Ralphhhhh

I recently had the &quot;Joy&quot; of contracting the Norwalk Virus. Montezuma's Revenge would have been more fun. Spending two days with stomach cramps, vomiting, and the runs was no fun. <BR><BR>This happened not on at cruise but at home. If I had been on my vacation on a cruise that was aware that there was the slimest possiblity of getting this I would want a full refund as some of these people have stated. For those of you who don't believe this should be true, may you enjoy the same pleasure of this virus.<BR><BR>Cruises should start taking responsibilty for their inactions, which in some cases can be as serious as an action.

puhleeze

So, Ralphhhhheee, who are you suing now? Someone must have given you this virus - maybe you're wife if you have one? Sue her! Better yet, sue God - he's the one who made the virus in the first place - or you could sue yourself for being stupid!!

Tod

Puhleeze. Who said anything about suing anybody. You are just the type of person that deserves to contract this type of virus. Maybe after a day or two of sitting on the toilet you might remove your head out of your butt.<BR><BR>The cruise lines where aware this could be a problem and should have had at least the professional courtesy of warning their passengers this might be a problem.

puhleeze

&quot;The cruise lines where aware this could be a problem and should have had at least the professional courtesy of warning their passengers this might be a problem.&quot; <BR>wHere aware? What? Do you mean WERE aware? The cruiselines WERE aware and DID warn all pax before they ever boarded. <BR>Aside from this, the whole virus thing has been totally blown out of proportion... 1-2% of pax? Big Deal! Sure, if YOU get it, it's a pain, but for the other 98% who didn't, why should they get their money back? You can't refund it to a few &quot;sick&quot; ones unless the &quot;sick&quot; ones can PROVE that they got it on board and PROVE that it was the ship owner's fault that they got it and didn't get it from another pax when they, like you, had your head up their asses.<BR>You notice that Ralpphhheee said, &quot;This happened not on at cruise but at home.&quot; So who's fault was it that Ralphheeee got sick? the ship? jeez - get real Toddy...

Iam

Puleeze what Ralph was pointing out the horror of getting this while NOT on vacation.<BR><BR>So just imagine how horrible this would be getting this while on vacation. And it wasn't just a FEW people that got this virus but hundreds. <BR><BR>And it was proven that several of the ships were carriers. That's only natural in a self contained environment. <BR><BR>I agree with Tod I hope you suffer the same inconvenience. Then we'll see how you change your attitude.<BR><BR>People like you are what make cruises unbearable.

JP

The only evidence that I recall seeing that a ship was a &quot;carrier&quot; is that some ships had the virus on board for more than one cruise. Was there something more that I missed? Does someone have evidence that it wasn't brought on board by passengers on each of the cruises?<BR>

gail

The Norwalk virus is an extremely &quot;durable&quot; virus, resisting many efforts to clean it away. Recent article in Boston Globe discussing how it is currently epidemic in many long-term care facilities (nursing homes, etc.) and some hospitals. It is also one of the most common viruses, after the common cold.<BR><BR>Since it is spread by touching surfaces contaminated by people not practicing good hand-washing, it is difficult to see how one can blame a facility or cruise ship. One can greatly reduce their own chances of becoming infected by being very careful with hand-washing. If you catch the virus, it is miserable, so a little extra time with soap and water or even the alcohol hand gels sure beats 48 hours in the bathroom.

Patty

If it truly is a virus, then I don't think those gel hand sanitizers would do anything in this case since they work against bacteria not viruses.

Kevin

So, does that mean if you got a cold while on the ship, you'd sue them?<BR><BR>New report show about 45,000-50,000 poeple die every year from the flu. Who would you sue if that happened?<BR><BR>Stay in your cave, it makes it a better place for those of us who live in the world.

nerves

I have had flu-like symptons, including vomiting,the &quot;runs&quot; etc. long, long before I ever thought about cruising.<BR>Wonder why I didn't think to blame someone or something or some corporation back then?<BR>Also---<BR>My neighbor is ugly. It upsets me to look at her. Could I sue her for upsetting me, as I know she knows she is ugly, but still has the nerve to come out in public? If she didn't come out, I wouldn't be exposed to her ugliness and wouldn't be upset and nervous. Obviously I need to blame someone or something for any little thing that happens on the trail of life.<BR>It just isn't fair--life should be perfect for me and I know it would be if not for other people.

