Has anyone else wondered this?

[robmtx]

1 hour ago, The Scurvy Pirate said:

My wife takes a full can of Lysol each trip and pretty much sprays every surface...

And here I was thinking I was the only one enduring this ritual! We need a support group. I especially love when we first get into a room and I can't touch anything. I can lay on the bed.. She'll clean the remote then give it to me .. Then she'll stink the place up with Lysol and I'll go for a walk.. lol

[Max and Ruby]

2 minutes ago, robmtx said:

And here I was thinking I was the only one enduring this ritual! We need a support group. I especially love when we first get into a room and I can't touch anything. I can lay on the bed.. She'll clean the remote then give it to me .. Then she'll stink the place up with Lysol and I'll go for a walk.. lol

Uh, don't forget to look for bed bugs before lying on that bed! 🙂  We actually do that in hotels and probably should do it in cruise cabins, but I'm not getting another cabin .....

[taglovestocruise]

If the cabin stewards have a full 5 hours,  and if they are cutting back on housekeeping staff,  and if the new number of cabins to be cleaned are up to 24 per steward.  That would give each steward a whopping 12 minutes per cabin. A lot of IF'S, but regardless be assured each cabin will not be a clean as pre cutbacks. 

Edited May 18, 2023 by taglovestocruise

[lovesthebeach2]

The staterooms aren’t usually open until at least 1pm, most times a bit later than that. But I have also seen the crew cleaning staterooms where some have left very early, even before us, so they are working before 8am.

Also, I always bring wipes to clean the room. It only takes a few minutes to sanitize, and I bring a clear small plastic bag (the one that comes with my newspaper) for the remote,

[Bead Pirate]

On Royal (at least on Oasis class) there are two person teams (with white full body cover-ups) who wheel behind them a device with a wand that sprays a vapor in the room. Takes them about 20 seconds to cover a suite.

 

We do B2B frequently and they will not let us back in the stateroom until they have been there (despite all of our stuff being right where we left it). I have noticed that each team works from aft to stern and has responsibility for either the Starboard or Port hallways. These folks "appear" as soon as the B2B get back on the ship.

 

Looks like an small army of space men headed to the elevators on Deck 5 🙂 

[loman]

We wipe down the inside of the drawers , Just in case the last pax was using one of them for their dirty underwear drawer.

We also wipe down the shelves, as you can see some pax use them to store their shoes on you tube videos, rather than leave them on the floor.

[Ret MP]

6 hours ago, sjinnj said:

No washy washy, no yummy yummy.

..........in your tummy tummy

[bucfan2]

10 minutes ago, loman said:

We wipe down the inside of the drawers , Just in case the last pax was using one of them for their dirty underwear drawer.

We also wipe down the shelves, as you can see some pax use them to store their shoes on you tube videos, rather than leave them on the floor.

Wow...love to have you stay a night in our house as an Airbnb...won't even charge ya.

[orville99]

27 minutes ago, Bead Pirate said:

On Royal (at least on Oasis class) there are two person teams (with white full body cover-ups) who wheel behind them a device with a wand that sprays a vapor in the room. Takes them about 20 seconds to cover a suite.

 

We do B2B frequently and they will not let us back in the stateroom until they have been there (despite all of our stuff being right where we left it). I have noticed that each team works from aft to stern and has responsibility for either the Starboard or Port hallways. These folks "appear" as soon as the B2B get back on the ship.

 

Looks like an small army of space men headed to the elevators on Deck 5 🙂 

That hasn't been done in over a year on any of the 24 cruises we have been on.

[loman]

1 minute ago, bucfan2 said:

Wow...love to have you stay a night in our house as an Airbnb...won't even charge ya.

Lol ,  only takes about 5 minutes , and this way my white polo

wont smell like ....🤣

 

[roupa]

Above comments should be reassuring. Just adding my few cents:

Yes, cabin cleaning begins very early, and not by just the daily steward.   They have help from staff from different departments.  The crew helps crew!  For example: the casino staff does not get time much off during turnaround.  Some help with cleaning some areas, luggage handling, restocking…

The waitstaff from various venues also chip in.     We recently learned that after the MDR closes each night, it is cleaned and fogged, so staff is often there well after midnight!

So fear germs, but don’t obsess!  Your taxi ride, flight and hotel rooms might be just a bit less clean.  😲🤣

[Ret MP]

45 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

If the cabin stewards have a full 5 hours,  and if they are cutting back on housekeeping staff,  and if the new number of cabins to be cleaned are up to 24 per steward.  That would give each steward a whopping 12 minutes per cabin. A lot of IF'S, but regardless be assured each cabin will not be a clean as pre cutbacks. 

