What next?

[Jeanine&Jim]

I got a great giggle out of the comments from your microbiologist husband. Esoecially as that never crossed my mind... I am in the health profession and if no one coughs on me, sneezes on me, or spits on me, I consider that a good day!

I appreciate the poster letting me know to repack my cotton balls as I just this weekend took them out of my toiletry kit. Leaving in 2 weeks for Cruise to Bermuda!

I have a pet peeve about washcloths in hotel and cruise ships. I use a lot of them. 1 to 2 a day so I always leave a nice note asking for as many as I need and no problems so far.

Lets all be nice!!!

[knittinggirl]

ok....I'm NOT an alarmist either....BUT the cruiseline's management is CONSTANTLY facing noro outbreaks and constantly being hounded about what they are doing about it..........just another "something" they can refer to...I REALLY just do not believe this particular item falls in the "more cuts by Celebrity" column.

 

My husband is a microbiologist and his remark on this particular topic was as follows "when someone wipes their rear end, and then grabs a Q tip before washing their hands...they have contaminated any cotton ball or Q tip they have touched" :eek: his actual words were a bit more graphic but the point is made and I won't be using those items anymore EVEN IF they ARE there...... just saying.....

I think the toilets should be automatic. Unless you use a paper towel to flush the toilet, you're picking up germs from who knows how many people that have used the toilet before you. And there's always someone that goes from the toilet out the door w/o washing their hands.

 

I've gotten norovirus twice in 20 cruises. Not sure if there's a connecton, but both times it appeared right after visiting the spa. Yes, I wiped off the equipment before and after. I wonder how fast it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure.

 

All bathrooms should have moisturizer too. My hands get very dry washing them so many times a day.

Edited August 18, 2014 by knittinggirl

[NLH Arizona]

I think the toilets should be automatic. Unless you use a paper towel to flush the toilet, you're picking up germs from who knows how many people that have used the toilet before you. And there's always someone that goes from the toilet out the door w/o washing their hands.

 

I've gotten norovirus twice in 20 cruises. Not sure if there's a connecton, but both times it appeared right after visiting the spa. Yes, I wiped off the equipment before and after. I wonder how fast it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure.

 

All bathrooms should have moisturizer too. My hands get very dry washing them so many times a day.

Until people stay at home if they are sick or stay in their cabins when they get sick on a cruise, there will always be the Noro Virus. I just read a review where the person said they were sick but still tried to enjoy things on their cruise....you wonder how many people they infected.

[knittinggirl]

Until people stay at home if they are sick or stay in their cabins when they get sick on a cruise, there will always be the Noro Virus. I just read a review where the person said they were sick but still tried to enjoy things on their cruise....you wonder how many people they infected.

You're right!

 

Some people can tough it out, spreading the germs, while others they infect are knocked flat. On Voyager several years ago, we visited the movie theatre and there was a lady obviously sick two rows up. We should have left, but we wanted to see the movie. The night we disembarked, we both had colds, and a week later I was in the hospital with vertigo and bronchitis.

[Adidas4fun]

Until people stay at home if they are sick or stay in their cabins when they get sick on a cruise, there will always be the Noro Virus. I just read a review where the person said they were sick but still tried to enjoy things on their cruise....you wonder how many people they infected.

 

Nice idea, but up to one third of people infected with norovirus (and therefore infectious) have no symptoms so they wont know to quarantine themselves; and for those that have had noro and are now better they can still be excreting the virus for many weeks afterwards.

 

Whilst isolation is an important containment measure it will never fully stop the virus, you have to protect yourself as a well person.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Adidas4fun

[NLH Arizona]

Nice idea, but up to one third of people infected with norovirus (and therefore infectious) have no symptoms so they wont know to quarantine themselves; and for those that have had noro and are now better they can still be excreting the virus for many weeks afterwards.

 

Whilst isolation is an important containment measure it will never fully stop the virus, you have to protect yourself as a well person.

I speaking about those that have symptoms, but still decide to go to the buffet, MDR, shows, etc. It only takes one to infect numerous folks.

[Bailey & Sophie]

It seems that every cruise we take' date=' something else is missing.

 

We just returned from the Eclipse and there is no longer a supply of cotton balls and qtips. Now they give you a Vanity pack and they don't replace it twice a day unless you ask.

 

You also have to ask for facecloths.

