Obligatory handwashing on Princess???

[GOLDENBONNY]

We just returned from a transatlantic cruise from Southampton to Ft Lauderdale on Royal Princess. To our astonishment, we were informed that in order to enter the cafeterias on Deck 16 all passengers were required to wash their hands, in view of the steward(s) at the door. Refusal was met with refusal to let the passenger enter the cafeteria.

 

After a week this humiliating practice ended and the ship (finally) installed the Purell machines all other cruise lines use (and which Royal Princess itself uses in the main dining rooms!) without announcement or explanation. An excess of zeal by the Capitain? Paranoia about shipboard viral :eek:contamination? Who knows? No official announcement of the policy or explanation was ever issued or given anyone.

 

Bizarre and very unsettling. Will be interested to see if future passengers encounter the same nonsense.

 

I did not know that to wash hands it's humiliating:rolleyes: It's not a paranoia it's common sense to do .

[rogerdawhip]

On one of my previous cruises two passengers were not allowed in the buffet area because they refused to wash their hands. They then tried to enter thru the exit only area and were kept out. They started screaming and grabbing the buffet personnel and were escorted out of the area by security personnel. How can using the hand dispensers be such a problem.

[GOLDENBONNY]

On one of my previous cruises two passengers were not allowed in the buffet area because they refused to wash their hands. They then tried to enter thru the exit only area and were kept out. They started screaming and grabbing the buffet personnel and were escorted out of the area by security personnel. How can using the hand dispensers be such a problem.

 

I love Princess already :p

[Aquahound]

I know this is a problem for many people, perhaps some not as bad as you describe but painful, nonetheless. How do you address this with the people at the entrance of the HC line where there are no wash basins? Just tell them you are allergic and have already washed your hands?

 

Hand sanitizers dry out my hands, cause discomfort that's hard to describe, and sometimes makes them crack. I simply say "thanks, but I can't" and I keep walking right past them. They just have to trust that I regularly wash my hands, especially on cruises.

[terrysko2000]

On our last cruise on Norwegian we had a Washy Washy guy at the entry to buffet.

He sang a song about washing your hands and sprayed stuff on our hands. They made it kinda silly but ATLEAST people's hands were disinfected. You would be suprised at how many people do not wash their hands after leaving the bathroom etc. I for one do not want to be sick on my long awaited vacation!

[keithm]

On one of my previous cruises two passengers were not allowed in the buffet area because they refused to wash their hands. They then tried to enter thru the exit only area and were kept out. They started screaming and grabbing the buffet personnel and were escorted out of the area by security personnel. How can using the hand dispensers be such a problem.

Hopefully they were kicked off the ship at next port.

[Retiring cajun]

guess I could wash, put on dr. gloves, then take off after going try buffet[emoji15][emoji33]

[sprint180]

humiliating. Really. Washing your hands is humiliating?

[shredie]

guess I could wash, put on dr. gloves, then take off after going try buffet[emoji15][emoji33]

 

Don't touch anything with your gloves! :p

[Gwendy]

Saw man on RCL have a stand up argument with young lady who asked him to use hand sanitiser. Pushed past the young girl and I then saw him handling food with his fingers. I reminded him of hygiene risks and he told me where I could go! What is wrong with these people?

[MTJSR]

Humiliating? perhaps if you were asked to strip down to only your socks, but with half the people ? not washing after using the toilet, Im all for it. And if that doesn't work..... glove up before entering the common food areas. Its a public heath and safety issue.

[Griller]

Well, I'm guessing that Colgate has probably figured out by this point that we all need to wash our hands and use the provided hand sanitizers not just for our own benefit, but for everyone on the ship.

 

I'm finding the info everyone is providing here really beneficial. Comforting to know how many of us have figured out that we should clean our hands after touching a menu and after handing the serving utensils after going through a buffet. I will now use a tissue to push elevator buttons. I'm honestly considering getting a cute pair of cotton gloves to use while going down stairs (I always use to handrails so I don't meet take a nose dive), traveling through airports, etc. I'm not a germaphobic but I do hate to get sick.

 

Thanks for starting this thread Colgate. Hope you've learned as much as I have!

I use my knuckles to push elevator buttons. I don't use my knuckles to eat. And I just use my forearm to steady myself on the handrails.

Wash my hands whenever possible, always use the sanitizing gel, never touch the bathroom door handles with bare hands.

On Caribbean Princess right now and no Noro or other problem on here but quite a few passengers are walking around the buffet eating titbits and then sucking their fingers, then using the serving spoons, horrible.

I'm just trying to ignore it, too many doing it to say anything. Nasty people!

[FamilyCruiseDiva]

Absolutely right! Not all hand sanitizers are created equal. The VF-481, marketed as "Purell Advanced" has been shown to be effective. For those who think the hand sanitizer is not helpful at all, it has been shown that handwashing with antibacterial soap along with VF-481 is more effective than either method alone.

 

I don't see what the fuss is about. There's nothing humiliating about being required to wash your hands before you go into an area where unclean hands can cause 100s of people to get sick, and potentially ruin everyone's vacation.

 

If you're asked to use hand sanitizer and/or wash your hands, just do it. It is happening for a reason!

 

Well I definitely learned something new! And I'll be looking for the VF-481 to purchase and carry with me, not just on cruises, but whenever I'll be eating in public.

:cool:

[FamilyCruiseDiva]

I'm honestly considering getting a cute pair of cotton gloves to use while going down stairs (I always use to handrails so I don't meet take a nose dive), traveling through airports, etc. I'm not a germaphobic but I do hate to get sick.

