Norovirus on the Ruby

[chrysalis]

... but I'm guessing Ruby passengers had to get off further away from the other ships to prevent it from spreading.

 

Huh?...it docked at its regular spot.

[ma23peas]

Just read where they were reporting over 500 stricken...wouldn't that be greater than 3%? This was for both boths...

[5326jan]

According to the FLL webcam, Ruby is underway! Yay! :D Hope everyone has a great (healthy) voyage!

[Tarpeian Rock]

Had a doctors appt yesterday and told doc about the current virus. He's a big Princess cruiser and they are headed out Easter week. NIce guy. Said if it's still around when we leave in March, call him and he'll write a script for some antibiotics in advance. So call your local docs and check it out. My guys the best.

 

 

 

For any medical people here: Does "precautionary" antibiotic taken in advance really protect against noro? I know it sounds as if it should, but with medial stuff you never know.

[5326jan]

For any medical people here: Does "precautionary" antibiotic taken in advance really protect against noro? I know it sounds as if it should, but with medial stuff you never know.

 

Antibiotics are designed to kill bacterial cells. Noro is a virus, which is unaffected by antibiotics. The best thing you can do is prevent it by using good hygiene and having a strong immune system. Bleach products work better than alcohol based sanitizers, but warm water and soap work well.

 

Here is part of Health, How stuff works: Antibiotics do not work on viruses because viruses are not alive. A bacterium is a living, reproducing lifeform. A virus is just a piece of DNA (or RNA). A virus injects its DNA into a living cell and has that cell reproduce more of the viral DNA. With a virus there is nothing to "kill," so antibiotics don't work on it.

[bflytwo]

I have a question about noro that I've never seen addressed here...

 

With all these precautions, what do they do about the Casino? Specifically, what can they possibly do about how many people and hands handle the poker chips all day and all night? Short of closing down the casino, I'm not sure how they can control that environment. Does anyone have any ideas about how they protect again noro in the Casino?

 

i just got off the Ruby, and the noro outbreak did not affect my enjoyment of the cruise at all. however, last night, when we were running out our casino credit, i realized there was no sanitizer to be seen anywhere near the slot machines. i washed my hands after i left the casino, obviously, but it did make me wonder- especially because i think Princess did a great job at constant cleaning.

[martyz]

According to the FLL webcam, Ruby is underway! Yay! :D Hope everyone has a great (healthy) voyage!

 

What's the link for the web cam??

[rdsqrl]

The website is called PortEvergladesWebcam -- just add the dot com at the end and there ya go! Warning: it is TOTALLY addictive! To the point that I feel I have developed a personal relationship with some of the cargo ship captains who come in and out on a regular basis. There's one who has the sexiest English accent . . . I'm sorry, what was the question?

[cruzinchris]

The website is called PortEvergladesWebcam -- just add the dot com at the end and there ya go! Warning: it is TOTALLY addictive! To the point that I feel I have developed a personal relationship with some of the cargo ship captains who come in and out on a regular basis. There's one who has the sexiest English accent . . . I'm sorry, what was the question?

 

LOL!! And, why is it that Pilot#4 always seems to be on duty? Give that boat a rest already :D

[CMHCruiseCouple]

I suspect all will be fine on our upcoming cruise. Our trip will be the second since the Norovirus outbreak. I suspect all will be good, but we will still take a container of Clorox wipes to disinfect our cabin just in case.

[timetravler]

i just got off the Ruby, and the noro outbreak did not affect my enjoyment of the cruise at all. however, last night, when we were running out our casino credit, i realized there was no sanitizer to be seen anywhere near the slot machines. i washed my hands after i left the casino, obviously, but it did make me wonder- especially because i think Princess did a great job at constant cleaning.

I just saw on the news from a nor virus expert that the hand sanitizers don't help with the nor virus. They work well with other viruses, but not the nor virus. He said hand washing is the best way to prevent getting nor virus.

[CMHCruiseCouple]

Since three ships were reported with Norovirus outbreaks this week, I believe a root cause should be performed to solve the true source of the contamination. A few thoughts -

 

1) All ships were based out of Port Everglades for the winter season.

2) The ships were from two different cruise lines

3) The passengers embarked through different terminals

 

The only common denominator I can think of are food suppliers! Lettuce is notorious in carrying "stomach" related infections. (About five years ago lettuce and broccoli imported from Mexico was found irrigated with water run off down stream from livestock farms. Hundreds across the U.S. were infected.)