But some folks in here, and I honestly don't know for sure if it's factual or not, say that on turn-around days, the stewards get help.  So, if so, the time in the cabin increases.  I know that on most (I say most because I can't remember every cruise I've been on and the specifics) the cabin steward has an assistant.  

Also, for general consumption:  On our Alaska cruise on the Ovation in May, last year, the hallway handrails seemed a little wet and sticky, often, but at least every day, and smelled like a disinfectant of some kind.  It was gross to touch. 

[PWP-001]

7 hours ago, sjinnj said:

No washy washy, no yummy yummy.

According to the "washy, washy" attendant stationed on Freedom last weekend, they are prohibited from saying as you quoted.  According to him, "guests didn't like it and complained."  

 

"How petty," I thought, until I remember those precious snowflakes that got a "timeout" at best are now adults and probably would complain at being told "no."

[reallyitsmema]

1 hour ago, Bead Pirate said:

On Royal (at least on Oasis class) there are two person teams (with white full body cover-ups) who wheel behind them a device with a wand that sprays a vapor in the room. Takes them about 20 seconds to cover a suite.

 

We do B2B frequently and they will not let us back in the stateroom until they have been there (despite all of our stuff being right where we left it). I have noticed that each team works from aft to stern and has responsibility for either the Starboard or Port hallways. These folks "appear" as soon as the B2B get back on the ship.

 

Looks like an small army of space men headed to the elevators on Deck 5 🙂 

 

Fogging has been happening for a long time, especially if there is some kind of outbreak on the ship, like norovirus.  You will see them doing individual cabins where people have been quarantined and also doing cabin passageways overnight. Since covid, they have been doing the cabin passageways overnight.

[Ret MP]

19 minutes ago, PWP-001 said:

According to the "washy, washy" attendant stationed on Freedom last weekend, they are prohibited from saying as you quoted.  According to him, "guests didn't like it and complained."  

 

"How petty," I thought, until I remember those precious snowflakes that got a "timeout" at best are now adults and probably would complain at being told "no."

Yep, the squeaky wheels get the grease, or the "snowflakes" get to ruin most things good, helpful, and/or humorous, et al.  I've always had fun with the Washy Washy folks.  They are more than willing to keep it on the "light side".  I don't remember what cruise we took but the Washy Washy person played a guitar, it was entertaining and fun.

 

I sure hope they haven't done away with it, it was fun for our usual party, and my wife always gave him/her a big hug, if they seemed approachable, which hasn't been a problem, yet.  However, I'd bet that the crew didn't like that assignment much.  

 

[PWP-001]

1 minute ago, Ret MP said:

Yep, the squeaky wheels get the grease, or the "snowflakes" get to ruin most things good, helpful, and/or humorous, et al.  I've always had fun with the Washy Washy folks.  They are more than willing to keep it on the "light side".  I don't remember what cruise we took but the Washy Washy person played a guitar, it was entertaining and fun.

 

I sure hope they haven't done away with it, it was fun for our usual party, and my wife always gave him/her a big hug, if they seemed approachable, which hasn't been a problem, yet.  However, I'd bet that the crew didn't like that assignment much.  

 

I regret that I didn't take her name, but in November 22 through close to January 23 the lady working the position takes it to the next level:  she has a boom box playing music, face paints, wears costumes --one with wings-- and thoroughly enjoys what she does.  Many ask to take pictures with her.  She's a lot of fun.  

 

So upon leaving the Windjammer after a meal I walked up to her with a very serious and worried face, leaned into her and told her that she would need to shut down the buffet.  Her eyes opened wide and asked me what had happened.  I told her:  "I ate it all."  She howled in laughter.  

[Keksie]

I just wonder if any of you ate dirt or drank out of a garden hose growing up?  I figure a few germs now and again just keep my immune system humming along which is why I haven't gotten sick with anything for any years.

[Ret MP]

2 minutes ago, Keksie said:

I just wonder if any of you ate dirt or drank out of a garden hose growing up?  I figure a few germs now and again just keep my immune system humming along which is why I haven't gotten sick with anything for any years.

As a kid growing up in South Florida and a "Free Range" kid, on the weekends, lunch was what we found in the fields (unwashed tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, whatever) and Coconuts that we spent a long time cracking open by crashing them on rocks.  Drinks were often the Coconut milk, or water out of a hose, a hose from a home that nobody was home or a hose from a well.  I've never been hospitalized for ILLNESS/SICKNESS.  We won't discuss Ortho, though.

