Cruiser Jane

Stumblefoot (love your name) again more great info!  I guess we sign in for dinner then get a drink in the bar? 

It's funny.  I've done so many cruises on O that I know more about them than their call center personal and have proven itl.  But with SS, I'm totally lost.  DH is going into this cruise saying no more SS, but I bet he has a great time and expectations are far surpassed and that would be because of Stumblefoot, Unibok, Spinnaker2, TLCOhio, and poohker who started this board.  I am really looking forward to this cruise.  Now I have to dwell on ports!  No CC members have come forward for the second cruise we're taking, but one couple on CC who is on the first one, is also on the second one.  So we have them to plan private tours with, but we need more people!  But in 2 months we take our FREE cruise with O. 

You have all been amazingly helpful!  Nice talking with you and hope we sail together some time in the future!

Cheers,

Janelle

Thank you so much!  You've all been so helpful with your answers.  Now I feel less confused!  UNIBOK have a great time on your cruise.

Janelle

I did expect to see more than 4 formal nights for 28 days.  So that's good at least.  I'm rereading all the comments.  Am I understanding that some nights are declared "Formal" and some "Informal" and others "Casual" or is it by restaurant?  Wow this is so confusing!

Also, someone mentioned making reservations for the dining venues.  Can we wait to board the ship to do this?  Or should we secure some rsvs. now?  And we enjoy dining with others.  Our CC group is rather small, but we were hoping to get together with some of them for dinner.  With so many choices, this will be more difficult!  Is it easy to meet people?  Someone said congregate in the bar in front of the dining venue you'll attend.  And there you can talk to others.  Or do they do like Oceania and seat you at a sharing table if you request it.

Glad to have someone to talk to about all of this!  We feel like lost puppies!

Many thanks,

Janelle

14 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Ah, got it, Cruise Jane.  I made a bad assumption that you were boarding in Vancouver without actually checking.  And, let your hubs know he's still very lucky that you only have four formal nights for your 28-days, because 14-day voyages typically have three formal nights.

 

Have a great cruise over to, and all around, Japan!

Actually it's 28 days total.  2 14-day cruises.  From Seward to Tokyo(first cruise) then Tokyo around Japan and back to Tokyo.  I found how many formal nights we have on the My Silversea web page.  It's listed next to the port on the itinerary page.  There are 4.  Not worried about them though; we have it covered now.  And while I don't have a formal gown, I plan to bring a long chiffon pleated skirt with a fancy jacket and dressy blouse; another shorter dress (not formal) that I can make dressier with a sequined jacket.  I'll wear each twice.

I was just wondering if he had to wear a sport coat on informal nights.  Sounds like that's a yes.  He has some sport jackets that will go with some of his clothes.  And I'm very glad to hear that La Tarrazza is a "serve" restaurant at night.  I'd assumed it stayed a buffet all day.  Perfect!

You guys are great!  Answered my questions.

Cheers,

Janelle

We'll be going on our first SS cruise on the Muse leaving Seward on Sept. 12 and the following one.  (We have 20 cruise credits with O, so not new to cruising).  I forced my husband to buy a nice suit for the 4 formal nights.  We don't like to dine in a buffet, which I'm assuming La Terrazza is.  So getting him to bring yet another jacket is going to be difficult.  Am I understanding that they will not let us into the other dining rooms w/o a jacket?  Oceania is very casual and on one summer cruise he didn't even bring a jacket.  Most of the guys didn't have on jackets.  So I guess SS is very different in this respect? 

Thanks for your guidance here.

Cheers,

Janelle

Is anyone who is on the cruise now, able to tell us if the ship still has a problem with virus?

Many thanks as we're traveling in May on Marina.

Oceania does offer Travel Insurance. But it's twice as expensive as any insurance you can buy on your own. It's of course, through an outside insurance company. We bought this originally when we first started cruising with Oceania. Had one claim. Went through a terrible ordeal trying to get one small claim paid. Then our TA connected us with a much better and cheaper insurance company. Anyway you work this out, it's going to be costly. So best to just "grin and bare it". We've probably paid more insurance than benefits received through claims.

But you never know what can happen. A good friend fell down a flight of stairs while on a private shore excursion. Had to have hip replacement and was off the cruise. Their insurance paid for the surgery (in Tunisia) and food, the rest of the cruise as it was a 30 day cruise and this was like day 5. It then paid to fly the patient and husband back to the states.

