Illness on Zuiderdam?

[Tatka]

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events.html

"A passenger reported: Just got off their July 24th sailing. Reportedly had over 25 cases of a GI bug. Ship was then placed on high alert with sanitizing going on everywhere, No salt and pepper on tables and the Lido restaurant was placed on no self serve status."
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Uh..oh...

[jhannah]

This is SOP when such outbreaks are reported. This will occur from time to time as sick people (knowingly or unknowingly) board cruise ships. I suffered a strain of severe GI distress a few weeks ago that has been experienced by many at work. Even routine precautions cannot completely eliminate the transmission. If more people would practice good hygiene, it would help.

[Tvisitor]

25 cases of nondescript G.I. distress on a ship that carries 1800 pax doesn't sound like enough to justify pointing a finger at the cruiseline.

[sail7seas]

These illnesses do not originate on the ships. As pointed out above, they are brought aboard by pax (or crew who have been ashore) either knowingly or unknowingly.


Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

(We always bring small packets of salt and pepper from fast food type restaurants with us. I would find it very annoying to have my food get cold while I waited for a steward to come and sprinkle pepper on it for me. Prior to your cruise......go to a KFC kind of place and pick up paper packets of s & p in case your ship goes to SOP for GI illness....or bring your own filled small shakers.)

[elmorejj]

On the Zaandam they had installed the auto hand sanitizers at the elevators where you get back on the ship after a port day. It was amazing to me that so many pax either just ignored them or made some comment about how cute and still ignored them. The ship was trying in all ways to have a safe ship, wipes at the lido, in the internet room and in the casino, but some folks must think they are there for show.....jean

[cruise pup]

Zaandam was hit late last August when I was on her in Alaska. The crew did their utmost to make sure it didn't spread widely. The buffet was no longer self-service. Everything was dished out to you which made it more civilized too. Even the drink dispensers were handled by a crew member. So looking on the positive, when these outbreaks occur you land up getting better service. But no one should have to get sick for this to happen.

[cruisemate]

If only people took more notice of hand washing signs, and didnt walk past the guy on the gangway handing out hygenic wipes then there would be a lot less problems. On previous cruises I have witnessed many people totally ignoring the tongs that are provided for such things as cookies in the Java Cafe and bread rolls in the lido, small thing but could cause a major problem on a ship where sickness can spead like wildfire.

[4 cruisers]

I hate to say it, but I personally prefer to CAREFULLY pick up my own cookie without touching any one elses, rather than use the tongs...the tongs have been touched by as many people as say an elevator button, so you're picking up germs....It's a no win situation for sure...but I am one of those who will gladly accept a dose of anti bacterial whenever offered one!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We were on the Amsterdam in 2002 from Seattle to Ft Lauderdale when a big breakout of the Norvo virus took place. It was determined that a person got on the ship in LA sick and then the virus spread.

Same thing happened last year on the Ryndam. Going from Vancouver to Seward - no problems. People who had done a land trip got on the ship sick and, you guessed it - we had the Norvo virus. Poeple were put off the ship as soon as possible.

:)

[Typhoon1]

Wash your hands every time you return to your cabin. It certainly can't do any harm.

[olderpilot]

We had a small outbreak on the Oosterdam last summer. The Captain ordered precautionary procedures and after four or five days things were back to normal. Quite frankly, I don't think it a bad idea for the staff to serve the food in the Lido rather than have passengers handling the service utensils on a regular basis.

Jerry