of measures are being taken you know that there must be quite a few cases on board. I was happy to be "sprayed" and given food and drinks items by the crew on board. Supposedly there was a couple that left their room after being quarintined and had to be hunted down by the crew and was found in the casino, that couldn't have helped with the spread of the virus.

 

there's always one idiot:eek:

[nyflush]

This is a great link - I'll reveiw this next time a book a cruise. I got sick the last day of the cruise - it was the worst. I've been cruising since 1982 and this is the first time i got sick. NCL did everything thin their power to keep us healthy. BUT it up to us the passengers...

 

While waiting to leave the ship the person next to me was bragging about how he had been sick for three days but didn't want to stay in his cabin. I thanked him for getting me sick.

 

Please, if you do get sick while cruising, call the doctor, stay in your cabin and wash your hands often. NCL took great care - the nurse came to my cabin, examined me, gave me medicine. They asked me to stay in my cabin, fluids and food were brought to my cabin. They followed up every few hours on my progress. They also arranged private transportation for my husband and me when the cruise was over. I cannot say enough about how great NCL was.

 

It's great to hear that NCL did the what they could to help you.

Hope you are feeling better!

[bklynangel]

I did some reading about this virus and it said that some blood types are more likely to get this virus. Does anyone know if this is a true statement?

[grandma49]

Does anyone have info on the virus from this sailing? What was it, how many people had it? Are you still sick?

Just returned from that cruise. Heard there where eight in the beginning, But if you noticed lack of crew members, it also hit some of the crew. Also was told two people died onthis cruise. One was snorkeling, and one died in their cabin. We did not get it, but they did annouce if you had an intestinal virus call the medical group. Rumor had it that someone ate local food in St Lucia.

[Zukeeper4]

As a nurse I can tell you, DON'T be fooled by hand sanitizers. Soap and hot water are the BEST way to keep yourself healthy. Many hand sanitizers are ineffective against many types of "bugs".

 

I personally believe that the spoons and other serving utensils on the buffets are the biggest germ carriers...I have been known to serve up my food, place my plate on the table, tell my dh "I'll be right back", go and wash with hot soapy water and then return to eat. So watch those handles.....but then again there are door knobs, drawer pulls, handles, stair and aisle railings, lounge chairs, slot machine buttons.....OK so I'm a germ freak - I admit it!

 

Wash your hands, wash your hands!!

 

Did I mention washing your hands??

 

BTW, best ship for avoiding "touch germs" = CCL Miracle, they have little disposable door handle covers EVERYWHERE....gotta love that!

 

Jan

[Sundagger]

I did some reading about this virus and it said that some blood types are more likely to get this virus. Does anyone know if this is a true statement?

 

Yes, according to the technical fact sheet about Norovirus on the CDC site:

 

"Recent evidence also suggests that susceptibility to infection may be genetically determined, with people of blood group O being at greatest risk for severe infection."

 

Now this is not an absolute, but a "likelihood" of being at greater risk. I'm group O, but I don't do anything differently than if I were A or B or AB.

[Budget Queen]

As a nurse I can tell you, DON'T be fooled by hand sanitizers. Soap and hot water are the BEST way to keep yourself healthy. Many hand sanitizers are ineffective against many types of "bugs".

 

I personally believe that the spoons and other serving utensils on the buffets are the biggest germ carriers...I have been known to serve up my food, place my plate on the table, tell my dh "I'll be right back", go and wash with hot soapy water and then return to eat. So watch those handles.....but then again there are door knobs, drawer pulls, handles, stair and aisle railings, lounge chairs, slot machine buttons.....OK so I'm a germ freak - I admit it!

 

Wash your hands, wash your hands!!

 

Did I mention washing your hands??

 

BTW, best ship for avoiding "touch germs" = CCL Miracle, they have little disposable door handle covers EVERYWHERE....gotta love that!

