Norovirus on Carnival Freedom 5/5 Sailing

[Crugirly]

Cruisers are probably getting sick every sailing and we just are not hearing about it. It's not something carnival likes to publicize.

[MommaOf3Princesses]

Cruisers are probably getting sick every sailing and we just are not hearing about it. It's not something carnival likes to publicize.

 

I agree!

[Staplerman]

Thanks for the insights, folks. I work in the operating room and am a fanatic about washing my hands. I realize the antibacterial gel doesn't always work. Sometimes things like this happen, so I suppose it took me going on 8-9 cruises until my number came up!

 

On another light note, the toilets on Deck 1 of the Freedom stopped working intermittently last week. I saw another passenger we knew in Lido a few mornings ago and she shared that news with me. Yikes!

 

At the airport now, will post my review this week. Overall, the ship/crew/food/ports were great! The bad stuff? Read my review later this week if you want.

[RuthlessBoss]

There's a "sticky" at the top saying about delayed boarding due to cleaning.

[stavs]

Someone mentioned Hibiclens, and I agree this stuff is great. Check out the table below to see why its better than "Purell."

[Photo_Traveler]

Someone mentioned Hibiclens, and I agree this stuff is great. Check out the table below to see why its better than "Purell."

 

We sailed on the Ryndam in early 2010 and were on the 4/7/2012 sailing of the Constellation. Both ships were "healthy". However, there was rumor of a quarantine on deck 3 of the Constellation.

 

We use a medical grade hand wipe called PAWS when offshore or when between sinks and Purell dispensers. So far, it's worked well. There is one problem though.............

 

The medical professional, who originated this thread, may be able to confirm that Noro also has an airborne disease vector. Apparently, if you are too near someone throwing up, there's a chance of being infected. This could explain why folks who do everything right also get sick.

 

We are booking the Eclipse for a cruise next year and will continue to cruise without too much worry.

 

Mike

[BOATHAPPY]

Another place no one thinks about is casino. No one ever comes along and cleans machines. Everyone touches them, drinks, smokes, coughs, sneezes. Husband got Moro on a princess ship 8 days into a transatlantic crossing. Had been at sea(no ports) and he still got it from someone. Carry your own Purcell, antiseptic wipes, etc

[Andoria]

I'm hardly a germ freak. I wash my hands after the bathroom or when they feel dirty. I rarely use the antibacterial gel and never use Clorox wipes. Knock, knock, knock on wood but I'm rarely sick enough that I'm bedridden.

 

That said, I refused to cruise for years and years because I'd hear of an outbreak of noro and it would freak me out. I've seen how quickly it spread through my house one time and that was *HELL. I can't imagine how much worse it would be to be quarantined on a cruise you paid a lot of money for.

[Tinkerbell]

Screw this. I'm just going to wear a Hazmat suit the entire time...

 

LOL okay this made me smile today!

[Carlanna]

We just got off the Freedom this morning and yes I caught this dreaded bug too. I came down with it on Tuesday night but did not go to medical till around 1PM Wednesday, of course I was then put on the 24hr quarantine and missed Aruba and half of Curacao .

Oddly this is the 1st time that my husband and I wiped down the entire cabin with wipes when we checked in so I am guessing I got it somewhere other than the cabin unless it was recontaminated later.

I was unaware at the time that so many others were affected and although I wish Carnival had notified us that things were pretty widespread so we could have been extra extra cautious, I hold no animosity towards Carnival . I have traveled on many cruise lines and this is my 1st experience with this. There were 4 of us in 2 cabins and 2 of the 4 got sick, 1 from each cabin and 5 days apart .

I also was not aware till now that the hand sanitizers were not very effective , I like that Carnival had paper dispensers by the door in all public washrooms so after washing hands I would not have to touch the door handle. I have not seen this on other lines.

I also noticed in the gym bottles of cleaning sprays and rags for cleaning the equipment before and after use and I always used that too so what else was I to do to avoid getting this stuff ?

