tips for staying healthy

[Roz]

Too funny, Don. :D

 

Roz

[chengkp75]

Hookay, here we go. I will answer some of your points in red below.

 

It is important to realize that the one of the main reasons there is any protection against the Noro virus is because the Center for Disease Control has put a mandatory protocol in place that cruise lines have to obey. Where else in the entertainment/vacation industry are there protocols as stiff as the USPH Vessel Sanitation Program? USPH invited the cruise industry to advise them on the writing of the VSP, and having worked with USPH inspectors, they will tell you that the VSP guidelines are far, far stricter than any state or local public health regulations.Face it, there isn't any cruise line jumping to be the trend setter in matters of virus protection. That said, it is also important to realize that each cruise ship only has to get a mark of 80% compliance to be able to set sail. Do you believe that the only thing that the VSP covers is noro virus? It covers every aspect of ship operations from food purchasing, delivery, handling and preparation, to lighting and ventilation, to equipment maintenance, to drinking water quality and maintenance, to swimming pool chemistry, to child care and medical facilities. A ship could receive a failing score below 80 and there could be not a single instance of noro onboard (unlikely, as everyone carries noro around with them).That means the Noro virus could still be active on your ship before your board. If it is, your cruise activities could be shut down or curtailed and the only recourse you will have is to get off the ship. You will not get a refund, it is in the paperwork. Some cruise lines still charge you for you to seek medical help with Noro. The cruise line can, and does, absolutely set sail knowing it still has a problem with the Noro. Also, if you research it, you will find that the number one way you contact Noro isn't guest to guest but food service handler to guest. it comes from unwashed hands.True, it comes from unwashed hands, but why do you think the first thing the USPH wants done in a noro outbreak is to stop the SELF-SERVICE buffet line? Because one guest's infected hands touching the tongs will contaminate the tongs, and then when you use the tongs to pick up a hamburger bun, you get the virus on your hands, and then you touch the bun, so it has the virus, and then you eat the burger. There is no factual data that says the "number one" way to contract noro is from food server to guest.

 

Our 20th anniversary was all but ruined from taking a cruise and being shut down within 2 days due to the Noro only to find out that the ship had the problem the cruise before. As the cruise told us, "we met the CDC requirements" that means 80% free so they set said knowing the possibilities.See my comments above regarding what the USPH score is all about.

 

Here are some things you can do to stay healthy

 

1. research your ship and see their protocol and track record for handling the Noro as well as the instances they have had it.I worked 4 years on cruise ships, and the doctor makes a report every week regarding GI instances, and I cannot recall very many weeks where we did not have a single case of some GI illness. The only time the CDC will post a report about a ship having a noro incident is when the level reaches 3% of total guests and crew. They are notified when the level reaches 2%, but there isn't a posting on the website until it reaches 3%.

2. bring your own antibacterial spray and start by undressing your bed and spraying the mattress. it isn't a matter of standard cleaning protocol for stewards to do that when cleaning the cabins. If a sick person had your cabin before you, slept in your bed, left any skin or bodily fluids, you could be toast. When you arrive your bed will be made up very pretty, unmake it and spray it down. Do that several times during your tripWhile you are correct about the beds not being sanitized between cruises, on a normal basis, when there has been either a noro outbreak, or a person has reported to medical with a GI illness, the entire cabin (walls, ceiling, bed, furniture, drapes, carpet, bath, will be sprayed down with Virkon or whatever other sanitizing agent the line uses. These agents like Virkon are so strong that they require trained, licensed personnel to handle it, and they still need a 3 minute wet contact time to be effective against noro. There is nothing out there available to consumers that is anywhere near as effective, nor that could sanitize a mattress.

3. Each day when you come back to your cabin, use antibacterial spray on your channel changer, all faucets and all doorknobs, toilets.Antibacterial products have virtually no benefit against viruses.

4. use the supplied antibacterial lotion in the public areas often. See above. CDC states that use of alcohol based hand sanitizers are 60% as effective as hand washing, and they do not kill the virus, anymore than washing does, so unless you wipe your hands on a clean towel after using the sanitizer to loosen the virus from your skin, it will still be there.

