Zaandam to Hawaii

[sparkle4]

We have read that last winter and this past spring, the Zaandam had a problem with cruisers becoming ill. Does anyone know if this has been cleared up? We are on the Nov. 7 cruise. Any suggestions on shore excursions and must do's onboard?
Thanks.

[RuthC]

Noro virus is always a threat whenever you get large groups of people together. It's as common as the common cold, and seems to spread just about as easily. It happens in schools, nursing homes, you can pick it up from the grocery cart.
It's just that when it happens on a cruise ship there's a better chance of realizing it's there. And it has to be reported to authorities of it hits enough people.
Just because noro virus was on a ship last week (month, year, etc), doesn't mean it will be there this week, etc. Just because it wasn't there doesn't mean it can't be brought aboard again.

So, go ahead and have a great cruise! Be alert to washing your hands frequently, and to using the sanitizers.

[sassyredhat]

Last April we actually sailed under Code Red because the previous cruise had lots of sick people. HAL offered to refund the cost to anyone who didn't wish to sail.

Of course, we went. :D

It was slightly inconvenient for a couple of days, but not one single case of noro on our cruise.

As Ruth said~~~just be alert to hand washing and sanitizers. I am a tad bit OCD about it, but that's just about all you really need to be aware of.

Pat

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Yes the Zaandam has experienced the Norvo Virus on their Hawaiian cruises.

We also had the Norvo Virus on our Hawaiian cruise -- Amsterdam. And I was really worried as we had no idea that the ship was infected when we arrived in San Diego. I had been in the hospital only 6 days before we left for San Diego for a stomach problem not related to the Norvo Virus -- a problem I was born with. (I carry papers from my doctor and surgeon related to this.) It wasn't until we got to the pier -- everything was a mess -- we had to fill forms (now on all cruises) -- and were given the choice of cancelling without a penalty.

What did we do?? We sailed!!

We have been on about 7 cruises when the Norvo Virus broke out and about 2 when it was already on the ship.

So far we have never gotten the Norvo Virus.

Just remember to wash your hands -- often -- use the Purell machines -- I carry one for cabin bathroom and one for our back pack.

Once the Virus breaks out -- don't touch anything in the public areas. If you are able to -- walk the stairs but don't touch the hand rails.

I can no longer walk the stairs -- so I use tissues to touch the elevator buttons and then get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Yes -- I go through a ton of tissues when a ship goes into or is in RED alert.

[richnorto]

We have not been on a HAL ship under code red, but sailed on a Princess ship under one 2 years ago. If you take all the precautions, you will probably not have any problem. We stayed well through the entire 14 day cruise. Unfortunately, we were on the last group to leave the ship and my daughter got bored and decided to do gymnastics, back handsprings, cartwheels etc. through the Lido dining area while we waited to disembark. Our number was called and we just grabbed our things and left. She was deathly ill with noro 2 days later and shared it with me as the designated caretaker. Unfortunate, but people had been getting sick in that area and it had been taped off numerous times throughout the trip. Our own fault and a silly mistake at the end of what was a fabulous cruise! Common sense and plenty of hand sanitizer can keep you well.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have not been on a HAL ship under code red, but sailed on a Princess ship under one 2 years ago. If you take all the precautions, you will probably not have any problem. We stayed well through the entire 14 day cruise. Unfortunately, we were on the last group to leave the ship and my daughter got bored and decided to do gymnastics, back handsprings, cartwheels etc. through the Lido dining area while we waited to disembark. Our number was called and we just grabbed our things and left. She was deathly ill with noro 2 days later and shared it with me as the designated caretaker. Unfortunate, but people had been getting sick in that area and it had been taped off numerous times throughout the trip. Our own fault and a silly mistake at the end of what was a fabulous cruise! Common sense and plenty of hand sanitizer can keep you well.:)

Are you KIDDING!!??

Why would you let your child do cartwheels, handsprings, etc., in the Lido??

Did you ever consider that she could have knocked people over??

If I had saw your daughter doing that in the Lido I know that I would have called an area captain over and had it stopped!! My DH is now partically handicapped and if your daughter had knocked him over him -- I would have had serious words with you.

Sorry your daugher got sick -- but maybe not!!

You should have more control over your daughter doing gymastics in the Lido!!

[richnorto]

I guess I should have been a little more explicit!:o The ship was EMPTY!!!! There was NO-ONE left. We sat for about 2 hours waiting for our number/color to be called all by ourselves. I would never let her (nor would she have done it on her own) do gymnastics in what was a public place outside of her gym. The whole ship was deserted. We were dead last off the ship! But in all honesty, with the results, it was a bad decision! Never could figure out why it took so long to call us...:confused:

[sparkle4]

Thanks to all. We used the sanitizers religiously on the Sapphire Princess and will continue to do so. Any recommendations for Hawaii shore excursions?

[Krazy Kruizers]

I guess I should have been a little more explicit!:o The ship was EMPTY!!!! There was NO-ONE left. We sat for about 2 hours waiting for our number/color to be called all by ourselves. I would never let her (nor would she have done it on her own) do gymnastics in what was a public place outside of her gym. The whole ship was deserted. We were dead last off the ship! But in all honesty, with the results, it was a bad decision! Never could figure out why it took so long to call us...:confused:

Thanks for clearing that up.

[cf_chuck]

This has been brought up before, but please be aware that the hand sanitizers do an effective job on germs (bacteria) but not on viruses. The most effective way to deal with the noro virus is to wash your hands with soap and hot water for a couple of minutes.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks to all. We used the sanitizers religiously on the Sapphire Princess and will continue to do so. Any recommendations for Hawaii shore excursions?

Wish I could help you -- but we had such bad weather on our cruise that the majority of the excursions we picked were all cancelled.

Thankfully we had been to Hawaii several other times so we weren't disappointed.

Do try to get to a Luau - the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui.

The Polynesian Cultural Center -- Honolulu is great -- an all day tour.

Hilo -- Volcano National Prk.

Kuaui -- Grand Canyon of the islands.

[GmaPajama]

We were on the Zaandam last March - the cruise with the large outbreak of Noro, right before Sassyredhat's. The illness started exactly 2 days into the cruise - which is indicative of the fact that someone most likely brought it onboard with them. The Captain and Crew were fantastic. There were reminders everywhere about sanitary living and hand washing. At the height of the outbreak, just 5% of the passengers and crew were sick - which says a LOT about the efforts to contain the virus. Without all the hard work of the crew, things would have been much worse.

Living on a ship with Noro is not, I repeat NOT, the end of the world. Some folks did catch it, even with their relentless washing of hands, but most of us did not. Daily routines are a bit different under Code Red, but it's nothing a reasonable person can't live with. In spite of the illness, I didn't hear a single cruiser complain - it was an absolutely fantastic cruise.

[sparkle4]

Oh no! When did you go?

[sassyredhat]

Sparkle, both times we went to Hawaii in April. We will be going back in 2010, also in April.

One tour we really liked is an evening show on Maui. The name is Ulalena. It is hard to describe exactly what is is, but it's waaaay more than a Cirque de Soliel production. We have been twice. We saw alot of children there and they also enjoyed the show.

Another short tour we liked was in Kona---the Seahorse Discovery tour. It's a "barebones" facility but really interesting. We got to see newborn seahorses and actually hold one on our fingers.

Another nice tour was Little Circle Island tour in Honolulu. Very interesting.

This was our 2nd time. The first time, we did the "big" touristy tours, such as the Arizona.

I have some health issues, so we like to do the 1/2 day tours, and then I get to rest before dinner. :)

We love Hawaii !

Pat