 

We had chocolates only one night out of 14.

 

There are no longer any nuts at the salad bar. They told me to "just ask". I did and the walnuts were the blackest I have ever seen. Obviously I didn't ask again!

 

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I am sure that those of you who read this, will also think of things that were removed.[/quote']

I've heard that sometime in the near future the ship will be optional. You may have to bring your own.

Seriously, though, I didn't see any cutbacks on Equinox last Feb. We had chocolates each night.

I always bring my own Qtips and cotton balls because I don't know where the supplied ones have been. I don't use a face cloth, but we were always provided with lots of towels.

There were always nuts at the breakfast buffet, over by the hot and cold cereals. Don't know about the salad bar at lunch, thought.

[cruise47]

It seems that every cruise we take' date=' something else is missing.

 

We just returned from the Eclipse and there is no longer a supply of cotton balls and qtips. Now they give you a Vanity pack and they don't replace it twice a day unless you ask.

 

You also have to ask for facecloths.

 

We had chocolates only one night out of 14.

 

There are no longer any nuts at the salad bar. They told me to "just ask". I did and the walnuts were the blackest I have ever seen. Obviously I didn't ask again!

 

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I am sure that those of you who read this, will also think of things that were removed.[/quote']

How does one wash their face and hands with no facecloths?

[need2bespoiled]

I think the toilets should be automatic. Unless you use a paper towel to flush the toilet, you're picking up germs from who knows how many people that have used the toilet before you. And there's always someone that goes from the toilet out the door w/o washing their hands.

 

I've gotten norovirus twice in 20 cruises. Not sure if there's a connecton, but both times it appeared right after visiting the spa. Yes, I wiped off the equipment before and after. I wonder how fast it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure.

 

All bathrooms should have moisturizer too. My hands get very dry washing them so many times a day.

 

Honestly, automatic toilets are not that important, because you wash your hands AFTER flushing. Sinks (so you don't touch a dirty handle after washing, paper towel dispensers, and door handles SHOULD be automatic, and we see that more and more of them are. When doors aren't I often open them with the towel. If I can't reach the waste recepticle post door opening, I'll take the towel with me.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[NLH Arizona]

How does one wash their face and hands with no facecloths?

I bring a facial cleansing brush.

[Lois R]

I bring a facial cleansing brush.

 

I use my hands. I didn't realize that was not a common concept:eek:

[NLH Arizona]

I use my hands. I didn't realize that was not a common concept:eek:

It is a common concept, I always used my hands until I was given this great new toy LOL!

[The_Big_M]

Even simpler, just speak with the cabin steward if somethings not in the cabin you desire.

 

Actually talking to your cabins steward...what a novel idea... :D

 

No need for more paper clogging the cabin and wasted trees.

 

Agree with you.

 

That's why it was surprising and disappointing when Celebrity changed their canape arrangements recently, requesting you fill out a form each day if you want canapes the next day (instead of them automatically delivering them).

[Gracie115]

Agree with you.

 

That's why it was surprising and disappointing when Celebrity changed their canape arrangements recently, requesting you fill out a form each day if you want canapes the next day (instead of them automatically delivering them).

 

And I agree with you but we never filled out a form once, again, we told our steward the first day to just bring them every day and he did so.....

[Gracie115]

I use my hands. I didn't realize that was not a common concept:eek:

 

Me too...did not know a face cloth was a requirement!!!:eek::)

Edited August 19, 2014 by Gracie115

[Jane2357]

I never travel any place without taking all of my own bathroom/beauty items - o.k. except for the t.p. - ;) Packing qtips or cotton balls takes no space at all and while I've always had a wash cloth in the cabin - I also take the disposable kinds just in case. Check out Walgreens or CVS - they offer several brands that feel great and smell yummy.

 

I do hear what the op is saying but change is inevitable. I miss having someone escort me to my cabin like they used to - I miss the free Zumba class that I took most days but neither of these has an impact on my overall experience. Pack your own bathroom items and don't sweat the small stuff.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Jane2357

[GUT2407]

I never travel any place without taking all of my own bathroom/beauty items - o.k. except for the t.p. - ;) Packing qtips or cotton balls takes no space at all and while I've always had a wash cloth in the cabin - I also take the disposable kinds just in case. Check out Walgreens or CVS - they offer several brands that feel great and smell yummy.

