Bed Bugs on Carnival Glory

[Toast1412]

They could be anywhere. If you're worried about it pick up some "Rest Easy" bed bug spray and bring it with you.

[DEBnGAB]

Originally Posted by Toast1412

They could be anywhere. If you're worried about it pick up some "Rest Easy" bed bug spray and bring it with you.

I was just going to ask..what can be done upong arrival?

i saw the Tea Tree oil and dryer sheet methods. And would consider the Rest Easy bug spray.

[blindrid]

Originally Posted by marylp

The BEST thing for bedbugs is Tea Tree oil, bring some with you when u travel. The bugs hate the stuff, I was paranoid after being biten at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas. I used the oil on myself to help heal the itchy bites. I was really terrified that I brought them home. I diluted the oil a bit with water and sprayed by mattress, box sping, pillows, luggage etc... The smell was overwhelming but who cares! 6 months now and no evidence of those little evil bugs! If I travel, first inspect where you are staying and always carry Tea Tree Oil. I will be on the Conquest Feb, 27, I will bring my oil with me. Imagine, your luggage is with all the others, traveling from who knows where, I will spray my luggage the minute they bring it to me.

From bedbugger.com (I'm not kidding)....
"I have personally used tea tree oil with no effect whatsoever (oh, the smell is plenty annoying, to me anyway), but other people on the blog have had the opposite experience and have used it successfully as a repellent."

It ain't that easy. It is my understanding that the oil (as well as alcohol) needs to be applied to contact the bug, not spraying the area. If it was, there not be a bed bug problem and exterminators would have an easy fix. That goes for all of the home and green remedies. Those little buggers hide everywhere from the mattress to inside the receptable box..... you can't contact kill them all so the cycle goes on......

It would really p*** me off, if you sprayed it on my bed prior to me taking your cabin over.

[crusinpsychRN]

Originally Posted by marylp

The BEST thing for bedbugs is Tea Tree oil, bring some with you when u travel. The bugs hate the stuff, I was paranoid after being biten at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas. I used the oil on myself to help heal the itchy bites. I was really terrified that I brought them home. I diluted the oil a bit with water and sprayed by mattress, box sping, pillows, luggage etc... The smell was overwhelming but who cares! 6 months now and no evidence of those little evil bugs! If I travel, first inspect where you are staying and always carry Tea Tree Oil. I will be on the Conquest Feb, 27, I will bring my oil with me. Imagine, your luggage is with all the others, traveling from who knows where, I will spray my luggage the minute they bring it to me.

Where did you get it?

[David7621]

Why does reading this thread make me itch???

[wiskt]

Originally Posted by halos

If anything else, we should all have learned from reading these posts to immediately upon entering our cabin or hotel rooms to LOOK AT THE MATTRESS !!

With all the bedbug hoopla, my DH reminded me on our last cruise vacation last month that we needed to check..
We checked into the Marriott and did a thorough matteress check...once on the ship, we did the same.

I don't care about getting bit, but I do care about bringing the buggers home with me.
I think I may do the trash-bag thing for the suitcases in the future because there is nowhere to store luggage except under the beds......does this really help??

I just went on the MONARCH of the Seas this past weekend. As a percaution I took along a large trash bag and placed my suitcase into it.

Bed Bath and Beyond also carries a travel non-toxic spray that claims to get rid of bed bugs. It has a eucoliptous smell to it, which I believe is a deterent product. I bought a 2-pack for $6.99 I sprayed MY suitcase before I left my home in order to possibly protect my bags while in baggage on the plain. On the ship I sealed my suitcase into the bag and ziplocked it shut. I then sprayed the open end on the bag in case anything did find its way to the end that was ziplocked and would be chased away by the spray. After the cruise, I packed all of my items into a 2nd bag inside my suitace and tossed the first one out. Once Home I immediately cleaned everything

Please note before anyone complains about using chemicals.....
I only picked it up because it claimed to be safe and non-toxic. I also only sprayed MY ITEMS, suitcase and the bag itself. I was respectful not to spray the bed and stateroom objects.

BB&B also carries what they claim to be are sheets and pillowcases that will stop any bed bugs from passing from the mattress through the sheet. For a peace-of mind it could be a cost worth paying for. Although I did not buy them, I may pick up a set and keep is as a travel set and a safe guard. PREVENTION and PREPARATION is all you really can do. It protects you and the company in case you happen to bring them onboard and don't even realize it.