 

Jan

 

 

I am also a health care professional, and totally agree with the above. EVERY cruise, I see people eating in the buffet line, LICKING their fingers, and going on to the next dish, handleing the spoons. Add to this, those who don't get clean plates- thinking they just want a small add on, what do they do??? They tap their DIRTY spit ridden plate with the spoon, so to dislodge the food. And what about the water bottle refilling??? Yep, place their used, water bottle, where their mouth has been right on the spigot. :)

These illnesses are caused by people. It would all be a benefit if people would just think, but they don't.

 

I never touch my food with my hands, yes, I butter my bread using a napkin and eat it with a fork. I don't want to waste any of my vacation time being sick. It's a fact, many "sick" people will not report and are the worse offenders of spreading it around.

 

Think!!!!

[Philip217]

NLV is not the plague, not cancer, not AIDS.

It is a virus that is spread by people with poor hygiene - or by others who come in contact with them.

NLV is a cousin of the flu and the common cold, affecting 10% of the population of the USA every year. It usually has you in it's grip for a far shorter time than a cold or the flu.

 

You may be interested in CDC Statistics for Cruise Ship outbreaks. All ships carrying US passengers or sailing from US ports must make daily and weekly reports to the CDC, with NLV case numbers. They must make special twice-daily reports to CDC when the numbers exceed 3% of the passengers onboard.

 

You should also be aware that EVERY cruise on EVERY mass market ship that sails from North America has at least a few NLV cases EVERY week.

 

From the CDC Website for Vessel Outbreaks (3% or greater) by Cruise Line and Year:

 

2008

HAL 7

NCL 4

Princess 2

Carnival 1

RCCL 0

 

2007

HAL 5

NCL 5

Princess 3

Carnival 1

RCCL 2

 

2006

HAL 7

NCL 4

Princess 5

Carnival 1

RCCL 15

 

 

4 YEAR TOTAL

HAL 21

NCL 14

Princess 14

Carnival 4

RCCL 24

[Lisl123]

So it looks like Carnival (pegged by many as the dirtier ships) does a better job than most. Or is it just that fewer of the passengers complain about being sick?

 

I always heard from friends that work on these ships that the more service you recieve on the ship (which could be why Carnival has less incidents) the more likely you are to get sick - because crew gets sick and aren't always able to stay in cabin for the full 72 hours of quarantine. The cruiselines try, but sometimes they just need their staff - they try to place them with little or no contact with food though ... so that helps.

 

I am going on the Dawn with my 14 mo. old on 11/29 - hope they did a good job of disinfecting. I will be bringing my own wipes too.

 

And yes, HAND WASHING is the only way to go. Disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers are nice backup - wash hands and then use the sanitizer, but never skip hand washing if it is possible. I have had food poisoning on a ship before - any type of stomach bug is worth any steps to be avoided.

 

Oh, and waterbottles ... even if you think you are well ... grab a buffet cup and fill it that way - it takes so little to just pour the ice and water from a cup into a bottle - and save everyone a possible illness.

[Mrs. H.]

We have never gotten sick on any cruise until this last one in April.

On Carnival.

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Thomas, USVI

Dominica

Barbados

St. Lucia, WI

Antigua

St Kitts, WI

San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

While in Dominica (day 3) we took the Trafalgar Falls and Emerald Pool excursion which are two of the most popular attractions in Dominica.

Traveled through the capital city of Roseau and the botanical gardens.

Arrived at the Easterly Village of Trafalgar.

Hiked up the falls to a viewpoint above the river and took in the beautiful scenery and had a swim. The water was sooooo damn cold.

Enjoyed a complimentary fruit juice at the Springfield Plantation Guest House before heading to the lush rainforest. Had just a little to drink but believe this might have done us in.

Headed to Canefield Estates and arrived at Trois Pitons National Park, home of the spectacular Emerald Pool. If it wasn't the drink, it must have been this that just about killed up. So much for relaxing and enjoying a very warm (supposidly healthy) pool.

