Code Red first 2 days

[flgolf]

I have noticed in a few reviews lately that the lido is treated as code red for two days. Is this true for all ships all sailings now?

[Kween Karen]

Not in my experience..........unless things have changed in a few months.

[Krazy Kruizers]

NO

That is for ships that have been experiencing some Noro Virus.

We have been on ships with the Code Red while the other ships in HAL's fleet had nothing.

[jtl513]

Only 9 cruise ship GI outbreaks exceeding the CDC reporting threshold (3%) have occurred so far this year, and only one of them has been on a HAL ship: the Maasdam, 2/19 to 3/05. That GI outbreak was not confirmed as Norovirus. There were just 15 on all ships in 2009.

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

[BruceMuzz]

During "Norwalk Season" (We are in the midst of it right now) there are several tricks that some ships use to counteract the increased risk of outbreaks.

"Code Red" conditions are initiated by the ship and cruise line - not the CDC.
In theory, the ship can go to Code Red anytime they want to.
Of course, they normally would not want to unless it was absolutely necessary.

But under certain risky conditions it can pay off. For example when many passengers show Norwalk symptoms on the first day or two of a cruise. This signals the ship that many passengers are bringing the virus onboard with them.

Voluntarily doing to Code Red - in some or all parts of the ship - for the first two or three days of a cruise, can dramatically reduce the spread of infection from those passengers who brought the virus onboard with them. This gives the ship's crew and passengers a fighting chance to keep the ship clean for the remainder of the cruise.

This month many ships are automatically going to some version Code Yellow or Code Red on the final night of a cruise and keeping those heightened cleaning protocols for the first two days of the next one.

[shootr]

Oosterdam 03-06-10 cruise did start this way. They said it was cautionary to start the trip off, just in case. Maybe to see if they can alleviate an outbreak by getting everyone on the ship segregated from the world for a day or two before turning them loose on the buffet.

However, the med form we filled out at the port was all H1N1 questions - word for word.

[cpinstein]

What exactly is code red?

[middle-aged mom]

What exactly is code red?

A very rough definition: Cleaning and sanitization protocols that are put in place on a ship when a percentage of passengers and crew manifest symptoms of norovirus.

[RuthC]

What exactly is code red?

A very rough definition: Cleaning and sanitization protocols that are put in place on a ship when a percentage of passengers and crew manifest symptoms of norovirus.
In addition, there's cutbacks in what passengers can touch. They cannot serve themselves at the Lido buffet, salt & pepper shakers are removed from the tables in both the Lido and dining room, flowers are removed from all the usual display areas, rolls and butter are served individually, hot tubs may be shut down.
I've probably missed several other things that are different.

[ivoryboi]

Yes, several ships are opertaing under 'precautionary' Code Red right now.

[aussiedisneyfan]

The Volendam was sailing under code red as a precaution for the first two days of its current 24 day Australian circumnavigation.

[TrolleyGirl]

Yes, the Eurodam sailing 3/6 operated as a precautionary code red for the first 2 days. On Monday, the code red procedures were lifted since no one on the cruise came down with the virus. Apparently, many cruises leaving Port Everglades had small instances of norovirus and the staff of the Eurodam was trying to prevent it on their ship. As we disembarked on 3/13 the plasitc wrap in the lido was going back up. So I'm sure the had the same experience.

[KAYEF]

Just off the O.............and our first two days in LIDO, we were served. At the Captain's welcome he said that would end at lunch the next day............that they had decided so much "Noro" came from those flying...........that they brought it on, so they were using this cautionary method in the buffet.
IT WORKED; there were no illnesses on our cruise and we had 2,179 passengers.
Just wished they had communicated this to us upon boarding because people couldn't understand what was happening; it seemed to be an excellent idea.

[succeed_2]

Yes, the Eurodam sailing 3/6 operated as a precautionary code red for the first 2 days. On Monday, the code red procedures were lifted since no one on the cruise came down with the virus. Apparently, many cruises leaving Port Everglades had small instances of norovirus and the staff of the Eurodam was trying to prevent it on their ship. As we disembarked on 3/13 the plasitc wrap in the lido was going back up. So I'm sure the had the same experience.

Yes, you're right. The Eurodam sailing 3/13 had the plastic blocking folks from helping themselves to items in the Lido (and drinks were not self-serve either). I think this lasted 2 full days, and I think it was Tuesday when the Lido went to being self-serve.

We were told that out of 8 ships that had docked the previous Saturday in Port Everglades, only 2 (including the Eurodam) had been norovirus-free. And they were happily trying to keep it that way.