Small % Norovirus Outbreak 3/21

[cruiserdrinker]

We all got letters on our doors yesterday evening stating a small percentage of people have contracted the Norovirus. What that actual percentage is, I don't know. However they seem to be taking higher precautions and ensuring everyone is sanitizing there hands prior dinner service last night. I wish they would make everyone do it anyways because there is some nasty folks. As normally they're always cleaning. I made a comment to one gentleman who walked out the RR without washing his hands. I got ignored though but worth the try and embarrassment he got as there was other people around.

 

So far cruise has been GREAT! Minor glitches but nothing major to disrupt me from having a good time. ;)

[Jenjer]

There is a Tummy bug going around on land also. I have had employees off sick with it and my kids have said lots of kids missing school or going to the nurse or getting sick at school.

[pihanettie]

We were on the cruise the week before you. I saw vomit by the elevators on deck 5 so I knew something was going around. When we arrived home 3/21 my daughter started vomiting so I knew we had it, luckily she didn't start suffering until we got home.

[roe2ship]

We were on the cruise the week before you. I saw vomit by the elevators on deck 5 so I knew something was going around. When we arrived home 3/21 my daughter started vomiting so I knew we had it, luckily she didn't start suffering until we got home.

Ewwwww!

[Jimbo]

It's the Windjammer, They don't know how to clean the tables properly or whatever they are using to try to clean them wasn't any good. They were sticky all week last week.

 

Not good!

 

 

Jimbo:)

[nycruise]

It's the Windjammer, They don't know how to clean the tables properly or whatever they are using to try to clean them wasn't any good. They were sticky all week last week.

 

Not good!

 

 

Jimbo:)

 

 

We ate breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer for 7 days and never had a problem, other than finding a table. Hard to say what causes an outbreak. Never heard of anyone sick on our cruise, 2/13/15.

[starfish216]

It's the Windjammer, They don't know how to clean the tables properly or whatever they are using to try to clean them wasn't any good. They were sticky all week last week.

 

Not good!

 

 

Jimbo:)

 

 

We were on that cruise last week. Yes the tables in the Windjammer were always sticky after they got done cleaning them. I don't know why the second person followed behind the first….it didn't make a difference.

 

They need to use a different cleaning solution or rinse their cleaning cloths out more often.

 

We always took an extra set of silverware and used the napkin to wipe down the sticky table…worked real well especially if the table was still wet. We then left the used napkin in the discard pile to be picked up by one of the staff walking around the Windjammer.

 

We ate breakfast, lunch and some dinners in the Windjammer and we haven't come across anyone getting sick. I found for the most part people being conscious of what they were doing…..seemed like people cleaned hands before entering, didn't see any licking of fingers or eating food while on line, utensils for the most part were placed in a dish or with handle resting on tray rim, didn't see anyone filling personal bottles from drink dispensers.

 

I am not saying that none of this never happened but from what I saw guest were being considerate of others.

 

It was a great cruise.

Edited March 25, 2015 by starfish216

[edjny]

We ate breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer for 7 days and never had a problem, other than finding a table. Hard to say what causes an outbreak. Never heard of anyone sick on our cruise, 2/13/15.

 

The virus gets on-board because infected passengers bring it with them when they board. Then they spread the 'bug' by grabbing on to the stair rails, elevator buttons and hundreds of other things that are then touched by other people. About the only way to slow the spread is for people to avoid touching their face and washing their hands a lot, especially after wandering around the ship.

[beachnative]

We were on that cruise last week. Yes the tables in the Windjammer were always sticky after they got done cleaning them. I don't know why the second person followed behind the first….it didn't make a difference.

 

They need to use a different cleaning solution or rinse their cleaning cloths out more often.

 

We always took an extra set of silverware and used the napkin to wipe down the sticky table…worked real well especially if the table was still wet. We then left the used napkin in the discard pile to be picked up by one of the staff walking around the Windjammer.