[oncruisecontrol]

 

Please please please be assertive, carry your own antibacterial hand gel around on your cruises with you and wash your hands frequently. Carnival has done an extremely poor job of helping passengers keep hands sanitized, so if you're coming on Freedom or another Carnival ship take matters into your own hands and help guarantee a great cruise.

 

 

Not quite sure what you mean when you say that Carnival has done "an extremely poor job of helping passengers keep hands sanitized". Soap for handwashing is provided in all stateroom bathrooms and public restrooms. So are running water and fresh towels and/or paper towels or hand blowdriers. The last few years anti-bacterial gel dispensing units are located at the start of the buffet lines and elsewhere. People who regularly practice good handwahing technique do not need anymore help from the cruiseline that what I have stated above. It is those who do not wash up PROPERLY after using the restroom who spread the infecton around the ship by touching railings, bannisters, elevator buttons, tongs, or buffet food itself(who needs tongs:eek:) with their infected hands. These are the same people who use the antibacterial gel IN LIEW of handwashing with soap and water. Carnival can provide all of the tools, but making people use them is a whole different story. Laziness prevails, and a significant enough number of people will not lather their hands for 15 seconds with hot, soapy water and (ONLY THEN) rinse. The only recourse those of us who practice examplary hygeine have is to never touch our eyes, ears, nose, or mouth with our fingers. And, if we are about to eat a sandwich in the buffet, we need to use our own antibacterial gel (after we sit down at our table with our sandwich) before we chow down.

[sharecruises]

NCL is IMHO the best I have personally seen at controlling spread of diseases

 

When you enter the ship they spray your hands...

 

you do not get in the dining room /buffet without going by the "washy washy" guy/gal...they make sure you use the sanitizer

 

They have very good sneeze guards over the food, smaller serving pans

more people "serving" and cleaning up

 

Very very good procedures. When you come back from a port they spray your hands.

[oncruisecontrol]

IMHO, people over sanitze. I've never been the type of person to wash my hands regularly (even before eating) and very rarely get sick (I get a cold every 2-3 years, never had anything more serious than the common cold, either), and I'm 35. In contrast, my cousin is a germ freak and she seems to be sick constantly. If you don't let your immune system practice then it will never be any good at defending you from invading organisms!

 

 

We've not seen reports of this happening every sailing, so saying that it's been on the ship a while might be a stretch. If it were on the ship a while, at least someone would get sick from it every sailing!

 

Basically, I agree with you. Though, I am a regular hand-washer. I get a cold only about every 5 or 6 years or so. And, Iam 41 years-old. I rely heavily on my immune system to keep me healthy as I practice a diet of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, etc to stoke the fires of my immune system. So far, so good. But, I'm sure you'll agree that comprehensive hand washing after using the restroom for, shall we say #2, is always prudent advice.

[RuthlessBoss]

NCL is IMHO the best I have personally seen at controlling spread of diseases

 

When you enter the ship they spray your hands...

 

you do not get in the dining room /buffet without going by the "washy washy" guy/gal...they make sure you use the sanitizer

 

They have very good sneeze guards over the food, smaller serving pans

more people "serving" and cleaning up

 

Very very good procedures. When you come back from a port they spray your hands.

Yep, he/she sprayed everyone that came thru the door. I don't know what was in those spray bottles.

[Eeyoregon]

I think Carnival does a GREAT job providing hand sanitizer everywhere you turn including when you return to the ship form port (mandatory each time you reboard).

 

It's ultimately the passengers responsibility. Here are some tips from personal experience:

 

1. Wash hands frequently.

2. Avoid touching hand rails.

3. Avoid touching your eyes and nose.

4. If you become ill on your cruise with any gastrointestinal symptoms REPORT immediately to the ship medical center for proper diagnosis, quarantine instructions if diagnosed and to get appropriate documents for reimbursement from your travel insurance.

 

5. Most important is to remember that if you have the true Norovirus (not just upset stomach because you ate one too many lobster tails ;)) you are contagious for 72 hours AFTER the initial symptoms even though you will likely feel significantly better after just 24 hours.

6. Bring individual packets of Lysol wipes to wipe down the door knobs, drawer/closet handles, surfaces and remote control in your cabin.