[kbmeow]

Originally Posted by wiskt

BB&B also carries what they claim to be are sheets and pillowcases that will stop any bed bugs from passing from the mattress through the sheet. For a peace-of mind it could be a cost worth paying for. Although I did not buy them, I may pick up a set and keep is as a travel set and a safe guard. PREVENTION and PREPARATION is all you really can do. It protects you and the company in case you happen to bring them onboard and don't even realize it.

Many company's carry the mattress/ box spring and pillow covers that do this. I am highly allergic to dust mites so It was suggested I get a set . They work great for me know more itchys

[gizfish]

Originally Posted by bafinegan

I have always used drier sheets( you know those fabric softener sheets that go in the drier).. I throw em in the luggage. When we get to our cabin, i put several between the mattress and box springs, put several in all the drawers we use and leave several in the empty luggage. As a previous poster said, you never know what YOUR luggage is sitting NEXT to before it gets to your cabin. Also keeps away roaches. The little suckers HATE the scent. Dunno why, but it works!
baf

Please stop passing on false info on how to handle bed bugs. Drier sheets will not do a darn thing to keep you from bringing them home. Oh and those of you talking about rest easy and other "natural" sprays, do yourselves a favor and read about the "studies" that were done. These "studies" were done by the very company making and selling the product and on a minimal amount of bugs. The stuff does not work. Maybe I can sell you some snake oil to keep the bed bugs away?

[Toast1412]

Originally Posted by gizfish

Please stop passing on false info on how to handle bed bugs. Drier sheets will not do a darn thing to keep you from bringing them home. Oh and those of you talking about rest easy and other "natural" sprays, do yourselves a favor and read about the "studies" that were done. These "studies" were done by the very company making and selling the product and on a minimal amount of bugs. The stuff does not work. Maybe I can sell you some snake oil to keep the bed bugs away?

Actually a good point, those organic claims are usually BS. I just called out "Rest Easy" as a brand name. You can get some "Hot Shot" from your local Home Depot. They make no claims about being organic but it works and it's better than storing all you luggage in a trash bag. Still not sure how the trash bag route would help? Would you put eveything in your room into the bag? I don't get it.

I've never had a bed bug issue and a cruise cabin is probably cleaned better than most places. Reminds me of when we were told to go out and duct tape on our windows because of WMD.

[Canuck Cruising]

What cabin were you in we cruise on Feb.20th - did you hear of others complaining about bed bugs?

[constansl]

Originally Posted by Canuck Cruising

What cabin were you in we cruise on Feb.20th - did you hear of others complaining about bed bugs?

We were in 7341. We did have family members cruise with us. Their cabin was the same deck but opposite side. My sister-in-law noticed a couple of bites on her (of who knows what), but it was minor and not an issue. I don't think we would have thought anything of it if my husband wasn't eaten alive. I swear everywhere I looked at the pool, I saw bites on people, but maybe that was acne. It was a mess. I didn't bring up the issue with anyone on the ship. Why make other people paranoid?

[Leafs Fan]

Anyone cruise in the last few weeks on Glory? I am on Glory next week and wondering if the bed bugs are still an issue?

Thanks

[blindrid]

Originally Posted by Leafs Fan

Anyone cruise in the last few weeks on Glory? I am on Glory next week and wondering if the bed bugs are still an issue?

Thanks

Here's an example of one post causing a mild hysteria. I contend they are an "issue" everywhere but not a problem.......

[tctwhite]

Im not by any means saying that your story didnt happen but there are other bugs out there that can do those type of bites. A possibility are bugs that we call noseeums. The whelps from them don't show up until a few days after you are bitten. Both my DH and I got tore up with them after a party near the water one evening. The bumps didn't show up until 2 days later. And they popped up at different times. They too whelp up like mosquito bites and are VERY painful and itchy. Not much can help with the itching. When we had the bites, we were miserable. Some people are more allergic to them than others. Some people can get bit and not even know it. Then there are people like me who is highly allergic to anything that bites, and I looked like I had been eaten alive by something. These bugs live near the water and since the cruise ships are on the water, its possible. Im sorry yall had such a bad experience with the nurse on board.

[halos]

Originally Posted by wiskt

IPlease note before anyone complains about using chemicals.....
I only picked it up because it claimed to be safe and non-toxic. I also only sprayed MY ITEMS, suitcase and the bag itself. I was respectful not to spray the bed and stateroom objects.

Thank you.
I can only speak for me but eucalyptus is a smell that I enjoy.

Don't know if it works and I don't think I'll go that route, I'll just stick with the bag idea...or maybe just pick up a couple eucalyptus sprigs from the craft store and bring them in my luggage.
No spraying to even possibly bother the next person in the cabin.
Thanks!!

