ScubaCruiser54

You don't change from a practice that changed from basic sanitary conditions to one that allowed poor sanitary practices.  

I have not been to a buffet in years and years that did not have the utensils prewrapped.   And in high end restaurants .... the utensils are laid out on napkins after having been set out by staff... who, you would hope, had washed their hands thoroughly and examined the utensils for poor cleaning from the scullery.   And yes, I have rejected many utensils from wrapped sets that were dirty, had food stuck on them, and were not clean.  

I have had land based restaurant managers try to tell me that food that was stuck to supposedly cleaned utensils were "sanitized" by hot water in the autoclaves they washed them in...   NOT!

I guess the Novel Coronavirus -19 makes me look like an expert...  Boy, I guess there will be a lot of changes now.

Not enough cruising.... I guess I am not the only one who is concerned...

Buffet serving utensils

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/10-things-cruise-ships-arent-cleaning-as-they-should/ss-AACri5Z?ocid=spartanntp#image=8

Not enough cruising...

If your background is accurate, then you should know better.  You just might need a refresher course or two before you start claiming that unsanitary practices on a cruise ship are NON ISSUES.   Why do you think the crew told us that it was a health experiment by RCI if it is a NON ISSUE...  Maybe you missed out on the CDC's input...

Norovirus is hard to kill and stays on food, kitchen surfaces, and utensils. It can

• Remain infectious on foods even at freezing temperatures and until heated above 140°F.
• Stay on countertops and serving utensils for up to 2 weeks.
• Resist many common disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

Science Direct indicated that:

"Today's cruise ships serve as a gathering place for people in every age group from different countries and cultures. The closed environment aboard cruise ships, close contact among passengers and crew, and common sources of food and water provide ample opportunity for exposure to and transmission of infectious diseases. Of these, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections pose the greatest risk of outbreaks. Outbreaks on cruise ships present a public health concern, since infection is often easily spread, is difficult to control, and has the potential to disseminate pathogens."   
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196439909000476

But then I guess I should just be a sheeple and not worry about any practice that can cause illness on a cruise ship....   Especially if it is easily remedied by wrapping the silverware [aka utensils] and keeping others paws and germs off of them...

You have no real concept of hygiene, sanitary conditions, or the transmission of viruses and communicable diseases... do you?   Have you ever had norovirus?  hepatitis A, or any other food borne or unsanitary cleaning practices illness?   Again, I am not a guinea pig for RCI to experiment on what is good and what is bad when it comes to health issues.

And from the responses I got from RCI, they are not concerned.  Are you relate to or employed by RCI or one of its sales groups?

This is not a NON issue.  How many people have been sickened by various gastro intestinal illnesses and then quarantined in their rooms or had their vacations screwed up.  I have been sailing since 1982 and this was the FIRST time that utensils in the WINDJAMMER were not wrapped.  

THERE were two health care professionals in our party and both of them were appalled by the lack of sanitary conditions around the "silverware" in the windjammer.  Maybe you like people coughing and sneezing on your utensils, we do not.

I am curious if RCI has ceased the practice of leaving the utensils unwrapped in the Windjammer on the Liberty of the Seas?  We were on the ship May 5, 2019 and the utensils were left unwrapped for everyone to handle, sneeze or cough on, or pick them up and then stick them back into the holding racks.  

We saw numerous people cough or sneeze into their hand and then rifle through the utensils before finally picking one out.  This practice left the utensils contaminated.  When we complained to the officers in the Windjammer, we were told that the Captain said using the hand cleaner was sufficient.   I guess that might be true, but doubt it, if the cruise passengers would not soil their hands before they picked through numerous knives, forks or spoons to find the perfect one.  We advised the staff of our concerns and they told us that it was an experiment that RCI was running.  I prefer not to be a guinea pig for biological sanitary practice testing on my vacations.

When we wrote to RCI, they told us that it was under investigation.  Not an appropriate answer.  I am wondering if the practice continues or has it been terminated?

Diamond Plus C&A member.

Thanks.

Who is the RCI / RCCL forum Administrator?  I have questions I would like to PM about.

3 blocks up the wharf - Willy G's {$$-$$$} [near Fisherman's Wharf {$$}], Harbor House {$$};

10 -11 blocks away... Saltwater Grill {$$}, Rudy and Paco's, Little Daddys Gumbo Bar;

and then there are a number in the strand.

Go on line and look for coupons as well ... it cut $10 off of our parking for a week long cruise.

We have used:

EZ Cruise Parking, 2727 Santa Fe Pl, Galveston, TX 77550

Galveston Park N Cruise, 2514 New Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550 [indoors only great if you are afraid of your car being damaged by weather more $$]

81st Dolphin Parking, 2801 Market St # D, Galveston, TX 77550

and Lighthouse Cruise Parking, 309 29th Street Map, Galveston, TX 77550

All are within walking distance. Shuttles are available for them to the terminals. RCI is at Terminal 2.

