Grandeur arrival: Hoping "no-more-noro"...Anyone know when?

[albether7]

Just curious to see if the GOS will be the first ship to be cited by CDC

for 3 consecutive cruises with over 3% pax recorded showing noro-virus-type symptoms!

 

Al

[Bonnie Voyager]

Just curious to see if the GOS will be the first ship to be cited by CDC

for 3 consecutive cruises with over 3% pax recorded showing noro-virus-type symptoms!

 

Al

 

We are boarding Grandeur tomorrow, and so far we have not been notified by Royal Caribbean to expect a late embarkation like the 2 "Noro Cruises" had to deal with! I'm hoping that no news is GOOD NEWS! :D

[LuvBNatC]

We are boarding Grandeur tomorrow, and so far we have not been notified by Royal Caribbean to expect a late embarkation like the 2 "Noro Cruises" had to deal with! I'm hoping that no news is GOOD NEWS! :D

 

Bonnie, thanks for posting this. It's exactly what I've been watching for on CC this morning -- a current status report. I'll be on Grandeur in 5 weeks and hope by then that noro is a distant memory.

 

Please keep us updated if you get the dreaded "come later" message. I've got my fingers crossed that you don't!

[Bonnie Voyager]

Bonnie, thanks for posting this. It's exactly what I've been watching for on CC this morning -- a current status report. I'll be on Grandeur in 5 weeks and hope by then that noro is a distant memory.

 

Please keep us updated if you get the dreaded "come later" message. I've got my fingers crossed that you don't!

 

It's almost 2pm and no "come later" message! :D Don't want to feel too confident yet, but it's looking good! ;)

[Bonnie Voyager]

Update :D Looks like Grandeur must be in the clear! It is after 4pm EST and no e-mail from corporate asking us to delay embarkation tomorrow! However, I saw this post on another thread regarding Independence of the Seas, and their cruise is not until Sunday!

 

danny8826 danny8826 is online now

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Join Date: Oct 2009

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Default Should We Be Worry? We Got This Notice From Roayl Caribbean

We received following email, a phone call, and a text from Royal Caribbean for our upcoming trip on the Independence of the Seas starting 4/20. Do you think they might cancel the cruise? Here's the email...

 

Hello, this is Royal Caribbean International. We would like to provide you with some important information regarding your Sunday, April 20, sailing onboard the Independence of the Seas out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During the ship's last sailing, a number of guests experienced a gastrointestinal illness. We will conduct enhanced sanitizing onboard the ship and within the terminal to help prevent any illness from affecting your cruise. Therefore, your check-in and boarding will be delayed. Because space and seating in the terminal is very limited, we ask that you not arrive to the port before 1:30 PM. Check in will take place between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

[LuvBNatC]

Looks like noro has jumped ship. Horrible for Indy passengers, but relief for Grandeur. Bonnie, Bon voyage!

 

Karen

[Bonnie Voyager]

Looks like noro has jumped ship. Horrible for Indy passengers, but relief for Grandeur. Bonnie, Bon voyage!

 

Karen

 

Thank you Karen! :D

[sharod]

Just spoke with a friend/travel agent. She said she received an e-mail this past Monday that the Grandeur may be taken out of service for a week to do a super decontamination cleaning (<<<my words, don't remember exactly how she put it).

 

Please, not trying to spread rumors, just passing on the info that she received. I want to emphasis the word "may", not that they definitely "are" going to do it.

 

I did question her if the current cruise has any gastro issues. She told me yes.

 

My hubby and I were on the Grandeur for the first bought of noro. Not fun!!!! But we did enjoy our cruise in general, even though he got sick the day before we disembarked :(

[LuvBNatC]

Just spoke with a friend/travel agent. She said she received an e-mail this past Monday that the Grandeur may be taken out of service for a week to do a super decontamination cleaning (<<<my words, don't remember exactly how she put it).

 

Please, not trying to spread rumors, just passing on the info that she received. I want to emphasis the word "may", not that they definitely "are" going to do it.

 

I did question her if the current cruise has any gastro issues. She told me yes.

 

:eek::eek::eek: Since the next cruise seems to be taking place (at least, Bonnie Voyager hasn't checked in again to say otherwise), and we haven't seen any new CDC reports, let's hope they've got the situation under control and won't have to cancel any cruises.

