Norovirus On Current FOS ?

[tchrmom]

I was on the FOS last week.

 

 

Slightly off topic here, so forgive me.............

 

My friend took her first RCCL cruise on Sunday on The Freedom. She texted me 2 bits of onformation.

#1 about the virus (bummer!)

and

#2 they told her they didn't have DECT phones any more. I find this hard to believe.....but you never know. Did you see anyone using them??????

[marci22]

Slightly off topic here, so forgive me.............

 

My friend took her first RCCL cruise on Sunday on The Freedom. She texted me 2 bits of onformation.

#1 about the virus (bummer!)

and

#2 they told her they didn't have DECT phones any more. I find this hard to believe.....but you never know. Did you see anyone using them??????

 

Why not post on the 'All things Freedom of the Seas' thread.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

100 people is a very small percentage on a ship that large. It's the stomach flu...it can happen anywhere. How do you know if most people don't catch it on the airplane enroute to their cruise? All those germs flying around in that small enclosed area?

[Annefran]

I love to cruise but this is always one of my fears, getting norovirus while on vacation. It's bad enough when you're home. Like everyone states, wash, wash and wash your hands. I take a small can of Lysol spray with me to spray the tv channel changer, the phone and handles in the room when we board. Plus I try not to touch the railings, door handles and use my knuckle for the elevator like someone stated earlier. Isn't it a shame we all become so paranoid because of the few that just are too lazy to wash their hands after using the restroom, yuck. :rolleyes:

 

We're leaving on Liberty this Saturday, keeping my fingers crossed that there aren't any outbreaks while we are board. Happy Cruising everyone!

[missbogota]

Anxious to hear how the April 5th cruise is doing...

[BobKat406]

I'm with you Miss - we are sailing on the 4/12 trip so I'm anxious to know if they have been exposed too or if they did a thorough job of sterilizing the ship.

[Vacationer40]

I have to agree with Don24. I couldn't wait to get off this ship. It wasn't a fun cruise watching people getting yelled at for not using the purell wipes. It was so intense with all the cleaning going on and everyone looking miserable. There were a few times the crew had to give up their free time to clean. They also couldn't get off at ports until the cleaning was complete. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. I also felt sorry for the poor guy who had to stand at the ice cream machine in the hot sun serving everyone so no one would touch the machine. Seeing the entertainers handing out plates & silverware was strange. By Day 5 we were not getting as good as service since everyone was looking burned out. There was absolutely no shaking hands with the crew allowed. I started to call it the Germ Cruise. I will not cruise again since I believe these outbreaks happen more than we hear about. I know others will not agree with me but until you experience it you don't want to chance it again. I missed 3 days of my vacation due to illness.

[castle701]

we were also on 8th floor rear ,there was a large consentration there .the virus popped up fast people sick by second day .there was many more than a couple hundred sick .i understand the need for precautions but by day two of purrell ****s chasing people around ,being served in the wind jammer by the dancers from the show,finding orange bags with biological sign on them in hallways we started to really hate this ship.we sailed on her 6 months ago and loved it.the moment we got on we could fell the despair in the crew ,i commented to wife the first night how worn down crew looked no smiles ,no happyness.i think this outbreak had its start with the just under 1000 children runnig amok but thats for another thread:(

 

Of course, this is where our cabins are located and I have "O" blood type - we leave Sunday and I am very upset --- so much for looking forward to a vacation...

[marci22]

Of course, this is where our cabins are located and I have "O" blood type - we leave Sunday and I am very upset --- so much for looking forward to a vacation...

 

Do not be upset. Try to avoid touching public areas. Wash your hands before eating. Try not to touch your face. If you do these things, you are miles ahead of everyone else. Good luck!

 

I am scheduled for this cruise in July. I am not worrying.

[frugaltravel]

This thread is almost one year old and is ancient history. I looked everywhere and saw no news on Noro on cruise ships right now

 

Did you happen to notice that this post was made yesterday???

 

Must be a RC :D

[don24]

we started to call ship "captivity of the seas":D it was that stringent

[retdon]

You do not want to get this virus. It was horrible and took me a week to really feel better. After a night in the hospital with IVs and meds I spent the last 2 days of the cruise in bed in the cabin. My DH had to stay in also even though he was fine.

 

YOU CAN FILE WITH YOUR INSURANCE AND BE PAID FOR TRIP INTERUPTION, WE DID AS WELL AS THE CRUISE LINE GIVING US CREDIT FOR THE DAYS CONFINED IN THE CABIN.

 

We did everything possible to keep from getting this, I am a retired public health nurse and passed the hand wash around to all in our party, punched the elevator buttons with my knuckles, push open doors with my arm, did not eat any "finger food" and everything else possible. I believe someone who had occupied the cabin just prior to us had it and I got it there.

 

Poor design in the ship can help spread it, bathroom doors that don't open out from the inside of the bathroom, passengers who are allowed to dish up their own ice and touch food on the buffet. I was very happy to see the IOS design and how drinks stations are now used.

 

WASH, WASH AND KEEP WASHING YOUR HANDS. DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE, EYES, ETC. WITH YOUR HANDS. TAKE WIPES AND USE ON THE CASINO MACHINES.

