Hygiene on Spirit

[Helenamarie]

Can anyone tell me what the hygiene standards are like on Spirit, it's worrying to see how a virus can spread so quickly on a cruise. Do they have hand spraying as passengers go aboard and outside dining rooms?
Thanks

[vwgolf]

I imagine the Spirit will be like the Celebration. When boarding you will be given hand sanitising gel to rub into your hands and dispensers for these are found in all public toilets and outsid edining rooms. Worth noting that these only kill bacteria and will have no effect on the norovirus which is, unsurprisingly, a virus. The imporant thing to do is wash your hands thoroughyl and regularly.

I wouldn't worry about it too much - these things make the news because they happen so rarely.

[steelerannie]

The Spirit is kept beautifully clean - it's the passengers that aren't. When we were on last year, the number of women using the toilet then going out without washing their hands is appalling.:mad:

Ann

[kruzseeka]

Hi Helenamarie,
We've always found the hygiene awareness on Thomson ships excellent. Apart from the sanitising gel at the entrance to dining areas, all passengers embarking after shore excursions had a squeeze of gel put in their hand as they stepped onboard when we were on the Celebration recently. I trust the same procedures are in place across the fleet. There is also a lot of evidence of cleaning being taken seriously around the ship particularly hand rails etc.

As vwgolf says though, everyone must take their own preventative actions and hand washing is the best advice (it's being pushed hard in respect of reducing the spread of swine flu too).

On our last trip we bought some Boots hand-foam which we found really useful for trips etc. so that we could sanitise before eating snacks etc when off the ship and during travel. There are quite a few similar products around - but as already pointed out I think in the main they are anti-bacterial - still I guess every little helps and if you are aware of the issues and take reasonable precautions hopefully you will be less likely to succomb to any infections doing the rounds.

Enjoy your trip! :)

[Beckyfaye-2008]

I would imagine the Hygiene on Spirit will be the same as it is for all ships, very good, the outbreaks of a Virus can happen on any ship, from any shipping line. Unfortunately the outbreaks are normally caused by the bad habits of passengers, who ignore those facilities that are put in place to combat it, and not the ship.
On a recent holiday on P&O Oceana, the self service restaurants, had staff placed at the entrances to make sure, people used the gel, every time they entered, which could be often, as they did away with trays in order to help combat it.:)

[History addict]

Thomson are the best line I have travelled with for hygiene.

If you go on an excursion which includes lunch they will even send along a member of the waiting staff with the alcohol gel to ensure that you use it at lunch in the hotel.

As the previous poster says, though, any ship can have an outbreak as passengers do not always pay attention to their own hygiene - all the company can do is minimise the chances of this happening. I always carry a small bottle of alcohol gel in my handbag whilst on holiday for use on shore.

[jenny wren]

Apparently it is best to wash your hands with soap and water for the length of time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' ! You don't need to sing it out loud in your head will do !!!!!!!!!

I always carry a little tube of cleansing gel and a pack of face wipes in my handbag as well....as someone else said it is surprising the amount of 'ladies' who do not wash their hands after using the toilet...

[Helenamarie]

Thanks for all the tips, I too am horrified at the number of people who fail to wash their hands after using the toilet.