I couldn't believe what I saw!

[Rina's Mom]

Just got off the Zuiderdam yesterday. Despite rough seas, we had a good cruise. Got a very nice upgrade from HAL. I'll write a review later.

But I had to post this now. While at the salad bar in the Lido, I saw a woman put her hand into the salad greens to serve herself a handful (literally) of lettuce! :eek: :eek: I was completely and utterly dumbfounded! And she didn't just do it once either!

I was about to tell a crew member about it so they could change the lettuce when someone came out and replaced the container.

I was speechless!

Barb

[sail7seas]

Makes you sick, doesn't it........... Literally!!! Where did these pigs grow up? Raised by wolves!

[RevNeal]

Just got off the Zuiderdam yesterday. Despite rough seas, we had a good cruise. Got a very nice upgrade from HAL. I'll write a review later.

But I had to post this now. While at the salad bar in the Lido, I saw a woman put her hand into the salad greens to serve herself a handful (literally) of lettuce! :eek: :eek: I was completely and utterly dumbfounded! And she didn't just do it once either!

I was about to tell a crew member about it so they could change the lettuce when someone came out and replaced the container.

I was speechless!

Yep ... seen much like that before. Once, I saw a woman lick her fingers before dipping them into a jar of nuts (good nuts, no less) to pick through them to find one she liked. I also once saw someone take an hors d'oeuvre from a stewards tray, take a bite out of it, and then put it back down on the tray!

<sigh>

[ekerr19]

It happens all the time - people are clueless. I said something to a woman who put her hand in the bowl of potato chips at the Deli bar and she looked at me like I was crazy.

I told the sandwich attendant and he took the bowl and replaced it with a new bowl, fresh chips and TONGS (Imagine that! Using the tongs!)

[Copper10-8]

Lovely!:rolleyes:

[DFD1]

......and I get criticized for mentioning the great unwashed! Go Figure!

[O2B@C]

And these are probably the same people who will blame the cruiseline and be furious at being quarantined if (when) they come down with noro!:mad:

[hammybee]

About 25 years ago, a brilliant co-worker kept a huge bowl of jelly beans in his office. The office often worked long hours, on projects and most people let their hair down, after hours. Things like ties and shoes were dicarded for comfort. Some would put on sweats/jeans or other comfortable clothing for what was the second-thrid shift of the day. Those who had stashes of food were always popular.

Anyway, the brilliant one's thing was to go barefoot. ( Can you see where this is going? :eek: ). Despite the long hours, much of it was downtime, waiting for batch systems to run their jobs. One late evening, while foraging for food, I happened upon the Brilliant one, in his office. He was picking jelly beans out of the bowl, with his toes.

The brilliant one was born in the USA, Ivy League educated and made multiples of 6 figures, back then. And somehow it eluded him that picking jelly beans out of a common bowl, with his toes, was way more than a bit off.

Please do not get me started about the guys who ate in the toilet.

[RevNeal]

......and I get criticized for mentioning the great unwashed! Go Figure!

Indeed! And heaven forbid if I had taken a picture of it! :eek:
Tarring and feathering would have been too good for me!

[lorekauf]

About 25 years ago, a brilliant co-worker kept a huge bowl of jelly beans in his office. The office often worked long hours, on projects and most people let their hair down, after hours. Things like ties and shoes were dicarded for comfort. Some would put on sweats/jeans or other comfortable clothing for what was the second-thrid shift of the day. Those who had stashes of food were always popular.

Anyway, the brilliant one's thing was to go barefoot. ( Can you see where this is going? :eek: ). Despite the long hours, much of it was downtime, waiting for batch systems to run their jobs. One late evening, while foraging for food, I happened upon the Brilliant one, in his office. He was picking jelly beans out of the bowl, with his toes.

The brilliant one was born in the USA, Ivy League educated and made multiples of 6 figures, back then. And somehow it eluded him that picking jelly beans out of a common bowl, with his toes, was way more than a bit off.

Please do not get me started about the guys who ate in the toilet.

That is unreal! I thought we had some pigs in our office! I think I've heard it all now.

[RevNeal]

On the Zaandam in 2004 I watched as a guy picked his way through a couiple of trays of breakfast pastries, licking his fingers off after touching each danish (and, hence, before touch the next). I think he ended up taking only one ... but he touched and got his slobber on them all.

[RevNeal]

That is unreal! I thought we had some pigs in our office! I think I've heard it all now.

Al-righty, then! :D

On the Westerdam in 2005 I saw an individual quite literally pee into the aft pool. It was late at night and I was doing one of my post-midnight "wander abouts" (it's when I take most of my best lounge photos). I had finished with a few shots of the Lido and had gone out back to see what was going on on the aft lido deck and, low and behold, standing by the side of the pool was this "person" releaving himself. <ugh!> No, I didn't take a photo ... I think I was too stunned and, before I could gather my senses about me, the guy was done and was staggering off.

I did have enough sense to tell a staff member about it so that they could drain the pool and clean it.

<shaking head>

[Rina's Mom]

Oh jeez, I was hoping this type of behavior wasn't as common as it apparently is.:(

Barb

[sapper1]

On the Volendam last April, I was seated next to a lady at lunch in the dining room and, after being served a salad, she played with it for a minute with her fork, before announcing that she didn't order a salad. The waiter then decided that it was my salad and instead of taking it away and getting me a new one, he placed it in front of me. He must have seen me stiffen because he then asked if I wanted a fresh one. He put me in the embarrassing position of having to say "yes" and offending the lady. I could tell she didn't like it when I asked for a new one. I feel the waiter should have just taken the salad away and replaced it without being asked. I felt bad and I made a dining companion feel bad through no fault of her own.

[ekerr19]

Please do not get me started about the guys who ate in the toilet.

Oh Gosh!!! - did not want to go here... but will. Back in the day - our "other" offices comprised of 47K sf of some 1980's bank executive space... my old boss (the VP & CFO) had one of those offices with a bathroom, including sauna and shower. Black marble, no less - (now we know where all the money went in the 80's, lol!) As an Executive Assistant, part of my job was to make sure the toiletries were stocked in the shower, tub, sink area etc. Gross, but yeah well, whatever...

