Norovirus Outbreak Hits Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Some un-flattering coverage on FOX News tonight.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/29/cruise-ship-returns-after-nearly-700-fall-ill-highlighting-risks-getting-sick/?intcmp=latestnews

 

A relative of a Fox reporter was on the ship and said that when they first got into their cabin it had not been cleaned. :eek:

From the FOX article - 2% is the reporting threshold.

"“When an ship sails into U.S. waters, by law they must notify us if a certain threshold – 2 percent or greater – [are] sick on a vessel, including passengers and crew members,” CDC press officer Bernadette Burden told FoxNews.com."

I use (in addition to hand washing) a product called Soapopular. It contains benzaalkonium chloride. Non alcohol. Literature on the web says it may be good for virus, and Noro.

It is not sold in the US, and a friend in Canada sent me some.

 

Unfortunately, I forgot to pack it on our Summit New England trip, and got Noro! First time in 54 cruises.

Interesting. I went to the Soapopular website and they don't give much info about what their product protects against.

So I googled it and Walmart sells it....on their product description this is what it states...

Soapopular Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer is effective at killing 99.9% of common, harmful germs, bacteria and fungi without drying your skin. Soapopular foaming hand sanitizer is fast drying, non-stinging, and will leave your hands fresh and clean with no sticky residue.

Liquid

3.4 oz

Alcohol free

Non-irritating and non-toxic

No sticky residue

Hypoallergenic

Benzalkonium Chloride

Non-flammable

So it says 99.9% of common harmful germs, bacteria and fungi...but doesn't mention anything about viruses.

The CDC website recommends some products but I've never heard of most of them and wonder if they're available in the "retail world".

Peroxide and bleach are two products used to sanitize after an outbreak so I suppose they would help in preventing the spread as well but who wants to wash their hands with these caustic chemicals?

I had just used a hand sanitizer before going to the WJ, or I would not have mentioned it.

 

I am paranoid about getting sick so I am constantly washing my hands which really is going to help against noro.

I am a germ freak. I think everyone should use the sanitizer at the door. It doesn't matter if you just scrubbed your hands in the bathroom, doused yourself with hand sanitizer or what. When I see people walk past the sanitizers I expect to see them use it. I am thankful when I see someone stopping people who don't use it. I am never offended by being asked to use it.....or wouldn't be offended. I ALWAYS use it as you should when you walk into the dining room or windjammer. (although I realize some people have allergies or whatever and can't use it....but most people can and should)

Hubby is home safe now with me! He has a clarification to the info I relayed a few days ago: the $400 OBC was deducted from the "cash" portion of their fare refund. So you got the OBC while on board (which smart people cashed out in the casino), and then you will be refunded whatever amount makes up the difference between the amount of the OBC and the value of 50% of your fare. In his case, that's pretty much zero.

Interesting read with some good info

http://www.emetophobiahelp.org/norovirus.html

That's not true...Disney Magic 11-11-11-21, 2002 Noro Virus

Disney Magic 6-2-6-5, 2000 Salmonella outbreak

It is somewhat interesting that Disney has had only one outbreak of Noro (as indicated on the CDC website) in the 15+ years they have had cruise ships. Granted they don't have nearly as many ships, but that's still pretty impressive.

Hubby is home safe now with me! He has a clarification to the info I relayed a few days ago: the $400 OBC was deducted from the "cash" portion of their fare refund. So you got the OBC while on board (which smart people cashed out in the casino), and then you will be refunded whatever amount makes up the difference between the amount of the OBC and the value of 50% of your fare. In his case, that's pretty much zero.

Happy to hear he is home safe and sound. Does he feel this is fair, and how was the rest of the cruise? Thanks!

Hubby is home safe now with me! He has a clarification to the info I relayed a few days ago: the $400 OBC was deducted from the "cash" portion of their fare refund. So you got the OBC while on board (which smart people cashed out in the casino), and then you will be refunded whatever amount makes up the difference between the amount of the OBC and the value of 50% of your fare. In his case, that's pretty much zero.

