Tougher Enforcement on Use of Hand Sanitizer

[LouCru1033]

Recently returned from a 14 day South America cruise on the Infinity from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires. Although the Hand Sanitizer stands were evident and upon occasion there were staff standing with hand held units, I feel there should have been more of an effort given to 'try' to MAKE people use it. There were announcements that several people were ill, blah blah blah and one should cover one's mouth and or cough in the arm. Many times we encountered passengers coughing and I mean wretching coughing right in the Oceanview Cafe. Well, we always move, but this does not always do the job. Oh ,you might wonder how ill we were? After returning, I found out I had pneumonia and am just recovering now. My husband had it bad, but is much better without a visit to our GP.

 

Could the crew and or supervisors, especially in eating areas ask passengers to cover their mouths or even hand out masks? I think Celebrity has failed in this area.

[freddiebud]

Recently returned from a 14 day South America cruise on the Infinity from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires. Although the Hand Sanitizer stands were evident and upon occasion there were staff standing with hand held units, I feel there should have been more of an effort given to 'try' to MAKE people use it. There were announcements that several people were ill, blah blah blah and one should cover one's mouth and or cough in the arm. Many times we encountered passengers coughing and I mean wretching coughing right in the Oceanview Cafe. Well, we always move, but this does not always do the job. Oh ,you might wonder how ill we were? After returning, I found out I had pneumonia and am just recovering now. My husband had it bad, but is much better without a visit to our GP.

 

Could the crew and or supervisors, especially in eating areas ask passengers to cover their mouths or even hand out masks? I think Celebrity has failed in this area.

 

I think it is reasonable to ask, but you can't force someone to take personal responsibility. You can only take responsibility for you. That's the reality.

[dkjretired]

They don't push it because some people like myself are allergic to them. Also on some lines they are no more than a feel good measure since most do nothing to stem Noro. They are no better than washing your hands.

[cle-guy]

They don't push it because some people like myself are allergic to them. Also on some lines they are no more than a feel good measure since most do nothing to stem Noro. They are no better than washing your hands.

 

Celebrity's gel is definitely specially formulated to combat Noro, they advertise this fact on the Info channel on tv, going so far as to recommend guests refrain from using their own, as most regular readily available versions don't combat Noro, thus there is no reason to use them, and avoid the ships.

 

I'm surprised other cruise lines wouldn't out of normal course of business offer the version that combats noro. Any idea which lines don't, need to avoid them

 

I always take advantage of the stuff when boarding the ship, it;s awkward with all the stuff in hand, I always have to stick my seeps in my teeth and hold as I rub it into my hands as I embark, but I do it.

[Phxazzcruisers]

Unfortunately you cannot expect the cruise line to accept responsibility of "making" passengers cover their mouths or use hand sanitizers. Some people are just plain rude, and even if you requested they do so, they would ignore you. Unfortunately as freddiebud said, you can only take responsibility for yourself.

[cle-guy]

 

Could the crew and or supervisors, especially in eating areas ask passengers to cover their mouths or even hand out masks?

 

If I want to hang put with a bunch of people in masks, I'll ride a train in China or visit a hospital.

 

If one needs to wear a mask, please stay in your cabin. Masks creep me out.

Edited February 11, 2015 by cle-guy

[lisiamc]

If I want to hang put with a bunch of people in masks, I'll ride a train in China or visit a hospital.

 

If one needs to wear a mask, please stay in your cabin. Masks creep me out.

 

I'm very happy to use the hand sanitiser, whether it works or not. I'm a great hand washer, and do so before all meals. But I draw the line at wearing a mask. If it's because I'm I'll, I'll stay in my cabin. If it's because everyone else is ill, I might still just stay in my cabin!

[Algebralovr]

I wash my hands like crazy, as soon as I board, before entering a dining room, after ordering from the menu, after filling my plate in the buffet, ,etc, but I will not touch the hand sanitizer. It causes a very uncomfortable reaction in me.

I also have asthma and generally have a coughing fit after climbing a set of stairs.

 

I wasn't on your cruise, but it could have been someone like me.

 

You are more likely to be exposed on the plane, breathing recycled air for hours, than on the ship if you take your own precautions.