 

I have no idea if I am correct, but common produce suppliers could be the source. (We always see them lined up on the docks on morning of embarkation - lots of stuff to load!) If so, we would be ingesting directly from the source, and hand washing would just reduce the spread - but damage would have been done.

 

I am sure CDC will investigate this outbreak ... and hope the issue is resolved.

[chrysalis]

Since three ships were reported with Norovirus outbreaks this week, I believe a root cause should be performed to solve the true source of the contamination. A few thoughts -

 

1) All ships were based out of Port Everglades for the winter season.

2) The ships were from two different cruise lines

3) The passengers embarked through different terminals

 

The only common denominator I can think of are food suppliers! Lettuce is notorious in carrying "stomach" related infections. (About five years ago lettuce and broccoli imported from Mexico was found irrigated with water run off down stream from livestock farms. Hundreds across the U.S. were infected.)

 

I have no idea if I am correct, but common produce suppliers could be the source. (We always see them lined up on the docks on morning of embarkation - lots of stuff to load!) If so, we would be ingesting directly from the source, and hand washing would just reduce the spread - but damage would have been done.

 

I am sure CDC will investigate this outbreak ... and hope the issue is resolved.

 

The other common denominator is passengers who don't wash their hands.

[CMHF]

The common denominator is that most passengers fly in a plane in very close quarters, then brought it on board.

Harvey

[rdsqrl]

Or, it could have been from a check-in agent who had the virus or a longshoreman who handled bags who was sick or a taxi driver or . . . or . . . In other words, we'll never know and it's not like it matters. The CDC doesn't need to waste time and resources tracking it down. It's just the same stomach flu that goes around every winter; you could just as easily get it at home from the cashier at Starbucks or from the receptionist at work handing you your phone messages.

[5326jan]

Or, it could have been from a check-in agent who had the virus or a longshoreman who handled bags who was sick or a taxi driver or . . . or . . . In other words, we'll never know and it's not like it matters. The CDC doesn't need to waste time and resources tracking it down. It's just the same stomach flu that goes around every winter; you could just as easily get it at home from the cashier at Starbucks or from the receptionist at work handing you your phone messages.

 

Amen! Too much time spent trying to place blame!:rolleyes:

 

*Wash your hands! ~ Sing happy birthday twice while washing to assure enough time.

*Women that wear fake nails need to use a nail brush, because you can harbor germs in the recesses of the glue/attachment line.

*Don't pick up food at the buffet with your hands.

*Don't use your personal cup at the spout for the free lemonade or iced tea.

 

All simple ways to prevent spreading the virus around. :)

[lynwar]

B2B cruises could be a consideration. The Crown and Ruby are both Princess ships. The Crown arrived back on Saturday and left on Saturday afternoon. The Ruby arrived back on Sunday morning and left Sunday afternoon. I had friends on the Crown Princess with all the illness and wifey came down with the symptoms after they arrived home. Thank goodness, they didn't live too far from Ft. Lauderdale. Both ships use the same terminal. I know I posted this this somewhere, but if a person arrives at the terminal already sick, then perhaps the first thing done after boarding is to find a rest room. Would it be in the cabin or a public one. If a drink is ordered, it's handled by the sick person (or sick crew person) and the possibly handled by someone else who's offered a sip and then the empty glass is picked up by someone else..... and then it starts. It's really hard to stop.

I have seen some leaving the rest room without washing first. Maybe I should be, and others should be more assertive in asking folks to wash if they start for the door, because they then touch the door handles...

 

Luckily, we've not been sick after 9 cruises on Princess cruises so can't say it's our particular cruise line.

 

I wonder if the pilot boat captain is the same one who directed our ship in on Jan. 22.

 

Take care. Lynne

[kdkmilwaukee]

I'm not sure those hand sanitizers actually work against Noro specifically...I've read the labels and I could only find one sanitizing wipe that specified that it was effective against Noro. I'm sure the sanitizers they put out are better than nothing...but I agree handwashing is definitely the number one defense.

 

We are boarding the Ruby on February 19th...I will bring my wipes and do a quick surface wipedown around the cabin...then go order my first umbrella drink and enjoy! :)

 

Have a wonderful cruise! My husband and I were on the Ruby from 01/15 - 01/22. We're overly cautious about this kind of thing, so we brought a travel pack of chlorox disinfecting wipes in our carry-on to wipe down all surfaces in the cabin upon arrival (including all light switches, phone, remote controls, toilet flush button, door handle). We also always used hand sanitizer after handling menus, etc in the dining rooms, pushed elevator buttons with our knuckles, etc. Many little things you can do that hopefully goes a long way in avoiding illness. We also avoided the buffet, but that was mostly because we loved ordering room service and having breakfast and lunch on our balcony :) Again - have a great cruise!!! I will be living vicariously through you. It was such a lovely week!

