Curious about Norovirus & compensation from Princess

[Loonbeam]

Only the Royal and Regal have handwashing stations (that sadly few people noticed or used)... Others have the Sanitizer.

 

Sanitizer is not completely ineffective against noro if used properly, but nothing beats a good handwashing. Of course, if someone who decided to ignore quarantine skips the sanitizer, handles a roll and puts it back, nothing will protect the person who gets that roll...

 

Are there hand washing stations (sinks) near the buffets or MDR? Or is hand gel only provided? It has been over 7 yrs since my last cruise. I do remember the hand gel.

 

I have read that hand gel is useless against Noro and that proper hand washing before eating is the way to go (obviously)!

[caribill]

Only the Royal and Regal have handwashing stations (that sadly few people noticed or used)... Others have the Sanitizer.

 

 

However, the grand class ships have washrooms by the elevators next to the buffet. They also have washrooms just outside the dining rooms near the atrium. The aft dining room on the newest Grand class ships have a washroom just inside the entrance to that dining room.

[Colo Cruiser]

However, the grand class ships have washrooms by the elevators next to the buffet. They also have washrooms just outside the dining rooms near the atrium. The aft dining room on the newest Grand class ships have a washroom just inside the entrance to that dining room.

 

Its a moot point if you walk from the stall out the door.

[elliair]

The bottom line is to wash, wash, wash your hands and avoid touching your mouth and eyes. Avoid the public bathrooms.

 

I suspect that this is where the majority of the noro is spread. I posted in another thread a while back seeing a woman washing her mouth out in the sink. She was using the cup of her hand for the water then spitting out into her hand. She was also hacking up phlegm in the cup of her hand then rinsing under the sink. I did say something to her (see something say something). She got a paper towel and proceeded with her routine into the paper towel. She didn't throw the paper towel away, she left the restroom and wiped the railing outside the door down with it! I was absolutely horrified! I should have been compensated for watching that disgusting act. :eek:

 

P.S. This all took place on the Lido deck restroom by the elevators--Star Princess.

Edited December 3, 2014 by elliair

[cpj]

Let face it folks. Some people are pigs. Also the cruise lines are not without fault. Agree it's brought onboard but they never close the casinos where I believe a lot of is spread. Also according to the CDC it can get in the food supply and into the water. That is fact. So wash your hands as much as you can but if it's in the food or water, your just out of luck. I think when you have these outbreaks that last two or three cruises that it's a problem that the cruise lines have created because of not throwing out contaminated food and water. Also a lot of crew members work even when there sick. Also close the casino for a few days but that will never happen. Also get a sanitizors that are effective against Nora.

[Pam in CA]

There are so many places where it can spread. Most passengers never go to the casino so I don't think that's the major culprit. It could be anything: hand rails, elevator buttons, salt and pepper shakers, gym machines, door knobs, paddle tennis paddles, etc. The list could go on forever.

[shredie]

Agree it's brought onboard but they never close the casinos where I believe a lot of is spread.

 

In the casino, the little noro viruses are asphyxiated by all the smoke, so that's clearly not the problem. :p;):D As Pam says, the majority of passengers don't use the casino, but they do use the elevators, handrails, etc.

[The Captain90]

On my recent cruise I found many pax were coughing and generally suffering from flu like symptoms. Despite my careful hygiene routine throughout the cruise I succumbed to the dreaded bug on the final day (and I remained in my cabin). The end result I returned home quite ill and was off work for a week.

 

As I am a casual employee I did not get paid for this week. Perhaps I can get Princess to pay my weeks lost wages!!!

 

 

 

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[Boytjie]

So you would be on a cruise for five straight days without getting off in a port?

 

And even if the poster did not get off the ship those 5 days, how would they avoid contact with anybody on board that went ashore? :confused:

[Boytjie]

I'm not blaming Princess here nor any other cruise line but I wish that they had elevator buttons that one could activate the elevator without actually having to have flesh-to-button contact. The buttons don't work if you attempt to cover your finger with a handkerchief or tissue. One must make direct physical contact with flesh. I wish they would install a different activating method on all their elevators. Fortunately I, nor my husband have ever contracted a cold, flu, or noro on a cruise and I attribute it to frequent good hand washing.

 

I press all elevator buttons with a knuckle, not a finger tip (everywhere, not just on ships). Less chance of a knuckle making contact with mouth or eyes.