 

We ate breakfast, lunch and some dinners in the Windjammer and we haven't come across anyone getting sick. I found for the most part people being conscious of what they were doing…..seemed like people cleaned hands before entering, didn't see any licking of fingers or eating food while on line, utensils for the most part were placed in a dish or with handle resting on tray rim, didn't see anyone filling personal bottles from drink dispensers.

 

I am not saying that none of this never happened but from what I saw guest were being considerate of others.

 

It was a great cruise.

 

We were on the Gradeur the first cruise after the Norovirus outbreak, deep cleaning, and CDC monitoring/educating the crew's ongoing cleaning. We learned a lot about the process:

 

They require two applications of the solution, thus the second person. The solution must remain on the surface 10 minutes in a WET state. Yes, the solution seemed sticky. They were putting the solution on everything!!!

 

The Grandeur's Norovirus was effectively stopped but the treated, re-treated, re-treated surfaces were effected and they seemed sticky throughout the cruise….a small inconvenience considering the successful outcome.

Edited March 25, 2015 by beachnative

[starfish216]

We were on the Gradeur the first cruise after the Norovirus outbreak, deep cleaning, and CDC monitoring/educating the crew's ongoing cleaning. We learned a lot about the process:

 

They require two applications of the solution, thus the second person. The solution must remain on the surface 10 minutes in a WET state. Yes, the solution seemed sticky. They were putting the solution on everything!!!

 

The Grandeur's Norovirus was effectively stopped but the treated, re-treated, re-treated surfaces were effected and they seemed sticky throughout the cruise….a small inconvenience considering the successful outcome.

 

Interesting .....I learn something new every day.

 

Ten minutes seems like a long time for something to become efffective.....at peak times the tables in the Windjammer turn over quickly.

[Jimbo]

 

They require two applications of the solution, thus the second person. The solution must remain on the surface 10 minutes in a WET state. Yes, the solution seemed sticky. They were putting the solution on everything!!!

 

 

 

That is one stupid solution, next they will be putting a 10 minute timer on the tables before you can sit down at a table in the windjammer...........It will end up being like musical chairs finding a seat. WOW is right!

 

 

Jimbo:)

[PennStateFan123]

Another reason to refuse to go to windjammer in my dirty shorts and hit the Grande

 

 

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[beachnative]

I'm surprised at the above reaction.

 

Having been on the Grandeur when they were fighting Norovirus, their actions/methods did not bother us at all. We were happy that they were making the effort to solve the problem by using the prescribed routine.

 

Whenever we went to the Windjammer we picked up an extra napkin each and spread it out on the table as if it were a placemat.....no problem. The solution was being used throughout the ship and we simply had to be carefull where we sat or leaned....no problem.

 

Again, we deeply appreciated the effort the crew was putting forth. They worked extra hours to sanitize that ship and to keep us healthy. We even wrote a note to the crew thanking them...many of the crew saw it posted on I-95 and said that they appreciated it.

 

We would feel the same if we were on the Quantum or any other ship.

Edited March 26, 2015 by beachnative

[FunCruiser59]

We were on the March 1st -13th sailing on Quantum.

We stopped into the casino for a bit and I saw a woman

sneeze three times right onto the slot machine with visible spray

from her nose and mouth all three times. She never covered

her mouth and it went all over the machine! She then wiped her nose

with her hand and then proceeded to play! OMG I was so disgusted!!!

I politely said "please cover your mouth when you sneeze" and the

look I got could have stopped a moose dead in its tracks! LOL

 

The disregard for others is mind boggling!

[PennStateFan123]

That's why you shouldn't gamble

 

 

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[lara68]

Just got an email that the boarding times of our March 29th have been pushed back one hour. I wonder if this is to do the deep cleansing if the n o r o is currently on board the present sailing?

[TigerJuls]

Just got an email that the boarding times of our March 29th have been pushed back one hour. I wonder if this is to do the deep cleansing if the n o r o is currently on board the present sailing?

 

Wondering that as well!

[cruiserdrinker]

Wondering that as well!

 

Might be... They have been cleaning like crazy and extra patrol at the entrances of the casino and dining venues. Along with added sanitizing stations at the elevators.

