A cheap and effective NORO prevention ideas

[CVU]

Agree with the menu idea of a paper sheet that is garbage after each person uses it!! Great idea!:)

 

We just got off a cruise on IOS and used a CC idea of taking an extra rolled napkin [with the cutlery] and using the napkin as our placemat!!

We did it every time at lunch in the WJ.

Creates more wash for them but we felt it was cleaner than using nothing and putting our cutlery and hands on the bare table top. Others saw our placemat and commented they were going to do that.

Edited February 3, 2014 by CVU

[mjldvlks]

If you read the CDC Noro page it states that sanitizers are fine IN ADDITION to hand washing but yes it's true they don't kill Noro virus.

 

Hand washing doesn't kill it either but what it does do is wash the Noro virus down the drain which is why a full 30 seconds of briskly rubbing hands together with soap and hot water is necessary.

 

Those hand sanitizers we see everywhere nowadays (even on the alter of my church) do help kill many different germs just not the Noro virus.

 

Thanks for covering for me. Here is a quote [among many] from the CDC site:

 

Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can inactivate many types of microbes very effectively when used correctly 1-10, people may not use a large enough volume of the sanitizers or may wipe it off before it has dried 10. Furthermore, soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing or inactivating certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile11-15.

 

Additionally, among the reasons handwashing is effective is the friction of scrubbing which helps loosen dirt , oils, etc that allow germs to be rinsed away. That's one reason I don't think too much of the "automatic handwashing" machines that I assume spray the hads with soap and water and then rinse them off. I don't think that is a good substitute for regular handwashing.

[Pickels]

Is this accurate? I understand that washing frequently and correctly is the best option and I do a good job at that. However' date=' I was thinking of bringing some of the pocket size sanitizers just for the occasional, in between wash sanitizing. But if it really doesn't provide much benefit then it would just be a waste of time and money.

 

This theory would also makes the ships hand sanitizers obsolete too but I am thinking they must believe it has some benefit, or are they just trying to trick us into thinking it does? Maybe it doesn't help against Noro but something else? Even though Noro is the one that really matters, especially on cruises.

 

Anyway, I am not a medical expert so if there is anyone who is, shed some light on this for us please.[/quote']

Clorox has two products that they claim will kill Noro, one is wipes and another comes in 2 oz spray bottles. Can order for Amazon.

[John Reid]

I think part of the problem is that diners get a false impression of prevention from using hand sanitizer. Most "washy washy" happily, basically accomplishing nothing for Noro prevention.

 

If you look at the CDC website, it basically states "Yeah, you can use sanitizers. It can't hurt!"

 

If you look at the Purell site, it doesn't say the product is effective against Noro. It refers to the CDC statement about "recommending using sanitizer in addition to washing."

 

To me, more effective than the "Washy Washy" litany would be a large sign at the entrances to dining areas asking people if they had just properly washed their hands.

[tlatrice]

:rolleyes:

Do you have something to confirm this as "fact"?.....The reason I ask is because on our last cruise was in the MDR to change seating location and witnessed three waiters cleaning a pile of a hundred or so menus with disinfectant.....K.O.

 

And do people worry about dirty sticky menus at land restaurants?

[Two 2 Tango]

Is this accurate? I understand that washing frequently and correctly is the best option and I do a good job at that. However' date=' I was thinking of bringing some of the pocket size sanitizers just for the occasional, in between wash sanitizing. But if it really doesn't provide much benefit then it would just be a waste of time and money.

 

This theory would also makes the ships hand sanitizers obsolete too but I am thinking they must believe it has some benefit, or are they just trying to trick us into thinking it does? Maybe it doesn't help against Noro but something else? Even though Noro is the one that really matters, especially on cruises.

 

Anyway, I am not a medical expert so if there is anyone who is, shed some light on this for us please.[/quote']

 

The type of sanitizer you need to combat a Viral infection as noro is, is to use Anti Viral sanitizer" it's a bit more expensive than the anti bacterial gel and comes in a foam dispenser. In GB Boots sell it but don't know about USA, hope that helps.

[Thoie]

:rolleyes:

 

And do people worry about dirty sticky menus at land restaurants?

 

Not as much as they should, but the main difference is that you don't spend 7 days enclosed in a shopping centre with the same people eating in the same restaurants multiple times a day.

 

After eating in land based restaurant, most of the patrons separate out and go other places. They don't follow you home and run their hands up and down your bannisters and open and close all your doors. Unless you're very popular.

[DrD]

Also one of the best preventative measures is enough sleep.

 

Immune function studies have shown that lack of sleep lowers immunity significantly. My personal and professional experience confirms this as well.

 

I believe that one of the big reasons people get sick on vacation is a disrupted sleep cycle. Most stay up late and wake up early the day before, and then get too little sleep on the cruise, rf don't sleep well due to unfamiliar surrounds, too much food, and/or too much alcohol.

 

We try to get enough sleep on vacation (we don't like to party late anyway) and we very rarely get sick.

