Oceana cleanup

[Warrior Princess]

Just had a message telling us that due to an unusual amount of gastro enteritis ie. Norovirus the ship will undergo extensive sanitation and our boarding time is later than previously issued. Had reports of this ship not being up to scratch so hopefully they have not got their act together and are more hygiene conscious.

[Cruiseman10]

I had the same e-mail today and also hope that they clean up well before we get on.

As for the ship not being up to scratch, I think it is the passengers and their habits that create most of the issue generally not the ship's age etc

All to often they don't wash hands often enough or refuse to use hand gel before getting food etc and such actions are normally what lead to the spread of the virus.

Remember touching any surface that is contaminated (for example a food serving spoon at buffet) and then just rubbing an eye or the like and you stand a good chance of getting it also.

I think when we get on self service may not be allowed in the buffet (might this be what the e-mail calls enhanced buffet) with the staff putting food on the plates for you to reduce risk, this would normally be in place for three days or so to ensure any new incubation period for the virus has lapsed.

I am sure we will all still have a good cruise, see you all on Friday .....

[jeanlyon]

That's exactly how it was on Oriana 2 weeks ago and also on the following cruise. No self-service. We had NV on board.

[Ataraxia]

is there any research done into an outbreak of Novovirus? What was eaten? The location of the passengers' cabins etc. It seems to me that any outbreak of illness is immediately blamed on Novovirus, whereas food poisoning has completely disappeared. Handy for the cruise line as it is their doctors who would make the diagnosis.

[tjwa]

is there any research done into an outbreak of Novovirus? What was eaten? The location of the passengers' cabins etc. It seems to me that any outbreak of illness is immediately blamed on Novovirus, whereas food poisoning has completely disappeared. Handy for the cruise line as it is their doctors who would make the diagnosis.

 

Totally agree.

[tring]

I also agree. It was very strange that, when I was diagnosed with norovirus on Artemis three years ago, the nurse wanted me to fill in a form to say what I had eaten on the ship for two or three days before that. Very strange!

 

I had been eating hot snacks towards the end of afternoon tea time as we came back onboard in ports. I do not do that now and stick to things that have been kept cool for a while instead of kept warm.

[Warrior Princess]

I had the same e-mail today and also hope that they clean up well before we get on.

As for the ship not being up to scratch, I think it is the passengers and their habits that create most of the issue generally not the ship's age etc

All to often they don't wash hands often enough or refuse to use hand gel before getting food etc and such actions are normally what lead to the spread of the virus.

Remember touching any surface that is contaminated (for example a food serving spoon at buffet) and then just rubbing an eye or the like and you stand a good chance of getting it also.

I think when we get on self service may not be allowed in the buffet (might this be what the e-mail calls enhanced buffet) with the staff putting food on the plates for you to reduce risk, this would normally be in place for three days or so to ensure any new incubation period for the virus has lapsed.

I am sure we will all still have a good cruise, see you all on Friday .....

 

In the event that someone picks it up on the ship who is responsible for medication as I have a friend who was ill on a cruise once and because she picked it up on the ship she did not have to pay for medication and cancelled trips were reimbursed for herself and her husband.

[Scriv]

I would not expect that unless my illness was the direct result of a negligent action on the ship's part or for example dodgy food provided by the ship.

 

Norovirus usually happens because someone has brought it on board and spread it by unhygienic practice.

[Ataraxia]

......and who is the arbiter as to what is food poisoning and novovirus?

[tring]

......and who is the arbiter as to what is food poisoning and novovirus?

 

Quite.

 

In fact it is often reported that a cruise company agrees to pick up the tab if a big outbreak is present and people should be compensated if facilities are reduced. It is not the passenger's fault and they are protected by law.

Edited November 5, 2014 by tring

[Warrior Princess]

Have packed hand gel and tablets just in case so looking forward to a great cruise. See you all on Friday.

[Well boy 91]

Was on the this cruise that just docked this morning. I heard a figure of 27 cases being mentioned. Captain announced that someone had contracted the bug whilst ashore in Gibraltar. Staff did the buffet,and lots of cleaning going on .

[jeanlyon]

Norovirus is a virus and food poisoning is a bacterial infection. Not sure how they tell the difference on board though.

[heywood]

Norovirus is a virus and food poisoning is a bacterial infection. Not sure how they tell the difference on board though.

 

I suppose they have to be cautious and begin with the assumption of norovirus. However, you would hope that some questions may be asked about food eaten.

I think the symptoms are different.

I notice that there are warnings about it from NHS - 18 hospitals affected in October.

We got an email today from P and O re Ebola screening. It is now going to happen if applicable.

[Elephant999]

Hi, we've just come off the Oceana, and were unaffected by NV.

 

I believe it was a small number of cases, the staff were extremely vigilant and quick in limiting the outbreaks.

 

It's not P And O's fault, it's the passengers, of which a small amount have poor hygiene. I heard a couple of people waiting for the restaurants who were arguing that they didn't want to use the hand gel as they had already washed their hands!

 

The ship is, IMHO, up to scratch, we had a great time.

 

Have a wonderful cruise those who are disembarking today.

[heywood]

That's good to hear, thanks. We are on Oceana for the first time soon.

[Elephant999]

I do agree with the previous comments about the company being quick to label it as Norovirus as my Dad was poorly on Oceana whilst we were in Valencia. He was convinced it was just a bit of food poisoning, although with the highly contagious nature of NV it wouldn't take much but he's quite pragmatic about it!

 

Immediately the staff knew that there were cases of gastro intestinal illness, the following protocols were put into place:

 

No self service in the buffet restaurant for anything,

Wrapped butter portions in the MDR etc,

Hand rails constantly being washed,

Cabins of those affected were sanitised,

Some people were quarantined.

 

I would go back on Oceana again in a flash, as the staff were brilliant and the Captain kept everyone updated.

 

Unfortunately in today's society, a label has to be put on everything and mild hysteria seems to be stirred up.... We apparently had a death onboard, and a member of the crew had a police escort to hospital as the Captain put down the hammer to get to Valencia 2 hours earlier, hey, that's life....