[Jimbo]

Anyone offthat sailing yet? Just wondered how it went toward the end of the cruise? Sounds like it sure didn't start out to well.

 

Jimbo:)

[juiceman]

Anyone offthat sailing yet? Just wondered how it went toward the end of the cruise? Sounds like it sure didn't start out to well.

 

Jimbo:)

 

I'm just off it. It was actually more toward the end of the cruise. On Thursday morning all the salt & pepper shakers & bottles of sauces were removed from the Windjammer. The restaurants had their S&P shakers removed as well. A lot of cleaning of rails, door handles, etc. Crew members were filling passengers drink glasses, even at the Coke Freestyle machines. For some reason, the Freestyle machine in the Seaplex was still self-serve though. You still could serve yourself in the Windjammer though.

[Jimbo]

I'm just off it. It was actually more toward the end of the cruise. On Thursday morning all the salt & pepper shakers & bottles of sauces were removed from the Windjammer. The restaurants had their S&P shakers removed as well. A lot of cleaning of rails, door handles, etc. Crew members were filling passengers drink glasses, even at the Coke Freestyle machines. For some reason, the Freestyle machine in the Seaplex was still self-serve though. You still could serve yourself in the Windjammer though.

 

 

Don't know why they ever changed the drink stations. Always thought it was cleaner to go up there and just grab your drink. Pouring your own drinks with everyone touching those drink handles should not every be allowed.

 

Just easy way of spreading germs they way they do it now. Pour your own.

 

 

Jimbo:)

[mitchden]

Anyone offthat sailing yet? Just wondered how it went toward the end of the cruise? Sounds like it sure didn't start out to well.

 

Jimbo:)

 

I was also on this sailing. In addition to the Purell hand sanitizer stands at the entrance to the Windjammer, there are sinks for washing your hands (great idea). At the beginning of the cruise, the "washy washy" staff, asked people to use the Purell sanitizer but didn't insist that the sinks be used. Towards the end of the cruise, the entrance was roped off so you had to wash your hands before entering the Windjammer. There were about 6 sinks that had sensors so you didn't have to touch them, although you had to press the soap dispenser. I was told about 150 people became ill.

[cruiserdrinker]

I was also on this sailing. In addition to the Purell hand sanitizer stands at the entrance to the Windjammer, there are sinks for washing your hands (great idea). At the beginning of the cruise, the "washy washy" staff, asked people to use the Purell sanitizer but didn't insist that the sinks be used. Towards the end of the cruise, the entrance was roped off so you had to wash your hands before entering the Windjammer. There were about 6 sinks that had sensors so you didn't have to touch them, although you had to press the soap dispenser. I was told about 150 people became ill.

 

To add to this... They also had staff at the entrances of the casino with a bottle of santizer making sure to catch everybody.

[out2havefun]

I was on the ship that sailed 3-21. This was no small outbreak. I am sure RCL wants everyone to think that. I was at dinner one night and felt fine. I suddenly got sick to my stomach - projectile style. I left the room and went to my cabin to change and go to bed. Meanwhile, they sent a Hazmat crew to clean the area and got my cabin information from my friends. They called me at 10:30pm and sent an escort to take me to the Medical Center. There were other people already there, and the staff said that norovirus was going around. Because I did not show the symptoms of the norovirus and was probaly just a little seasick (northern Atlantic can do that.....) they let me go. Many others were quarantined to their room, not allowed to leave for 24 hours! By the end of the cruise they wouldn't even let people touch salt and pepper shakers. This was nothing minor. Another friend of mine contracted the flu on the ship! Half of the ship was sick. It was a mess. They were cleaning thoroughly and playing happy little "wash your hands" songs but people just don't wash properly and in a confined space, this crap just flies around! They were trying really hard to control the germs to no avail.

[juiceman]

I've heard different numbers of passengers had noro. I have heard it was either 100-150 & also heard about 10% had it, or just under 500. Luckily, I was able to avoid gettiing sick, but my mother wasn't.