5. start taking something such as Air Borne a week before you leave on your trip and continue taking it throughout your trip. It may not help the Noro but it may build up your immunity which will give you some protectionWon't touch this one

6. do not shake hands with anyone, if you do, wash very well right afterwardsGood advice, but not real PC.

7. if you see a food service person without gloves report it and don't eat at that station.Perfectly correct, but if you see a guest sneeze on their hands and touch a utensil, or touch food without a utensil, please also report this.

8. if you get sea sick get the patch from your doctor and start it 2-3 days before your cruise.Many people react badly to the scopalomine patches, so don't go out giving medical advice.

9. do not eat whole fruit unless you wash it yourself. I intend on bringing a small acceptable size of veggie wash esp made for bacterial removal.USPH requires that all "ready to eat" food, like fruits and vegetables be sanitized prior to being placed on the food line.

10. carry your own purse size antibacterial surface wipes for the table, salt and pepper shaker. Rather than use just seat protectors on the public toilet use your purse size antibacterial wipes on the toilet first.

12. stay hydrated with water and smart water or something containing actual electrolytes. this is especially important if your cruise is to a "fun and sun" sort of place. if you cannot afford a drink package you can buy drinks in each port. But, the water on board is pure and has been sanitized although many times it is bitter. The "bitter" taste is the residual chlorine that is required to be in the drinking water (does your local water supply mandate that there be a minimum of 0.5ppm chlorine at every tap in your house at every moment of the day? USPH requires a 24/7 continual monitoring of residual chlorine at the farthest point from the engine room, with chart recorders to document this.

 

you may be thinking "this person really has OCD" but I experienced this very thing on my 20th year anniversary cruise. We were was sick long after the cruise. Since then, we have put our own protocol for traveling in place and gone on several other holidays coming home perfectly well and healthy. There is a lot of good information out there. Notice what the CDC says, "The viruses are found in the vomit and stool of infected people. You can get it by

• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with noro virus
  
• Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with noro virus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth
  
• Having direct contact with a person who is infected with noro virus, for example, when caring for someone with noro virus or sharing foods or eating utensils with them"
  

A very good website to visit is http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html

In conclusion, i am not staying home and neither should you! Let's get out there and travel...but travel smart; carry antibacterial spray, wipes, Airborne. Also, check Cruise Critic regularly; they tell the good and the bad, you need to be informed.

Happy sailing!

 

I will also say that if you were "sick long after the cruise", you did not have noro. Noro will last for 3 days (4 max) and make you wish you died during those days (with BOTH diarrhea and vomiting), but after 3 days you will feel tired but not sick.

 

I've been trained by, and worked with, the USPH inspectors of the VSP, and have had my share of noro outbreaks onboard.

[donaldsc]

. Noro will last for 3 days (4 max) and make you wish you died during those days (with BOTH diarrhea and vomiting), but after 3 days you will feel tired but not sick.

 

 

Diarrhea AND vomiting. That sounds like a bit of fun. What happens if you have a vomiting episode while you are sitting on the toilet doing your diarrhea part of the illness?

 

DON

[chengkp75]

Diarrhea AND vomiting. That sounds like a bit of fun. What happens if you have a vomiting episode while you are sitting on the toilet doing your diarrhea part of the illness?

 

DON

 

It ain't pretty. We've had cases where the poor soul was in the medical center waiting room and erupted from both ends.

[chengkp75]

Interesting to note that the OP dropped his/her nuggets of wisdom on us poor ignorant souls and decided there wasn't any need for further discussion, since it must be accurate.

 

A further point I would like to make is that the USPH (the branch of the CDC that regulates cruise ships) has NO mandate to protect cruise passengers from illness. The USPH's mandate has is and has always been, since the 1800's to prevent the introduction of diseases INTO THE US. The USPH's VSP addresses this mission of keeping sick passengers from entering the US by regulating the health standards aboard ships arriving at US ports. If you are kept healthy during your cruise, you won't bring the nasties back to the US; they really don't care whether or not you get sick onboard, just whether you are sick when returning to the US. Historically, another mission of the USPH was to care for the health of US Navy and Merchant seamen, but since these cruise ships are all foreign flag, this mission is irrelevant to the discussion.

