Code red on Infinity

[sergeant655]

Infinity is in code red for the second time in a month. Oceanview Cafe is on complete full serve, con salt and pepper, library is closed, no brochures at future cruises. No extra copy's of celebrity today (have to ask at guest relations). Drink stations barricaded with tables making it hard to pass by. Most common question is where is the cutlery And no drink menus or pretzels (if you ask they have to deny the request) at bars. Number of sick people required to trigger code red is 5

 

This is the third cruise affected by it. The first code red in March spanned turn around day in Buenos Aires

Edited March 22, 2014 by sergeant655

[justcrusn]

wait.....

you're saying that 5 people are sick, and because of that NOBODY gets a pretzel?

 

On a ship with 1,950 passengers that is an extremely low number.

I would expect that 5 passengers might be sick at any given time just because.

[wvufan]

Coincidentally I was reading about hiking the Appalachian Trail last night and one article mentioned that noro is common when it is most crowded-starting in Ga in the spring.

 

I got noro on a cruise and was confined for 4 days, so I support all measures they take to limit the spread.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

[retired067]

wait.....

you're saying that 5 people are sick, and because of that NOBODY gets a pretzel?

 

On a ship with 1,950 passengers that is an extremely low number.

I would expect that 5 passengers might be sick at any given time just because.

 

The op said it takes 5 to trigger the code

[boogs]

The op said it takes 5 to trigger the code

 

5% of the total passengers makes more sense than just 5 passengers. On any cruise, there will always be a few people who are sick with something, perhaps a cold, a virus, or something they ate.

Edited March 22, 2014 by boogs

[martiniren]

OH NO! (yes, I'm shouting).

 

Our Infinity cruise starts in 8 days!!!

[Kartgv]

I too thought it was 5%, not 5 people. It seems that if it were only 5 people ill with gastro symptoms, there wouldn't be a cruise ship afloat without being code red. Does anyone know for sure what the trigger point is?

 

By the way, for "Martiniren" - your cruise will probably be one of the cleanest, though you may have to put up with the 'serve yourself' restrictions for the 1st few days. We boarded the Summit right after a major decontamination in October and other than the minor inconvenience at the start, it worked out fine. The only exception was the library - closed for the entire 2 week cruise.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Kartgv

[sjmaag]

I too thought it was 5%, not 5 people. It seems that if it were only 5 people ill with gastro symptoms, there wouldn't be a cruise ship afloat without being code red. Does anyone know for sure what the trigger point is?

 

 

 

By the way, for "Martiniren" - your cruise will probably be one of the cleanest, though you may have to put up with the 'serve yourself' restrictions for the 1st few days. We boarded the Summit right after a major decontamination in October and other than the minor inconvenience at the start, it worked out fine. The only exception was the library - closed for the entire 2 week cruise.

 

 

You can bet the casino will be open, cards and chips are very sanitary

 

 

 

sjmaag

[kitty9]

When we had a code red on Equinox in Feb 2013, the number of sick, including both passengers and crew, had to be at 5% in order for a code to be called. That's the number the CD said in announcements that he made when they decided to go to code.

[ghstudio]

The infinity Antarctica cruise that ended in the beginning of March had a norovirus alert....2% of the passengers were effected. There were announcements about washing hands and more forceful asking folks to use the sanitizers, but we weren't in code red. I'm pretty sure that's 5%....not 5 people.

[dz9yvr]

Actually, I'm a big fan of a code red. Given the manners of many cruisers, this is the best protection from people that don't wash their hands, touch their mouth and then the serving tools, cough and sneeze in line without covering their face, etc. I agree with HAL's approach. Start every cruise in a code red condition and then after a few days drop after the noro incubation period if appropriate.

[kevinyork]

OH NO! (yes, I'm shouting).

 

Our Infinity cruise starts in 8 days!!!

 

 

The risk is possibly less if you board after a deep clean. I wouldnt worry.