As a first, I used to put the red line version of the 10K or 10Q in there for "reading" material!!! Guess what, it gone done too. My boss used to take a sauna and was actually able to get more accomplished (uninterrupted) than sitting at his desk. :)

[mamaofami]

This is really amazing stuff. Just the other day, DH and I were eating lunch in a local restaurant and I got to wondering. What do you think they do with the bread that's left in each breadbasket. Do you think they throw it out? We asked for some extra crackers and they bought us a large plate of them which of course we didn't finish. When they took them back, I couldn't imagine where they went. Out? Into someone else's bread basket?

My server brought over my order, but his hands were touching the inside of my plate. No gloves. This was a very nice local restaurant with a very good reputation. I wish someone really knew what went on in the kitchens.

My children are busy teaching their five year old to take what he touches and to only touch one. Can't imagine where or how these poeple were raised.

The jellybean story takes the cake, though.

[sail7seas]

I'm not as sweet and accepting of others bad habits as some folks........

I don't hesitate to suggest to someone they need to use the tongs if I see them begin to reach onto a tray with their bare hands. I would rather say something to them than have half a shipful of people ill.

When I saw a woman reach toward the cookie tray at the ice cream stand I was able to speak quickly enough to stop her. I pointed to the tongs or the pile of paper napkins and suggested she choose one or the other with which to remove the cookie(s) she wanted. She obliged and it didn't seem to phase or embarrass her at all that I had 'reminded her' .

Sorry.....don't mean to offend.

[jhannah]

And these are probably the same people who will blame the cruiseline and be furious at being quarantined if (when) they come down with noro!:mad: You got that right!

I felt bad and I made a dining companion feel bad through no fault of her own. You didn't! SHE did ... by "playing" with the food with her fork. How did you know whether or not she'd had it in her mouth already or handled it by the tines? You did the right thing by asking that the salad be replaced.

[tnsny1]

Sometimes I think people just don't think about what they are doing. Just the other day, I was at a local restaurant where there is a salad bar. The woman ahead of me was using the tongs to load her plate with the lettuce which is usually the first bowl. As she did, a few pieces of lettuce fell from her tongs onto the countertop. As she moved down the line, in order to keep things nice and neat, she picked up the stray pieces of lettuce with her hands and put them back in the bowl!!! I don't think she meant to be evil, but no lettuce for me today, Thanks!!!
P.:eek:

[meidda]

She may have been mentally challenged. Just a thought.
But if she wasn't were you too shocked to say something to her?

[jhannah]

She may have been mentally challenged. She obviously was ... although not necessarily in the way you probably have in mind!

Sail7seas hit the nail on the head. Some folks appear to have been raised by wolves!

[ekerr19]

She may have been mentally challenged. Just a thought.
But if she wasn't were you too shocked to say something to her?

Why would we have to? Also to risk someone cursing and acting absurd as what happen to my DH on Westerdam? No thanks.

Anymore, restaurants have attendants for the salad bars... the patrons should NOT be expected to be the ones "policing" the other patrons.. :confused:

[debgirl]

I worked in a preschool and seen where little fingers go. I will not pick up any candy or nuts from an open dish. You just don't know where fingers have been, children's or adults. As for left over rolls I leave, I will destroy the rolls on purpose so they can not be used again by putting fork marks into the crust, or using a knife and cut into them.

[hammybee]

Oh jeez, I was hoping this type of behavior wasn't as common as it apparently is.:(

Barb

Go to any holiday party and you are going to see the double dippers, the grabbers and too many folk blowing their noses and then plunging into the nuts. They are everywhere.

[cruisinbulldog]

Next time you reach for the good nuts .. think again..:rolleyes:

Bulldog

[Tricia724]

Next time you reach for the good nuts .. think again..:rolleyes:

Bulldog

Thank goodness HAL puts the good nuts in a little jar with a somewhat narrow neck, so you can shake them out into your hand without touching those you're not eating. At least they did on my last couple of cruises. I haven't seen anyone digging into the jars for the last cashew and then throwing the others back yet.....although come to think of it, I haven't really been watching that closely. Next time I will.

[RevNeal]

Thank goodness HAL puts the good nuts in a little jar with a somewhat narrow neck, so you can shake them out into your hand without touching those you're not eating. At least they did on my last couple of cruises. I haven't seen anyone digging into the jars for the last cashew and then throwing the others back yet.....although come to think of it, I haven't really been watching that closely. Next time I will.

LOL ... actually ... it was in order to enable her to get out the nuts she wanted that the lady licked her fingers and put them through the narrow neck of the bottle. :D

[LegalSailor]

hmm, reading all of these reminds me of why I'll never take a Disney cruise again - and the answer to why everyone keeps asking:
I went as a chaperone for three younger cousins, and to keep a long story fairly short, all six nights of the cruise I was left with a "good morning" present on the balcony of my room.
It seems, the children on Disney Cruises are not potty trained, and mistake my balcony for a bathroom...:eek:
Needless to say, one of the most disgusting displays I have ever witnessed!
Cheers,

[Boytjie]

Just got off the Zuiderdam yesterday. Despite rough seas, we had a good cruise. Got a very nice upgrade from HAL. I'll write a review later.

But I had to post this now. While at the salad bar in the Lido, I saw a woman put her hand into the salad greens to serve herself a handful (literally) of lettuce! :eek: :eek: I was completely and utterly dumbfounded! And she didn't just do it once either!

I was about to tell a crew member about it so they could change the lettuce when someone came out and replaced the container.

I was speechless!

Barb

Better to call the woman on it - no-one may be around to tell them to take it away the next time. This is one situation where creating a scene is not a bad thing.

[Boytjie]

The brilliant one was born in the USA, Ivy League educated and made multiples of 6 figures, back then. And somehow it eluded him that picking jelly beans out of a common bowl, with his toes, was way more than a bit off.

Perhaps it was his method of portion control? :eek:

[Copper10-8]

Go to any holiday party and you are going to see the double dippers, the grabbers and too many folk blowing their noses and then plunging into the nuts. They are everywhere.

Awwwrighty then:eek:
Would you mind terribly passing the Grey Poupon?