 

THIS VIRUS CAN LIVE FOR EXTENDED TIMES ON HARD SURFACES...... THERE ARE OVER 700 STRAINS SO A VACCINE IS NOT POSSIBLE WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GET IT OVER AND OVER, YOU ARE NOT IMMUNED IF YOU HAVE HAD IT PREVIOUSLY. :mad:

[retdon]

ONE MORE NOTE ON THE NORO.............

THE FREQUENCY ON CRUISE SHIPS IS MUCH LESS THAN IN HOSIPTALS, SCHOOLS AND NURSING HOMES.

 

We just hear more about it from the cruise ships because it usually involves "a captive group" of people who can do anything until the ship returns to port.

 

Go on the CDC site and you can see all the reports from the cruise ships, read all about the virus and come away knowing that you can take steps to keep from getting it. Take your Lysol/Clorox wipes and wipe down the cabin, especially the phone, TV remote and bathroom, including the water faucet.

[cabincruiser00]

Here is my experience from being on the Freedom of the Seas last week with one daughter violently ill and another locked in the room with her:

 

- If you enjoy constant spraying and wiping going on around you, FOS is the perfect ship for you

- If being quarantined with your sick roommate (now that makes a lot of sense and is real customer friendly) for 48 hours, then you will love the FOS

- If seeing your service decline as you cruise across the Caribbean to a point where the singers and dancers end up being buffet servers by the end of the week, then make sure you book on the FOS

- If you like getting a two-day credit for your next cruise by throwing up, having diarrhea and being locked in your room for two more days, then Royal Caribbean is the perfect cruise line for you

- If being disrespected by cruise staff and not even being allowed to get a copy of your health record so you can share with your doctior at home, then you are going to love FOS

 

I could go on and on. Having lived the Freedom of the Seas and Royal Caribbean experience for a week, here are three recommendations:

 

- Holland America

- Princess

- Dry land

[Crickie]

THIS VIRUS CAN LIVE FOR EXTENDED TIMES ON HARD SURFACES...... THERE ARE OVER 700 STRAINS SO A VACCINE IS NOT POSSIBLE WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GET IT OVER AND OVER, YOU ARE NOT IMMUNED IF YOU HAVE HAD IT PREVIOUSLY. :mad:

 

Hi, you may be slightly mistaken. A company in Bozeman, MT (USA) has actually developed a vaccine and the company is in the process of conducting human trials.

 

More info here.

 

http://www.ligocyte.com/norovirus/norovirus.html

 

I too, have suffered (and I mean SUFFERED) with Noro. I got it a week and a half before I cruised in 2007. Hopefully this company will come thru for us all!

 

:)

[DRMAN]

My daughter was on the FOS 12/07 after a

norovirus

infection

and tells me most places to eat where closed.Also the ship was cleaned with a lot of

chlorine

which stained her clothes and made her cruise terrible.They did give her OBC 300 dollars but this boat seems to have a lot of

norovirus

out breaks.

[missbogota]

Here is my experience from being on the Freedom of the Seas last week with one daughter violently ill and another locked in the room with her:

 

- If you enjoy constant spraying and wiping going on around you, FOS is the perfect ship for you

- If being quarantined with your sick roommate (now that makes a lot of sense and is real customer friendly) for 48 hours, then you will love the FOS

- If seeing your service decline as you cruise across the Caribbean to a point where the singers and dancers end up being buffet servers by the end of the week, then make sure you book on the FOS

- If you like getting a two-day credit for your next cruise by throwing up, having diarrhea and being locked in your room for two more days, then Royal Caribbean is the perfect cruise line for you

- If being disrespected by cruise staff and not even being allowed to get a copy of your health record so you can share with your doctior at home, then you are going to love FOS

 

I could go on and on. Having lived the Freedom of the Seas and Royal Caribbean experience for a week, here are three recommendations:

 

- Holland America

- Princess

- Dry land

 

Ok, I get it...Holland American, Princess, and dry land does not get the Noro Virus???? Come on....

[ritaontherocks]

Here is my experience from being on the Freedom of the Seas last week with one daughter violently ill and another locked in the room with her:

 

- If you enjoy constant spraying and wiping going on around you, FOS is the perfect ship for you

- If being quarantined with your sick roommate (now that makes a lot of sense and is real customer friendly) for 48 hours, then you will love the FOS

- If seeing your service decline as you cruise across the Caribbean to a point where the singers and dancers end up being buffet servers by the end of the week, then make sure you book on the FOS

- If you like getting a two-day credit for your next cruise by throwing up, having diarrhea and being locked in your room for two more days, then Royal Caribbean is the perfect cruise line for you

- If being disrespected by cruise staff and not even being allowed to get a copy of your health record so you can share with your doctior at home, then you are going to love FOS

 

I could go on and on. Having lived the Freedom of the Seas and Royal Caribbean experience for a week, here are three recommendations:

 

- Holland America

- Princess

- Dry land

I'm very sorry that your family was affected by the virus. I know it must have been awful, but your recommendations don't make a whole lot of sense. If you look at the CDC's website, it has all the cruise lines and ships that have been affected over the past several years. Princess and Holland America both have a lot more cases of noro than RCCL. And there is plenty of noro going around on land. Several colleges have had to close recently due to outbreaks. I don't think there is any way to get away from it as long as we are in closed places with many people.