[elliair]

On my recent cruise I found many pax were coughing and generally suffering from flu like symptoms. Despite my careful hygiene routine throughout the cruise I succumbed to the dreaded bug on the final day (and I remained in my cabin). The end result I returned home quite ill and was off work for a week.

 

As I am a casual employee I did not get paid for this week. Perhaps I can get Princess to pay my weeks lost wages!!!

 

 

 

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You must have been on the Panama Canal cruise with my friend. She said a lot of passengers were hacking and coughing and everyone in their party got sick. That was almost a month ago and they are just now getting over it. You gotta keep your hands away from your face, and wash your hands frequently. Don't use hand lotion as viruses can stick to the lotion.

[Colo Cruiser]

Cruise hack is pretty common now regardless.

[Dr.David]

I can't believe some of the harsh comments, it really is a joke. I am sorry... Code Red on the last how many cruises??? Different passengers keep re-boarding with the Noro-virus? Only on the Crown by Princess??

It is obviously in/on the ship, in the staff's facilities/sleeping quarters, it is the staff or possibly the food that's being loaded each time the ship ports. It is something other than passengers not washing their hands and relying on antibacterial soap. If Princess cruise lines knows that there has been a sickness or outbreak that has continued on their ship for the past 3 cruises, it would be classy on there part to offer your money back. They do not go into detail of what an actual quarantine entails. My rep said, she did not know the actual protocol, which in my families case, we are traveling with children, so an explanation of what would be refunded or procedures would be helpful. I was told it is decided case by case. Princess Cruise ships have always been our favorite, however, we feel we are "rolling dice", taking our chances on our upcoming trip, on the Crown.

Sorry Pier Pressure 53, you've had to take such harsh criticism, from what must be a forum of medical/cruise line professionals.

[Colo Cruiser]

I can't believe some of the harsh comments, it really is a joke. I am sorry... Code Red on the last how many cruises??? Different passengers keep re-boarding with the Noro-virus? Only on the Crown by Princess??

It is obviously in/on the ship, in the staff's facilities/sleeping quarters, it is the staff or possibly the food that's being loaded each time the ship ports. It is something other than passengers not washing their hands and relying on antibacterial soap. If Princess cruise lines knows that there has been a sickness or outbreak that has continued on their ship for the past 3 cruises, it would be classy on there part to offer your money back. They do not go into detail of what an actual quarantine entails. My rep said, she did not know the actual protocol, which in my families case, we are traveling with children, so an explanation of what would be refunded or procedures would be helpful. I was told it is decided case by case. Princess Cruise ships have always been our favorite, however, we feel we are "rolling dice", taking our chances on our upcoming trip, on the Crown.

Sorry Pier Pressure 53, you've had to take such harsh criticism, from what must be a forum of medical/cruise line professionals.

 

 

Makes you wonder though, you don't hear about other cruise lines noro issues near as much. :confused:

[skf]

We (by which I include "Me")had a big outbreak on the old Regal in 2003. The ship gave us a credit (I forget how much) for the shops & refunded 1 days fare because of a shortened cruise & missed stops. They also re-booked our air from New York.

As always, I hold Princess blameless, even though I was sick. It is caused by people who use the toilets & do not wash their hands.

Steve

[elliair]

There's also another thing that bothers us when there's an outbreak of noro. They take the S&P shakers off the table, then the buckets of water with antivirus stuff added comes out. They wipe the table top down, but they don't wipe the arms of the chairs or the backs of the chairs where people place their hands. I can't tell you how many times I've seen women leaving the restroom without washing their hands. I agree, that's the first place it starts--unsanitary practices.

[MrMan]

I suspect that this is where the majority of the noro is spread. I posted in another thread a while back seeing a woman washing her mouth out in the sink. She was using the cup of her hand for the water then spitting out into her hand. She was also hacking up phlegm in the cup of her hand then rinsing under the sink. I did say something to her (see something say something). She got a paper towel and proceeded with her routine into the paper towel. She didn't throw the paper towel away, she left the restroom and wiped the railing outside the door down with it! I was absolutely horrified! I should have been compensated for watching that disgusting act. :eek:

 

P.S. This all took place on the Lido deck restroom by the elevators--Star Princess.