[ekerr19]

Thank goodness HAL puts the good nuts in a little jar with a somewhat narrow neck, so you can shake them out into your hand without touching those you're not eating. At least they did on my last couple of cruises. I haven't seen anyone digging into the jars for the last cashew and then throwing the others back yet.....although come to think of it, I haven't really been watching that closely. Next time I will.

No more nuts for us!!! UGH!

[Pete Jackson]

As long as this has morphed into the 'gross' thread :p, I'll 'sweeten' the pot.

More than 30 years ago, I ordered a piece of pie in a restaurant in Lima, Peru. To give me a fork, the waiter picked up a fork from a plate that a previous customer had finished, wiped the food remnants off the fork with his filthy apron, and handed it to me!

I ate the pie anyway, after wiping the fork again with my own shirt (yes, I was young, strong, and immortal...).

[Copper10-8]

Hmmmm, hand-served, twice wiped Peruvian Mountain Pie from the Andes via Lima! :) Does life get any better? Buenos nachos!

[drtee]

I have been traveling with a friend for over ten years. For longer than that I have been nagging her about how she doesn't wash her hands. On our last cruise she came out of the bathroom, telling me not to go in there for a while, and then dug her hands in the ice bucket. When I went in the bathroom later, I could tell that she had not washed her hands--the soap was still wrapped, etc.

I am now cruising solo, and I wonder if she wonders why.

The other story isn't a cruising story. I was at Whole Foods looking at the muffins (It's kind of like an art gallery for me). They have their baked goods on shelves with glass doors. You open the doors and serve yourself. There are the wax paper things that you are supposed to use to pick up things.
Well, one time there was a woman with a small brat, I mean child, who kept opening the doors and grabbing these cookies. She finally went over to stop him, and she just slapped his hand for him to let the cookies go and she just left them there on the pile of cookies for customers to select from! I was livid, and so I said, "Are you going to just leave those cookies there?" She looked at me like I was Satan and said, "His hands are clean." About that time one of the bakery staff came and took the whole tray away and dumped them in the trash. A few minutes later the same staff person came up to me with a nice steaming cup of chai, gave it to me and said, "Thank you for defending our bakery."
On a side note, a friend of mine who has a child about the age of the one in question said "There's no way his hands were clean."

[JLC@SD]

.....so ........have you been to Russia to see their "vending machines.....:)

We were in Odessa and they had a machine that dispensed a lemonade looking drink after a coin was deposited.......and it dispensed it into a cup, attached to a chain and the cup was used by everyone....:eek:

[Copper10-8]

.....so ........have you been to Russia to see their "vending machines.....:)

We were in Odessa and they had a machine that dispensed a lemonade looking drink after a coin was deposited.......and it dispensed it into a cup, attached to a chain and the cup was used by everyone....:eek:

Evening! Go ahead and call me anal but Odesa is a city in the Ukraine, an independent country. It was part of the Soviet Union in the good old days.

[kryos]

But I had to post this now. While at the salad bar in the Lido, I saw a woman put her hand into the salad greens to serve herself a handful (literally) of lettuce! :eek: :eek: I was completely and utterly dumbfounded! And she didn't just do it once either!

Some people just have no manners ... or class.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Dance2Nite]

I'm not as sweet and accepting of others bad habits as some folks........

I don't hesitate to suggest to someone they need to use the tongs if I see them begin to reach onto a tray with their bare hands. I would rather say something to them than have half a shipful of people ill.

When I saw a woman reach toward the cookie tray at the ice cream stand I was able to speak quickly enough to stop her. I pointed to the tongs or the pile of paper napkins and suggested she choose one or the other with which to remove the cookie(s) she wanted. She obliged and it didn't seem to phase or embarrass her at all that I had 'reminded her' .

Sorry.....don't mean to offend.

Ask RevNeal about his two day land cruise to Disneyland last spring because the Ryndam had to be supercleansed due to noro and cut the 10 night to an 8 night! We were lucky to be on the last Ryndam of the season out of SD, the week after the ship got out of 'Code Red' - ship term for no self service of any kind (again, ask RevNeal). We got a fantastic picture of the crew appreciation for being out of Code Red party poster that was sitill on the inside of a bulkhead going up to the bow observation deck. Some lucky crew member won a cool $1,000!

I work in Public Health and I don't even like to think about what goes on in the kitchens. I just say my prayers and maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible, including pointing out possible contamination situations!

[Sea King]

When I saw a woman reach toward the cookie tray at the ice cream stand I was able to speak quickly enough to stop her. I pointed to the tongs or the pile of paper napkins and suggested she choose one or the other with which to remove the cookie(s) she wanted. She obliged and it didn't seem to phase or embarrass her at all that I had 'reminded her' .

Sorry.....don't mean to offend.

IMO, you don't have to worry about offending anyone .. the "pigs", for lack of a better term, that use hands and fingers, don't care about offending anyone so why should you try to temper your remarks?

and you want to know why Purell is a "best seller" on board:rolleyes:

the real problem, though, is when someone sees something and doesn't say anything to a supervisor immediately ..

this isn't "the dress police issue"; this is all about health

horrible is a mild word to describe how some people act; the worst part is they cause the problem but usually aren't affected

[makai 7]

On the Nov 10 2007 Noordam cruise, we saw a women reach into the "fried bread" bin at the English Breakfast area and grope around until she found what she wanted.
The poor cook working the station had a fit, and immediately picked up the container and dumped all the remaining bread in the trash.
On this same cruise, we saw people pick up cheese at the buffet with their hands and eat it in line, pick up rolls and bread with their hands (don't they know what tongs are For????), pick up sushi with their bare hands, need I go on?
On the Noordam the staff really worked extra hard to prevent the transfer of noro, but some of the "guests" really seem completely ignorant about how diseases get spread.
Last year on another cruise (I can't even remember which one any more) I got into an argument with a woman in line because she was picking up tortilla chips, dipping them in the guacamole, and eating them at the buffet. I told her she was very rude and had no manners, that you should not eat from a buffet She was indignant and had no idea what I was talking about.
This was not a language issue, I think she was from New Jersey! English was most definitely her first language.

