Noro on Riviera again

[Iamthesea]

This is why we are calling this a double instead of the usual home run. Did not say everything was perfect but not a horror either. The ports were what we expected, but the on board was not. Food good in all the resturants except the terrace. To sum it up both good and bad which is why Oceania has to step up and increase what they want to give us. Not asking for 100% but 50% would be about right.

 

Thank you for clarifying. We felt the same way. ;)

[njhorseman]

I totally agree. We were on same terrible cruise. Crew quite overwhelmed and over worked and down right nasty and abrupt with us. I got the feeling that it was the passengers to blame rather than the cruise lines and crew.

 

I have been on other Iceania cruises several years ago. Delightful, great food and different in all specially restaurants. This time WITH NEW NORWEIGIAN Cruise Line ownership, food in 1 restaurant similar to dining room and vice versa!

 

I recommend really finding out new service record before going on Oceania.

I will never go back. I'll try other upscale cruises as Oceania seems to have been grades for all services, food quality, and crew!!!

 

There's no "NEW NORWEGIAN Cruise Line ownership".

 

This was a merger of two companies, Prestige Cruise Holdings and Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings, that were already controlled by the same private equity firms, Apollo Management and TPG Capital. Because NCLH was already a public company, it was the surviving corporate owner.

 

Further, PCH executives are in charge of the new merged entity. Frank Del Rio, who was CEO of PCH and Oceania is now CEO of NCLH, and Jason Montague, who has been with Oceania since 2002 is now CEO of Oceania.

 

So if you don't like whatever changes you perceive to have occurred on Oceania, the blame lies with the same board of directors and senior executives who were running Oceania all along.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I know this was a bad cruise, but don't toss the baby out with he bath water. We were on Oceania in April and I don't believe it's possible to bring a line down in 10 months. But this will be a true test given the last 10 days. If the staff can bounce back from this, I'll give them a huge gold star.

[CruiserPK]

I know this was a bad cruise, but don't toss the baby out with he bath water. We were on Oceania in April and I don't believe it's possible to bring a line down in 10 months. But this will be a true test given the last 10 days. If the staff can bounce back from this, I'll give them a huge gold star.

 

Heather I certainly hope your cruise lives up to your expectations and no further Norovirus episodes happen on Riviera. It is a beautiful ship but there is much for the home office to learn from the last couple of months with all the Norovirus outbreaks on Riviera. Management ashore and onboard the ship left the dirty work to the lower level staff for the 2/12 sailing and refused to interface with their customers.

[JVNYC]

I know this was a bad cruise, but don't toss the baby out with he bath water. We were on Oceania in April and I don't believe it's possible to bring a line down in 10 months. But this will be a true test given the last 10 days. If the staff can bounce back from this, I'll give them a huge gold star.

 

I'm with you Heather! I can't wait for my 17 nights on Riviera in July. I'm not letting this bother me at all.

[LHT28]

In all the years we have sailed with Oceania I do not remember hearing of Noro on the ships

We did have an E-Coli outbreak in 2011 & not much heard until the last year or so

More ships, more people cruising :confused:

 

From reading posts on several of the recently bad cruises about people leaving the toilets without washing their hands

Not using the gel unless someone tells them they have to

 

Come on people they are not there for decoration & you know you should use them ...you are not children

does anyone use common sense anymore

do you really need someone to stand there & tell you to wash you hands when you leave the stall or use the gel when returning to the ship or going to eat

I know the average age on the ships is a lot older but has everyone lost their common sense :eek:

 

This last cruise seemed to have the worst passengers

breaking quarantine to go to the casino or to dinner

What are these people thinking ...this just annoys me to no end

 

First cruise I have ever heard of where they were taking people's cruise cards from them or scanning to get into the public areas

This is about selfish people pure & simple

 

The crew are cleaning all the time so why is Noro still spreading

People not following the protocol ..that is why

 

I do not blame the crew for being surly they must be exhausted

 

you do not have to agree with me but this is my opinion

 

filthy people are the biggest problem here

 

Lyn

Off for my bunker gear

 

[Iamthesea]

JVNYC, It shouldn't bother you at all. The November incident didn't bother us.

 

Heather is the one that needs to worry, ESPECIALLY with her fellow cruisers mixing in with the previous cruisers at hotels around Miami.

 

Hope you have a wonderful, clean cruise, Heather.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Iamthesea

[roger b]

This is why we are calling this a double instead of the usual home run. Did not say everything was perfect but not a horror either. The ports were what we expected, but the on board was not. Food good in all the resturants except the terrace. To sum it up both good and bad which is why Oceania has to step up and increase what they want to give us. Not asking for 100% but 50% would be about right.