[taglovestocruise]

11 minutes ago, Keksie said:

I just wonder if any of you ate dirt or drank out of a garden hose growing up?  I figure a few germs now and again just keep my immune system humming along which is why I haven't gotten sick with anything for any years.

We would suck the water out of a sprinkler head on a hot dry day.. And I agree things like that keep you healthy for life. 

[HappyTexan44]

24 minutes ago, Keksie said:

I just wonder if any of you ate dirt or drank out of a garden hose growing up?  I figure a few germs now and again just keep my immune system humming along which is why I haven't gotten sick with anything for any years.

 

At home, I'm fine with the 5 second rule.   If I get sick at home, I've fine with that.  I was recently even happy that DD aged 13 got sick because she hadn't been sick in awhile.  But, I really don't want to waste time being stuck in my room with Norovirus while on a cruise.  
 

I don't know about cruises, but I don't trust hotel room cleans.  I've seen some vomit-inducing things.  
 

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

29 minutes ago, Keksie said:

I just wonder if any of you ate dirt or drank out of a garden hose growing up?  I figure a few germs now and again just keep my immune system humming along which is why I haven't gotten sick with anything for any years.

Agreed.  I also wondered if the fascination with "cleanliness" actually worked against us when Covid struck.  I mean think about everyone who does everything in their power to stay away from germs.  Did that mean our bodies couldn't fight back as well when something serious hit?  I've wondered that. 🤪

[livingonthebeach]

9 hours ago, Tntt said:

On disembarkation day, most people are off the ship by 9am, and then as early as 10:30 am the new guests are embarking.... has anyone wondered how are these ships adequately cleaned and sterilized in such a short turn around time? I've always wondered this especially when it comes to cleaning the staterooms. Now that we have to deal with the covid Era, it just seems like 2-3 hours between guests is not enough time to properly sterilize a cruise ship.  We will be cruising in a few days and I know this is crazy to think about, but I was just wondering.

 

My last cruise on Rhapsody OTS was a total disembarkation nightmare!!!!! We were held up by Customs and Border Patrol like for forever!!!! It had to do with the ship's first US stop since Covid -- it had been home ported in Barbados since the restart. No facial recognition for us and a bunch of questions to boot. Well, not only immigration held us up but there were other agencies that inspected the ship -- it was the worst, like a four hour nightmare!!! Many people missed their flights. I will think twice before doing a repositioning in the future. 

[Florida Glamazon]

I'm in the category of people who prepare for almost anything a cruise can throw at us-almost. So we both grab a few Lysol wipes and wipe down the high touch areas: Door handles, remote, sink and shower handles etc. 

Then it's full on "Mamasita needs a margarita: time!!!!

[djvcr]

10 hours ago, PWP-001 said:

Did you mention hair in the shower???

 

On my Oasis sailing in March, there was a used bar of soap left in the shower when we entered room for first time. It was thin and the soap rack was above eye level, just shows they don't don't scrub every inch. I do think they clean better than most hotel rooms get cleaned. It's also same sailing that a small gecko was a stowaway on luggage when it was delivered to room and had to chase it around the bed. Gave to room steward, not sure what he did with it.

[BND]

4 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Agreed.  I also wondered if the fascination with "cleanliness" actually worked against us when Covid struck.  I mean think about everyone who does everything in their power to stay away from germs.  Did that mean our bodies couldn't fight back as well when something serious hit?  I've wondered that. 🤪

DH and I have never really sweated "germs" and we never had Covid.  Neither did my parents (85 yr olds).  Both our sons and DDIL's did, but very mild cases.  One DIL is a nurse and the other has immunity issues (she's had it twice).Both DS  worked through the entire pandemic and only caught it in 2022 so well after the worst.  DH and I are "baby boomers" and drank from hoses, played in dirt, etc.  I've always believed that exposure to "germs" helps build immunity.  I'm someone who rarely got sick growing up and even now in my 60's.  We don't wipe down our cabins or really worry.  We wash our hands as required, press elevator buttons with our knuckles, but outside of that, nothing else.  We don't wipe down or spray anything on a cruise ship or in a hotel room.  We've cruised 8 times since restart and have stayed in multiple hotel rooms, at the beach and near cruise ports.  Never wiped down any surface.  I have had one sinus infection and nothing else in the last 4 years.  DH has had one cold.