How to clean up your room?

How do you protect yourself from the norovirus? Should you lysol your room before settling in? I assume you should avoid water and ice on shore, instead taking bottle water or drinking from prebottled drinks, i.e. bottled beer. Any other advide?

Wash your hands, and avoid the antibacterial stuff, which kills the good bacteria your body uses for your auto immune system.

Like Mr Pete says - stay away from the antibacterial stuff except to do a quick clean on shore - otherwise soap and water is the best. You can't sanitize everything. I only wipe down door and drawer handles beyond that just wash. One of the most germ laden places is the underside of chairs where you grab to pull in chairs to tables and the underside of tables - other surfaces they tend to clean regularly. Have a good time and don't focus on getting ill - this is a battle that chooses its own course

We take a small packet of Clorox wet-wipes. Upon entering the cabin, I wipe down the remote, light switches, phone, door knobs, etc...... We also bring a travel sized can of Lysol spray, wash our hands and use the Purell stations that are set-up all over the ship.

In addition, we bring bottled water off the ship and make sure if we are ordering a cocktail that the bar/restaurant's ice is distilled. When we took an excursion to Passion Isle in Cozumel, the staff made it a point to tell us that the ice was distilled and all fruits and veggies were washed in this water. I just make it a habit to ask or if in doubt, order a sealed drink without ice, such as a soda or beer. I'm also leary of eating off the ship. When we took a snorkel excurison, the crew was cooking fish in a beach side grill and it just didn't look sanitary enough to me. My dh ate it and did not get sick but I stuck to a granola bar and a shot of Cuervo and a beer.

:)

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

Makes you wonder how we even made it out of the caves.

And the day I found out what was in Lysol, I threw them all out.

Have not been worrying about this on cruises but on last two we wound up with colds on the way home.

We will probably decide to address this during cruise in the future probably by frequent washing of hands.

How do you protect yourself from the norovirus?

I wash my hands with soap and do not rely on the hand sanitizers. I keep my fingers out of my mouth and eyes. I use a knuckle to press elevator buttons and use my fist if I need to balance with a handrail.

I have been on ships with noro, even had 2 cabin mates with it. I never got it.

I dont go to any extremes past that.

I take a can of Lysol spray. Make sure and spray the remote...nasty germs there. Have also used Clorox wet wipes...they work good also and take up less room.

As others have said...make sure and wash hands (for 20 seconds) with regular soap and warm water. Definitely stay away from the antibacterial soap. I used it all the time and could not figure out why I would get a cut on my hand and it would take forever to heal...well duh, the antibacterial stuff was killing the good germs my body needed to heal.

I also wash my hands before I go to the buffet....I then get my food and put it on the table...while dh watches it of course...and then go and wash my hands again. Not sure if the person that touched the ladle before me washed their hands.

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

I agree, it may seem over-the-top OCD for some but I do what I feel is best for my family. The turn around time on the cabins or lack of, gives the room stewards time to to the basics such as changing sheets, towels and doing a quick vacuum, mop and dust but I often wonder, with the amount of cabins they have assigned, if they really have the time to wipe down areas that are common for breeding germs. Not all guests are fastidious hand washers after the bathroom and some of the items that I wipe-down are probably some that are very commonly touched by others. It takes 10 minutes or less out of my ititial cruise time to preform this cleaning ritual and for my family and I, it just feels right.

:)

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I wash my hands with soap and do not rely on the hand sanitizers. I keep my fingers out of my mouth and eyes. I use a knuckle to press elevator buttons and use my fist if I need to balance with a handrail.

Ditto on that, plus an addition . . .

I serve buffet food with my right hand, hold menus with my right hand, and I eat with my left hand. :)

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I don't worry too much about the room, it only gets exposed to a few cruisers before I use it. It's the other really germy places onboard that I think about - menus, elevator buttons, door handles and handrails! As others have said, wash, wash, wash your hands! Keep your hands away from your face. Be aware that many sanitizers and wipes are effective against bacteria but NOT viruses (such as noro).

If you fly to port, wipes the armrests, tray tables and belt and seat buttons with a wipe before settling in.

Have a good time! :D

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

Ditto.

I use good old hand washing common sense.

I touch door knobs with my hands (what they are designed for). Push bottons. Touch my face. Sometimes eat finger foods with my hands. Plus a ton more items. Heck, when I was a kid, I would drop food, pick it up, eat it, and survive. So now all I do is wash my hands when appropriate. I have know plenty of people that clean, wash, wipe everything down and still get sick, and others like me that take basic precautions, like simple washing hands, never get sick.....:cool:

How do you protect yourself from the norovirus? Should you lysol your room before settling in? I assume you should avoid water and ice on shore, instead taking bottle water or drinking from prebottled drinks, i.e. bottled beer. Any other advide?