[prose]

Just got off the Ruby Princess on Sunday. No one in our party of 4 got sick. The Commodore kept us very well informed, starting on Tuesday, the first sea day. I think he and his crew did a very nice job in containing the virus. Every time he did an announcement from the bridge, he included comments regarding hand washing, using one's own cabin toilet rather than the public toilets, and calling 911 if a person had symptoms. He was also walking the halls every day observing everything. No handshaking at the Captain's party...all officers were standing at attention with their hands behind their backs.

[lynwar]

The Commodore is a great guy. This was our third cruise with him-two before he was promoted. He will do everything necessary to make sure that his ship is clean and the passengers are informed.

 

Lynne

[andrej]

Im just wondering if there is any news from the ruby... It seems like the crew did a good job in their cleaning since there hasn't been any bad news from the ruby princess, just the crown. Is anyone on board right now?

[5326jan]

Im just wondering if there is any news from the ruby... It seems like the crew did a good job in their cleaning since there hasn't been any bad news from the ruby princess, just the crown. Is anyone on board right now?

 

There is a thread that is live from the Ruby. It's encouraging! :D http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1566741

[Mrs. Wilburforce]

Does Princess do more b2b cruises than Carnival or Cunard TAs?

Of all the places I don't want to have Noro, if I'm going to catch it, is on a plane or a ship. Especially with roommates and one bath :eek:

I'm leaving for a 2 week trip to San Diego and LA to visit friends and my granddaughters. If I catch it, I'll be in a 2 bath situation.

I had to fly home sick with Valley Fever a couple of years ago. That was not fun. I didn't know my left lung was partially collapsed. Thankfully I couldn't pass it to anyone else.

I just hope this thing weakens and I am sending positive thoughts to all the cruisers. Anyone who has ever been sick while traveling can have nothing but the most heartfelt empathy for these folks.

 

B2B cruises could be a consideration. The Crown and Ruby are both Princess ships. The Crown arrived back on Saturday and left on Saturday afternoon. The Ruby arrived back on Sunday morning and left Sunday afternoon. I had friends on the Crown Princess with all the illness and wifey came down with the symptoms after they arrived home. Thank goodness, they didn't live too far from Ft. Lauderdale. Both ships use the same terminal. I know I posted this this somewhere, but if a person arrives at the terminal already sick, then perhaps the first thing done after boarding is to find a rest room. Would it be in the cabin or a public one. If a drink is ordered, it's handled by the sick person (or sick crew person) and the possibly handled by someone else who's offered a sip and then the empty glass is picked up by someone else..... and then it starts. It's really hard to stop.

I have seen some leaving the rest room without washing first. Maybe I should be, and others should be more assertive in asking folks to wash if they start for the door, because they then touch the door handles...

 

Luckily, we've not been sick after 9 cruises on Princess cruises so can't say it's our particular cruise line.

 

I wonder if the pilot boat captain is the same one who directed our ship in on Jan. 22.

 

Take care. Lynne

[compozer]

Does Princess do more b2b cruises than Carnival or Cunard TAs?

.

 

 

anytime you take two cruises in a row, it is called a back to back cruise. You could do 4 - B2B2B2B and many do. Princess is doing more 7 day cruises in the Caribbean and that isn't long enough for many of us so you do two.

[AttilaTheFun]

Amen! Too much time spent trying to place blame!:rolleyes:

 

*Wash your hands! ~ Sing happy birthday twice while washing to assure enough time.

*Women that wear fake nails need to use a nail brush, because you can harbor germs in the recesses of the glue/attachment line.

*Don't pick up food at the buffet with your hands.

*Don't use your personal cup at the spout for the free lemonade or iced tea.

 

All simple ways to prevent spreading the virus around. :)

 

Actually, wouldn't people bringing their own PERSONAL cups help at the buffet - as long as they don't touch the spout itself? Several people have mentioned that crew at the buffet tend to clean up dirty tables and then put out new silverware/cups with no regard as to what part they touch, thereby contaminating all those "clean" silverware and cups they put out!