 

Me too! I will be shopping for some gloves and will wear them while walking around the ship, then remove them & use sanitizing wipes prior to eating. I'll still wash my hands very regularly and use the sanitizer too, now that I know it really is effective. :D

 

I'm guessing fabric gloves are nowhere near as effective as latex or similar surgical type gloves, but it's got to be better than touching things with bare skin and then eating.

 

Now I just have to start training myself not to touch my hair or face! :eek:

Edited September 29, 2015 by FamilyCruiseDiva

[EZ2CY]

Griller, thanks for the tips. Wishing you continued good health and a wonderful time on the Caribbean Princess!

 

Diva, maybe we could start a new fashion trend on the ships? Cute gloves, coordinating with our outfits. Cotton can be dyed. I'm thinking of purchasing a half dozen pair and having some fun making them pink, green, purple....

 

I'm also thinking of how HAL doesn't allow passengers to serve themselves at the buffet for the first 3 days of a cruise. Maybe it's time to get rid of the self-service aspect altogether and have staff do the serving. I could live with that.

[sfo2008]

Clorox Commercial hand sanitizer is also designed to kill Norovirus, can be bought at Amazon.com easily.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Clorox-02174-Bleach-Free-Sanitizer-Spray/dp/B00DDZNSDK/

 

 

The mostly myth that hand sanitizers aren't effective against Norovius on this board is a shame because it discourages investigation of easily available products that actually are highly effective (Obviously a different story for people like Pam or the nurse who posted who have an allergic reaction to the sanitizers).

 

If you look at the Clorox sanitizer the main difference is not the active ingredient (ethyl alcohol), but rather the emollients that keeps the sanitizer wet longer for longer kill time.

[Native Floridian 26]

Bizarre and very unsettling. Will be interested to see if future passengers encounter the same nonsense.

 

No response from COLGATE. I didn't see one response sharing the feeling that this wonderful enforcement of cleanliness was bizarre, unsettling or nonsensical.

 

I appreciate any measures done to keep us from getting sick:)

Edited September 29, 2015 by tzais01

[oceanseagle12]

Clorox Commercial hand sanitizer is also designed to kill Norovirus, can be bought at Amazon.com easily.

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Clorox-02174-Bleach-Free-Sanitizer-Spray/dp/B00DDZNSDK/

 

 

 

 

 

The mostly myth that hand sanitizers aren't effective against Norovius on this board is a shame because it discourages investigation of easily available products that actually are highly effective (Obviously a different story for people like Pam or the nurse who posted who have an allergic reaction to the sanitizers).

 

 

 

If you look at the Clorox sanitizer the main difference is not the active ingredient (ethyl alcohol), but rather the emollients that keeps the sanitizer wet longer for longer kill time.

 

 

Thank you!!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[modes]

Colgate has gone away . i guess he's brushing his teeth.

[riclop]

Colgate has gone away . i guess he's brushing his teeth.

 

LMAO, good one.

[sanmarcosman]

Colgate has gone away . i guess he's brushing his teeth.

Let's hope he washes his hands afterward.

[Gracie115]

Most of those 'ignorant' have no way of knowing you just came from the restroom and washed your hands. I wouldn't be so quick to condemn them and call them names.

 

I agree you shouldn't call them "ignorant" but I'm another that washes their hands and do not use the sanitizer as I have an allergy that causes my hands to break out from something in the sanitizer and while I won't call the people who give me dirty looks, "ignorant" I will say that their efforts to guilt me into using these sanitizers doesn't work anymore and I think it's just wrong for those people to "ASSUME" I am dirty and don't give a darn...

 

When I went to board the TA I was on this past April the woman in front of me actually accused me of "being the type that causes norovirus" it was such a lovely way to start our trip......she was nasty, and at least her husband listened to both my husband(yes he uses it) & I and apologized for her when he heard the reason why.... There are frequently reasons that we do not understand for people's actions and assuming the worst is often wrong....just saying.....

 

Anyway we will be on the Regal in just over a month and I WELCOME the hand washing station as an alternative.....won't have to worry about someone judging me for once!!!!!

Edited September 30, 2015 by Gracie115

[keithm]

Saw man on RCL have a stand up argument with young lady who asked him to use hand sanitiser. Pushed past the young girl and I then saw him handling food with his fingers. I reminded him of hygiene risks and he told me where I could go! What is wrong with these people?

Lucky it wasn't me! I've gotten pigs like that booted out.

[keithm]

I use my knuckles to push elevator buttons. I don't use my knuckles to eat. And I just use my forearm to steady myself on the handrails.

Wash my hands whenever possible, always use the sanitizing gel, never touch the bathroom door handles with bare hands.

On Caribbean Princess right now and no Noro or other problem on here but quite a few passengers are walking around the buffet eating titbits and then sucking their fingers, then using the serving spoons, horrible.

I'm just trying to ignore it, too many doing it to say anything. Nasty people!

You need to do what I do. Be loud & publically shame these pigs(sorry, mods that's what they are!!)When you draw attention to people behaving like pigs, the more pax around them that are notified of what's going on, the better. I have & will continue to get people kicked out for this behavior. I'd rather be seen as a rabble rouser than pax have their vacation ruined by some slob. My partner has had a transplant,so perhaps you can see the reason for my getting really upset about this. Being in a catering company, it galls me no end the disgusting behavior of some people.

[dylandog25]

Did this extra measure of cleanliness ruin your cruise?

unfortunately not everyone has the common courtesy to wash their hands frequently or after using bathroom and that is why princess needs to implement this policy

I,m sure you would have more to complain about if there was norovirus on board and you caught it

I cannot believe anyone would complain about being forced to wash their hands.

sounds like the lady in front of me on one princess cruise who refused to sanitize her hands , said she had just washed them in cabin , well hello did you manage to get all the way from your cabin without touching anything She should have been refused entry also