So I guess you could say that they outsource the insurance section. They may also outsource the medical department as well as Destination Services. Not sure. It would be interesting to learn this. I'll ask the GM on my next cruise.

BTW if there is a virus on board Oceania's ships, they will pay for the visit to the clinic. However, always check this out before going.

For those of you who just boarded Marina, please let us know if the sickness is gone. Do you have menus back? Is the Library open? Salt and pepper shakers and set up in Terrace back? Have you heard of any quarantined people?

Many thanks,

Janelle

We did have trip insurance and it paid for the doc, a missed private excursion, and the 2 days we missed as trip interruption. But before I left the ship, I asked the C to type a letter stating the time we were both quarantined. That ended up being necessary for trip interruption.

To Cruiser Jane

 

Regarding your Norovirus infection

 

Was a US port involved? If so, your comments should have been reported to the CDC.

 

If not your comments should have, and may have been, reported to Oceania corporate along with the name of the ship's doctor. Report even now, as that doctor may still be on an Oceana ship.

 

Did you have Trip insurance? Did it cover this problem?

 

My wife got sick (on an Oceania Caribbean cruise) and I was quarantined (never got sick). She was convinced that it was food poisoning. With a Miami stop, the CDC investigated ( was supposedly on board) and confirmed many cases of norovirus. I later went to their website and read their report.

 

Does any reader know if ginger ale or the stronger ginger candy helps with the stomach issues once you get the norovirus? We use it for rough seas motion issues.

 

One other tip, after washing you hands in the public bathrooms, use the little papers which are dispensed by the door so you do not have to directly touch the door handle AFTER washing your hands. From what is have directly observed, most men on board do not do this.

 

Lets cross our fingers as we are on a May 2018 Oceania cruise together.

UDSpud, you are absolutely right. I did report to the GM that what the doc said was an outright lie. Also that the doc said initially that I had "dehydration". I hope they addressed the issue with that ship doc. And there were no US ports involved.

By the time we got home, and we had another O cruise booked, we just wanted to put the whole issue behind us. So no I didn't call headquarters about it. And the GM did make right monetarily.

I do use those papers to open the door. But on that dreaded cruise they had the bathroom doors tied open.

I will continue to monitor this board to see if this sickness continues on the Marina. Let's hope for those who have just boarded that all will be good. And for us sailing in May. See you then!

I am not unsympathetic to the misery of a cruise where Noro takes over but I do not think anyone is owed compensation.

 

The risk of Noro on a cruise is well known especially in winter months. No different from rough seas or missed ports. These are risks you take when you take a cruise and they are not the fault of the cruise line.

 

If they want to offer something then that is a good business practice but no one is owed anything imo

 

 

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To clarify, In my situation, the Medical staff totally handled the whole illness wrong. They lied about my condition on my medical records which I paid $1500 for treatment of. I demanded a copy of my whole file since I was paying for it. The ship dr. wrote that I had overeaten when our main course had not yet come when I got ill. So I hadn't hardly eaten at all. The diagnosis was dehydration when I drink water like a fish. Yes, after losing everything in my body, I was probably dehydrated. But I didn't know what was wrong so I trusted what they said. They didn't quarantine me until the next night when I started with diarrhea. I later learned others had the same experience. It was norovirus confirmed when I got home from my dr. I think the ship doc didn't want to deal with the reporting problem.

So this is why I demanded something back.

Wow, sounds like a very trying time for all. Has O offered any consolation?

On the cruise where I got Norovirus and was quarantined for 2 days, I made several calls to the GM. I demanded that he offer some sort of compensation for the days we missed of our 10 day cruise. I told him I'd like to know this before we disembark.

He did follow through and give those who were quarantined the 2 days prorated back in FCC (Future cruise credit). He said he also gave each cruiser something - I can't remember what. Maybe like $200 FCC towards their next cruise? But they should compensate those who have been inconvenienced.

You might want to ask your doctor for a PX to help with diarrhea or vomiting. The ship gave me Bactrim for the diarrhea. Drink lots of water if you have the vomiting problem to rehydrate your body. But really if you do get sick, you will be contagious for 2 days after you are well. Be mindful of getting others sick. And if it's something contagious, the ship will wave the medical fee.

But keep in mind that purel and other hand sanitizers are not effective against viruses. The best way to protect yourself is by doing what my last post suggests.

Stay well!