I

You people are all insane. The original poster said nothing about suing anybody. I believe all that was stated was that a full refund should be in order. Seeing since the cruise lines knew this had reached epidemic proportions and did nothing to warn their patrons. I agree if you and a hundred or so other passengers contracted the virus while on board one of their ships it seems like good business to want them back in happier times. Granting them another cruise would only promote a willingness to return.<BR><BR>If your last memory of a cruise was sleeping in front of a toilet would you seriously consider another cruise. I doubt it. Use some common sense. Stop defending a nameless entity that only cares about their bottom line.

John Dewey

The law firm of Dewey, Screwem &amp; Howe will protect the rights of all cruisers! You are all victims of the evil capitalist cruise companies and their willful misconduct! Call us at 1-800-CONTINGENCYFEE

Lew

Huh?<BR><BR>“Seeing since the cruise lines knew this had reached epidemic proportions and did nothing to warn their patrons.”<BR><BR>Who declared an epidemic? Not the CDC. Are you an epidemiologist who is now declaring an epidemic?<BR><BR>Don’t worry about the facts. <BR><BR>Both the cruise line and the media warned everybody. Not all cruise lines handled the problem with the dispatch the media desired, but they did advise all passengers they cancel their cruise. It was the passengers’ choice to go ahead or cancel and lose their payment. And that is your gripe.<BR><BR>No one warns you whenever you get into a car that there is a chance you may be killed or injured before you reach the end of your block.<BR><BR>You say, “Stop defending a nameless entity that only cares about their bottom line.” <BR><BR>That’s what was said of Renaissance, The Big Red Boat, UAL and US Air. Two of those have disappeared, two more might. Then you’ll yell monopoly and price gouging.

aahso

I Doubt---there is so many rebuttals to your argument that I hardly know where to start.<BR>&quot;If your last memories of your cruise was sleeping in front of a toilet &quot;???<BR>My good sir/madam---I say that on any given cruise there are a goodly number of people who spend time puking, crapping, headache, etc,--not from any virus but from drinking themselves into oblivion. Who do we blame--the cruise line for selling them drinks?? Hardly, as it is now fashionable to sneak your own liquor aboard, so blaming the cruise lines is out on that.<BR>Lets see-- so it's the ships fault that you get a virus aboard ship because it wasn't clean? Ok--lets see-- ever look closely at the people going through the buffet lines? They lick their fingers, handle the serving spoons--cough on their hands, handle the serving spoons, run their fingers into the bowls to get bread, cheese, etc. Cough directly on the food--all this after using the bathroom and not washing their filthy hands--Ever been to lifeboat drill where there are a bunch of idiots blowing the whistles on the lifejackets--never stopping to think how many other mouths the whistles have been in--and more importantly what has been in those other mouths??? <BR>How about in the dining room--the same ones who do the buffet for breakfast and lunch also eat in the dining room--cough on their hands, handle the menu. cough on the hands,pick the nose, shake hands with the waiter and leave it all for the second seating to absorb-<BR>-<BR>I think anyone can get the point. If a lot of our fellow cruisers weren't slobs and would use some common manners and basic hygiene it would go a long way toward helping the cruises lines to better keep a clean and sanitary ship.<BR>When a cruise ship returns to port after a cruise, you have hundreds trying to get off asap, hundreds more trying to get on asap and if they don't get aboard by 11am, they post in the reviews about how long it took to get aboard and how the cruise lines need to correct itself on the boarding procedures.