 

 

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[kevinyork]

Infinity is in code red for the second time in a month. Oceanview Cafe is on complete full serve, con salt and pepper, library is closed, no brochures at future cruises. No extra copy's of celebrity today (have to ask at guest relations). Drink stations barricaded with tables making it hard to pass by. Most common question is where is the cutlery And no drink menus or pretzels (if you ask they have to deny the request) at bars. Number of sick people required to trigger code red is 5

 

This is the third cruise affected by it. The first code red in March spanned turn around day in Buenos Aires

 

 

Interestingly the CDC records an outbreak on Infinity at the exact same time last year as this current one.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm#2014

 

Celebrity had 4 of the nine outbreaks logged by CDC last year. Not a great record for X.

 

 

 

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[ECCruise]

Actually, I'm a big fan of a code red. Given the manners of many cruisers, this is the best protection from people that don't wash their hands, touch their mouth and then the serving tools, cough and sneeze in line without covering their face, etc. I agree with HAL's approach. Start every cruise in a code red condition and then after a few days drop after the noro incubation period if appropriate.

 

Agreed. We are often in awe of the horrible hygiene often exhibited on cruise ships. Folks who say "no thanks" when offered the hand sanitizers, who stick their fingers in their mouth and then use serving utensils, who take an item off the buffet, finger it extensively, then decide they don't want it and return it to the line. And the gym--sweat and cough and sneeze all over the machines then blissfully walk away without cleaning the machine. Yuck!!:eek:

[upwarduk]

And the Casino.

Do the machines get wiped regulary?

 

In 20 cruises we have never been ill, but we don't frequent the Casino either!:eek:

[dodger1964]

On our recent Reflection cruise, the captain always ended his daily 10am loudspeaker report with a reminder about, "the importance of washing hands for 30 seconds, using soap and warm water......"

 

I don't know if anybody listens to that announcement, but they do take it seriously.

 

maybe they should install a hand washing station at the entrance to the buffet (assuming that the buffet is ground zero for many of the problems) and force EVERY passenger to wash hands before entry??

[Wine-O]

On our recent Reflection cruise, the captain always ended his daily 10am loudspeaker report with a reminder about, "the importance of washing hands for 30 seconds, using soap and warm water......"

 

I don't know if anybody listens to that announcement, but they do take it seriously.

 

maybe they should install a hand washing station at the entrance to the buffet (assuming that the buffet is ground zero for many of the problems) and force EVERY passenger to wash hands before entry??

 

There are bathrooms right at the entrance to the Buffet area. If they don't even wash their hands after using it, how are you going to force them to wash their hands before they enter the Buffet area.

[curtdesilets]

Interestingly the CDC records an outbreak on Infinity at the exact same time last year as this current one.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm#2014

 

Celebrity had 4 of the nine outbreaks logged by CDC last year. Not a great record for X.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Any trips to Europe, Australia, Transatlantic, etc, i.e. any cruise that does not disembark in a US Port, are not reported.

 

We were on a very, very sick Crown Princess that got Norovirus on a Transatlantic prior to our British Isles Cruise. Apart from Cruise Critic reporting, you would never know. And there were no official numbers of those who got sick, although our unfortunate cruise was in Code Red for the entire duration. :mad:

 

Speaking of that, I suspect transatlantics might be more susceptible due to the several days of very close quarters for all passengers, especially on a large capacity ship.

[cle-guy]

Too bad cruise ships don't REQUIRE every passenger boarding to sanitize hands.

 

It wouldn't be 100% protection, but a very, very good way to start things off right.

 

I admit my first cruise, I passed by all the sanitizers because I never use them at home. Now I realize the importance on a ship and always use it, especially when I board.