I may sound like I'm OCD, but I do this wherever we go on vacation. I pack Colorex wipes and take the small can of Lysol with us. After the Cabin Steward as cleaned the room, I ask my DH to step outside and I then go to work. I spray Lysol on all door knobs, telephone, drawer/closet handles, and the balcony door handle as well. Then I tackle the bathroom with a pair of gloves that I pack and spray Lysol on the toilet seat, the toilet handle, the sink knobs, and any surface I know that we will touch, including the shower stall floor and handles. It sounds over the top, but I can tell you that we have never gotten sick on a trip we have been on. I take my own sanitizer, and wash my hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The key is to wash after touch anything and everything. I also play the machines in the casino and they can be nasty. My little travel pack of Colorex wipes comes in handy and when people stare at me, I don't feel crazy at all. I just wipe down the buttons and start playing. Some ladies have even seen me do this and have asked for a wipe for their machine. I would rather be safe then sorry. No one wants to be sick on vacation!

Get good sleep, eat healthy, don't smoke, drink in moderation, expose yourself to everyday viruses on a regular basis and only on a worst case basis take anti-biotics.

Cruising won't be an issue.

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

I agree with you, for the most part. Some people are way to germophobic. That said, I am considering bring a couple of clorox wipes to wipe down the remote and phone and will have hand sanitizer around, mainly because I have a 2 year old. She puts things to her face, mouth, etc and puts her hands in her mouth before I can get them or she gets her hands dirty again. Seriously, we could hit up the rest room before sitting down at a table and by the time we get to the table, she will have touched the floor, bottoms of chairs, etc. :D She has a mostly healthy immune system, but she is tiny and prone to dehydration. Noro would probably send her to the hospital. :(

We are not germaphobes. I guess I will never understand why some people get so freaked out about the possibility of coming into contact with a few germs. Yes, I realize that there some individuals that have a weakened immune system and need to take extra precautions. However, our immune systems are just fine, and we don't waste one minute of our vacation time cleaning the cabin like it was being prepped for a surgery room. We trust the housekeeping staff (i.e. cabin stewards) to do their job of cleaning the cabins. If it gives you peace of mind to wipe down everything before settling in, that's your choice. In my opinion, it's waste of time and totally unnecessary.

Same here. I don't believe that lysol kills the noro virus does it? Since it is a virus and not bacteria. So, those of you trying to asphixiate all the others with your lysol are not doing any good! Also, as others have stated, those hand sanitizers kill all the good bacteria too and dry out your hands. Not the best thing to use all the time. Basic hand washing is the best preventative.

I agree with the others that say you have to wonder how we survived our early years! You get a bug and get sick and you body learns how to fight it off. Simple.

I don't clean my room, that's not my job, plus I'm on vacation. You can only do so much. You are less likely to get the noro-virus from your room than from greasy tongs at the buffet that 500 people have touched before you.

 

I have been on ships with noro, even had 2 cabin mates with it. I never got it.

 

Maybe you're one of the lucky ones whose genes make them resistant to norovirus! ;)

You are only as strong as your weakest link. You can wipe down everything you can think of but miss one spot and you lose. As for cleaning your cabin on the day of arrival, my question is are you going to do it twice a day, every day, as well? Every time your steward enters your room he touches your things, your faucets, your handles, knobs, etc. Unless he uses rubber gloves and throws them out at every new cabin he enters, you are subject to anything he may be carrying.

Your best defense is a good offense. Take your vitamins and get plenty of rest BEFORE you leave for your vacation. Keep your immune system strong. Soap and water hand washing. Keeping your hands away from your face is probably the best you can do.

Oh, and most important. Avoid children at all costs. Those little buggers are the best germ breeders.:p

I'm not a big fan off hand sanitizers , don't have in my home , we use soap and water

When I'm on a cruise ship or happen to be in a hospital or docs office I use the sanitizer along with frequently washing your hands

I have a weak immune system and I catch everything. If it's going around, I'll get it. Whether it helps or not, I do the wipe-down thing and take all the precautions--like one poster said--it just feels right. I have never had Noro. But one trip, I caught one of the worst colds I ever had. I spent many days in bed, miserable. I finally had to go see the ship's doc, who gave me a Z-pak (now I never travel without one, as that was an expensive visit).

He told me that it's a misnomer that you can only catch things by touching. If someone in front of you in the hall sneezes, and you walk through those micro-droplets, you're goose is cooked. Half the ship was coughing and blowing on that cruise.

To those saying "how did we make it out of the cave" and "how did people survive in the old days", etc., might I point out: Life expectancy at birth for Neolithic Period: 20 years; Medieval Britian: 30 years; Early 20th Century: 31 years; 2010 World Average: 67.2 years.

I think the answer to your rhetorical question is: Not very well (or for very long), apparently.;)

To those saying "how did we make it out of the cave" and "how did people survive in the old days", etc., might I point out: Life expectancy at birth for Neolithic Period: 20 years; Medieval Britian: 30 years; Early 20th Century: 31 years; 2010 World Average: 67.2 years.

 

I think the answer to your rhetorical question is: Not very well (or for very long), apparently.;)

But look how they lived longer and longer after each generation and span? Stuff that would have killed them in one period barely made them sneeze in the next. If they never left cave and picked up infections they would never had evolved the resistances. Note the Native Americans poor resistance to the sicknesses that the well travelled European settlers were immune too. Many here today don't want to leave the cave (weakened immune disorders excluded).

Of course I am not saying one should go out of their way to get sick or anything like that.