[Aquahound]

They don't push it because some people like myself are allergic to them.

 

Bingo. I'm sure we are the minority of all the people who disregard sanitizer but that said, I am one you'll see walk right past it. People can judge all they want and make ignorant comments like I'm rude and not taking personal responsibility, but I have very dry skin, especially on my hands. Sanitizer makes my hands dry out and crack, which can be painful. Even washing with hot water and soap dries my hands, but I still do that very often when on cruises. Adding sanitizer after washing does not work well on my hands. And no, the so-called moisturizing sanitizers do not help me.

 

By the way, guess who has never been sick on a cruise?

[DirtyDawg]

Recently returned from a 14 day South America cruise on the Infinity from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires. Although the Hand Sanitizer stands were evident and upon occasion there were staff standing with hand held units, I feel there should have been more of an effort given to 'try' to MAKE people use it. There were announcements that several people were ill, blah blah blah and one should cover one's mouth and or cough in the arm. Many times we encountered passengers coughing and I mean wretching coughing right in the Oceanview Cafe. Well, we always move, but this does not always do the job. Oh ,you might wonder how ill we were? After returning, I found out I had pneumonia and am just recovering now. My husband had it bad, but is much better without a visit to our GP.

 

Could the crew and or supervisors, especially in eating areas ask passengers to cover their mouths or even hand out masks? I think Celebrity has failed in this area.

 

As others have said the cruise line can't force people. However they could do a better job marketing the proper behavior. On our last NCL cruise the crew members manning the hand sanitizers were making a 'game' out of washing with it. The good banter brought lots of cruisers over to join in the fun and do a good public health thing at the same time.

[patty1955]

Personally, I wish they'd back off with the sanitizer. I don't use it and don't want it shoved at me when I walk onto the ship or into a room. When I come back from the port, I have my card in my hand because I had to use it to get on the gangplank and I will need it to get onboard. What am I supposed to do with the card while I use the sanitizer? If I then use my card (and everyone does), I get the same germs that I had before the sanitzer.

I'm an adult and I don't need sanitizer shoved at me or someone to tell me to cover my nose when I sneeze. Then again, I have a very good immune system don't get sick very often.

[K.T.B.]

They don't push it because some people like myself are allergic to them. Also on some lines they are no more than a feel good measure since most do nothing to stem Noro. They are no better than washing your hands.

 

Same here in terms of being allergic to them. If I use it, my hands get too dry and they start to crack. Hurts like hell.

 

On my last cruise the people with the hand sanitizer were extremely forceful in people using it. Returning to the ship one day, one person even blocked my way and refused to let me by unless I used it. Thankfully one of the crew stepped in and let me pass. My complaints to guests relations were met with a shrug of the shoulders and a roll of the eyes. And I wish I was kidding about that.

[A Sixth?]

These threads come up a lot on all the cruise line chat boards.

 

If I have just washed my hands to within a inch of their lives I am not using hand sanitizer.

 

I work at a school and wash my hands 15-20 times a day and almost that many times with sanitizer. There is no way I am going to let someone who knows nothing about how spotless I am tell me to do anything.

[RickT]

Other than those folks our are allergic to it, I'm often baffled at others who choose to walk by.... And before you flame me, I don't know who is and isn't allergic but I'm guessing the real world percentage is a lot smaller than the percentage who walk by...

 

I'm personally more concerned about those folks (and you know you've seen them too) who choose to pick up food in the buffet by their hands when tongs are right there. I've even seen a gun pick up items by hand, look at them and put them back :eek:

 

Common courtesty and manners unfortunately can be lacking.

[koolforkatz]

You can only do what you can do - you can't make people use hand sanitizer. I use it, but I see people who sail right past. I also see people who don't even wash their hands after using the bathroom. They are the worst offenders.

 

I am not wearing a mask... as mentioned, full-on creepy.

[friendlyfifer]

Passengers should use the sanitisers when boarding the ship and certainly when entering the dining room, unless they have a medical reason for not doing so. The crew should ask people to use the sanitizer as they enter the dining room and of course, if the passenger refuses, the matter should be dropped. Some responses seem very selfish and only concerned about whether or not they catch a bug. I don't want to fall ill but I would hate to think that I was the cause of another passenger being poorly.