[retdon]

Ritaontherocks is correct, the last time I looked HAL had the most outbreaks with Princess close behind.

 

Glad to hear about the vaccine, hope the trials work as this is not the thing you want to get on your cruise.

 

The cruise lines are blamed for the disease and that is not the case, people bring it on-board then the ship has to try to stop the spreading by cleaning with bleach. Moral of the story, wash your hands...............

If you go in the bathroom and see someone who does not wash their hands then politely mention it to them.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

Here is my experience from being on the Freedom of the Seas last week with one daughter violently ill and another locked in the room with her:

 

- If you enjoy constant spraying and wiping going on around you, FOS is the perfect ship for you

- If being quarantined with your sick roommate (now that makes a lot of sense and is real customer friendly) for 48 hours, then you will love the FOS

- If seeing your service decline as you cruise across the Caribbean to a point where the singers and dancers end up being buffet servers by the end of the week, then make sure you book on the FOS

- If you like getting a two-day credit for your next cruise by throwing up, having diarrhea and being locked in your room for two more days, then Royal Caribbean is the perfect cruise line for you

- If being disrespected by cruise staff and not even being allowed to get a copy of your health record so you can share with your doctior at home, then you are going to love FOS

 

I could go on and on. Having lived the Freedom of the Seas and Royal Caribbean experience for a week, here are three recommendations:

 

- Holland America

- Princess

- Dry land

 

You are making this sound like it's the cruiseline's fault for the outbreak. What do you propose the cruiseline does in the event of an outbreak?

 

- Not spray and wipe to try to prevent spreading of the norovirus?

- Not quarantine sick passengers so they can spread it to everyone?

- Have sick crew members serve the buffet to spread more germs?

- Not getting a credit for days you were sick?

 

I could go on and on, but it's always unfortunate when one gets sick on vacation, but blaming the cruiseline for it when it's not their fault is a bit dramatic. My son experienced noro on the next to last day on a cruise, and then 3 of us got it when we got home. It is an awlful sickness, but I didn't blame anyone for it.

[tchrmom]

 

I could go on and on. Having lived the Freedom of the Seas and Royal Caribbean experience for a week, here are three recommendations:

 

- Holland America

- Princess

- Dry land

 

I don't know for sure...............But I'm pretty sure that if you get the same thing on Holland America or Princess........they will quarantine you too. And if you get it on land, you should quarantine yourself.

I'm sorry your family had rotten luck. I hope your next trip works out better.

[nrdsb4]

Not at all.

 

And the Met's just won the season opener. :)

 

Well, if we are going to be picky, it should be the Mets, not the Met's.:D

[nrdsb4]

Guggie brings up a good point. A few studies have linked norovirus susceptibility to blood type and genetic strain. One strain of norovirus makes people with type O blood highly susceptible, while people with type B blood are significantly associated with protection from infection.

 

Norovirus: Technical Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-factsheet.htm.)

 

Rockx BH, Vennema H, Hoebe CJ, Duizer E, Koopmans MP. Association of histo-blood group antigens and susceptibility to norovirus infections. J Infect Dis 2005;191(5):749-754.

 

 

I have type B blood :D

 

Wow, that's really interesting. I wonder why a certain blood type would cause a person to be more susceptible. I have type A blood. Guess that makes me neither sensitive nor protected. Shoot.

[LisaH]

We had it! My husband and I both had norovirus on this cruise. It was absolutely horrible. We missed our whole day in Grand Cayman and had to cancel our tour in Cozumel. I doubt I'll cruise again - it was an awful virus. I couldn't eat for almost 3 days. We tried our best to avoid it by doing everything to keep our hands clean and avoiding hand rails, etc. Several other cabins on our floor had it and were quarantined. I believe they were taking extra precautions cleaning the ship for the next voyage. The ship went crazy trying to contain it so I believe many passengers had it. I hope the next voyage doesn't experience what we did.

 

Don't let this keep you from cruising again. There is a higher probability of getting this on land vs at sea. We were ill on the Island Princess in 2007 and cruised again in 2008. I was more careful and all went well. Chances are it won't happen to you again. Look on the bright side - at least you did not gain weight on that cruise. But seriously - don't let this keep you from cruising again.

[ritaontherocks]

:D here is a bit of good news....i just googled "norovirus outbreaks" and there was an article stating that the outbreaks are declining each year on cruise ships. it also said that there were 15 total for 2008 and royalcaribbean, celebrity, disney and cunard didn't have a single outbreak for that year. i hope everyone will stay try to stay healthy and quit worrying so much. i am a well known worrywart especially about illness, but i'm going on the freedom in june and i'm excited. I'm going to maintain a positive outlook and attitude. and i did thankfully, purchase travel insurance. that way, if i get sick before the trip, i can stay home, get well, and travel at a later date when healthy (and not bring my germs onboard and expose everyone else).:)