Norovirus on Grandeur

[breezy_carol]

Was listening to the radio and heard a news story that the Grandeur of the Seas was returning to Baltimore early because of 200 cases of norovirus.

 

Here is a link to the story.

 

Too bad.

[cb at sea]

It's been a rough season for noro and flu..and various colds! Tis the season!

[chengkp75]

I would say that she is returning early due to the medical emergency. I can't think of any time a ship has returned early due to noro. CDC has an incident update, since the reporting level is about 10%, they will be boarding the vessel upon arrival to review procedures and reporting.

[RSLeesburg]

I would say that she is returning early due to the medical emergency. I can't think of any time a ship has returned early due to noro. CDC has an incident update, since the reporting level is about 10%, they will be boarding the vessel upon arrival to review procedures and reporting.

 

 

IIRC, Explorer returned early last year when they had a large outbreak of Noro.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[reallyitsmema]

Crown Princess also has returned to port days early because of norovirus. Was February of 2012 when Crown Princess returned to Port Everglades after leaving port late because of sanitizing ship. They skipped first port, headed towards second port but turned around in the middle of the night to return to Port Everglades since so many were sick. My Mom and her friends were on that cruise, never got sick, got a full refund of their cruise and a very generous future cruise credit that they used towards a TA.

 

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

Edited February 2, 2015 by reallyitsmema

[red devil]

I would say that she is returning early due to the medical emergency. I can't think of any time a ship has returned early due to noro. CDC has an incident update, since the reporting level is about 10%, they will be boarding the vessel upon arrival to review procedures and reporting.

She came back this afternoon,

CDC is on the ship and it is noro.

Late boarding tomorrow starting around 2:00 ?

[beachnative]

I would say that she is returning early due to the medical emergency. I can't think of any time a ship has returned early due to noro. CDC has an incident update, since the reporting level is about 10%, they will be boarding the vessel upon arrival to review procedures and reporting.

 

The following was posted on our Roll Call for tomorrow's sailing.

 

It was posted by people who were sailing on the Grandeur and will be staying for the cruise starting tomorrow:

 

"We are going into port tomorrow, Monday, at 3 pm and all passengers will diesinbark and B2B cruisers are being put up in hotel. They will have the ship spotless when you get on. The CDC is onboard now.

We skipped Labadee and headed home. We were given compensation of $75. It will be a pain having to pack up again, but that is how it is."

Edited February 2, 2015 by beachnative

[jackinav]

Just came off the Grandeur. We returned early so the ship could be sanitized . There were also medical emergencies but no effort was made to have them evacuated from the time the announcement was made yesterday at 5. We saw CDC on board after our third port which turned out to be out last. We skipped labadee and came home at high speed.

 

Sent from my LG-E971 using Forums mobile app

[StingBeanz]

CDC joined the ship in Falmouth.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[laedw]

That's unfortunate that the cruise ended earlier than planned. My current fear is a measles outbreak similar to the one at Disneyland.:eek:

[DragonOfTheSeas]

That's unfortunate that the cruise ended earlier than planned. My current fear is a measles outbreak similar to the one at Disneyland.:eek:

 

That is certainly a possibility. However, most people above 55 [the winter demographic on the Grandeur] had measles when they were children.

 

[A spring break cruise with large numbers of kids would be an issue.]

[laedw]

http://www.wired.com/2015/01/vaccinated-people-get-measles-disneyland-blame-unvaccinated/

[Bookish Angel]

I had a mild case of a gastrointestinal bug, maybe noro, despite washing my hands properly and sanitizing in between. I was quarantined to my cabin for 24 hours after being seen by the ship nurse. Felt fine after quarantine.

 

Second consecutive Grandeurcruise with noro. Ship needs a major cleaning and passengers should have to attend a manadatory handwashing and sanitation lecture. I saw people picking up plates and cups in the Windjammer when they were clearly supposed to wait for a gloved employee to give them out. Some people just cannot wait their turn.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Bookish Angel

[jackinav]

The windjammer suspended self serve early in the cruise and purel was mandatory. Even salt and pepper packets were handed out. Touch screens were disabled and most crew didn't handle sea pass cards. Walls ...doors ...tables.. everything was being cleaned constantly. The crew was amazing! But yet the casino stayed open and I did not see anyone asking players to sanitize before handling the slot machines.

 

Sent from my LG-E971 using Forums mobile app

[Paulette3028]

The windjammer suspended self serve early in the cruise and purel was mandatory. Even salt and pepper packets were handed out. Touch screens were disabled and most crew didn't handle sea pass cards. Walls ...doors ...tables.. everything was being cleaned constantly. The crew was amazing! But yet the casino stayed open and I did not see anyone asking players to sanitize before handling the slot machines.

 

Sent from my LG-E971 using Forums mobile app

 

Maybe you have hit on something.....could the casino be an open area of contamination that isn't paid the same attention as other parts of a ship....just asking, not accusing.

[psupa]

The windjammer suspended self serve early in the cruise and purel was mandatory. Even salt and pepper packets were handed out. Touch screens were disabled and most crew didn't handle sea pass cards. Walls ...doors ...tables.. everything was being cleaned constantly. The crew was amazing! But yet the casino stayed open and I did not see anyone asking players to sanitize before handling the slot machines.

 

Sent from my LG-E971 using Forums mobile app

 

Maybe you have hit on something.....could the casino be an open area of contamination that isn't paid the same attention as other parts of a ship....just asking, not accusing.