I have tried a few different ways. However, if I am diving, I bring everything except tanks and weights.

I have dove with some very nice shops and some that supposedly were top notch. However, on one southern Caribbean trip [Aruba] we did not bring our BC's. Contrary to their representations in numerous Emails to set up the dives, they did not have BC's that were set up for 50" chest. The one that they did have did not have the air release valves properly working which cost me a dive. After the first dive, we were close enough to the dive shop that I made them go back and get a working BC that I could use.

Thus, I now carry my own BC whether it is my Zeagle Ranger or my ScubaPro.

Roatan: Tabyana Beach Resort [there is an excursion on RCI].

Cozumel: There are not really any good beach entries that put you on the reef. There are a number of boat and beach trips. Most of these put you in the water for 45 minutes and then take you to a beach for a couple of hours.

Get a dry bag. They come in a variety of sizes and prices. I picked up two at Academy last month for about $20 each. They were 20 or 25 liter sized. Held everything we wanted to put in it and if you close it correctly, it will keep your stuff dry. My wife used to use water wallets, but after a bit of time they have all leaked. You need to care for the gaskets and keep them lubed with silicon.

On an excursion boat, you are probably safe leaving them on board. But I always secure mine inside the dry bag with my own version of security "Markings". I have never had one even opened or handled by anyone that was not in my party.

We are trying to determine which Cruise lines have cruises that are exclusively in and around Japan [a stop in south Korea is ok]. We do not want to go to China or Vietnam.

I have seen that Princess is now sailing in Japan and there are the odd one or two cruises on Celebrity or Holland America. Looking in 2017 or so.

Has anyone been on a cruise around Japan? Pros and Cons? Ship you were on? Any thoughts on Cruise lines that hail in Japan?

That is not being generous. They inconvenienced them for all of their time and effort to make the choice and put down deposits. RCI is starting to act more like Carnival.

And I too am a Diamond Member, so I have a reference for my comments.

I guess your protest worked. The 2 lines I've sailed in the last year (Carnival and Royal) now charge by the day or by the cruise now. No more per minute plans, unless a particular ship hasn't changed yet. Thanks for your hard work getting this changed. :thumbup:

Problem with this on RCI now is that where I used to get 60 minutes to use any day of the cruise, I am now limited to one 24 hour period of free time. So if I want to check in 4 times a week [15 minutes a day worked great], I have one day free and I have to buy three days.

Thanks so much [sarcasm] for having them charge us for every day we want to use five or ten minutes to check in at home.

And if you pay the price Oceania charges to cruise, you can get "free" internet on pretty much any cruise line.

If you have a quality printer attached to your computer, you are already there. Take your digital camera, set it up on a tripod [if you want to do it all alone], aim it at a white wall, turn off the flash, have a nice bright light above and behind the camera, set the camera on portrait if you have that option, make a tape x on the wall, center camera frame on the x, set the timer to go off, put the center of your head even with the x, wait for shutter to trip, check photo to make sure your whole face is on the photo with room at the margins, load on computer, adjust for size and print it on photo paper. You can then print the same photo multiple times on the same piece of paper. You never leave your house.

If some one is there to help you, then you just set the camera to the correct exposure, have them stand against the white wall, set the viewfinder to give you a full face framed photo, have them take the camera, confirm the shot, take your photo reduce the frame size of your face in the photo, take it again.... then you go print it on your own printer.

A shrimp poboy is fine eating while the other two are sandwiches on a bun.

Go and eat at the Star Steak and Lobster House.

Thank you.

Before the Cruise lines decided to take tipping out of the customers discretion by auto-tipping on your bill, They used to have suggested tipping amounts for the Waiter, Assistant waiter, head waiter [or who ever is in charge of your area], and cabin attendant.

I am trying to get this information as it pertains to RCI and Junior Suites. Does anyone know what the suggested amounts were? I am not talking about the 12.50 or 14.50 per day, but the actual breakdown of what the individual amounts would be.

thank you in advance if you respond.

We are going to Aruba in November. We will arrive mid day and will miss all of the morning "local" tours to beaches.

There will be four of us and we want to find a nice beach that we can stay at for about three hours and then make it back to the Cruise ship in time for a sunset ride and drinks.

We would appreciate any thoughts on sources of transportation and actual beaches that not only have nice sand, but also has protection from the sun [trees, covers, huts, etc].

Thanks for input.

We took a 17 night cruise out of Perth in November 2013. The weather was GREAT. The seas were smooth [we were told this was unusual] including the crossing between Au and NZ. Coming back across we had a little bit of a swell, but it was about 4 meters. Not bad at all.

I haven't seen Au or NZ in Feb... so no help there.

Our review... http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248204