Good news!

This may have been mentioned as I only have read the past couple of pages, but I feel best when ship staff serves Windjammer food to passengers for first 2-3 days of a cruise. This was done on 2 of our cruises last year. Noro incubation is 12-48 hours, so anyone with it will show symptoms during this time. I know you can pick it up other places around ship, eg, stair rails, elevator buttons, etc, but think major cause must be all those serving ladles handled by a hundred people before you pop into Windjammer for a late breakfast.

It's yucky to think someone later on during cruise has handled serving spoons without washing their hands, but at least you probably won't be catching noro.

Does he feel this is fair, and how was the rest of the cruise? Thanks!

No, he says he doesn't think it's fair at all, especially because when the captain first told them about the compensation, he clearly said that the 50% refund was in addition to the OBC they had already been given. And then the next time it was talked about, suddenly it wasn't in addition, it was subtracted from. He feels that Royal wasn't honest and he's rather annoyed.

He says that there is, however, a rumour - and it's only a rumour, he was unable to get any crew to verify this - that Royal might give double cruise credits to everyone.

He says that other than the plague aspect, "it was like having a Voyager-class yacht to myself all week" because so few people were out and about, and that suited him just fine! He and his diamond-lounge team apparently dominated trivia and did their best to have a good time in a bad situation.

No, he says he doesn't think it's fair at all, especially because when the captain first told them about the compensation, he clearly said that the 50% refund was in addition to the OBC they had already been given. And then the next time it was talked about, suddenly it wasn't in addition, it was subtracted from. He feels that Royal wasn't honest and he's rather annoyed.

 

He says that there is, however, a rumour - and it's only a rumour, he was unable to get any crew to verify this - that Royal might give double cruise credits to everyone.

 

He says that other than the plague aspect, "it was like having a Voyager-class yacht to myself all week" because so few people were out and about, and that suited him just fine! He and his diamond-lounge team apparently dominated trivia and did their best to have a good time in a bad situation.

Did anyone happen to video tape the first offer? My guess is someone may have and they will at least have to keep that promise. Hopefully, with no restrictions.

It must have felt odd having such a large ship mostly all to himself.

Interesting read with some good info

 

http://www.emetophobiahelp.org/norovirus.html

Thank you. That is a very useful link with alot of facts and simple unambiguous explanations.

No, he says he doesn't think it's fair at all, especially because when the captain first told them about the compensation, he clearly said that the 50% refund was in addition to the OBC they had already been given. And then the next time it was talked about, suddenly it wasn't in addition, it was subtracted from. He feels that Royal wasn't honest and he's rather annoyed.

 

He says that there is, however, a rumour - and it's only a rumour, he was unable to get any crew to verify this - that Royal might give double cruise credits to everyone.

 

He says that other than the plague aspect, "it was like having a Voyager-class yacht to myself all week" because so few people were out and about, and that suited him just fine! He and his diamond-lounge team apparently dominated trivia and did their best to have a good time in a bad situation.

In addition there were a few other things the could pay for. He ended off by saying that he was confident most would find RC's offer more then fair .

If they are deducting the rebate from the OBC, your husband should be annoyed. They seem to be playing the PR game well.

Watching CNN they showed a RC spokesman (not sure who) discussing the compensation offered. He clearly said there would be $400 OBC + 50% rebate + 50% deduction on a future cruise.

 

In addition there were a few other things the could pay for. He ended off by saying that he was confident most would find RC's offer more then fair .

 

If they are deducting the rebate from the OBC, your husband should be annoyed. They seem to be playing the PR game well.

Hmm, so I guess the takeaway here is that we're not entirely sure what is going on! I got the impression that as many rumours had been swirling onboard the ship as have been here on CC, so it's entirely possible one side or the other doesn't have the whole story. I guess we'll have to wait a couple days and see how the PR angle shakes out and what checks arrive...