As far as restaurants go, if you are afraid, do not read "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain. You will find out what they do with the leftover bread baskets!

[mamaofami]

This thread has convinved me that staying healthy is just a matter of luck. With so many "ignorant" people out there contaminating the food, and the practices of restaurants behind the scenes, it's really a matter of luck. UGH!

[sail7seas]

IMO, you don't have to worry about offending anyone .. the "pigs", for lack of a better term, that use hands and fingers, don't care about offending anyone so why should you try to temper your remarks?

and you want to know why Purell is a "best seller" on board:rolleyes:

the real problem, though, is when someone sees something and doesn't say anything to a supervisor immediately ..

this isn't "the dress police issue"; this is all about health

horrible is a mild word to describe how some people act; the worst part is they cause the problem but usually aren't affected


Thank you, Sea King. That is pretty much how I felt about it!

I'd rather speak up than have a ship in Code Red with a crew having to do all that entails.

You are so right that usually those who cause the problem, rarely are the ones who suffer most. :( The work and expense to the ship is immense not to mention the misery of those who become ill.

[Mary Ellen]

I'd rather speak up than have a ship in Code Red with a crew having to do all that entails.I'm one who will speak up - IF I'm not too stunned. :eek: What I've experienced onboard:

1) Getting iced teas at the Veendam's Lido Grill. My friend likes lemon in hers. As I'm there, fork in hand to spear a wedge for her, a 'man' sticks his hand in the container to grab some. As I'm standing with my mouth agape at that, another 'man' does the same. There had to be at least 3-4 forks still in the container to use, plenty to go around. They are both lucky they didn't find a fork in the back of their hands - 'Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone was SO crass as to actually stick their hand in there!' I tell friend (a microbiologist) she really doesn't want lemon with her iced tea that day.

2) On Amsterdam, while getting ice cream for DH a woman (certainly not a lady) is grabbing, with her bare hand, a number of the sugar wafers. I politely point out the tongs. She abruptly informs me that she is unable to 'work' the tongs. HELLO - if your hands are able to grab sugar wafers, they can use tongs. It is the same motion.

3) In line for the Volendam's Lido, 2 woman ahead of us take plates from the stacks and clutch them to their chests. As they get closer they can see the attendant is placing plates on the trays for passengers. They put the dishes they've been grasping all over, back onto the stacks. I just gave their 'used' plates to the attendant and told him they were dirty.

4/5) Same 'man' both times on the Zaandam last year. DH really likes the chocolate chip cookies at the ice cream bar. Apparently this male did too. He would take cookies with his bare hands (WELL old enough to know better). The first time, I open mouth and out comes 'OH, gross!' without even thinking. I do then point out the tongs RIGHT there. He actually had to reach over the tongs to take the cookies. He glares at me. The second time he does this (with quite a few people around waiting for ice cream/cookies), I again point out the tongs. He just lights into me about how rude I am for pointing out, with people around, that he didn't use tongs. Well, it WAS their food he just put this hands on. :eek: One of the nearby women tells me not to worry, people take cookies "all the time" with their hands. :confused: No more cookies for DH.

We really like having breakfast and lunch in the Lido, but we're eating more and more in the main dining room.

[hammybee]

Perhaps it make some sense for cruise lines to create a new form of onboard entertainment:

Turn your Fellow Pax in and Win a Prize.

The more pax you turn in, the greater your chances are at winning the big prize.

[Mary Ellen]

The more pax you turn in, the greater your chances are at winning the big prize. I'd just be elated to never sail under 'Code Red'.

[hammybee]

I'd just be elated to never sail under 'Code Red'.

And maybe that is the big prize.:)

[sail7seas]

Perhaps it make some sense for cruise lines to create a new form of onboard entertainment:

Turn your Fellow Pax in and Win a Prize.

The more pax you turn in, the greater your chances are at winning the big prize.


LOL........ You win the prize for this one!!! I'm Laughing out Loud!!! :D

[maxout]

Just the other day in the Oosterdam's Lido, I saw a woman deliberately move the tongs out of the way on the smoked salmon tray, reach in and grab a piece or two :eek: then knock the tongs to the floor with her elbow. She reached down, picked up the tongs and placed them back in contact with the food!!

As I went to inform the staff, another alert member of the crew (who must have also witnessed this from another angle) had them remove the tray and tongs and replace them. :)

Just unreal!

[jhannah]

... I think she was from New Jersey! English was most definitely her first language. Not necessarily! :) But even that should be no excuse.

I knew many folks are bad about handling buffet food, but your revelations are even more egregious than I thought.

[gabster001]

A few years back we ate at a restaurant in Cozumel that had an open kitchen. We watched the wait staff remove used bowls of tortillas and freshen them with additional tortillas to serve to other customers. We also watched them pour unfinished glasses of the local honey wine back into the wine bottle. Eek!

[bepsf]

Some People's Children...
:rolleyes:

[JLC@SD]

Evening! Go ahead and call me anal but Odesa is a city in the Ukraine, an independent country. It was part of the Soviet Union in the good old days.

...that is when we saw it in the good old days........as the USSR.

[gooselace]

On the Nov 10 2007 Noordam cruise, we saw a women reach into the "fried bread" bin at the English Breakfast area and grope around until she found what she wanted.
The poor cook working the station had a fit, and immediately picked up the container and dumped all the remaining bread in the trash.

While the dining room usually appears safer, I wondered about the bread baskets. I don't usually eat bread or rolls, but I didn't see any tongs, and bread and rolls were so close together it seemed difficult to get one without touching others. One man at our table took a roll, decided it wasn't what he wanted, put it back and took another. No one said anything - everyone else either had made a selection or maybe lost interest at this point.

Now I'm wondering - should one of us have quietly let the waiter know?

[lkmamom]

Sail, I am so glad that I am not the only one that "nicely suggests" the use of tongs, and other utensils when I notice fellow cruisers forget:rolleyes: .