 

 

Nope, your junk is cleaner than wait for it.........buffet tongs. Just about every passenger touched it. IMHO avoid buffet, avoid Noro

[cb at sea]

I cannot imagine anyone with Noro "leaving their cabin and going about their business"....when you have Noro, you are SICK and miserable!

 

You can have the virus BEFORE you exhibit ANY symptom, so you can truthfully answer that you are not and have not been sick on the questionnaire... then, a day into the cruise...BAM...you wish you were dead....it's that bad!!!

[cruiseryyc]

I cannot imagine anyone with Noro "leaving their cabin and going about their business"....when you have Noro, you are SICK and miserable!

 

I totally agree with this statement; the only place I wanted to be when I had it was in my bed in my cabin. Cannot fathom how people have it and "sneak" out of their quarantine - but that adds to the reason why it keeps going around and around the ship!

[dchip]

I cannot imagine anyone with Noro "leaving their cabin and going about their business"....when you have Noro, you are SICK and miserable!

 

You can have the virus BEFORE you exhibit ANY symptom, so you can truthfully answer that you are not and have not been sick on the questionnaire... then, a day into the cruise...BAM...you wish you were dead....it's that bad!!!

 

Me either!!! I don't even know how you could leave your cabin. I had a virus similar to Noro in 2004. I was at home and couldn't barely leave my bedroom! However, it did come on with no warning at all. I was fine one minute and thought I was going to die the next!! It was awful. :eek:

 

Denise

[kluv2cruz]

I was chopping jalapeños at dinner and it's amazing how often I touch my face even when I'm very consciously trying not to!

 

 

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[Oren]

My youngest son got Noro on a Princess cruise. Travel insurance DID compensate us for all prorated loss of vacation days under the "quarantine" coverage.

[janacin]

I don't doubt it. But I was on the Crown two weeks ago, during the shortened sailing, and we were on code red the whole time. It really makes you wonder about the Crown in particular why it has so many outbreaks.

 

We were on the October 18, 28 day LA Tahiti LA cruise on the Crown just before your shortened Mexico cruise. There were over 150 cases of Noro reported. We were to take on provisions in Tahiti but the head food officer rejected the quality of the fruits and vegetables and we had to wait in port an extra day until a container arrived from New Zealand with fresh stuff. Both my wife and I came down with noro on the 9 non stop sea days from Tahiti to Los Angeles. We had to spend the required 48 hours in our stateroom. There was no medicine to take, just boiled chicken and chicken soup. The med center checked on us by phone and our room was "sanitized" twice a day. Not a good way to spend a vacation but fortunately we had done all the excursions and now we could sleep it off, read or watch TV.

[Runbarb55]

My husband and I were on the Star on BTB. During the second cruise, everyone started getting sick. The tables were bare at dinner, people missed the big ports they were cruising to take. DH and I never eat in the buffet, take an elevator or touch a hand rail. When we arrive I get out my bleach disinfectant and wipe the remote, the knobs and anything we touch. I think that has helped us stay well. I did catch a bad bronchitis on the flight to a cruise once. We will be on the Crown in Feb. That will be a true test.

Basha

[jer_l]

I cannot imagine anyone with Noro "leaving their cabin and going about their business"....when you have Noro, you are SICK and miserable!

 

You can have the virus BEFORE you exhibit ANY symptom, so you can truthfully answer that you are not and have not been sick on the questionnaire... then, a day into the cruise...BAM...you wish you were dead....it's that bad!!!

 

Unfortunately, there are some die-hards who will go to public areas when they know they are getting sick. We were on the Thanksgiving week Crown sailing' There was Noro, but it was not wide-spread--less than 10 cases. The evening the captain announced that there was a problem, an older man sitting next to us at dinner (tables for two) kept complaining to his wife about how he felt. He said he had not felt well all day, ached all over, and his stomach was upset. His food sat on the table uneaten.

 

I resisted the urge to tell him to get to his cabin and call the medical center. Instead, we asked our waiter if we could move. He took us to the maitre de who seated us on the other side of the room so no would know we asked to be moved. Our waiter sent our food to the new waiter. The next night I believe I saw his wife eating alone.

 

The second noro announcement came the next day when the captain said there were only four passengers in quarantine. The following day there were two more. It was not a big outbreak, but I appreciated the efforts of the crew of the Crown to keep it contained. We did pass a quarantined cabin each time we went to our cabin. The stewards wore masks and all linens were bagged in yellow bags.