 

I do hear what the op is saying but change is inevitable. I miss having someone escort me to my cabin like they used to - I miss the free Zumba class that I took most days but neither of these has an impact on my overall experience. Pack your own bathroom items and don't sweat the small stuff.

 

And it's all small stuff.

[The_Big_M]

And I agree with you but we never filled out a form once, again, we told our steward the first day to just bring them every day and he did so.....

 

I asked our steward, she told us to fill the form out. Then on the second/third day we chased her up and she said the form should be filled out, but okay she'd carry it forward in a just this once kind of way...

[Gracie115]

I asked our steward, she told us to fill the form out. Then on the second/third day we chased her up and she said the form should be filled out, but okay she'd carry it forward in a just this once kind of way...

 

 

I guess it depends on the steward....I guess we've been lucky with ours...:)

[Iamcruzin]

Another feature that comes to mind is the minibar, that many of us want emptied out. So they go and stock it at the beginning of every cruise, then need to empty it, then need to re-stock it again.

What a waste of time and effort.

 

Now that they offer the drink package as a free perk I don't see the need for stocking the minibar to begin with unless there is a request by the passenger. Then the passenger can request exactly what they want.

[Iamcruzin]

How does one wash their face and hands with no facecloths?

 

Lather face with soap. Cup your hands and fill them with water to rinse your face. This usually causes the counter top and or floor to become a hot mess due to splashing and water running down your arms and off of your elbows. I deal with this at home with my kids and I know what a pain it is to clean up. I'm not trying to give the room steward any extra work but if they don't provide facecloths I'm not about to clean the bathroom like I do at home either.

[Gracie115]

Lather face with soap. Cup your hands and fill them with water to rinse your face. This usually causes the counter top and or floor to become a hot mess due to splashing and water running down your arms and off of your elbows. I deal with this at home with my kids and I know what a pain it is to clean up. I'm not trying to give the room steward any extra work but if they don't provide facecloths I'm not about to clean the bathroom like I do at home either.

 

well....yes....but when I do it this way it doesn't splash all over everywhere....OR run down my arms onto the floor......guess it's all in the technique....:eek:

[Iamcruzin]

well....yes....but when I do it this way it doesn't splash all over everywhere....OR run down my arms onto the floor......guess it's all in the technique....:eek:

Yes, and I'm dealing with a 19 and 22 year old who wake up 5 minutes before they have to be someplace. Looking forward to an empty nest.;)

[Can'tstopcruising]

Lather face with soap. Cup your hands and fill them with water to rinse your face. This usually causes the counter top and or floor to become a hot mess due to splashing and water running down your arms and off of your elbows. I deal with this at home with my kids and I know what a pain it is to clean up. I'm not trying to give the room steward any extra work but if they don't provide facecloths I'm not about to clean the bathroom like I do at home either.

 

lol I have the same problem! I forgot about that.

 

I'd like to know Grace's technique!

[CruisingChick]

The vanity pack was boxed (which cost $). It contained 2 cotton balls' date=' maybe 2 q-tips and a miniature emery board. Can you imagine how many emerie boards I had leftover! ($$)

 

So much for cost cuts.

 

I guess there are those who have no need for cotton balls, but I use them, so like you, I will now bring my own. At least my post was useful to one person!!

 

To those who made snarky remarks: if you think your sarcasm is appreciated.....well...good luck to you.

 

To the person who asked what kind of cabin and the poster who mentioned inexpensive itineraries....this was a Baltic cruise. Although we had an inside cabin, it was the most expensive cruise we have taken to date...over $6000 for an inside.

 

To the person who thought this was a full report, I was addressing one issue only. How could you think this was a full report???

 

We cruise quite a bit and I don't appreciate that each time, something else has been eliminated.[/quote']

 

I appreciate your report and while we only cruise about twice a year it does seem each time we get on the ship something has been cut back.

 

In May it was the cotton balls and q-tips, but we had chocolates every night, now I guess when we cruise next month, we will not have chocolates any longer

 

I understand you can get ice and just have to ask but it's now harder to get a picture of water in your stateroom - at least we found that so - so we stopped asking. We always had water and ice in our stateroom upon embarkation. I guess they want you to spend $$ and buy the water.

 

Also I don't believe anyone has mentioned their "cruises" have been ruined. Just stating about cutbacks from things that were always provided that now are not.