Now I have been accused through the years in our family as being "the ultra clean one". I can't help it, my Mom was the same and, it is the nurse in me:o On our last cruise onboard the Maasdam, I noticed a gentleman pour some cream from a pitcher near the coffee/tea area into a glass. It must have not been what he thought it was and he poured it back into the pitcher:eek: after drinking from the glass. One of the crew was watching as well and quickly and discreetly removed the pitcher of cream. I thought about that and it reminded me of my sister-in-law who used to pour the leftover milk in her children's glasses after a meal back into the milk carton after they were finished. It was when I was first married and still getting to know my husband's family. When I asked her why she did that and(about went wild!) Her reply was, "they are only children, they don't have germs". I think that some people may have just been raised to not waste things, and see nothing wrong with "conserving".

One of the reasons that I love the Lido concept of HAL is that most of the areas the crew actually serves the dishes.

And Rev Neal.......thanks for the heads up on the mixed nuts.;)
Linda

[hammybee]

One man at our table took a roll, decided it wasn't what he wanted, put it back and took another. No one said anything - everyone else either had made a selection or maybe lost interest at this point.


Now I'm wondering - should one of us have quietly let the waiter know?
This is curious and many of us have been in similar situations. One one hand, we have someone who either does not realize or perhpas care that he is touching other people's food and those who notice either look away or ponder how the situation can be changed while maintaining the ignorant one's dignity.

[muffin]

I really do..... but it seems to me we can get a little overboard in our fear of getting a bug which will have a horrible bearing on our cruise.

How many of us use tongs in the bread basket on our dining room table when entertaining? Not us. We trust our friends to take a roll and pass the basket. If their finger touches the bun beside it ( I am not watching anyway) I would have no hesitation taking that bun. The same for cookies or slices on a dessert plate... tongs or napkins? Not at our house.

When I was living at home as a child my mum used to talk about " family germs" which were much nicer than other germs!! So if your brother picked up a slice of bred in his hands and broke it in half, and put the rest back on the bread plate, it was perfectly okay... those were family germs!!

I do draw the line at some point... hands in salad bowl, fingers licked and then into nuts... tongs off the floor put back on the tray...I mean EUCK! I would have no trouble saying something to those persons in a low key manner, and alerting the staff. And children can be pretty uncouth too...I have seen kids take olives, put them in their mouths, not like the taste and put it back in the bowl!!

But I really think, for me anyway, the fear is getting sick at sea and missing good times and having my trip wrecked in many ways. There is something to be said for allowing some germs through to keep our immune systems up to par I think. As with all of life, moderation is the key. Just MHO.

[lorekauf]

Sail, I am so glad that I am not the only one that "nicely suggests" the use of tongs, and other utensils when I notice fellow cruisers forget:rolleyes: .

Now I have been accused through the years in our family as being "the ultra clean one". I can't help it, my Mom was the same and, it is the nurse in me:o On our last cruise onboard the Maasdam, I noticed a gentleman pour some cream from a pitcher near the coffee/tea area into a glass. It must have not been what he thought it was and he poured it back into the pitcher:eek: after drinking from the glass. One of the crew was watching as well and quickly and discreetly removed the pitcher of cream. I thought about that and it reminded me of my sister-in-law who used to pour the leftover milk in her children's glasses after a meal back into the milk carton after they were finished. It was when I was first married and still getting to know my husband's family. When I asked her why she did that and(about went wild!) Her reply was, "they are only children, they don't have germs". I think that some people may have just been raised to not waste things, and see nothing wrong with "conserving".

One of the reasons that I love the Lido concept of HAL is that most of the areas the crew actually serves the dishes.

And Rev Neal.......thanks for the heads up on the mixed nuts.;)
Linda

I'm with you. I too am ultra clean. I don't think there is one thing wrong with it. In fact I rarely get sick. Some of the things people do at work makes me sick to watch. Then they can't figure out why everyone is sick. You point something out like everyone using the same dirty rag to clean their cup and it doesn't occur to them. I think most people have been raised by wolves. I really don't want to eat anything prepared by anyone I work with after seeing their habits.

[Dena]

These stories are one reason why I NEVER eat at the buffet and one reason why I haven't tried HAL. I hear HAL doen't serve lunch in the dining room when in port. DH and I often stay on the ship in port. Does this mean if we sail HAL we are forced to eat at the buffet, order from a limited room service menu or skip lunch?

Now here are two gross stories from our last Princess cruise.

1) DH and I were walking by the photo display area (a narrow and crowded place) and a woman walking towards us in the opposite direction began to cough. She did not cover her mouth. Instead she coughed repeatedly in our faces spaying us (and many others) with saliva. She was middle-aged, with brassy double-process bleached blond hair - roots showing. I mention this because bleached blond hair is VERY expensive to maintain. Few things look cheaper than a woman who doesn't maintain this look properly. This disgusting creature probably got DH sick, he is still coughing 3 weeks later.

2) While we were approaching our cabin one night, a door to another cabin opened and a 30ish woman appeared ON THE FLOOR. She had managed to open the door and get her head and arms out into the hall. I was concerned that she was injured until I saw her place a dirty diaper in the hall and quickly close the door. Apparently, she had changed the baby on the floor, reached over, opened to door, and put the diaper in the hall. I hope her next action was to call her room steward to collect it. Sometimes we heard this baby crying in the wee hours even though we were down the hall inside our cabin. Overall, there were very,very few kids on this cruise. We never cruise with lots of kids so I don't know if this is a common way to get rid of a diaper. I hope not.

[mamaofami]

Reading all these stories really gets me wondering. How is it possible that so many people do these things? We know they know better? What is wrong with people?

[makai 7]

quote: "How many of us use tongs in the bread basket on our dining room table when entertaining? Not us. We trust our friends to take a roll and pass the basket. If their finger touches the bun beside it ( I am not watching anyway) I would have no hesitation taking that bun. The same for cookies or slices on a dessert plate... tongs or napkins? Not at our house."

I agree- in my home or at a friend or family member's home I would not hesitate to eat food touched by someone else- but that is very different than on a cruise ship and here is why:

1. I know my friends and family wash their hands after they use the bathroom.
2. I know that most of the places that their hands have touched between washing their hands and touching the food are reasonably clean.