 

I don't leave for 5 weeks, but just thinking of the havoc a canceled cruise would wreak on passengers who have made nonrefundable arrangements around the sailing (including me) gives me a headache. I'm going to give my travel insurance policy an extra hug today, just in case I end up needing its help. :(

[sharod]

:eek::eek::eek: Since the next cruise seems to be taking place (at least, Bonnie Voyager hasn't checked in again to say otherwise), and we haven't seen any new CDC reports, let's hope they've got the situation under control and won't have to cancel any cruises.

 

I don't leave for 5 weeks, but just thinking of the havoc a canceled cruise would wreak on passengers who have made nonrefundable arrangements around the sailing (including me) gives me a headache. I'm going to give my travel insurance policy an extra hug today, just in case I end up needing its help. :(

 

Again, please take the info I received with a grain of salt. She never said when this would possibly take place, and I didn't even think to ask her.

 

The only reason I posted this is in case someone else's vacations are anything like my hubby's. He has to bid for his vacation. He can't just say, "I need a week off 3 months from now." This year's vacation time off was decided at the end of last year.

 

If I were in the position of possibly having my cruise cancelled, I would like the time to have a back-up vacation plan. Even if it is just a simple one.

 

Hopefully no cruise will need to be cancelled!!!!

Edited April 19, 2014 by sharod
spelling

[summersigh]

Again, please take the info I received with a grain of salt. She never said when this would possibly take place, and I didn't even think to ask her.

 

Posting this stuff at this time is irresponsible. I feel you should have waited to post this "information" (aka rumor) until RCCL makes some sort of announcement. You've spun lots and lots of future passengers of the Grandeur into a tizzy over unconfirmed comments.

[sharod]

Posting this stuff at this time is irresponsible. I feel you should have waited to post this "information" (aka rumor) until RCCL makes some sort of announcement. You've spun lots and lots of future passengers of the Grandeur into a tizzy over unconfirmed comments.

 

 

The only reason I posted this is in case someone else's vacations are anything like my hubby's. He has to bid for his vacation. He can't just say, "I need a week off 3 months from now." This year's vacation time off was decided at the end of last year.

 

If I were in the position of possibly having my cruise cancelled, I would like the time to have a back-up vacation plan. Even if it is just a simple one.

 

 

You have the right to feel however you want. I reported what was told to me straight from the person who got the e-mail. I made it very clear that it is not necessarily going to happen, just that there is a possibility. I am only guessing that it depends on what is going on, gastro wise, on the ship now and in the very near future.

 

I am not a rumor starter on this or any other message board I belong to. Searching my name here will only show that I try to be helpful and honest to any questions asked.

 

But, like I quoted myself above, I would like the opportunity to have a plan B just in case my vacation plans have to be altered. I did not post this to cause mass hysteria, or to "spin lots and lots of future Grandeur passengers into a tizzy".

 

Have a good day!

[manmtnmike]

You have the right to feel however you want. I reported what was told to me straight from the person who got the e-mail. I made it very clear that it is not necessarily going to happen, just that there is a possibility. I am only guessing that it depends on what is going on, gastro wise, on the ship now and in the very near future.

 

I am not a rumor starter on this or any other message board I belong to. Searching my name here will only show that I try to be helpful and honest to any questions asked.

 

But, like I quoted myself above, I would like the opportunity to have a plan B just in case my vacation plans have to be altered. I did not post this to cause mass hysteria, or to "spin lots and lots of future Grandeur passengers into a tizzy".

 

Have a good day!

 

I, for one, appreciate the heads-up.:)

You presented the information with the proper disclaimer.

 

So, it helps us to keep vigilance in re-planning a "plan-b" for all the other areas of concern...like vac. time, babysitting (for me it's the puppy;)) transportation and lodging, etc.

 

All good decision-makers want the "maybe-s", and prefer not to be surprised.

Sooooo...Thanks for the communication! Hope for the best, prepare for everything else!

 

Mike

[sharod]

I, for one, appreciate the heads-up.:)

You presented the information with the proper disclaimer.

 

So, it helps us to keep vigilance in re-planning a "plan-b" for all the other areas of concern...like vac. time, babysitting (for me it's the puppy;)) transportation and lodging, etc.

