Beware Norovirus epidemic on Crown Princess!
Jan 5th, 2012, 07:14 PM
#41
My DD and SIL are musicians and have had gigs on several ships during the last year or so. Just about every ship they have been on, they have been on code red for part of their time. Code Red meaning there has been an outbreak of norovirus, and the crew have to stay in the crew areas of the ship and not associate with the passengers. They have had this on the Grand Princess, Sun Princess and more recently the Island Princess. It certainly is not confined to just one ship.
Jan 6th, 2012, 07:16 AM
#42
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Sideways, wow, you had an even worse experience on Crown Princess than we did. We too were on the Aloha deck and had heard rumours that this was the most heavily hit deck for outbreaks.
The "takeway" from our experience is that it is going to be a long time until we cruise again and definitely not in December. The weather, over which Princess has not control, was bad as mentioned and last year we ran into cold weather during the same timeframe. If, and a big if, we go again, it will be in Feb/Mar.
The "takeway" from our experience is that it is going to be a long time until we cruise again and definitely not in December. The weather, over which Princess has not control, was bad as mentioned and last year we ran into cold weather during the same timeframe. If, and a big if, we go again, it will be in Feb/Mar.
Jan 6th, 2012, 02:51 PM
#44
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See below for NV stats per the CDC
.http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm
.http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm
Jan 13th, 2012, 11:56 AM
#45
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I was on Crown Princess 12-24-11 to 12-31-11. We also were delayed in boarding the ship, although none of the 9 of us minded as we were happy that they were putting in extra effort to sanitize the ship as best they could.
We had some outbreaks during our cruise but nobody from our group. We couldn't serve ourselves for the first 5 days of our cruise, not a big inconvenience. We sanitized often & most of us only used our bathrooms in our staterooms.
We heard stories of the previous week during our cruise from people who had been on the ship for both that week & the week we were on. They told us about all the people that got sick & about the rough seas. They also said the captain reported that during the 12-17-11 cruise he witnessed the worst seas he had seen in 20 yrs. I feel really bad for the people on that cruise, if that had been my experience I probably would never want to cruise again. I think with the amount of people on a ship you can't expect everything to go perfectly. Fortunately we had extremely mild seas of 1 1/2 - 4 ft waves the entire trip. We had an awesome time, loved the crew & the ship & can't wait to cruise again.
Unfortunately you never know what the weather may be like when you plan a cruise or any vacation for that matter. My husband & I married in Hawaii 1 day after a tropical storm passed through.
My grandparents have taken many, many cruises, through many different cruise companies, Princess us by far their favorite.
We were lucky to have had perfect weather & calm seas, I feel bad for those who didn't & wish smooth sailing to you all next time!
We had some outbreaks during our cruise but nobody from our group. We couldn't serve ourselves for the first 5 days of our cruise, not a big inconvenience. We sanitized often & most of us only used our bathrooms in our staterooms.
We heard stories of the previous week during our cruise from people who had been on the ship for both that week & the week we were on. They told us about all the people that got sick & about the rough seas. They also said the captain reported that during the 12-17-11 cruise he witnessed the worst seas he had seen in 20 yrs. I feel really bad for the people on that cruise, if that had been my experience I probably would never want to cruise again. I think with the amount of people on a ship you can't expect everything to go perfectly. Fortunately we had extremely mild seas of 1 1/2 - 4 ft waves the entire trip. We had an awesome time, loved the crew & the ship & can't wait to cruise again.
Unfortunately you never know what the weather may be like when you plan a cruise or any vacation for that matter. My husband & I married in Hawaii 1 day after a tropical storm passed through.
My grandparents have taken many, many cruises, through many different cruise companies, Princess us by far their favorite.
We were lucky to have had perfect weather & calm seas, I feel bad for those who didn't & wish smooth sailing to you all next time!
Jan 14th, 2012, 07:22 PM
#46
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OMG - Who would WANT to take a cruise after reading all this!
I looked at the CDC website. It has excellent information regarding staying healthy during your cruise. They also have cruise ship ratings.
Just got off Carnival's Fascination and at all times carried with me a small little container of hand sanitizer. They did have it at the beginning of each buffet BUT quite frankly, the containers they were in looked a bit 'dirty'.
Nobody would go anywhere if they really knew what they were all suseptible to.