We board Marina in May. I have talked my siblings into joining us on this cruise. Their first with Oceania. I sure hope all these problems are solved by then.

I was on Marina about 2 years ago when there was a virus on board. I caught it. I know now it WAS norovirus. My doc. confirmed it when I returned home. But the ship did not test me (and there is a test for it) because they didn't want to have to report it. I fault Oceania's medical doctor for this. They quarantined me and my husband for 2 days after I was well. It only lasts 1 to 2 days but is violent. I was dining in Jacques waiting for my dinner. Ate half of my appetizer. Suddenly I felt nausea and by the time I got up to leave, I fainted and came to in vomit. The next night I started with diarrhea. Lasted for 5 hours. 2 nurses came to my room next morning and quarantined us. No test ever done. I washed my hands after each bathroom visit. But that was not enough.

Lesson learned: I did research on this when I got home. Sanitizers not effective. Have to wash hands BEFORE you eat and before you brush teeth. Before you eat a piece of bread, before you put your hands to your mouth for any reason. It is transmitted by ingesting, not by air. Just remember that before you put your hands to your mouth. And be mindful of anything you touch. On the cruise we just left, we tried to go back to our cabin to use the bathroom.

Good luck to those of you boarding now. Hope problem resolves itself. Oh and BTW, all ships, no matter the class, are having this problem now. No fun to deal with.

The OP said she would post again when she got home and had talked to Oceania. She flew home on 19th or 20th I guess. Only a couple of days ago. Personally I want to know what as so terrible that they had to waste 21 days of expensive cruising. The food and the service was apparently wonderful..................... So what was it? J

Paulichili you are right. Put this one to bed. We are in Atlanta airport waiting for our final flight home from this wonderful cruise. I think Oceania is just not the right cruise line for poster. They have cruised with princess and are probably elite status where you are treated special. O doesn’t class people. We are all treated the same. That suits us well. This is not the days of Titanic.

There were not really that many with walkers and canes but they stand out. On a shorter cruise you are sure to not find this. Enjoy your O cruise and don’t worry.

Cheers,

Janelle

We are on this cruise and have had a wonderful time. I’m heading up the CC on board activities. We’ve had 4 events and Dr. Hugs had been invited but didn’t come to any of them. I did lots of research on the ports we were to visit and have enjoyed them. Pretty much knew what to expect.

As for the “nursing home” comment there are some very old people but in our group of 60 people no one would be considered ready for a nursing home. We have some older people and some younger people. Some of us have discussed this review and are Appaled by it. We’ve all had each other to tour with, have dinner with, form trivia teams with and have fun together. Perhaps if Dr. Hugs had come to some of our events and met some of her fellow CC members, we could have helped her have a better time.

Dr. hugs I’m truly sorry you didn’t enjoy your cruise. Perhaps a different cruise line would better suit you.

I’ll write more when I get home.

I have not heard back from our friends who are on the cruise right now, but someone else posted who is on now. That post is on p. 9. The Norovirus appears to be cleared up - no known cases. The salt and pepper shakers have returned as well as placemats. I don't know if the library is open again.

Also I want to point out that YES, Oceania is obligated to report Norovirus cases to the CDC and they did do this. But not until the cruise was half over and many people had become ill. Quarantining just a few couples doesn't really do much good. I think the ship's doctor was hesitant to declare Norovirus because of the stink it causes.

Finally, ANY SHIP can get a Norovirus. I wouldn't cancel a cruise that's going to go in the next few months just because of one outbreak. In fact we're booked on another cruise in 1 1/2 months on the Nautica. I'm just going to be even more careful about hygiene. Don't put fingers in mouth unless you've washed hands AND NAILS very carefully. Don't touch anything after washing hands if you are eating bread or any other finger food. These are things we never think about, but I do now. And don't shake hands or hug others.

Cheers,

Janelle

We were on this 1 November cruise on Marina. I believe on the second day out when about 18 or 20 bus loads of tours all ate lunch at a questionable restaurant as part of the tour the problem began. Does anyone think that was the beginning?

Interesting! But, I don't think it started there. I didn't go on that tour. I got sick 8pm on Nov. 3rd, but was quarantined on the 5th and 6th. Besides, I had learned that the virus was prevalent on the cruise before ours. Bill, did you get sick?

How do you know they were not in contact with CDC ?

If they tested people were the results NORO?

