The Noro-dam

[The Odd Couple]

Just got off the Noordam on Monday. (21 day cllector's cruise from 17 Feb). There was norovirus or something of that nature during the second leg. Does anybody know how many people were affected? It must have been pretty serious as there was no self-service in the Lido for over a week, and we came back to our stateroom one night to find our stewards and others washing down the walls in the corridor. My DH says I have a morbid curiosity, but it's frightening how these viruses can take hold so quickly.

[POA1]

Just got off the Noordam on Monday. (21 day cllector's cruise from 17 Feb). There was norovirus or something of that nature during the second leg. Does anybody know how many people were affected? It must have been pretty serious as there was no self-service in the Lido for over a week, and we came back to our stateroom one night to find our stewards and others washing down the walls in the corridor. My DH says I have a morbid curiosity, but it's frightening how these viruses can take hold so quickly.

 

We were on the same sailing as you. The number of passengers affected was less than the reporting threshold, but high enough to keep self service suspended for 6 days. (It wasn't "over a week." We were getting self service pizza & water in the ABC islands and that was around day 5 or 6 if I recall correctly.)

 

We didn't meet anyone who got sick and no one in our party had problems.

[POA1]

Just double checked my research notes (inside joke) and we were out of code orange on 3/5.

[Janice Jones]

We were on the same sailing. My DH came down with it on Wednesday, the 5th, even though he had been handwashing to the extreme trying to avoid it. We do know that there were 3 on our hall with it and we were in a SY suite. Interestingly, I was with him all the time and did not get it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I checked CDC report -- you didn't have 3% of the passengers ill for it to be reported to them.

We have been on quite a few ships with the Noro Virus. So far we have not gotten it.

That is good that HAL stepped up their cleaning when the virus broke out.

[The Odd Couple]

Just double checked my research notes (inside joke) and we were out of code orange on 3/5.

 

Just double checking my own research notes, and we were in the Lido when it was announced that normal service would be resumed when in Curacao on 6 March. We were sat at the table as wait staff replaced the salt and pepper pots.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just double checked my research notes (inside joke) and we were out of code orange on 3/5.

 

 

Code Orange or Code Red?

Code Orange is for the first 48 hours -- Lido only -- no self service.

But once the captain feels that they need to contain the Noro Virus -- the ship goes into Code Red. No self-service, pools are closed, library closed, no bread and butter on the tables in the main dining room, etc.

[sail7seas]

Noro is extremely contagious and though people feel better as they recover they go out and about and are still spreading their germs to others. Even after someone feels better they carry and can spread the virus for more than a week.

 

[/b]

[Janice Jones]

My DH did see the nurse and he was quarantined to the cabin according to her directions which was 24 hours after the last incident.

[Mtn2Sea]

Code Orange or Code Red?

 

I believe we just continued with Code Orange after the normal first two days. We continued to have bread & butter on the table.

Edited March 12, 2014 by Mtn2Sea

[CowPrincess]

Noro is extremely contagious and though people feel better as they recover they go out and about and are still spreading their germs to others. Even after someone feels better they carry and can spread the virus for more than a week.

 

[/b]

 

Bolding mine

 

Really? Wow, I had no idea :(

[POA1]

Just double checking my own research notes, and we were in the Lido when it was announced that normal service would be resumed when in Curacao on 6 March. We were sat at the table as wait staff replaced the salt and pepper pots.

 

Sorry if I got that wrong. I was pretty sure I had self service pizza on the 5th.

[POA1]

We were on the same sailing. My DH came down with it on Wednesday, the 5th, even though he had been handwashing to the extreme trying to avoid it. We do know that there were 3 on our hall with it and we were in a SY suite. Interestingly, I was with him all the time and did not get it.

 

I'm very sorry to hear that. Our party was on Deck 7 midships and Deck 5 aft corner. I guess we just got lucky.

[POA1]

Code Orange or Code Red?

 

I believe we just continued with Code Orange after the normal first two days. We continued to have bread & butter on the table.

 

It seemed to be orange, but there were passengers calling it red, so I'm not 100% sure. You are correct about the bread on the table though.

[makai 7]

I have been on many cruises with Noro outbreaks and never caught it.

 

BUT, on a business trip where there were many of us confined to several banquet halls and conference rooms, with lunch buffet daily, at least four of us (all women) came down with Noro within hours of each other.