[GaNavy]

Originally Posted by Leafs Fan

Anyone cruise in the last few weeks on Glory? I am on Glory next week and wondering if the bed bugs are still an issue?

Thanks

If they were, would you cancel your cruise?

[jerseyralph]

Originally Posted by Leafs Fan

Anyone cruise in the last few weeks on Glory? I am on Glory next week and wondering if the bed bugs are still an issue?

Thanks

Perhaps it would be a great idea for you to call Carnival and discuss if bedbugs are "still an issue".

[Joaljoe]

Sorry that you went through this and that they treated you the way they did!!

Funny how the nurse told you that the whole ship would be infested. That just shows you that she has no knowledge whatsoever!! If you were to bring bed bugs home, it doesn't mean that your whole house would be infested... they usually just stick to 1 or 2 places. Mainly, were they can feed all the time.

A couple of years ago we had bed bugs. It was the worst time of my life. We caught them early but still spent thousands of dollars dealing with them. Hubby and I slept in the same bed but he never showed any bites at all, but I was bitten all over. We did lots of research and the doctor himself told us that not everyone shows signs of bites but we all get bitten.

They do bite in a row of 3 - breakfast, lunch and dinner they call it! But if they get interrupted while they're feeding then naturally you would be left with only one bite. I had many bites in a row of 3 but also had some single bites. I had big welts and couldn't handle the itching!

Unfortunately, all the products that were mentioned in earlier posts will not work! People are not educated and think bug spray or bounce sheets will work. I have heard of so many products that people buy and NONE of them work!! Trust me...save your money!

We bought new luggage... the hard case ones. It's not as easy for the bugs to climb them. We don't leave them anywhere on the floor or tables or chairs. Bed bugs love wood... they don't only live in the beds. This may sound weird but hubby does a lot of traveling for work and he actually just puts the suitcase in the tub. LOL We never leave our luggage unzipped and garbage bags are our best friends! Tie them tightly with your dirty laundry or put them into the big ziploc bags. When you get home go straight to the washing machine and wash everything with hot water.

Bed bugs have changed the way we live and travel. It's definitely more work but for us worth it. I never want my kids to go through what they did a couple of years ago. We now have those bed bug covers on all our beds and pillows. They can live for 18 months without one feeding. Yuck!!

Just do your research on how to travel because they are everywhere, not just in cabins on cruises. Heck, we got it at my in laws over Christmas. They didn't even know they had them because they didn't show signs of bites. My hubby's uncle brought them to their house and he didn't show signs of bites either. It was a very big chain that went through the family and it took for me to get eaten before we figured all of this out. Eeek!!

Sorry for the long post... this is a topic that I can go on and on about... haha!!

[constansl]

Originally Posted by tctwhite

Im not by any means saying that your story didnt happen but there are other bugs out there that can do those type of bites. A possibility are bugs that we call noseeums. The whelps from them don't show up until a few days after you are bitten. Both my DH and I got tore up with them after a party near the water one evening. The bumps didn't show up until 2 days later. And they popped up at different times. They too whelp up like mosquito bites and are VERY painful and itchy. Not much can help with the itching. When we had the bites, we were miserable. Some people are more allergic to them than others. Some people can get bit and not even know it. Then there are people like me who is highly allergic to anything that bites, and I looked like I had been eaten alive by something. These bugs live near the water and since the cruise ships are on the water, its possible. Im sorry yall had such a bad experience with the nurse on board.

I can't discount other possibilities, but we noticed bites after our first night stay and continued to have issues up and until we disembarked.

[Naturzlvr]

I sympathize with you completely. When my husband and I were on our Alaskan Cruise this past August, we were on the Carnival Liberty. I was covered with bed bug bites after the first night and unfortunately had an allergic reaction to them. My husband has a total of 17 bites when all was said and done, but they were little pin pricks that didn't bother him much at all. But, mosquitos generally leave him alone while they feast on me. And, I have a reaction to mosquito bites as well. I still have the scars from the bites on my legs and feet. The scars on my arms have faded and are barely noticable. The physician was very nice and gave me some cortisone creme although he tried to convince me that we were responsible for bringing the critters on board perhaps from our hotel room which I knew for a fact we didn't. The ships staff did come into our room and spray.

What amazed me most about the entire incident was the hostile response I received from some Cruise Critic members who all but called me a liar for daring to post about the bed bugs. I noticed the reponses you received were much more sympathetic.