Are cruise ship restrooms dirty -- and do you use them?

[melissa@cruisecritic]

A team of researchers from Boston University School of Medicine, Carney Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance and Tufts University School of Medicine have found that there is a link between a lack of thorough cleaning of public restrooms on cruise ships and a subsequent outbreak of gastointestinal illnesses, like the dreaded Norovirus.

The researchers found that only 37 percent of the 273 randomly selected public restrooms that were evaluated on 1,546 occasions were cleaned daily. Overall, the toilet seat was the best-cleaned object, while the least thoroughly cleaned object was the baby changing table. Click here to read the full story.

Let's face it: There are dubious public restrooms everywhere -- and the fact that Norovirus and a less-than-sparkling loo were found on the same ship does not necessarily mean the two things are connected. Still, will you avoid the public restrooms onboard and use the bathroom in your cabin in light of these findings? Tell us!

[mr green]

I can't answer, on our last cruise I never used a ship's restroom, and I don't believe that I did on the one before it. However I never heard any complaints.

john

[cb at sea]

If I'm at dinner, on deck 4 and my cabin is on deck 10, I'm NOT going back to the cabin....The bathrooms, while not "pristine" are fine, if you wash your hands! Not a big deal!

[RetireeWannabee]

I usually like to use the cabin loo, but the ship restrooms I've been in have looked spotless. Were they? dunno, but clean enuf to use, wash up, and exit without having to contain my disgust or hold my breath.

[BIG_Steve]

Are the cabin toilets really cleaned any better? I wouldn't bet on it. Still, they do have less traffic then the public ones.

You can't hide from life. Wash your hands, and get on with things.

[capncarp]

Heck, I _expect_ a restroom to be a potential source of infection. That's why I use the sink and soap and try not to touch the door with my hands on the way out.

[Langley Cruisers]

Personally, the only time I found a public restroom on a cruise ship to be less than stellar was the morning of disembarkation.... with people having to be out of their cabins early, it made for a very busy place complete with all the sights and smells that you might expect.

I always wash my hands with soap and warm water, regardless of where the rest room is. No biggie.

I always use my stateroom bathroom.

[I'mHooked]

I use the public restrooms on the ships and wash my hands well and do not touch the door handle leaving the restroom. Either someone else is coming in or there is a handicap button or I use my clothes or a paper towel to open the door becaseu I hear people leave without washing their hands at all. It's no different than any other public restroom.

[rjm1cc]

The restrooms on HAL always seem to be clean.

[oncruisecontrol]

When I am on the pool deck, I always go back to my cabin to use the toilet. The only time I use the public restrooms is when we are out at night at the piano bar or the disco (though often I will still make the trip back to our cabin). When I do use the public restrooms, I always open doors (and operate doorlocks) with only my pinky finger. I operate "push" faucets with the back of my hand; I never sit on public toilet seats (I stoop like my mom taught me when I was a kid), and I NEVER touch handrails in stalls. I always wash my hands thoroughly, leave the restroom, again, using only my pinky to pull the door open, and then apply antibacterial (which I carry with me in my purse) to "disinfect" my pinky finger. I may be neurotic, but I've never gotten sick on a cruiseship (knock on wood).

[euro cruiser]

The only obviously messy public rest rooms on the Gem this summer were the ones right by the pool. Loaded with kids all day, they were a bit worse for the wear, but I think that's understandable.

[Canuker]

If there's one thing cruise lines are paranoid about, it's cleanliness.
Everywhere on board
Oh that my local hospital was as clean and germ-free as a typical cruise ship.

[sail7seas]

HAL restrooms are constantly washed, cleaned, freshened.
I wish all the ladies that use them were as clean.

I always 'line the seat' in the ladies room, do not touch anything with my bare hands. I use tissue to push flusher and open stall door. I wash hands well and use elbows to turn off faucets and tissue to open door to exit. Do not touch anything in the restroom with a bare hand.

[K&RCurt]

I must say my experience on HAL has been that the restrooms have always been spotless.

I, of course, always wash my hands well (sing "Happy Birthday Song" twice through in your head for the proper timing), and use the hand sanitizer before eating.

[BIG_Steve]

Originally Posted by oncruisecontrol

When I am on the pool deck, I always go back to my cabin to use the toilet. The only time I use the public restrooms is when we are out at night at the piano bar or the disco (though often I will still make the trip back to our cabin). When I do use the public restrooms, I always open doors (and operate doorlocks) with only my pinky finger. I operate "push" faucets with the back of my hand; I never sit on public toilet seats (I stoop like my mom taught me when I was a kid), and I NEVER touch handrails in stalls. I always wash my hands thoroughly, leave the restroom, again, using only my pinky to pull the door open, and then apply antibacterial (which I carry with me in my purse) to "disinfect" my pinky finger. I may be neurotic, but I've never gotten sick on a cruiseship (knock on wood).

Too much information............

[JanineM]

The restrooms on the ship are cleaner than 99.9999% of the ones at work or in shopping malls at home. And I am a hand washer --- don't believe in hand sanitizer, but I do wash my hands well and use a towel to open doors, turn off taps, etc.

I'd be more interested if the researchers put the swab to the utensils in the buffet. THAT's what freaks me out. All those people rubbing their nose then grabbing the salad bar tongs.

[smeyer418]

Like most things, its a matter of good supervision. Some ships had a 100% others didn't-the employees can't be that much different. I would really like to know what ships scored what....

[RetireeWannabee]

Originally Posted by BIG_Steve

Too much information............

LOL

After the Charmin commercials answered the question about whether bears s__t in the woods, I'm going to watch for one where Mama Bear teaches Baby Bear how to "hover"

after they introduced what we call The Dingleberry Brush, this has got to be next in the series ...

[anniecat]

twice we've had broken down toilet systems in our cabins...forcing the use of the public restrooms.
NOT fun for 5 days of a 10 day cruise!!!!
(but better than none)
and in the old days....with full ships...no way to change cabins.