[gold1953]

Agreed. We are often in awe of the horrible hygiene often exhibited on cruise ships. Folks who say "no thanks" when offered the hand sanitizers, who stick their fingers in their mouth and then use serving utensils, who take an item off the buffet, finger it extensively, then decide they don't want it and return it to the line. And the gym--sweat and cough and sneeze all over the machines then blissfully walk away without cleaning the machine. Yuck!!:eek:

 

I constantly see people picking at their teeth and then returning to the buffet for more food!!! And often see people licking their fingers... even standing in the buffet line after sampling food on their plates!!! A 'lady' in front of me waiting for the buffet to open was taking bites of her pizza and licking her fingers after each time. I spoke to her and she gave me a dirty look and did it again!!!....so I picked up my tray and stepped in front of her stating that I did not want to touch any utensils she handles as I DID NOT WANT HER GERMS. This was on the Century in Jan. and she was a very well dressed 'lady'

[curtdesilets]

I constantly see people picking at their teeth and then returning to the buffet for more food!!! And often see people licking their fingers... even standing in the buffet line after sampling food on their plates!!! A 'lady' in front of me waiting for the buffet to open was taking bites of her pizza and licking her fingers after each time. I spoke to her and she gave me a dirty look and did it again!!!....so I picked up my tray and stepped in front of her stating that I did not want to touch any utensils she handles as I DID NOT WANT HER GERMS. This was on the Century in Jan. and she was a very well dressed 'lady'

 

The Trick is To Avoid The Buffet...

 

especially if it is a CODE RED situation. Go the MDR or another sit-down restaurant for all of your meals. You will notice very little difference in the service, and you will be much more protected from these germ spreading morons, which you describe, and which we too have witnessed.

[tinykygal]

It is the refilling of personal water/juice bottles that drive me up the wall. Do they not understand?

I was pleased on our recent RCCL cruise that the young man @ a drink station in the Windjammer used a clean cloth and removed the spigot when he observed a lady refilling her bottle while touching the dispenser. He explained to me what he was doing and why.

I smiled because I saw it.

Fill a clean glass, bring your funnel from home and fill them. LOL

[DancerOT]

There are some people, myself included, who have been told by their doctors to not use hand sanitizers, especially just before you eat!! The chemicals, yes even when it is only rubbing alcohol, can make you sick and cause other issues for the body. Additionally, if the hand sanitizer has some other anti-bacterial ingredient besides alcohol it can cause an overall decrease in immunity as anti-bacterial products should be avoided by all. While I can only speak for myself, I will speak for my self in saying that I know how to wash my hands properly as I was trained due to being in the medical profession.

 

I have said it before on these boards and I will say it again, noro runs rampant throughout a lot of environments. A school near me recently closed for two days due to 1/2 of the students and staff being sick. However, it took HALF for something to be done. Being smart and acting smart will keep you and those you love healthy.

[dodger1964]

There are some people, myself included, who have been told by their doctors to not use hand sanitizers, especially just before you eat!! The chemicals, yes even when it is only rubbing alcohol, can make you sick and cause other issues for the body. Additionally, if the hand sanitizer has some other anti-bacterial ingredient besides alcohol it can cause an overall decrease in immunity as anti-bacterial products should be avoided by all. While I can only speak for myself, I will speak for my self in saying that I know how to wash my hands properly as I was trained due to being in the medical profession.

 

I have said it before on these boards and I will say it again, noro runs rampant throughout a lot of environments. A school near me recently closed for two days due to 1/2 of the students and staff being sick. However, it took HALF for something to be done. Being smart and acting smart will keep you and those you love healthy.

 

 

Actually I have read on these boards the argument (or fact statement) that hand sanitizes do not work (or at least only partially work) against the noro virus. Washing with soap and water is the best way.

 

That is the same thing the Captain said during his daily announcement. He never mentioned hand sanitizer, only mentioned the wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 30 seconds.

[ozark74]

Actually I have read on these boards the argument (or fact statement) that hand sanitizes do not work (or at least only partially work) against the noro virus. Washing with soap and water is the best way.

 

That is the same thing the Captain said during his daily announcement. He never mentioned hand sanitizer, only mentioned the wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 30 seconds.

 

Hand sanitizer is better than nothing. The CDC says 60% alcohol might help between handwashings. There are people that don't wash there hands with soap and water.