On a cruise ship you have thousands of strangers touching stair rails, tables, chairs, door handles, etc., that have been touched by other hands that may have been "unwashed" after using a bath room, coughing, etc.
There is just an enormous statistical increase in the risk in something unwanted being transferred from someone's hand to the food going into your mouth, if proper handling is not observed.

I am not obsessive about cleanliness, but I do wash my hands often when preparing food and handling food (and after using the bathroom!)

I think there are several 'camps' that people fall into:
- those that observe and respect other people's personal space and general rules about cleanliness and food handling

- those who are completely ignorant about the risks

- those who are arrogant and feel that none of the rules apply to them!

It's just a shame that some people behave the way they do.

[hammybee]

Now here are two gross stories from our last Princess cruise.

1) DH and I were walking by the photo display area (a narrow and crowded place) and a woman walking towards us in the opposite direction began to cough. She did not cover her mouth. Instead she coughed repeatedly in our faces spaying us (and many others) with saliva. She was middle-aged, with brassy double-process bleached blond hair - roots showing. I mention this because bleached blond hair is VERY expensive to maintain. Few things look cheaper than a woman who doesn't maintain this look properly. This disgusting creature probably got DH sick, he is still coughing 3 weeks later.

2) While we were approaching our cabin one night, a door to another cabin opened and a 30ish woman appeared ON THE FLOOR. She had managed to open the door and get her head and arms out into the hall. I was concerned that she was injured until I saw her place a dirty diaper in the hall and quickly close the door. Apparently, she had changed the baby on the floor, reached over, opened to door, and put the diaper in the hall. I hope her next action was to call her room steward to collect it. Sometimes we heard this baby crying in the wee hours even though we were down the hall inside our cabin. Overall, there were very,very few kids on this cruise. We never cruise with lots of kids so I don't know if this is a common way to get rid of a diaper. I hope not.

What color hair did woman #2 have?:D

[JLC@SD]

I am perplexed about this tong thing.

........If I take a roll from the basket at the buffet with my hands carefully removing the one I want and not touching the others..... as opposed to:

.......I use the tongs to remove the roll.........the tongs have been touched by say 100 people........and at least one just went to the bathroom and didn't wash or did a crummy job of washing........and then I pick up my roll with the hand that just touched the tongs.........:confused:

.....which is better for me.......I know I am not likely to wash my hands between tong use and roll eating.....:confused:

[DesertDiva]

Ick...

[George W. Bush]

You guys only think your friends are more sanitary than strangers. Assuming one is in good health, a few bits of nastiness here and there won't kill you.

[Boytjie]

You guys only think your friends are more sanitary than strangers. Assuming one is in good health, a few bits of nastiness here and there won't kill you.

I hate to agree with George... that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. :eek:

[sail7seas]

I am perplexed about this tong thing.

........If I take a roll from the basket at the buffet with my hands carefully removing the one I want and not touching the others..... as opposed to:

.......I use the tongs to remove the roll.........the tongs have been touched by say 100 people........and at least one just went to the bathroom and didn't wash or did a crummy job of washing........and then I pick up my roll with the hand that just touched the tongs.........:confused:

.....which is better for me.......I know I am not likely to wash my hands between tong use and roll eating.....:confused:


If I have used tongs at the buffet, after I have removed my dishes from the tray, I seek out the Purell dispenser and use it again. I use the sanitizer at the start of the buffet line and at the end of it.

Sometimes I use my own 'serving piece'. I unwrap a set of the silverware they place on all of the tables and use that clean fork to remove items from the trays in the buffet. Do the same with large spoons. That way, I am not using the 'community tongs'.

[LegalSailor]

Yeah, I fall into the category of folks who pack the large 12 ounce bottle of hand sanitizer and the small "pocket size" 3 ounce one for going through the buffet lines.
Personally, I think too many people handle food with their hands, but the alternative of using tongs that 100 people used before me is not very comforting either. I just think about how bad things were in the Army to give myself a little perspective, take some food, then use liberal amounts of hand sanitizer.
Cheers,

[chasetf]

If I have used tongs at the buffet, after I have removed my dishes from the tray, I seek out the Purell dispenser and use it again. I use the sanitizer at the start of the buffet line and at the end of it.........
I believe you...... you are the first person I have ever heard of doing that or promoting it be done. ;)

[mamaofami]

Sail, thank you for two great ideas I would never have thought of. Of course, the end of the tongs are filled with germs! Just like the stair rails, elevator buttons, bathroom door handles, etc.

[Cruising-along]

I'm nervous about using community tongs every time I go through a buffet line -- anywhere. I like Sail's idea of using other, unused serving pieces even better. :) Sometimes I forget to use the sanitizer before and after going through the buffet line. I try, but am sure I haven't always done it after. We carry our own small bottle of sanitizer too.

[RevNeal]

If I have used tongs at the buffet, after I have removed my dishes from the tray, I seek out the Purell dispenser and use it again. I use the sanitizer at the start of the buffet line and at the end of it.

The last time I tried this, by the time I got back to my table my food was gone (in 30 seconds the stewards had cleaned my empty spot, not realizing that I was alone). It cured me of leaving my place when solo. :D

[Boytjie]

The last time I tried this, by the time I got back to my table my food was gone (in 30 seconds the stewards had cleaned my empty spot, not realizing that I was alone). It cured me of leaving my place when solo. :D

There should be a universal sign for "Please don't take away my food! I am dining alone and needed to get something". :)

[Mary Ellen]

I'm another who uses the sanitizer before and after the buffet. I also carry a small bottle of Purell.

However, for this next cruise I'm giving serious consideration to bringing and wearing gloves for the Lido and Dining room until I'm actually ready to eat. I have severe allergies to some antibiotics, nothing I've been too worried about as one didn't 'accidentally' take antibiotics.

With the use of antibacterial cleansers becoming very common, I noticed reactions on my last cruise. Even scratching a slight itch left me with huge red welts, leading me to believe it was something I'd come in contact with by touching (Purell???). Also when I would wash my hands in the cabin, my palms would turn bright red (HAL's soap?). I'm also bringing my own bar of soap this time.

I haven't encountered the same reaction since the cruise, so that is also leading me to believe it was something on the ship. This next cruise is 20 days so I need to be prepared to protect myself.

