Amsterdam Dec 2 Cruise: NORO

[Spinner2]

Wonderful cruise thus far; great staff; everything has been above expectations. Blog/photos when I get home.

Just a warning for those coming aboard Dec 23: We are code something this evening--whether "yellow" or "red" I can't tell from the info distributed. I'll add details when we get them.

[Spinner2]

Dining room manager confirms Code Red; they are following the usual procedures. Apparently there has been GI illness since we left Los Angeles but the levels until today were quite low and steady.

Still a wonderful cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry to hear that your cruise has gone to Code Red.

[3dashers]

Sorry to hear you are code red. This may be a
silly' question but does that mean the Dec 23rd embarkment may be delayed for cleaning. We are on the Dec 23rd sailing..personally it wont bother me one bit but I would arrive a bit later. thanks

[Spinner2]

People are speculating that they'll delay embarkation for cleaning but I've not heard anything official. Meanwhile, other than some activity changes, life is still great here aboard ship--unless you'd been working hard on the group puzzle for this morning the puzzle people found their trays or carefully sorted pieces were gone and the puzzles all put away. Understandable, but there was a group of maybe a dozen who were really enjoying that. Books, I see, have the grills pulled over shelves but I haven't checked on whether that means you can't get anything--I finished reading everything I found of interest on the shelves a couple of days ago; I've read 11 new books this trip!

[pipedreams62]

I was wondering with the code red, is the thalassotherapy pool and spa closed on the ship? Thanks for giving us a heads up.

[knitlady037]

I was wondering with the code red, is the thalassotherapy pool and spa closed on the ship? Thanks for giving us a heads up.
They were closed when we sail under code red on Zuiderdam.

[Spinner2]

Don't know about the spa pools; so far the lido and sea view pools and jacuzzis are open. Laundry is on limited hours but is open or so the sign on the door says.

[sail7seas]

I always hate when I hear of a Code Red. So much hard work on the crew and no matter what anyone says, it has a impact on full ship experience for guests. Just because a few 'less than sanitary' people can't manage to stop at a sink after using the restroom and then after they are sick, they refuse to 'report' their illness and guarantine. They run through the whole ship infecting many in their path. :(

It always shocks me people can be that selfish.

Spinner...... I hope you have a great cruise and thank you for sharing the info. It may save some folks a long wait in the terminal as they will know to come a bit later to embark.

[pipedreams62]

Well if the jacuzzi's are working,that could be a bright spot. I know from experience severe code reds and those jacuzzi's are closed.

[pipedreams62]

Just called HAL and asked about the ship being in "Code Red" they put me on hold and checked with the medical division and told me. "The Ship Wasn't In Code Red"

She stated that if the ship is in code red,I would be receiving an email explaining to me that the ship was in code red and my options being that I'm leaving in a few days.

Has anybody received an email like this before?

I'm not disputing Spinners reports (he's actually on the ship) but HAL tells me the ship isn't in code red? I wonder what the story is?

[IRL_Joanie]

Just called HAL and asked about the ship being in "Code Red" they put me on hold and checked with the medical division and told me. "The Ship Wasn't In Code Red"

She stated that if the ship is in code red,I would be receiving an email explaining to me that the ship was in code red and my options being that I'm leaving in a few days.

Has anybody received an email like this before?

I'm not disputing Spinners reports (he's actually on the ship) but HAL tells me the ship isn't in code red? I wonder what the story is?


I cannot remember, but I know that Cruisenetta is onboard a HAL ship right now and reported they were on Code Red for NORO yesterday. Is she on the same one as Spinner?

FORGET MY above statement she is on Zuiderdam and while they have NORO on board they are not on Code Red as of yesterday.

Joanie

[pipedreams62]

I cannot remember, but I know that Cruisenetta is onboard a HAL ship right now and reported they were on Code Red for NORO yesterday. Is she on the same one as Spinner?

FORGET MY above statement she is on Zuiderdam and while they have NORO on board they are not on Code Red as of yesterday.

Joanie


Different dam ship

[3dashers]

ttl of 4 cabins in our group and no one has gotten an email. My 2 cents (which could be as valuable as a plug nickel)...whether or not we get an email might be affected by whether the number of people being affected is declining. As I understand it % of ttl population is what earns the alert color. Perhaps this is a good sign and people are starting to feel better.

[Spinner2]

All I can tell you is that we have been told by at least 3 ship staff at the upper levels that the "code red" designation is correct. But, we've been on Code Red before that was much more stringent--closed pools etc. We're not that bad here.

[Spinner2]

This morning, as he announced our arrival into Mazatlan, the cruise director referred to our "Code Red" status by that name, urging sanitation practices be continued ashore in Mazatlan today. I cannot speculate as to whether the numbers that are ill match the level required for an "official" code designation or if the ship is working hard to contain what illness there is in order to protect the upcoming cruises--there are people aboard who started as Grand Voyage passengers, will enjoy both of these Los Angeles departures and then stay aboard for the Voyage that begins after that.

Still, this is a wonderful cruise with a terrific staff and we are enjoying ourselves very much.

[3dashers]

for the update an awesome point of view. Must be tough on the crew, sick ones and the ones trying not to get it. Stay healthy and have a great rest of the trip

[Spinner2]

Jacuzzis on Lido deck closed; I've heard but can't confirm personally that spas are closed also.

Still having a great time though! More when I get home and have time to post photos, etc.

[kjw869]

According to a blog entitled "World Adventures", the poster said they expect to stay in Code Red until the reach LA. He was on the 67-day cruise with Kween Karen and stayed on the Amsterdam for a Panama Canal cruise. He then will continue on the 128-day Grand World Voyage. His pictures of all his cruises are amazing.

http://amazingvoyages.blogspot.com/

[Spinner2]

And, in addition to what was said in the post above this one, we know that they will super-sanitize tomorrow in Los Angeles; several of the continuing passengers that we know have planned to have a sightseeing day together tomorrow (Wed) as everyone must leave the ship--except crew--during this sanitizing.

We also hear that there are 109 children under the age of 11 coming aboard; don't know how many teens.

We continue to have a wonderful cruise; the farewell dinner was terrific and further good news (for me anyway)--no Master Chef dinner! :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the update.

We have been on ships with Code Red all too often. Everything closed -- pools. whirlpools, spas, library, etc.

Glad you are making the best of the situation.

[sailing4fun]

Hi,
Just got off the Amsterdam. All of the crew are working extra jobs. Even the people who usually entertain are working at other jobs. Eating in the Lido is very difficult, if you set your food on the table and go some place to get water or silverware....when you get back to your table, your food will be gone and the table wiped clean.

We were on Code Red for the last 6/7 days and I think Seattle should have let the people who are getting on next, know instead of denying that the ship was on Code Red.

Peg

[Mary Ellen]

My FIL disembarked the Amsterdam yesterday. He reported that even the officer's wives were helping out in the Lido while under code red. His reports were nothing but glowing of how things were handled. April can't come soon enough for him, when he heads to Hawaii on the Zaandam. The code red did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm for HAL.

[drtee]

The only time I have been informed of Code Red was when I arrived at the pier for embarkation.

To me it wasn't so bad, and in fact those cruises so far are the only ones where I didn't catch a cold.