Anyway, feel badly about the original poster's cruise experience. As someone said, when a cruise is good, it's very good. When it's bad, it's awful.
I looked at the CDC website. It has excellent information regarding staying healthy during your cruise. They also have cruise ship ratings.
Just got off Carnival's Fascination and at all times carried with me a small little container of hand sanitizer. They did have it at the beginning of each buffet BUT quite frankly, the containers they were in looked a bit 'dirty'.
Nobody would go anywhere if they really knew what they were all suseptible to.
Anyway, feel badly about the original poster's cruise experience. As someone said, when a cruise is good, it's very good. When it's bad, it's awful.
Feb 4th, 2012, 05:10 PM
#47
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I hear people talk about being confined if they are sick. So how does the crew know you’re sick? Why would you tell the staff if you know its going to get you confined? I would be keeping that to myself. If people can act sick to get out of work or school I would think that one could act healthy to keep the vacation going. I mean it’s not like the doctor can give you any medicine for a virus.
Feb 5th, 2012, 06:44 AM
#48
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Well, Typhoid Mary, there's just the little matter of the germs you are spreading <i>while</i> you're being ill... everything you touch, everyone you meet, everybody you shake hands with... but, hey - why worry about that? It's all about <i>you</i>, eh?
Feb 5th, 2012, 06:55 AM
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On the cruise we were on last Oct. noro virus struck. There were 97 reported cases out of 2k passengers. How many actual cases there were I don't know as many probably chose to not to report it. Upon disembarkation we were asked if we became ill soley for the purpose of extensive cleaning in the cabin you were in.
How many did not report their illness? I would be bet at least the number of those who did.
As for meds you can't cure it (NV) but seeing the MD for meds to treat the symptoms is beneficial. A person at our table i the MDR did just that and was pleased with is treatment. If you are confined until the symptoms disappear then thats fine as you feel so lousy you don't want to go out anyway.
How many did not report their illness? I would be bet at least the number of those who did.
As for meds you can't cure it (NV) but seeing the MD for meds to treat the symptoms is beneficial. A person at our table i the MDR did just that and was pleased with is treatment. If you are confined until the symptoms disappear then thats fine as you feel so lousy you don't want to go out anyway.
Feb 7th, 2012, 02:29 PM
#51
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Dogester! eh!? Should make you an honary Canuck!
Best way to avoid norovirus ... Wear a mask everywhere you go. Keep hands in picket. Don't touch anything. Don;t eat or drink anaything. Better yet, stay home.
Come on people, you can get novovirus at your local mall or your local school. Just that it may not get reported like a cruise ship as no one thinks it is a big deal if it happens at home.
Did you know that there are more germs on the steering wheel of a rental car than your toilet bowl? So, did you wipe down the steering wheel last time you rent a car? Did you wipe down your seats on your last plane ride?
Did you know that you can cantact more germs wearing sandles walking on the street? Do you not wear sandles in the summer?
Common sense sanitation practices: wash or sanitise hands often, don't touch public hand rails, or anything public for that matter, washroom doors, etc.
Larry: 97 out of 2K is 5% and not evryone reported. Those are pretty big numbers. To put it into perspective, we knew of at least half a dozen people contacted Montezuma's revenge while we were travelling through Peru and the Galapagos. I am quite sure that they had the symptions prior to boarding the ship in Galapagos. On a 100 passenger boat, that would be at least 6%, would it count as an outbreak?
Best way to avoid norovirus ... Wear a mask everywhere you go. Keep hands in picket. Don't touch anything. Don;t eat or drink anaything. Better yet, stay home.
Come on people, you can get novovirus at your local mall or your local school. Just that it may not get reported like a cruise ship as no one thinks it is a big deal if it happens at home.
Did you know that there are more germs on the steering wheel of a rental car than your toilet bowl? So, did you wipe down the steering wheel last time you rent a car? Did you wipe down your seats on your last plane ride?
Did you know that you can cantact more germs wearing sandles walking on the street? Do you not wear sandles in the summer?
Common sense sanitation practices: wash or sanitise hands often, don't touch public hand rails, or anything public for that matter, washroom doors, etc.