[LindaO]

Be careful what you wish for... A few years ago we were on a cruise when ships were having troubles with norovirus outbreaks (they just didn't get the press coverage they do today with internet, facebook and media fenzie)... So... rather than handing us menus the waiters would hold one menu and read it to us. Then when it was your turn to order you could look at the menu (no touching) and order. It was interesting turning a 1 1/2 hour dinner into 2+ hours. Although I did like that for dessert they would bring around a tray and you could decide from looking at the dessert! I'll take my chances with a shared menu...

[S.A.M.J.R.]

And what do you do about the door handles, the remote controls, the elevator buttons, the pool handrails, loungers, and theater seats? There are plenty of items that multiple people touch.

 

I do think going to disposable paper menu's "cheapens" the meal. If the current menus worry you so much, bring disposable gloves, ask for a new napkin and hold the menu in your napkin, leave the menu sit on your napkin and don't touch it, etc.

[SteveH2508]

With so many people having tablets/phones with them at all times, I think in the future ships will have a free LAN (local area network - not an internet connection, just a ship-wide connection) that people can connect to with their own devices. The "home page" of the LAN could list current/upcoming activities/events and important notices (as well as marketing - sale starting in x place in 10 minutes!), and could have links to opening hours of various venues, the menus for that day, etc.

 

Having the menus on tablets/phones would allow users to skip the printed menus and use their own devices (cutting down on cross contamination), and also give spectacle-wearers the option to increase the text size to suit themselves.

 

The LAN could also allow for instant messenger style communications between friends while on the ship - download an app, sign-up, and give people your username if you want them to be able to contact you.

 

FYI - NCL already have this - it is called i-concierge and, from what I've read, it does pretty much everything you have listed (except the menus I believe).

[NMLady]

We just returned yesterday from the Allure. The extensive CNN coverage of the Explorer hits close to home as we live in NJ and have sailed out of Bayonne many times and plan to continue. RC seems to have no problem in wasting huge amounts of paper to print such things as art auction info, diamond sales, port shopping guides, future cruise info, and two cruise compasses per room. Why not print a one time use "throw away" paper menu to be used in the MDR. The entire meal including classics and desserts would use one sheet of paper. It's a confirmed fact in the food service industry that the menu is the dirtiest item the restaurant that everyone touches, meal after meal. Think about it, cruise after cruise, the same dirty sticky menu. Royal Caribbean please read this.

 

Much of that paper does NOT come from the cruise line but from the companies promoting the sales, auctions, etc.

[Thoie]

FYI - NCL already have this - it is called i-concierge and, from what I've read, it does pretty much everything you have listed (except the menus I believe).

 

Well, there goes my hopes of making a fortune by patenting the idea ;)

 

Does it work well? Just looking at the instructions, and it appears to include the menus as well (http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/iCONCIERGE_ver5.pdf), and allows you to make reservations/bookings for dinner/shows/etc.

[Thoie]

FYI - NCL already have this - it is called i-concierge and, from what I've read, it does pretty much everything you have listed (except the menus I believe).

 

Is it bad that I'm now browsing NCL cruises, purely based on "I like their app"?

[SteveH2508]

Well, there goes my hopes of making a fortune by patenting the idea ;)

 

Does it work well? Just looking at the instructions, and it appears to include the menus as well (http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/iCONCIERGE_ver5.pdf), and allows you to make reservations/bookings for dinner/shows/etc.

 

Sorry - don't know. I'm a luddite when it comes to phones and I subscribe to the view that, on vacation, the electronics stay switched off (save for the e-book and spreadsheet to check our humungous bar bill)!

[MrsPete]

We just returned yesterday from the Allure. The extensive CNN coverage of the Explorer hits close to home as we live in NJ and have sailed out of Bayonne many times and plan to continue. RC seems to have no problem in wasting huge amounts of paper to print such things as art auction info, diamond sales, port shopping guides, future cruise info, and two cruise compasses per room. Why not print a one time use "throw away" paper menu to be used in the MDR. The entire meal including classics and desserts would use one sheet of paper. It's a confirmed fact in the food service industry that the menu is the dirtiest item the restaurant that everyone touches, meal after meal. Think about it, cruise after cruise, the same dirty sticky menu. Royal Caribbean please read this.

Thing is, those art auction flyers and port shopping guides bring people into events they might otherwise not have attended. Those flyers bring in paying customers. In contrast, just about everyone goes to dinner every day; thus, RC has less motive to spend on printing.

 

I'm not saying it's a good or bad idea, but I am saying that the cruise line isn't likely to start printing things that don't make money.

 

I think looking at the menu outside the door and making one's choice early might just be the best option. It'd be easiest, of course, if you're sitting at a table for two. Otherwise, it'd be a little awkward skipping the menu while everyone else has one.