[Eeyoregon]

I I can't imagine how much worse it would be to be quarantined on a cruise you paid a lot of money for.

 

Just another great reason to purchase travel insurance. We got a considerable chunk of money back when my son caught the dreaded Norovirus and was quarantined, as was I as his caregiver.

 

P.S. My best guess is my son got it from playing basketball for HOURS and HOURS. All that sweating, touching the basketball that others are touching and wiping the sweat off his face with his hands :eek:!

[vivavegas]

Basically, I agree with you. Though, I am a regular hand-washer. I get a cold only about every 5 or 6 years or so. And, Iam 41 years-old. I rely heavily on my immune system to keep me healthy as I practice a diet of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, etc to stoke the fires of my immune system. So far, so good. But, I'm sure you'll agree that comprehensive hand washing after using the restroom for, shall we say #2, is always prudent advice.

 

LMBO! I just about spit my drink out while reading your post.:)

[LPLRN]

I was on this cruise along with my husband and 2 other couples and we weren't even aware of a problem untill another pax posted on facebook. We had a great time anhd never had any issues.

[oncruisecontrol]

LMBO! I just about spit my drink out while reading your post.:)

 

Yes. Well, I hesitated as to whether or not to post what I posted. But, honestly, it's easy to argue that the reason norovirus spreads so rapidly is that too many people do not adequately (if at all) wash their hands after a bowel movement. I mean this in all sincerity and am not trying to be funny.

[TheShyOne22]

Sad to say I was one of the unlucky ones as well. Been on many cruises and this was a first. This is by far the worst sickness I have ever had. I was sick for most of the cruise and spent it in bed in A LOT of discomfort. I am back home and just now can keep food and water down. I did everything I knew to do; used the hand sanitizer, washed hands, and used the paper towels to open bathroom doors. Some things you can't control. You don't even realize if you touched a handrail that an infected person touched. Or ate food off the buffet that was infected. Sad to look forward to a vacation for a year and save up the money just to miss the ports and be in extreme discomfort for many days (fever, dehydration, vomiting, nausea, cramping).

[mizLORInj]

Wow, just off Freedom yesterday too and I didn't know this was going on. I did notice that the CD spoke about hand washing over the announcements mike though.

Fortunately all six of us were ok and the cruise was great.

[WINEMAN]

We had a cabin on the lido deck for this cruise and spent most of our time around the lido pool area with no problems, only once did we see the salt and pepper shakers disappear from the tables but never the tell tale salt and pepper packets deploded instead, that is a sure sign there is a problem. We never did eat in the dinning room only the buffet,deli,p.s.great ruben sandwiches and room service was very good also, only heard of a few people mumbling that some of there friends were sick. You just have to heed the precautions to us the sanitizers and to wash your hands regularly, never use the banister hand rails with your hands use your forearm for balance,elevater buttons use you knuckles instead of fingers, and if you all of a sudden notice the crew always wiping down the railings be extra cautious, We alway bring a can of lysol and spray the cabin knobs entree area tiolet area common places anyone would touch and I alway bring a ziplock bag to put the tv remote control in. We have cruised with Carnival about 17 times with NO problems with Norovirus and are very please with the cruise line. We have cruised with Princess 4 times, first time on caribbean princess my wife caught norovirus a day and a half into an eastern caribbean cruise and then I got it 2 days later, It really is something you would only wish on you worst enemy, but when you number is up it simply is your turn to appreciate keeping protected, We rebooked the same ship 4 months later the same deck and had the most enjoyable cruise, You just have to get back on the horse that threw you. No matter what just keep cruising, there are a lot of islands to check off the bucket list

[sweetcurves]

As someone who has an incredibly weak immune system and who is going on her first cruise (on Freedom, no less), I am now scared to death!

 

Also Noro does have an airborne component. Man I'm bringing gloves, masks, and pure alcohol foam. Ugh I'm gonna look super sexy with a mask on next to the pool.

 

I work in a hospital and come into contact with patients who have c-diff, MRSA, VRE every time I work but I've yet to get any of those. Maybe my immune system isn't as weak as I thought?