[BeagleOne]

Diarrhea AND vomiting. That sounds like a bit of fun. What happens if you have a vomiting episode while you are sitting on the toilet doing your diarrhea part of the illness?

 

DON

 

BTDT with food poisoning. The answer is, have a bucket or wastebasket nearby.

[GPtimes2]

Interesting to note that the OP dropped his/her nuggets of wisdom on us poor ignorant souls and decided there wasn't any need for further discussion, since it must be accurate.

 

A further point I would like to make is that the USPH (the branch of the CDC that regulates cruise ships) has NO mandate to protect cruise passengers from illness. The USPH's mandate has is and has always been, since the 1800's to prevent the introduction of diseases INTO THE US. The USPH's VSP addresses this mission of keeping sick passengers from entering the US by regulating the health standards aboard ships arriving at US ports. If you are kept healthy during your cruise, you won't bring the nasties back to the US; they really don't care whether or not you get sick onboard, just whether you are sick when returning to the US. Historically, another mission of the USPH was to care for the health of US Navy and Merchant seamen, but since these cruise ships are all foreign flag, this mission is irrelevant to the discussion.

 

It was the op's first post, and none off us even said "welcome to the forum". Plus some of the responses probably come across as an attack. If you go up a couple of post, one person went to a bit of effort to post links of a hazmat suit and ppe that seems to belittle the op. And if you look at some of the post counts (thousands) of some responders, a person may conclude that this is normal persecution from long time members of this forum. I don't blame the op for disappearing. They probably just wanted to share and get involved.

[Illyria]

It was the op's first post, and none off us even said "welcome to the forum". Plus some of the responses probably come across as an attack. If you go up a couple of post, one person went to a bit of effort to post links of a hazmat suit and ppe that seems to belittle the op. And if you look at some of the post counts (thousands) of some responders, a person may conclude that this is normal persecution from long time members of this forum. I don't blame the op for disappearing. They probably just wanted to share and get involved.

With all due respect to the OP, I wouldn't have started my brand-new tenure on a forum by giving out heavy-handed advice on what amounts to soaking themselves and their cabin in antibacterial spray.

[CruiserBruce]

With all due respect to the OP, I wouldn't have started my brand-new tenure on a forum by giving out heavy-handed advice on what amounts to soaking themselves and their cabin in antibacterial spray.

 

What Illyria said.

[uncleg]

Diarrhea AND vomiting. That sounds like a bit of fun. What happens if you have a vomiting episode while you are sitting on the toilet doing your diarrhea part of the illness?

 

DON

 

Trash can! :eek: I've had Noro but never on a cruise..caught mine at work.

[xmarksx]

Interesting to note that the OP dropped his/her nuggets of wisdom on us poor ignorant souls and decided there wasn't any need for further discussion, since it must be accurate.

 

A further point I would like to make is that the USPH (the branch of the CDC that regulates cruise ships) has NO mandate to protect cruise passengers from illness. The USPH's mandate has is and has always been, since the 1800's to prevent the introduction of diseases INTO THE US. The USPH's VSP addresses this mission of keeping sick passengers from entering the US by regulating the health standards aboard ships arriving at US ports. If you are kept healthy during your cruise, you won't bring the nasties back to the US; they really don't care whether or not you get sick onboard, just whether you are sick when returning to the US. Historically, another mission of the USPH was to care for the health of US Navy and Merchant seamen, but since these cruise ships are all foreign flag, this mission is irrelevant to the discussion.

 

Great advice in your posts, thank you! I am new to this Board but a veteran of a similar Las Vegas version. This poster is identical to trolls I have witnessed over the years on my Vegas boards. They pop-in with some horrific story, then share questionable advice, then you never see them again. The Vegas versions are almost always some claim of highly contagious skin virus' caught from XYZ casino. This posters info stinks of bad internet hokum cut and pasted from somewhere. 10-to-1 it is in a mirror format selling snake oil.

[jammen]

Don't shake hands, wash your hands often, & wash good & long, use your elbow, use a fork and knife when eating, not your hands.