Norwalk question

[Frank P.]

A couple of days ago I had read a posting about some people coming down with Norwalk on the 5/1 sailing of the Mariner. The poster said something to the fact about halfway into the sailing that hand sanitising stations were set up at the Windjammer. We were on the Mariner on 4/17, and I don't think anyone got sick, but I did notice something that arouses my curosity. When in St. Maartin, we noticed that other ships in port had hand sanitising stations set up that everyone had to use before boarding their ship. I would assume after seeing this that maybe they had them set up inside the ship as well. So my question is why wouldn' t RCCl do the same, and try to nip it in the bud before it even starts. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[hdawson]

Those sanitizers are anti-bacterial. Norwalk is a virus and not effected by anti-bacterial products. Vigerous hand washing is the best deterent. The sanitizers are still a good idea.

[gizfish]

The sanitizer is not only anti-bacterial. It is alcohol based and does kill the Norwalk virus. Alcohol kills viruses. (The friction you create from vigerously rubbing your hands together helps too.) BTW, the odds of you picking up Norwalk in port are less than getting it on the ship. Disgusting as it is, someone has to have Norwalk, not wash well enough after going to the bathroom, touch something you touch, and then you have to get the virus into your mouth. My personal feeling is having the hand sanitizers at the entrance to the ships is really to make people feel good. There is no excuse for why those sanitizers are not on every ship in every venue where food is ever served. NCL goes so far as to even have them in the casino since at night late night snacks are served there.