 

I notice that none of the passengers that were on the two Blighted cruises in Nov/Dec where we had to suffer 20 days of code red conditions have anything to say !!!

Personally if Oceania had come up with the same offer of 25% off a future cruise , I would have said thank you very much.

You are lucky we only had the offer of $ 200 OBC,So I don't think you should complain.

[netpj]

We were on back to back cruises on Riviera (Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 and Feb. 2 - 12). Not only were passengers not using the hand sanitizers, we actually observed people putting their bear feet on chairs and cushions on the outside of the Terrace Cafe. We could not believe it. We understand that crew and senior management on board do not want to upset people, but this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable and a clear health hazard. We also observed people using tongs to pick-up food because there was not a server immediately present to serve them.

 

Even when crew were stationed at the doors to the dining venues they were not able to insist that people use the sanitizers, they were still asking politely. It is a very difficult situation for the crew.

 

What has happened to people using common sense?

[Travelcat2]

I'm taken aback by the comment that this is caused by "filthy people". The people that caught norovirus - whether on the ship, before they boarded or at any time likely caught it from touching something with the virus on it -- this could happen within minutes of washing your hands. People can be spreading the disease before they even know that they have it.

 

Once, during an outbreak on another cruise line I made a concerted effort not to touch my eyes, nose or mouth unless I had just washed my hands. It is not easy -- the moment you don't want to touch your face your nose or eyes itch and you give it a little scratch. If you touched something with the virus on it, you are transferring it to yourself. It is for this reason I carry the wipes (they were the wrong ones but I've learned from this thread). While I don't get carried away with wiping everything down on the ship (I do on an airplane). In the future, if it is norovirus "season" and I'm on a ship I will likely wipe down the menu, salt and pepper shakers and anything else on the table that I am concerned about.

 

Again, in terms of the 25% refund, if added to the 25% discount on a future cruise - it is 50%. Regent just did it in a way as to entice passengers to book another cruise.

[LHT28]

Even when crew were stationed at the doors to the dining venues they were not able to insist that people use the sanitizers, they were still asking politely. It is a very difficult situation for the crew.

 

What has happened to people using common sense?

 

My point exactly

Why does the crew even need to ask you to use the sanitizers

 

JUST DO IT

[LHT28]

I'm taken aback by the comment that this is caused by "filthy people". .

If people use the toilet & not wash their hands afterwards then they are "filthy people"

The ship is not some third world country where soap & water is not available

 

Poor hygiene in grown adults is just not acceptable in my opinion

You may consider it OK

[Solar Yellow]

I'm with Lyn. People can be very thoughtless and inconsiderate. I was on Riviera in May 2014 and witnessed an adult, though young, person run her finger around the rim of all the stemware on the table during muster in the Grand Dining Room. She also put the chrome lid to the butter container on her head. I made sure to tell the staff about it afterwards. I noticed in May 2015 during muster on Riviera, the tables were not set. Not sure if it was a coincidence or not.

[LHT28]

I'm with Lyn. People can be very thoughtless and inconsiderate. I was on Riviera in May 2014 and witnessed an adult, though young, person run her finger around the rim of all the stemware on the table during muster in the Grand Dining Room. She also put the chrome lid to the butter container on her head. I made sure to tell the staff about it afterwards. I noticed in May 2015 during muster on Riviera, the tables were not set. Not sure if it was a coincidence or not.

I noticed this as well so I try not to eat in the GDR on the 1st night or at least try to go a bit later once the tables have been turned

The number of people that put the whistles on the life vests in their mouth is appalling as well :eek:

[RJB]

My point exactly

Why does the crew even need to ask you to use the sanitizers

 

JUST DO IT

For the same reason that they had to get security to keep some sick people in their cabins. Some people are very selfish and are willing to put the rest of us at risk. They even had to take key cards away. After that you needed to show your card to eat or drink anywhere. Too bad.

[Mura]

I took Lyn's comment about "filthy people" as being directed at those people who do not practice basic sanitary principles -- NOT at people who became sick. Sometimes they are the same people, but not always.