[Langley Cruisers]

Regarding menus on land or at sea, I will order my meal, converse with my partner for a few minutes, and then just before the food arrives I will excuse myself and go wash my hands, trying to be careful on the way back to the table. I mean, it's not perfect but it does help. Obviously we will never be completely germ and virus-free; think about how many hands have already touched the silverware you are about to use, right? But there's no excuse about dirty menus when the solution is so very simple. :)

.

[spunkyhungry]

Regarding menus on land or at sea, I will order my meal, converse with my partner for a few minutes, and then just before the food arrives I will excuse myself and go wash my hands, trying to be careful on the way back to the table. I mean, it's not perfect but it does help. Obviously we will never be completely germ and virus-free; think about how many hands have already touched the silverware you are about to use, right? But there's no excuse about dirty menus when the solution is so very simple. :)

.

 

I do that, too, at land and sea restaurants. It's not too hard to get up and wash hands before you eat.

[cpj]

I don't believe the cruise will ever be able to prevent the virus from coming won the ship but I think they could do a few more things to prevent it from spreading. Make the buffet to where they serve you. Some of the stuff I witnessed would make you gag. I they want them to be self serve then give everyone disposable gloves to wear while in while in line. Also keep the food at the right temperature. Too many times the food is not kept hot enough. Aslo during and outbreak close the casino until it's under control. I witness many elderly wiping there noses while playing ang getting all over the machines. I'm not making this up I've seen it. The cruiselines need to change the way they handle these situations a little bit better.

[spunkyhungry]

A cheap and effective way to prevent contracting Norovirus is to wash your hands and avoid touching objects that many people would touch. Some people in my family make fun of me because I wash my hands a lot and avoid touching things, but I've never gotten Norovirus on a cruise. I wash my hands after touching menus, after serving myself in the buffet, after the bathroom (obviously), I never touch door handles (use a paper towel or push with my elbow), I use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after I wash my hands, I use my elbow to push elevator buttons, etc. Of course sometimes I have to touch things, and I don't obsess about it, but I make sure not to touch my mouth, eyes, or nose unless I've just washed my hands.

[cpj]

A cheap and effective way to prevent contracting Norovirus is to wash your hands and avoid touching objects that many people would touch. Some people in my family make fun of me because I wash my hands a lot and avoid touching things, but I've never gotten Norovirus on a cruise. I wash my hands after touching menus, after serving myself in the buffet, after the bathroom (obviously), I never touch door handles (use a paper towel or push with my elbow), I use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after I wash my hands, I use my elbow to push elevator buttons, etc. Of course sometimes I have to touch things, and I don't obsess about it, but I make sure not to touch my mouth, eyes, or nose unless I've just washed my hands.

Everything you said was true. But not everyone is like you. If they were there would be no problem. Some people are pigs.

[spunkyhungry]

Everything you said was true. But not everyone is like you. If they were there would be no problem. Some people are pigs.

 

I know, but this is a way each person who is concerned about Norovirus can reduce his chances of contracting it.

[navybankerteacher]

The only way to prevent noro on any cruise ship is to refuse boarding to sick people.

 

People who have just picked up the virus will show no symptoms and will be unidentifiable until hours or days later when they will already have started spreading it.

[navybankerteacher]

Is this accurate? I understand that washing frequently and correctly is the best option and I do a good job at that. However' date=' I was thinking of bringing some of the pocket size sanitizers just for the occasional, in between wash sanitizing. But if it really doesn't provide much benefit then it would just be a waste of time and money.

 

This theory would also makes the ships hand sanitizers obsolete too but I am thinking they must believe it has some benefit, or are they just trying to trick us into thinking it does? Maybe it doesn't help against Noro but something else? Even though Noro is the one that really matters, especially on cruises.

 

Anyway, I am not a medical expert so if there is anyone who is, shed some light on this for us please.[/quote']

 

Think about using a pocket size bottle of hand sanitizer. You think you may have picked up the virus so you reach into your pocket to pull out the sanitizer: whatever is on your hand gets on the lining of your pocket and on the bottle. You then apply the sanitizer, then put the bottle back in your pocket, picking up whatever your pre-"sanitized" hand had deposited --- just what do you think you have accomplished by this little exercise in rubbing an admittedly ineffective gel on your hands.

 

Wash your hands - avoid touching common surfaces as much as possible - and keep your hands away from your face.

[Two 2 Tango]

Think about using a pocket size bottle of hand sanitizer. You think you may have picked up the virus so you reach into your pocket to pull out the sanitizer: whatever is on your hand gets on the lining of your pocket and on the bottle. You then apply the sanitizer, then put the bottle back in your pocket, picking up whatever your pre-"sanitized" hand had deposited --- just what do you think you have accomplished by this little exercise in rubbing an admittedly ineffective gel on your hands.

 

Wash your hands - avoid touching common surfaces as much as possible - and keep your hands away from your face.

 

Hand sanitizer will help to keep your hands clean but you you will need anti viral sanitizer to combat a virus. Just wonder why the ships don't put one in each stateroom.