We woke up in Barbados (day 4) and I thought I was going to die.

Turns out DH was also very, very sick. We were too sick to eat, or leave our cabin. If we weren't taking many, many, many turns in the bathroom, we were sleeping.

 

DH believes it must be like a date rape pill in which you just pass out.

Never before in my life were we ever this sick.

 

I called the nurse the next day and asked if many people were sick and she said no, not unless people come down there to tell them would they know.

 

We were sick the remainder of the cruise (not as bad as day one of the illness, thank God) but needed to call in sick to work for the first four days after returning. This virus sure knows how to linger.

 

I guess I just have to hope and pray that that will be the only time this will happen to us.

 

Funny thing is.....we NEVER do shore exursions. lol

 

I use to hear that when people got sick on the cruise it really ruined the whole cruise. Sad to say, THIS IS SO TRUE.

 

DH said we should hold off on another cruise but when I was traveling to work a week and a half ago I saw a RCCL going under the bridge, returning to New Jersey and when I got to work some 30 minutes later, I looked into a cruise and called DH and by day's end WE WERE BOOKED FOR MAY 3, 2009! LOL

 

NOTHING CAN STOP US. WE LOVE TO CRUISE.

[bklynangel]

Yes, according to the technical fact sheet about Norovirus on the CDC site:

 

"Recent evidence also suggests that susceptibility to infection may be genetically determined, with people of blood group O being at greatest risk for severe infection."

 

Now this is not an absolute, but a "likelihood" of being at greater risk. I'm group O, but I don't do anything differently than if I were A or B or AB.

You know it must be really true because my son got sick on one cruise and me and my husband didnt. I have A positive and never got sick yet and ive been on ship when half the ship was sick, many of them. I think we can still get it, but not as easy as others. It also said your chances on land are more likely than on a cruise ship. I don't know how people come out of there rooms when they are sick. My son couldn't even walk let alone get out of the room. He has no ambition to go out of the room. You also have to watch what you eat. Some people eat stuff on the islands and then they are not used to some of the food and get sick that way too. Then again, you also get the seasick people who you don't know for sure are seasick or just plain sick. We think my son got sick from using snorkeling equipment at GSC.

[Zukeeper4]

A local elementary school her in Northern Michigan was closed last week for "cleaning" due to an outbreak of norovirus. It's always funny how they don't refer to it as the "cruise ship virus" when it hits ANYWHERE other than a cruise ship BUT IT DOES.

 

Anytime you have many people in close proximity you increase the incidence of infection....add food to the close proximity and you increase the incidence more...add children to the mix....and, well you get the drift.

 

On a personal note, on top of and hand washing and diligence/suspicion of germy sick looking "things" and people, the dh and I always make sure there's plenty of alcohol in our beverages to kill off any germs we may be ingesting :p;)

 

Jan

[Mrs. H.]

We are both blood group O type. hmmmmm Very interesting.

[Mrs. H.]

The worst part of us being sick from Wed thru Sunday was that we were

celebrating our 25th anniversary. Oh, and to top it all off, my sd card got corrupted on the very last night. We had gone to the dinning room to tell the other couple that we were sorry that we had not been there since the 3rd night and it was because we were too sick and not because of them.

So I took a couple of pics of us all and realized something went wrong with my camera.

DH said we could do that cruise over again some day but I think I'll stick with ships closer to home. 7 ports is a bit much anyway.

Just waiting to get off the ship in PR and fly home was the worst.

Thought we were never gonna get back to NYC.

Guess we'll never forget that cruise. :eek:

[Zukeeper4]

The worst part of us being sick from Wed thru Sunday was that we were

celebrating our 25th anniversary. Oh, and to top it all off, my sd card got corrupted on the very last night. :eek:

 

That is soooo sad, I'm so sorry for you. I would just crumble if my hundreds of photos I take each cruise were ruined.