 

All good decision-makers want the "maybe-s", and prefer not to be surprised.

Sooooo...Thanks for the communication! Hope for the best, prepare for everything else!

 

Mike

 

You're welcome!!!

 

I am guessing because she got the e-mail early in the cruise that just came back today, that the powers to be were waiting to see the outcome of this cruise.

 

I haven't heard any news one way or the other. Which to me is good news!!! You know the saying, "no news is good news".

 

But it never hurts to be prepared for the "what if's"!!!

[chengkp75]

I don't think I can remember when any cruise was cancelled due to sanitizing or prior cruise noro problems (if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will have the ship's name and date at hand). They may cancel a day at most, and even that is extremely rare. The sanitizing agents used are very strong, and eminently effective, so even taking one day without new people onboard to recontaminate surfaces, the virus would be eradicated in one day's sanitizing. The problem is not killing the virus, it is constantly having to re-sanitize because the surfaces continue to get contaminated over and over. Remove the source (the people) and your sanitizing becomes 100% effective.

[Patty00]

You have the right to feel however you want. I reported what was told to me straight from the person who got the e-mail. I made it very clear that it is not necessarily going to happen, just that there is a possibility. I am only guessing that it depends on what is going on, gastro wise, on the ship now and in the very near future.

 

I am not a rumor starter on this or any other message board I belong to. Searching my name here will only show that I try to be helpful and honest to any questions asked.

 

But, like I quoted myself above, I would like the opportunity to have a plan B just in case my vacation plans have to be altered. I did not post this to cause mass hysteria, or to "spin lots and lots of future Grandeur passengers into a tizzy".

 

I, for one, am grateful that you posted. It gave me time to think about a plan B if it our cruise is cancelled or late embarkation. I just assumed that they would have the ship sanitized by now but that may or may not be true. I hate to see folks slammed when they are just passing on information to help others plan for what may happen. It is always best to be prepared and my cruise in a couple weeks may or may not take place as scheduled. Thanks for the warning.

[red devil]

I don't think I can remember when any cruise was cancelled due to sanitizing or prior cruise noro problems (if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will have the ship's name and date at hand). They may cancel a day at most, and even that is extremely rare. The sanitizing agents used are very strong, and eminently effective, so even taking one day without new people onboard to recontaminate surfaces, the virus would be eradicated in one day's sanitizing. The problem is not killing the virus, it is constantly having to re-sanitize because the surfaces continue to get contaminated over and over. Remove the source (the people) and your sanitizing becomes 100% effective.

Fyi--They cancelled two day's and two ports of call for the Explorer 21, 2014 sailing.

They brought the Ex back to Bayonne and spent 2 1/2 day's sanitize. Over 700 people reported ill.

So it does happen.

[fluffysue]

I appreciate the heads up, personally. I'd rather know now that there is a possibility of my cruise being affected, than to be totally blindsided when it happens. Besides, the info was presented with the appropriate disclaimers. I'm supposed to be on Grandeur in 2 weeks, so I'm hoping it's all resolved by then. Sorry for the people who have been affected, though. :(

[sharod]

I don't think I can remember when any cruise was cancelled due to sanitizing or prior cruise noro problems (if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will have the ship's name and date at hand). They may cancel a day at most, and even that is extremely rare. The sanitizing agents used are very strong, and eminently effective, so even taking one day without new people onboard to recontaminate surfaces, the virus would be eradicated in one day's sanitizing. The problem is not killing the virus, it is constantly having to re-sanitize because the surfaces continue to get contaminated over and over. Remove the source (the people) and your sanitizing becomes 100% effective.

 

Chengkp75

I have read many of your posts, and thoroughly enjoy them!!! You are a very knowable person.

 

Can you tell me how they sanitize the ship after an outbreak of norovirus, but before the next group of passengers embark.

 

Two disturbing things were witnessed on our Grandeur cruise, the one with the first noro outbreak.

 

First, in the Windjammer, when people were done eating, the tables were wiped well. Lots of disinfectant left to air-dry on the tables. Very good!!! The bad...they would wipe the chairs. But where your fingers wrap around the chair arms, the bottom side, were not wiped. Yikes!!!!! I personally witnessed this, numerous times!