aahso

I Doubt---there is so many rebuttals to your argument that I hardly know where to start.<BR>&quot;If your last memories of your cruise was sleeping in front of a toilet &quot;???<BR>My good sir/madam---I say that on any given cruise there are a goodly number of people who spend time puking, crapping, headache, etc,--not from any virus but from drinking themselves into oblivion. Who do we blame--the cruise line for selling them drinks?? Hardly, as it is now fashionable to sneak your own liquor aboard, so blaming the cruise lines is out on that.<BR>Lets see-- so it's the ships fault that you get a virus aboard ship because it wasn't clean? Ok--lets see-- ever look closely at the people going through the buffet lines? They lick their fingers, handle the serving spoons--cough on their hands, handle the serving spoons, run their fingers into the bowls to get bread, cheese, etc. Cough directly on the food--all this after using the bathroom and not washing their filthy hands--Ever been to lifeboat drill where there are a bunch of idiots blowing the whistles on the lifejackets--never stopping to think how many other mouths the whistles have been in--and more importantly what has been in those other mouths??? <BR>How about in the dining room--the same ones who do the buffet for breakfast and lunch also eat in the dining room--cough on their hands, handle the menu. cough on the hands,pick the nose, shake hands with the waiter and leave it all for the second seating to absorb-<BR>-<BR>I think anyone can get the point. If a lot of our fellow cruisers weren't slobs and would use some common manners and basic hygiene it would go a long way toward helping the cruises lines to better keep a clean and sanitary ship.<BR>When a cruise ship returns to port after a cruise, you have hundreds trying to get off asap, hundreds more trying to get on asap and if they don't get aboard by 11am, they post in the reviews about how long it took to get aboard and how the cruise lines need to correct itself on the boarding procedures.<BR><BR>Seems that most people today want a cruise that gives them 5 star service and food, babysits the kids, keeps the water calm so the ship doesn't rock and guarantees them a perfect vacation in every way and they want it on $ 49.00 per day. If they don't get it, it obviously has to be someone elses fault, namely the cruise lines.<BR>

Borderlady

Hey, aahso--Your scenario on how the virus keeps going is exactly what the CDC has been saying....but what do they know? <BR><BR>Check some of the other boards for posts by passengers who state a day or two before their cruise that they are feeling ill and asking if they should still go. The resounding answer is always &quot;YES.&quot;

Paul Therault

I am sure all the doomsayers wish the entire cruise industry to shut down. So how long should they close? <BR><BR>It certainly is not the cleanliness of the ships but the passengers who are at fault.<BR><BR>Carnival is one cruise line that is offering your money back if you do not wish to cruise. How many are accepting that offer? None.<BR><BR>Paul

Not

Ok Lew how many people need to get sick before we recognize there is a problem. The old saying, If it aint broken don't fix it&quot; doesn't work here. It's broken!<BR><BR>Someone a while ago brought up the Tylenol scare as a good example of properly handling a scary situation. Tylenol pulled all their product rather than jeopardize the health of their buyers. Guess what? They are now one of the most trusted medicines in the world thanks in part to that. They put out massive warnings and ads stating the problem. Funny, I didn't see any of that from the cruise lines in their latest ads..<BR><BR>This whole topic is a question of good marketing and applying a little ethical conduct.<BR><BR>Im glad at least one cruise line is offering refunds as Paul stated. At least they have some good business sense.<BR><BR>Plus I agree no one mentioned in the original post ANYTHING about suing. Just refunds.<BR><BR>Paul one small thing. According to your previous numerous statements. It's never the cruise lines fault. It's always the fault of the patron. When are the cruise going to accept responsibilty for their cruise lines?

Enough

Not ([email protected])<BR><BR>To repeat your point of view will not change the facts.<BR><BR>You have previously made your point that all corporations are evil in other strings. I get it, but reject it.<BR><BR>Yes, the initial poster never indicated he wanted to litigate. But then again, getting sick at home has nothing to do with cruises. His agenda appears to 'get his name in print' and put forth an arguement.

Tod

And your point of posting is what, &quot;Enough&quot;? The initial poster was pointing out how horrific suffering through this virus under normal conditions was to tolerate. <BR><BR>To have it happen on your vacation that could have been prevented had you been warned of the high probablity that you might contract it is unforgivable.<BR><BR>For those of you that don't see it this way you keep your hands in the sand long Enough and you'll suffocate.