[parallax]

The hand sanitizer only addresses the issue at that moment. It is not a vaccine that inoculates you for a period of time. If you are sick and cough into your hand, the sanitizer you recently applied is not going to prevent you from spreading your illness if you touch things afterward.

 

While I am a vigorous washer of hands, I am not a big fan of anti-bacterial products. Viruses and bugs can develop a resistance to such products and can morph into something much more nasty.

[coldbird]

Other than those folks our are allergic to it, I'm often baffled at others who choose to walk by.... And before you flame me, I don't know who is and isn't allergic but I'm guessing the real world percentage is a lot smaller than the percentage who walk by...

 

I'm personally more concerned about those folks (and you know you've seen them too) who choose to pick up food in the buffet by their hands when tongs are right there. I've even seen a gun pick up items by hand, look at them and put them back :eek:

 

Common courtesty and manners unfortunately can be lacking.

 

I have always used tongs when serving myself but wonder about the people that have used them before me???? I bet that is where a lot of people pick up Noro... and other bugs:eek:

[wwcruisers]

If I want to hang put with a bunch of people in masks, I'll ride a train in China or visit a hospital.

 

If one needs to wear a mask, please stay in your cabin. Masks creep me out.

 

Agreed -- and the worst coughing reported by the OP was in the Oceanview Cafe. How would you eat, wearing a surgical mask? :confused:

[DirtyDawg]

Agreed -- and the worst coughing reported by the OP was in the Oceanview Cafe. How would you eat, wearing a surgical mask? :confused:

 

On the upside, wearing a mask might get you straight to the front of the buffet line.:D

[K.T.B.]

I hope people who wear those surgical masks realize that they're preventing their own germs from spreading, not preventing them from getting anyone else's germs.....

[CallyCruzer]

Well all you have to do is go into the ladies room and watch women come out of the stalls and walk right out without washing their hands. I assume men do the same thing. And manners - forget about it. Last fall we were in the casino and a guy sitting beside me starts coughing without covering his mouth. When I asked could he cover his mouth - he said he wasn't sick. Really..... I am not germ crazy - but some things are just common sense. And more and more I find people leave both their manners and common sense home. It's all about them and no one telling them what to do. Not to stir things up on this board - but its just like the people who decide they don't want to innoculate their kids or self. They don't think about anyone but themselves. Sigh.....

[patty1955]

Well all you have to do is go into the ladies room and watch women come out of the stalls and walk right out without washing their hands. I assume men do the same thing. .

Whenever I read about people not washing their hands after using the toilet, I'm reminded of one of my kids. When asked if he washed his hands, he replied "I didn't pee on them".

[Gracie115]

They don't push it because some people like myself are allergic to them. Also on some lines they are no more than a feel good measure since most do nothing to stem Noro. They are no better than washing your hands.

 

Don-

 

I don't use them either for the same reason...I suspect passengers would be more horrified if they saw me taking something from the buffet with my hands all broken out from the stuff in the santizers...:eek: No one can say what is going on with someone else so, NO, X can't force that issue. I wash my hands before going to any eating area and many other times during the day....lots more effective than these santizers and, FOR ME, far safer.... But boy am I tired of getting glared at by fellow passengers who don't take the time to consider WHY someone refuses it rather than just think, "oh well that person is dirty/doesn't care/spreads germs....etc....." like the saying says, "don't judge till you've walked a mile in their shoes...." :)

Edited February 11, 2015 by Gracie115

[HokiePoq]

I was on the same cruise as the OP and have to agree that the sanitizer use was quite lax. There was a person dispensing it at the MDR in the evening but the "washy-washy" person was rarely on duty elsewhere....saw one person one time. There was quite a bit of illness aboard, too.

I do not know if the same CDC standards apply to ships not using US ports.

There were passengers in general who did not seem to hold the same standards as many of us are used to. I lost my appetite for the buffet one morning when I came a little later than usual. DH and I usually try to be the first there when it opens but I was a few minutes late. First I saw a lady sneeze on the bread display. I went to the other bread display and saw a young man stick his hand in that bread display.

I can say that the medical staff onboard was excellent. Several in our group made use of the medical facilities.

Edited February 11, 2015 by HokiePoq