 

Mura

[Travelcat2]

If people use the toilet & not wash their hands afterwards then they are "filthy people"

The ship is not some third world country where soap & water is not available

 

Poor hygiene in grown adults is just not acceptable in my opinion

You may consider it OK

\

Agree that poor hygiene is not acceptable. My point is that you can be a very clean person - wash your hands correctly - use disinfectant and still get norovirus. I'm not sure if Oceania uses a CDC approved disinfectant. As we have learned, many products currently being used that claim to kill 99% of all germs do not include the norovirus. This may be something they need to look into.

[RJB]

\

Agree that poor hygiene is not acceptable. My point is that you can be a very clean person - wash your hands correctly - use disinfectant and still get norovirus. I'm not sure if Oceania uses a CDC approved disinfectant. As we have learned, many products currently being used that claim to kill 99% of all germs do not include the norovirus. This may be something they need to look into.

Very true. I think i washed most of the skin off my hands last week on the cruise. We did not get sick. I guess between all the washing and just getting lucky we were O.K.

[eroller]

\

Agree that poor hygiene is not acceptable. My point is that you can be a very clean person - wash your hands correctly - use disinfectant and still get norovirus. I'm not sure if Oceania uses a CDC approved disinfectant. As we have learned, many products currently being used that claim to kill 99% of all germs do not include the norovirus. This may be something they need to look into.

 

 

I'm rather certain Oceania is aware of the correct products to use. Noro virus is something the cruise lines have been battling for years and they are well aware of what works and what doesn't. Noro is bad PR and bad for business. There is an entire industry that caters to the cruise industry regarding the noro virus. One such company is Clearly Better Solutions. There are many others. If you ever attend the SeaTrade Convention (Cruise Shipping Miami) here in South Florida, you get to see just how many industries cater to the cruise industry. Everything from the giant shipyards that build the ships to uniform manufacturers and yes the cleaning supply companies. It's pretty fascinating and every cruise line attends SeaTrade scoping out the latest and greatest.

 

It is rumored that Carnival is currently installing a ventilation system on CARNIVAL CONQUEST that actually kills noro-virus. I'm not sure how true this is, but if successful I'm sure the entire industry will take notice and install systems of their own. No cruise line wants to become known for a "plague ship".

[gigianne]

We were on the Nov18-Dec 2 cruise with a Noro outbreak that affected all on the ship. Not only were we not given official information, we did not get any port charges back for missing Bermuda, nor were we offered any $ - whether in OBC/refund or % off a future cruise. On a recent cruise with another line we missed the port of Grand Cayman - within 5 minutes of the Captain making the decision he made an announcement that included an apology. Later in the day yet another apology by the Captain, followed by a letter delivered to our cabin. Every passenger received a $50 OBC and a glass of champagne with dinner. A class act! I am totally on the side of the passengers - corporate Oceania needs to rethink how they treat their customers - first timers - or loyal followers. We have been on several ships that had Noro on board - code orange and red. In comparing how the illness was handled from one line to another Oceania loses - big time!

[iamkingofall]

sorry to hear that :eek:

Hope they can get it under control fast

 

I am surprised someone onboard has not posted about it :confused:

 

As a side note

Something I did not know (probably because I do not eat oysters)

I heard oysters if not properly filtered can have noro :eek:

They say apparently you should not eat them right from the sea

 

Oysters come from bays and estuary's . Mussels can be harvested on the ocean front , but unless there is a red tide or some weird water condition , the fresher the better .

[eroller]

In comparing how the illness was handled from one line to another Oceania loses - big time!

 

 

Seems the cruise line that can do no wrong has really hit rock bottom with this one. Almost universally passengers seem very unhappy with the way Oceania has handled things. I keep having to remind myself I'm reading the Oceania board and not NCL!

[RJB]

Seems the cruise line that can do no wrong has really hit rock bottom with this one. Almost universally passengers seem very unhappy with the way Oceania has handled things. I keep having to remind myself I'm reading the Oceania board and not NCL!

A huge turn around. Quite a few people that I talked to on board last week said they will never cruise with Oceania again. We have taken many Oceania cruises and have never heard talk like that before. SAD :(:(:(

[Winters Gate]

As a side note

Something I did not know (probably because I do not eat oysters)

I heard oysters if not properly filtered can have noro :eek:

They say apparently you should not eat them right from the sea

 

Frozen raspberries is also something that has been shown to contain Norovirus!

[eroller]

A huge turn around. Quite a few people that I talked to on board last week said they will never cruise with Oceania again. We have taken many Oceania cruises and have never heard talk like that before. SAD :(:(:(

 

 

It's a shame ... and just as I'm about to experience my first Oceania cruise next month. Who knows, it may be the first and last but I'm hoping for the best.