I am a germ freak. I think everyone should use the sanitizer at the door. It doesn't matter if you just scrubbed your hands in the bathroom, doused yourself with hand sanitizer or what. When I see people walk past the sanitizers I expect to see them use it. I am thankful when I see someone stopping people who don't use it. I am never offended by being asked to use it.....or wouldn't be offended. I ALWAYS use it as you should when you walk into the dining room or windjammer. (although I realize some people have allergies or whatever and can't use it....but most people can and should)

The sanitizers don't kill all germs (that 0.1% is still a lot when you consider the billions of germs on your hands), they can lead to the proliferation of sanitizer-resistant strains of viruses and bacteria, they dry out your hands making them much more prone to infection, and can cause serious issues for those with sensitive skin, eczema, and certain skin allergies. Don't be so quick to judge those who pass on the Purell.

Thank you. That is a very useful link with alot of facts and simple unambiguous explanations.

I thought so too...you're very welcome!

I feel bad for all those who got sick, but the ones I feel the worst for are the families with little ones. Think about being on a ship, away from home, being a sick parent trying to take care of little kids who got sick too. Rough.

I feel bad for all those who got sick, but the ones I feel the worst for are the families with little ones. Think about being on a ship, away from home, being a sick parent trying to take care of little kids who got sick too. Rough.

Oh you are so right...

The sanitizers don't kill all germs (that 0.1% is still a lot when you consider the billions of germs on your hands), they can lead to the proliferation of sanitizer-resistant strains of viruses and bacteria, they dry out your hands making them much more prone to infection, and can cause serious issues for those with sensitive skin, eczema, and certain skin allergies. Don't be so quick to judge those who pass on the Purell.

This. I really don't like having hand sanitizer forced on me. I'm a major germa-phob and I only use hand sanitizer in a situation that there is absolutely no way I can wash my hands (with NONantibacterial soap).

Interesting read with some good info

 

http://www.emetophobiahelp.org/norovirus.html

Thankyou for that link. As I had read here on cc, there were available cleaners that were believed to be effective against norovirus. From your link I copy here:

"The ingredients benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride are effective against Norovirus in concentrations of at least .013%."

In Australia, a hand cleaner sold as 'Hands First' as well as some types of hand wipes contain these ingredients. The supplier of Hands First make no claims that I can see about killing noro, but we have used this product.

Of course we also have washed our hands a lot and also used the Purell from the dispenser. We have had some stomach upsets on cruises, but we are sure that this wasn't noro, just from eating so much rich food :D

When we went into the dining room, they never even checked if we used the hand sanitizers.

In the dining room you do not handle the serving utensils.

If the antibacterial cannot really kill it then why would they think the bathroom soap would?

 

 

Washing does not kill it.

 

What 30 seconds of washing using hot enough water does is remove it and send it down the drain.

 

Purrell does not kill it either, but may cause some of it to leave your hands and go into the air or onto some nearby surface (including your clothes).

This doesn't really fit in I guess but my daughter pointed out Disney hasn't had an outbreak of noro - why would that be? Better cleaning? Can't believe parents and all those children are more diligent than passengers on other cruise lines about hand washing and handling utensils in the buffet.

Posted January 20 on a thread about the Disney Dream

So noro was definitely on board. I've never heard of Disney noro on the news as much as you do Royal, Carnival, NCL. But with the number of folks in Medical plus the doctors reaction, it was in full force. I wonder what the number is. BTW, there was no charge for the medical service we received due to the diagnosis.

Posted January 20 on a thread about the Disney Dream

 

So noro was definitely on board. I've never heard of Disney noro on the news as much as you do Royal, Carnival, NCL. But with the number of folks in Medical plus the doctors reaction, it was in full force. I wonder what the number is. BTW, there was no charge for the medical service we received due to the diagnosis.

But Disney has only 4 ships. Carnival has about 25, RCCL 24 and NCL 14 (all just a guess) The law of averages.

Thank you! My mother in law lives about 40 min south of Tampa and she's been telling us how chilly it's been there this winter. Oh well...I guess even those temps are much better than what we're having here. lol

 

Thank you!

Siesta Key? :)