 

Second, Windjammer again :eek:. The couple that we cruise with witnessed a crew member serving a person who had a plate that they were reusing!!!! NOT SANITARY!!!! I don't want to be served food with a utensil that touched another persons used plate. It was after gastro illness was announced and you were not allowed to serve yourself in the Windjammer. My friend did report this to a crew staff member.

[chengkp75]

During a noro outbreak, the public areas will be sanitized by fogging with Virkon of similar nightly, and during a "deep cleaning" all cabins will be fogged as well.

 

After the fogging dries, "touch" surfaces like handrails, doorknobs, elevators, etc, will be wiped with Virkon as well.

 

Things like the casino chips are fogged nightly, and will be done again during deep clean. Paper things like menus will be replaced.

 

During the cruise, the linens from quarantined cabins are separately bagged and washed in a special machine used only for infectious linens at higher temperatures than normal. The mattresses will be fogged after being stripped.

 

All linens, towels, and table linens will be washed at higher than normal temperatures, though the turn-around laundry takes much of the next cruise to complete.

 

Special HEPA vacuum cleaners will be used on the carpets. And the filters changed very frequently.

 

Very likely the 6-monthly sanitizing of the shower heads will be done at this time as well, even though this is more for legionella than noro.

 

During the outbreak, the air filters in the ship's A/C are sanitized nightly, and these will be done again on turn-around. There are sanitizing pads in the drains of the A/C air handlers to keep the condensate from growing microbes. Again, this is more for legionella, but they will be changed at turn-around.

 

All drink dispensers will get a more thorough sanitizing around the spout and dispensing lever than normal. The buffet line hot and cold tables will be wiped with Virkon.

 

Kid's club things will get even more sanitizing than normal.

 

The two examples you stated are poor performance of noro procedures. The failure to sanitize the chair arms should be done during noro protocols, and daily at normal times. The crew allowing a plate to be reused is a violation of USPH requirements under normal conditions.

 

Ship's senior management is responsible for making the USPH protocols second nature to all onboard, to the point where the crew cannot think about doing it any other way.

Edited April 19, 2014 by chengkp75

[summersigh]

Grandeur of the Seas sailed today as scheduled at appx 4:15pm ET. At 6pm she's approaching the bridge near Annapolis.

[ARCruisinNana]

Grandeur of the Seas sailed today as scheduled at appx 4:15pm ET. At 6pm she's approaching the bridge near Annapolis.

 

Yay:)

[sharse]

Grandeur of the Seas sailed today as scheduled at appx 4:15pm ET. At 6pm she's approaching the bridge near Annapolis.

 

 

Yipee!! I'll be on board in two weeks. :)

[LuvBNatC]

Shared, thank you for reporting what you learned, since it came from someone you considered a reliable source. That's why we come to CC, for the scoop.

 

And thank you, Chengkp, for ALL your informative posts. Having the wisdom of a chief engineer on tap is invaluable. On these topics that could use professional insight, I always look for your input, and you usually deliver. Much appreciated.

 

I would rather know that something may be afoot than not.

 

IMHO, we are all a bit too germophobic. You can't sterilize the world. It's great that these ships go above and beyond with the cleaning, but people taking simple precautions like washing hands at the proper times and not touching things they shouldn't would go a long way.

 

Karen

[sharod]

Chengkp65, thank you very much for your detailed explanation of what the cleaning process is. Very interesting read!!!

 

LuvBNatC, you're right, we can't live in a bubble. If everyone would just wash their hands well and frequently, cover their mouth/nose when they cough or sneeze, a lot of this could be so much better controlled.

 

This past Grandeur cruise I was always reminding my hubby to not touch the handrails as we were using the stairs. Any buttons I needed to push, I used my elbow. Thankfully, in the restrooms, trashcans were near the doors so that if a door needed pulled open, I could use a paper towel and then dispose of it. Lots of handwashing! Soap, water, friction, that's what is effective in cleaning your hands.

 

I work in the medical field, in primary care. When we arrived home and I was back on the job, gastro was the number one complaint!!! Couldn't get away from it no matter where I turned :(!!!!

 

I want to add that I am very happy that the Grandeur came home and left as scheduled!!!! I wish them a happy and healthy cruise :)

Edited April 20, 2014 by sharod