Larry: 97 out of 2K is 5% and not evryone reported. Those are pretty big numbers. To put it into perspective, we knew of at least half a dozen people contacted Montezuma's revenge while we were travelling through Peru and the Galapagos. I am quite sure that they had the symptions prior to boarding the ship in Galapagos. On a 100 passenger boat, that would be at least 6%, would it count as an outbreak?
Feb 7th, 2012, 04:33 PM
#52
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Eschew: I agree. It would be interesting to see the numbers after the exit survey info was compiled. I just read that the Crown had to abort its cruise and return to its embarkation port d/t the nv outbreak.
Feb 7th, 2012, 07:19 PM
#53
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Hi Eschew: all of this is governed by an international protocol, as I'm sure you know, so terms like 'outbreak' are not used loosely. They are very specific terms for situations where more than X passengers have developed the lurgie. I don't know the precise figures - but I bet they are on the net somewhere. Each level of contagion is accompanied by a specific set of precautions. Again, I don't know the specifics.
Of course, the term to avoid is 'plague'.
In a plague scenario, all passengers are chained to their toilets and fed mush through the sprinkler system. Guards with tasers and white overalls patrol the corridors, ready to stun any noncompliant cruiser into submission.
I know for a fact that, on the cruise we took together, jacketwatch had to be forcibly prevented from running around naked trying to infect everybody else on board in a twisted act of revenge. I saw him being carried, insensate, back to his cabin. He was drooling, babbling incoherently at the time.
I thought I heard the words 'kiss me, Dog,' but I may have been mistaken.
Of course, the term to avoid is 'plague'.
In a plague scenario, all passengers are chained to their toilets and fed mush through the sprinkler system. Guards with tasers and white overalls patrol the corridors, ready to stun any noncompliant cruiser into submission.
I know for a fact that, on the cruise we took together, jacketwatch had to be forcibly prevented from running around naked trying to infect everybody else on board in a twisted act of revenge. I saw him being carried, insensate, back to his cabin. He was drooling, babbling incoherently at the time.
I thought I heard the words 'kiss me, Dog,' but I may have been mistaken.
Feb 7th, 2012, 08:41 PM
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Alcohol based disinfectants will NOT kill norovirus. Only bleach will kill it. That's because norovirus has a different kind of shell than most viruses, not lipid but protein.
You can wash away norovirus with soap and water, but the soap will not kill the virus. You can at least keep the virus off of your body, especially hands, if you wash frequently. But it won't really protect you from acquiring the infection if you touch an infected surface or eat an infected piece of food.
The virus can live on hard surfaces for a couple of days and on soft surfaces for a couple of weeks. An infected person is contagious for several days, and the infected person's poop has live virus in it for as long as 2 weeks, so if an infected person doesn't practice decent hygeine habits ..... you know, I don't need to say it.
Considering all of these facts, I cannot imagine that any cruise ship can properly be disinfected in a short turnaround time. Are they even using bleach? Are they really cleaning all surfaces? What about the carpets, drapes, bed spreads, etc.? And why are they handing out Purell to control the spread of a virus that isn't killed by Purell?
You can wash away norovirus with soap and water, but the soap will not kill the virus. You can at least keep the virus off of your body, especially hands, if you wash frequently. But it won't really protect you from acquiring the infection if you touch an infected surface or eat an infected piece of food.
The virus can live on hard surfaces for a couple of days and on soft surfaces for a couple of weeks. An infected person is contagious for several days, and the infected person's poop has live virus in it for as long as 2 weeks, so if an infected person doesn't practice decent hygeine habits ..... you know, I don't need to say it.
Considering all of these facts, I cannot imagine that any cruise ship can properly be disinfected in a short turnaround time. Are they even using bleach? Are they really cleaning all surfaces? What about the carpets, drapes, bed spreads, etc.? And why are they handing out Purell to control the spread of a virus that isn't killed by Purell?
Feb 7th, 2012, 11:33 PM
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For those requiring a glimpse into the heart of darkness, I'd recommend a look at fussy's last mega-thread, a doozie that has lasted nine years.
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...bed-sheets.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...bed-sheets.cfm
Feb 8th, 2012, 11:16 AM
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So is it true that the norovirus has a wide spectrum of side effects. I heard one person can be projectile vomiting for days and the next person can get a slight tummy ache and might not even know they have it. I even read that your blood type can play a factor in how severe your symptoms are. Any truth to any of this?