 

I'm going to carry a packet of sanitizing wipes and wipe the buttons before I play. Don't forget to use your elbow to push the elevator buttons. It's just that time of year, but I've seen some disgusting stuff on ships. We wash our hands often and try to avoid the buffet if possible.

[chengkp75]

Maybe you have hit on something.....could the casino be an open area of contamination that isn't paid the same attention as other parts of a ship....just asking, not accusing.

 

It's not that the casino isn't "paid the same attention" as the rest of the ship, it's that it isn't a food venue. Are you being instructed to sanitize before touching a handrail or a deck chair?

 

The assumption by USPH (not just the cruise line) is that a) you would wash your hands after touching things in the casino before eating, or b) that sufficient time passed to cause the virus to become non-effective.

 

The casino, including the chips, are sanitized every night, just like every other hard surface on the ship.

 

Given that this is apparently the second cruise with a reportable noro count, and since the numbers rose during the second cruise, and to a substantial number (about 10%), that is why the CDC inspectors came on in Jamaica, to see if the ship's mitigation procedures were sufficient.

[chengkp75]

I had a mild case of a gastrointestinal bug, maybe noro, despite washing my hands properly and sanitizing in between. I was quarantined to my cabin for 24 hours after being seen by the ship nurse. Felt fine after quarantine.

 

Second consecutive Grandeurcruise with noro. Ship needs a major cleaning and passengers should have to attend a manadatory handwashing and sanitation lecture. I saw people picking up plates and cups in the Windjammer when they were clearly supposed to wait for a gloved employee to give them out. Some people just cannot wait their turn.

 

While your idea is a good one, given the level of disinterest shown at the safety muster (the information there could save your life), how much interest would be shown at a handwashing lecture? Do you really think this would change the habits of a lifetime?

[goofy810]

I had a mild case of a gastrointestinal bug, maybe noro, despite washing my hands properly and sanitizing in between. I was quarantined to my cabin for 24 hours after being seen by the ship nurse. Felt fine after quarantine.

 

Second consecutive Grandeurcruise with noro. Ship needs a major cleaning and passengers should have to attend a manadatory handwashing and sanitation lecture. I saw people picking up plates and cups in the Windjammer when they were clearly supposed to wait for a gloved employee to give them out. Some people just cannot wait their turn.

 

 

Agree it is bad, however I was on the cruise b4 this one 1/16-1/24 and noro was not an issue, (though the wife said there was some gross folks in the bathroom not washing hands). We always use hand sanitizer like its your life on the line and knock on wood never get sick.

[Thetrail]

While your idea is a good one, given the level of disinterest shown at the safety muster (the information there could save your life), how much interest would be shown at a handwashing lecture? Do you really think this would change the habits of a lifetime?

but have to say this post and your previous post were spot on......K.O.:)

[Paulette3028]

I'm going to carry a packet of sanitizing wipes and wipe the buttons before I play. Don't forget to use your elbow to push the elevator buttons. It's just that time of year, but I've seen some disgusting stuff on ships. We wash our hands often and try to avoid the buffet if possible.

 

I believe it is a mistake to feel that you have to take special care just at food venues on the ship. People have strange habits and those habits occur everywhere. I work in a retail environment with thousands of people walking through everyday, the way parents train their children in 'healthy habits' is disgusting -- it often appears to me they don't. I am surely not blaming children for the spread of germs.

 

I believe it also starts with a healthy 'you' -- but carrying that packet of sanitizing wipes probably isn't a bad thing. I am not one that goes into the cabin and sanitizes it.....but in the confined space of the casino it could not hurt.

[TADCruise]

Was listening to the radio and heard a news story that the Grandeur of the Seas was returning to Baltimore early because of 200 cases of norovirus.

 

 

 

Here is a link to the story.

 

 

 

Too bad.

 

 

Another link...

 

http://m.wbaltv.com/news/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-returns-early-to-baltimore/31053844

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[chengkp75]

I believe it is a mistake to feel that you have to take special care just at food venues on the ship. People have strange habits and those habits occur everywhere. I work in a retail environment with thousands of people walking through everyday, the way parents train their children in 'healthy habits' is disgusting -- it often appears to me they don't. I am surely not blaming children for the spread of germs.

 

I believe it also starts with a healthy 'you' -- but carrying that packet of sanitizing wipes probably isn't a bad thing. I am not one that goes into the cabin and sanitizes it.....but in the confined space of the casino it could not hurt.

 

What I am saying is that USPH realizes that you can take more measures at food venues (no self service, etc.) than you can elsewhere. What would you like the ship to do? Have a gloved crew member push the slot buttons? Issue gloves to slot players (enforcement?)? Sanitize the slot machines after each player?

 

How you personally prevent getting ill is one thing, but what the ship can do, economically and realistically, is something else.

[Susie51]

For the sake of the embarking passengers, I hope this cleaning was able to get rid of 99.9% of the virus.

 

In Dec., NCL Jewel had the hand sanitizer dispensers in many places all around the ship. Does RCI have same availibility?

[chengkp75]

For the sake of the embarking passengers, I hope this cleaning was able to get rid of 99.9% of the virus.

 

In Dec., NCL Jewel had the hand sanitizer dispensers in many places all around the ship. Does RCI have same availibility?

 

Unfortunately, with something like noro, even if they got rid of 99.9% during the deep clean, all it requires is one infectious passenger to start touching surfaces after the sanitizing to start the whole ball rolling again. Not going to get this sidetracked by talking about the whole hand sanitizer thing. But, yes, RCI does have hand sanitizer available.

Edited February 3, 2015 by chengkp75