 

I was very careful with hand washing, used paper towels to open the bathroom door, used purell, etc. My husband works with me and he was there, and he did not get it- even being in the same hotel room with me.

 

I was down hard for 2 days, then mostly back to normal. Not fun at all, stuck in a hotel room when you are sick.

 

Here's a link to the CDC page on Norovirus http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/

[cruz chic]

Noro is extremely contagious and though people feel better as they recover they go out and about and are still spreading their germs to others. Even after someone feels better they carry and can spread the virus for more than a week.

 

[/b]

Would you be kind enough to share where you go that info from. If this is the case what good does code orange do for 24-48 hours? Thx.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Code Orange or Code Red?

 

I believe we just continued with Code Orange after the normal first two days. We continued to have bread & butter on the table.

 

It seemed to be orange, but there were passengers calling it red, so I'm not 100% sure. You are correct about the bread on the table though.

 

 

If you had the bread and butter and salt and pepper shakers on your tables and the pools and library weren't closed, then you were still in Code Orange.

[POA1]

If you had the bread and butter and salt and pepper shakers on your tables and the pools and library weren't closed, then you were still in Code Orange.

 

Thanks for that information. I didn't know. I just heard people talking, and you know that is... They're always right. ;)

[Himself]

I am sorry anyone got sick.

[newda898]

If I remember rightly, the amount that actually had proper noro (both ends), can't have been more than 10.

[sail7seas]

Bolding mine

 

Really? Wow, I had no idea :(

 

Would you be kind enough to share where you go that info from. If this is the case what good does code orange do for 24-48 hours? Thx.

 

 

The poster, Bruce Muzz, who posts here from time to time and has clearly identified himself as a long time cruise line hotel department high officer has posted that a number of times. I have also heard it on news reports when they are speaking of outbreaks in local schools, dormitories, hospitals.

 

Good thing I mentioned it as it appears few are aware. Now maybe some will be sure to take even more care to not spread it around.

 

[Janice Jones]

I do not think I made myself clear on my last post. My husband was quarantined to the room when he came down with Noro. It was lifted 24 hours after his last incident. The rule is if he is seen around the ship during the quarantine period he would be removed from the ship at the next port. And security is notified and he would be unable to leave the ship during this period. A special crew cleaned the room. We found the clinic very helpful and reasonable in price and checked on him regularly. It was not our desire to break any rules as we wanted to cooperate completely. His quarantine was lifted in 2 days.

[sail7seas]

The poster, Bruce Muzz, who posts here from time to time and has clearly identified himself as a long time cruise line hotel department high officer has posted that a number of times. I have also heard it on news reports when they are speaking of outbreaks in local schools, dormitories, hospitals.

 

Good thing I mentioned it as it appears few are aware. Now maybe some will be sure to take even more care to not spread it around.

 

 

 

Here is a link to CDC.gov site with more info.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/transmission.html

 

[Lady Chew]

Mr Chew has had noro twice, once on the Prinsendam, once on the Amsterdam. I did not catch it either time (I try to be very conscientious about hand washing & what I touch around the ship); I think Mr Chew caught it both times in the casino. In each case, the chips were "disinfected" every night during the Code Red, and tournaments were canceled, but the slots were still open and table games and the regular poker game went on as usual.

 

On the Prinsendam it was very obvious that many passengers were not reporting their illness and were continuing about their business on the ship, infecting others.

 

Mr Chew's illness was treated very differently on the two ships.

 

The assistant CD on Prinsendam (Kevin?) told me that the spouse or cabin mate of the infected person rarely catches noro. Based on my entirely unscientific observations, I think he's right.

[CowPrincess]

The poster, Bruce Muzz, who posts here from time to time and has clearly identified himself as a long time cruise line hotel department high officer has posted that a number of times. I have also heard it on news reports when they are speaking of outbreaks in local schools, dormitories, hospitals.

 

Good thing I mentioned it as it appears few are aware. Now maybe some will be sure to take even more care to not spread it around.

 

 

 

As I said, I had no idea.

 

Searching on BruceMuzz and "noro", I found 10 threads he posted in. Searching on BruceMuzz and "norovirus" I found 13 threads he posted in. This one from Sept 2010 seems to be the only one that refers to contagion period.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=25884154&postcount=39

 

As for "be sure to take even more care to not spread it around", maybe HAL needs to reconsider the quarantine period.