[tech]

Sail,

It is common practice for my husband and myself to use the Purell at the beginning of the buffet and then we have individual bottles we use at the table before eating.

We figure we have cleaned our hands at the beginning of the buffet to avoid leaving our germs behind....but when we get to the table we have probably picked up "stuff" on our hands in the buffet.

Just seems like common sense and hey, it doesn't hurt.

On board we have been very careful about hand washing. So far never been sick which we chalk up to our practices and luck.

Good ideas Sail.

[RuthC]

There should be a universal sign for "Please don't take away my food! I am dining alone and needed to get something". :)
There used to be. If you tipped your chair so that it was resting against the table, the stewards were to understand that you were coming back, and they shouldn't take anything.

I don't know if the newer stewards are taught that signal anymore, but it can't hurt to ask.

[mamaofami]

I've seen people leave beach bags and other items along with their food at tables while they've one to get something else like a drink. People come along and just remove their stuff...Several times I've told people that someone just went to get something else.

[jhannah]

Santa baby, just slip some chocolate under the tree. For me.

Ah, Ms. Ruth. I can just hear you singing that in your best "boop-boop-a-doop" voice!

[George W. Bush]

It probably isn't a good idea to use your own utensils to select foods. You may contaminate other dishes with allergens. Pick up some Thai chicken with your spoon, dip that same spoon into the stir fry and you could cause some unlucky allergic to peanuts stir fry eater a lot of misery.


*rain on parade*

[hammybee]

I've seen people leave beach bags and other items along with their food at tables while they've one to get something else like a drink. People come along and just remove their stuff...Several times I've told people that someone just went to get something else.

Finally, the reason why more and more people are being found eating in the toilet, on cruise ships. :D

[chili555]

As a first, I used to put the red line version of the 10K or 10Q in there for "reading" material!!!One of my early employers actually had a subscription to the Wall Street Journal to the attention of "First Floor Men's Room." Needless to say, the executives were mostly situated on the first floor.

[Oceanwench]

I'm not obsessive about germs, I don't worry where the tongs have been, I'm never sick.
I also don't make it my business to police other people or to teach them proper etiquette.
If I saw something truly alarming, I would discreetly tell a crew member of the transgression. I would not call attention to the person who violated the rules of decency, nor would I call attention to myself by berating that person.

[Love Cruises]

There used to be. If you tipped your chair so that it was resting against the table, the stewards were to understand that you were coming back, and they shouldn't take anything.

I don't know if the newer stewards are taught that signal anymore, but it can't hurt to ask.
Ruth C ...when we were on the NOORDAM this past October the waiter in the LIDO was tipping the chairs for people as they returned to pick up a drink or go to the buffet line. I saw this done quite often over the 20 day cruise so I think experienced waiters do go out of their way to do this chair tipping practice.

[DFD1]

I always leave a hat, cap, book or something next to my plate when I'm away from my table. That seems to work. Never have come back to the table to find the food gone and the place cleaned up.

[RuthC]

I always leave a hat, cap, book or something next to my plate when I'm away from my table. That seems to work. Never have come back to the table to find the food gone and the place cleaned up.
Last Summer on the Prinsendam I left a magazine on the table when I went to pick up something I missed. When I got back not only were the dirty dishes gone---so was my magazine! :eek:

I have to give credit, though. When I asked a passing steward about it he didn't know, but he sure found out! He not only found the steward who had cleared my place, he located the missing magazine! :)
Give these guys a chance to shine and they light up the sky! :D

[mamaofami]

On the Noordam last year, we were sitting by the back of the Lido pol having lunch. We didn't notice that there was an empty table near us with two jackets over the back of the chairs. Some people came along and sat down and began to eat. When the owners of the jackets returned with their trays, a knock down drag out fight ensued. The sitting diners won after much name calling.

[RuthC]

On the Noordam last year, we were sitting by the back of the Lido pol having lunch. We didn't notice that there was an empty table near us with two jackets over the back of the chairs. Some people came along and sat down and began to eat. When the owners of the jackets returned with their trays, a knock down drag out fight ensued. The sitting diners won after much name calling.
I can sympathize with both parties here, but a little more with the ones returning with trays. As a solo I frequently have that problem of losing my place when I step away for a few minutes.

I remember a time I left the aft pool area to get a quick something---left my magazines and glasses, only to come back and find three people sitting there eating lunch. I sat back down in my seat as if I had a right to. Because I did!!!

[jhannah]

So in addition to tipping my cabin steward, dining room steward and his assistant, head waiter, wine steward, and concierge ... I now have to tip a chair, too??? :eek: :D

[meidda]

I wonder if at the time of the drill on the first day an educational lecture would be in order. You would think that adults would know better.

[Hixski]

I think the worst thing I have ever seen at a buffet was the teen that picked up the mac n cheese serving spoon and tasted it. She must have liked it because she put it back in and took another bite.:eek: Needless to say I called someone over and they took everything away. She was definately old enough to know better.

[donaldsc]

[quote=Mary Ellen;12698957]
However, for this next cruise I'm giving serious consideration to bringing and wearing gloves for the Lido and Dining room until I'm actually ready to eat. I have severe allergies to some antibiotics, nothing I've been too worried about as one didn't 'accidentally' take antibiotics.

quote]

If you wear gloves, make sure that you learn the technique of taking off your gloves w/o touching the outside of the gloves. I worked in a lab where I worked with extremely hazardous materials and we had to be sure never to touch the outside of thje gloves with our bare hands.

Otherwise, there is no point in wearing gloves.

DON

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

About 25 years ago, a brilliant co-worker kept a huge bowl of jelly beans in his office. The office often worked long hours, on projects and most people let their hair down, after hours. Things like ties and shoes were dicarded for comfort. Some would put on sweats/jeans or other comfortable clothing for what was the second-thrid shift of the day. Those who had stashes of food were always popular.

Anyway, the brilliant one's thing was to go barefoot. ( Can you see where this is going? :eek: ). Despite the long hours, much of it was downtime, waiting for batch systems to run their jobs. One late evening, while foraging for food, I happened upon the Brilliant one, in his office. He was picking jelly beans out of the bowl, with his toes.