 

There are many viruses & other bugs that have the same or similar symptoms as NORO

I am not saying it was or wasn't I was not there

 

It is quite possible it was NORO but as another poster said they thought they had food poisoning & did not report it right away ...

 

If not reported then the housekeeping staff come in clean as normal ..no special cleaning solutions or bio-hazard suits & masks

..then go to the next cabin possibly contaminating it ..then the unsuspecting occupants touch something that had the virus on it

Then they go around the ship & contaminating the rails, elevators & so on

So not reporting it has other consequences to those around you

Yes, Lyn, many people didn't report their illness. And that further complicated the problem. But I think I probably had Noro when I first got sick and the ship dr. said I had dehydration which was not a lie, but just not the whole truth. When you lose everything in your system, you do become dehydrated. But I stayed in my cabin anyway because I felt so sick. Then that night I started with diarrhea. So I was actually cabin bound for almost 4 days.

The fact that they had locked the library book cases, and had people stationed at each entrance to the restaurants to make sure people used hand sanitizers, tells that they knew they had a problem from the previous cruise. We had heard this from a CC member who was on that cruise. They had no proof at that time that it was NORO. And right, how could they say I had a virus that I had to be quarantined for if they didn't test me - couldn't because I couldn't provide a sample. I think they were hopeful that they didn't have Noro and wouldn't have to contact CDC. But I think there is a certain number of cases allowed before this must be reported. As the cruise went on, more and more people got sick, so then they had to report it. I had to complete a form to the CDC about my illness which I didn't receive until the last day of the cruise. So half-way through the cruise, they did have to report to CDC.

And I mention again that our friends who stayed on the ship for the following cruise, received a letter saying they had to pack up everything and move out of their cabin for 6 hours so it could be thoroughly cleaned because the ship had a NORO VIRUS! The rest of us were not told this. I wrote to them yesterday asking if there were any further cases. I'll let you know.

So where are we today? Is the ship still on red alert? Are there still people getting sick? Sure hope not, but let us know so no one has to speculate.

I just asked this of a couple we are friends with who are still on board. I'll let you know.

Janelle

That is a ridiculous thing to say

They take it seriously

If the ship/passengers have Noro they would not be avoiding reporting it to the proper authorities

Not sure who they report to in Europe but they will follow the CDC guidelines/protocol for containment no matter where they are

 

There are tests the doctor can do to confirm NORO but if people do not report they have it how can they be tested

 

Some people have a problem but do not think it is noro so just carry on their merry way ...

I thought like you, Lyn but this is what happened. Fact. And they did take it seriously once they realized they did have the problem. They have to according to CDC rules. The nurse said it was not noro because they tested some of the people. But they didn't test me. You do that by a stool sample and I had none to offer. Then in the end, they didn't tell everyone we had a Norovirus, but they wrote this in a letter to the people staying on board. Fact. I saw the letter.

Janelle,

I am truly sorry about your terrible experience. I have never had Noro and hope never to have it but I can certainly imagine how that would ruin one's cruise.

I am confused about one thing. You describe getting sick at 8 PM of the day of embarkation. If that is so, you (and perhaps some others?) came on the ship already sick rather than getting the Noro between noon and 8 PM? It would be too soon to have full blown Noro after just being exposed to it for a few hours.

Did I misunderstand you?

Adding - while dehydration is a true diagnosis I doubt very much that it was your diagnosis. Perhaps they were not ready to call it Noro/gastroenteritis just yet (for some reason) - but I would guess that that would have been a more correct diagnosis with vomiting (and diarrhea soon to follow).

OOPS thanks for asking Paulchili, I forgot to put the date in when I got sick. CHANGES EVERYTHING! Like I said, this was hard to write. I got sick on Nov. 3 after the 48 hour incubation period (according to the nurse) so I got it from someone on the ship or from the ship. I did not bring it on board. I know the diagnosis of Norovirus is painful for the ship to make because they have to report it to the CDC. So they were avoiding that I'm sure.

Camelhoof: FYI, the ship didn't tell people that it was a norovirus, but my friends who were staying on the ship got a letter in their stateroom about the procedures for disembarkation day and it said the ship had a NOROVIRUS! They had to tell these people because they had to repack all their belongings and get off the ship or go to Horizons for 6 hours. But they had told us differently so I guess they didn't want to change their previous statement! I think that's wrong. They should have made an announcement about it being a Norovirus.

bitob: Thank you for the confirmation about the diagnosis of dehydration. That is exactly what happened and that's probably why the ship's doctor assumed that I had dehydration. I drink water like a fish so I have a hard time believing this. As long as insurance pays, I'm good.