The brilliant one was born in the USA, Ivy League educated and made multiples of 6 figures, back then. And somehow it eluded him that picking jelly beans out of a common bowl, with his toes, was way more than a bit off.

Please do not get me started about the guys who ate in the toilet.

So you were foraging for food in someones office? Was this allowed?

Reminds me of some coworkers who used to put exlax in their "lunch" to find out who the thief was.

That will learn ya. LOL

[michmike]

One of the joys of holiday get togethers.. watching my sis-in-law double dip the crudites... gotta love her..

laughed at the cup on a chain vending story.. my grand parents had a cottage on a lake in wisconsin... there was a pump at the back of the association property .. and a metal 1 cup measuring cup attached w/ a chain.. everyone used that cup if they wanted a drink.. this was circa 1955.. no one thought anything of it back then.. think I'd go for the cupped hands approach today.

Thankfully we all have decent immune systems, cuz you're exposed to all sorts of disgusting stuff during the day that you have no idea about.. just ask anyone whose job takes them into the "back of the house" of restaurants on a regular basis.

[hammybee]

I think the worst thing I have ever seen at a buffet was the teen that picked up the mac n cheese serving spoon and tasted it. She must have liked it because she put it back in and took another bite.:eek: Needless to say I called someone over and they took everything away. She was definately old enough to know better.

I wonder how much food gets tossed because passengers contaminate it.

[ekerr19]

Keep in mind the different strains of virus, etc. has greatly increased today from a mere 10 years ago....

We took a trip to California with DD when she was a baby to see grandparents and she developed a horrible ear infection - our peditrician said that due to many migrants into the area, she had been exposed to something not yet seen in Colorado (this was outside Fresno when the Hmong community was getting established there) and we ended up bringing it to Colorado. Thankfully she was an infant and not school aged - but we all ended up with it - and it was the worst illness ANY of us ever experienced.

I honestly don't know where some of these Lido passengers come from. We never grab, reach or touch food with our hands - even in restaurants we "spear" a dinner roll from the basket with a fork.

[frankie-toronto]

I have been on over 10 cruises and have watched in disgust what people do - pickup and put down food with their fingers and then lick them and pickup something else. Touch all the bread and then dont take any - taste from trays i.e. olives - pickles the like instead of putting it on their plates with forks or tongs. If I see someone close to me doing that I just go and tell them - that is is disgusting and this is how we all get sick on these cruises. I have watched people (mostly men of course) leave the washrooms without washing their hands and head for the buffet and handle food with ther fingers. disgusting is the word - where the hell do these people come from - I guess it takes all kinds in this world - not my cup of tea. My Mother brought me up the right way !!!!
We are off on the world cruise next month and hopefully I dont see any of that kind of nonesense as I will be making lots of comments ... and probably enemies hahahaahh so be it. This is about my health.
ciao
Happy Sailing

[hammybee]

So you were foraging for food in someones office? Was this allowed?

Reminds me of some coworkers who used to put exlax in their "lunch" to find out who the thief was.

That will learn ya. LOL

Oh yeah, foraging for food in the middle of the night is a common activity when people work long hours. He who has food is never loney.:)

This is not the same thing as swiping someone's lunch from the common refrigerator. Your co-workers sound like bunch of real funsters.

[Juanita462]

I have been waiting for someone to mention the chocolates in the Explorer's lounge in the evening. We no longer take them as we have seen so many people pick up the candy with their fingers - even with the tongs in plain sight in front of them.

The exlax in the lunch reminded me of a man who liked a dish of candy on his desk but had trouble with people helping themselves when he was away from his desk and coming back to an empty container. One day he got some moose droppings, coated them with chocolate and took them to work. He put the dish of "candy" on his desk and warned everyone in the office to not eat any - of course the "candy" disappeared - but that was the last time anyone helped themselves to his chocolates!!! :p

[cusyl]

A woman arrived at the Lido buffet early in the morning in her pajamas and robe, hair uncombed...spread her food over a table for 4 and proceeded to eat her breakfast as if she was at home...NOT a pretty sight. :eek:

[jhannah]

One day he got some moose droppings, coated them with chocolate and took them to work ... that was the last time anyone helped themselves to his chocolates!!! :pEwww! I'll have to remember that one! :cool:

[kakalina]

Oh yeah, foraging for food in the middle of the night is a common activity when people work long hours. He who has food is never loney.:)

This is not the same thing as swiping someone's lunch from the common refrigerator. Your co-workers sound like bunch of real funsters.

It got to be such a problem when I was working that I made several sandwiches out of cat food and left those to be stolen, they were.

[RuthC]

It got to be such a problem when I was working that I made several sandwiches out of cat food and left those to be stolen, they were.
Hee-hee-hee. Love it. :D

[Sillyjilly]

These stories are one reason why I NEVER eat at the buffet and one reason why I haven't tried HAL. I hear HAL doen't serve lunch in the dining room when in port. DH and I often stay on the ship in port. Does this mean if we sail HAL we are forced to eat at the buffet, order from a limited room service menu or skip lunch?

There are always the delicious hamburgers at the grill. French fries too. :)

This thread has me laughing out loud!

It reminds me of my cruise on the Amsterdam when we were in code red. While waiting in line at the buffet a woman walks to the front of the line and past the crew member who was making our salads, she then picks up his tongs and serves herself. She sure got a dirty scowl from the crew member who had to run and get a clean pair of tongs.
She also picked up a roll and put it back down.
DURING A CODE RED. Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Geez, nothing surprises me any more.

Jill

[hammybee]

It got to be such a problem when I was working that I made several sandwiches out of cat food and left those to be stolen, they were.

Half the people I worked with, would not have noticed. Perhaps cat food breath would give them away.:eek:

[babyher]

It got to be such a problem when I was working that I made several sandwiches out of cat food and left those to be stolen, they were.



*LOL* Never thought of that one, but I did know someone who frosted a few cupcakes with EX Lax to catch their office moocher.


Where I work we definately have our share of refrigerator "Seagulls" *LOL*

I think some of them would eat the box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda in the back in a real pinch. :)