Janelle

Here is my story. We just got home this morning and it's hard for me to write this because we looked so forward to this cruise and it was ruined by Norovirus.

We boarded Marina on Nov. 1 at about noon. We were having a great time until about 8pm at Jacques while waiting for our entrée to arrive. I began to feel nausea. I waited 5 min. then realized I had to go up to the room. I told Bill who said he’d come with me. I stood to leave and fainted. I came to on the floor in a pool of vomit. I’ve never fainted before in my 65 years. I was wheeled to the Medical center where they gave me a drip of glucose and an EKG! They pricked my finger to check my glucose level. I vomited again. Too weak to stand. The very nice nurse helped me out of my soiled clothing and put them in a bag. Said she’d send them to the laundry. I never saw them again. I was released with a diagnosis of dehydration. Back in the cabin an hour, the nurse came and gave me a shot of Phenergan for the nausea. I didn’t vomit again but felt very sick the whole next day. That night – 5:45 am, I began diarrhea. Lasted until about 8am. I thought it had stopped but then started up again, so I called the nurse to see what I should take. 2 nurses showed up, talked to me, then quarantined me and Bill, who was on a shore excursion that I had to miss (one of the included O tours). The nurse said it would only be for one day. We’d still be able to make the already paid for tour Bill had booked with 8 other CC members. Next day, both nurses came and told me we’d be quarantined for another day! So we both missed Bill’s tour and one I booked the next day. Room service was always missing something important. I ordered oatmeal, cinnamon, raisins, and truvia and 2 bran muffins. We got everything but the oatmeal and only 1 bran muffin. Oatmeal came another half hour. Life cooped up in a cabin is no fun! At least, thank GOD, we had a veranda. We finally got out and had 3 days left of our cruise. I had missed 4 shore excursions (Bill missed 3) and 4 days of fun. Bill never did get sick. You had to be symptom free for 2 days before you were released.

The nurse told me the ship didn’t have a noro virus, only a milder case of a virus and that’s why we were quarantined. This was not true as we all know now. They also wrote that I had overeaten, but I got sick before the entrée arrived and had hardly eaten anything. And what kind of diagnosis is dehydration? That BTW came with a price tag of $1500 plus which we had to pay because it didn’t have a diagnosis of norovirus. I hope insurance thinks dehydration is a good diagnosis.

The ship only had 20+ known cases of this “virus” because people who got sick didn’t go to sickbay. I talked to many people after we got out who also had the same symptoms I had and were never quarantined. My guess is there were more like 300 cases on board but not reported.

I called the General Manager. He knew me because I had arranged the M&G. I told him I’d like to know what compensation they would give me due to our ruined cruise and that I was going to post on Cruise Critic, the whole tale.

The day before we disembarked, we got a letter giving us future cruise credit equal to 2 days for both of us prorated for this cruise. This went to all 20 of the people who were quarantined for 2 days. But I actually missed 4 days of a 10 day cruise. The GM also gave me $230 SBC for the lost clothing. This was not enough because I realized I also had an expensive bra and underclothing in that bag. I went back to report that and was told it wouldn’t change the price.

Norovirus can happen on any ship and even the most clean ones have the problem from time to time. We had not encountered it before this, our 13th (unlucky) cruise with Oceania.

And by the way, we were told there was a virus on board when we got on the ship and that’s why the library was closed and other precautions were taken. The nurse told me the incubation period is 48 hours. That means when I first vomited in Jaques the 48 hours occurred AFTER I boarded the ship. We washed hands so often my nail polish was peeling off and always used the hand sanitizer system.

This is an honest account of my experience.

Janelle

Was on Marina.... inaB3..... and booked my allotment prior to sailing.

 

However, during the cruise ( 34 day back to back) I found I could get just about any restaurant any day if I was flexible and or wanted to share.... it was easy and I saw no stress or problem....

Of course on a long cruise, you can book more SRs. We will probably go about 8 or 9 times, but it also depends on what's being served in the MDR, which food is just as good as the SRs with Oceania.

We took one X cruise and the MDR was not up to O's standard of course. That's why they have SRs. And since you pay so much less for an X cruise, they expect you'll pay up for an SR.