Noro on Riviera again

[RJB]

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.

Hope with all the time they have had in the last few days they can clean the ship and turn this problem around. I do not think an Oceania ship has ever returned early for this kind of thing.

[MVPinBoynton]

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.

 

We will be on the Riviera next month also. I have a feeling that by the time you board the beautiful Riviera, noro will not be an issue. I think you will thoroughly enjoy Oceania, it is a fine line, despite the problems they have recently experienced.

[CruiserPK]

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!

 

I would love to know what cruise line handled your missed port situation if you are willing to share. That was the perfect way to make the guests feel valued. The note of apology and OBC would have been satisfactory but the champagne added a really nice touch. That was exactly the correct response and leads to loyalty to a cruise line. Oceania has gone totally in the opposite direction with their handling of all the recent Norovirus outbreaks on Riviera.

[Travelcat2]

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 :(:(:(

 

IMO, this is a typical reaction and is exactly how I felt after our cruise 2 1/2 years ago. Once we were home and had time to reflect back on the situation, we realized that it could have happened on any cruise line and we decided to book another cruise (without the advantage of a 25% discount). While we are still aware that this could happen again, we aren't going to change our lives over it. You could change cruise lines and have the same thing happen so I'm not sure what the point is changing to another cruise line.

[Catherine721]

There is usually a handicap washroom in each of the restrooms. They have their own sinks. When I use one of these washrooms, I wash my hands in there. Because I don't want anyone who may be standing waiting for a washroom to think I had not washed my hands I wash them again in the regular part of the washroom. I don't want to hear anyone saying "Look, there goes that woman who did not wash her hands". Silly? Probably.

 

We were on Riviera for the Trans Atlantic in November when Noro was on board. It certainly did take away from the whole experience - and as other have said - no compensation at all for missing Bermuda.

 

Linda

[Bubba1956]

We joined the cruise on the 12th Feb, unaware that there was an ESCALATING problem with the norovirus. As someone succinctly put it, we were used as Guinea pigs to see if they had managed to control the spread of the virus. They hadn't, so it didn't matter how often I washed MY hands that would not preclude me catching the virus as I joined the virus ship, I didn't bring the virus with me. They then went to plan B which was to cut short our cruise so the next cruise could be norovirus free. So no, I don't think 25% is sufficient compensation as, from the start, our cruise was always going to be compromised.

[buggins0402]

We joined the cruise on the 12th Feb, unaware that there was an ESCALATING problem with the norovirus. As someone succinctly put it, we were used as Guinea pigs to see if they had managed to control the spread of the virus. They hadn't, so it didn't matter how often I washed MY hands that would not preclude me catching the virus as I joined the virus ship, I didn't bring the virus with me. They then went to plan B which was to cut short our cruise so the next cruise could be norovirus free. So no, I don't think 25% is sufficient compensation as, from the start, our cruise was always going to be compromised.

 

Someone refresh my memory, wasn't the CDC on board, checking things out prior to the cruise on the 12th? If so, they must have thought the problem was under control ( obviously it wasn't). I guess my only point is that not only O, but the also CDC, thought the ship was good to sail on the 12th. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Edited February 22, 2016 by buggins0402

[Tansy Mews]

It seems that they have done more this time - but a greater number was sick.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2016/february12_oceania_riviera.htm

 

Nov 18 - Dec 2 - http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2015/dec2_oceania_riviera.htm

 

Let's hope they clear it up.

[LHT28]

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 .

Just passing on some info I learned

You can google it for yourself or not

[kazu]

I would love to know what cruise line handled your missed port situation if you are willing to share. That was the perfect way to make the guests feel valued. The note of apology and OBC would have been satisfactory but the champagne added a really nice touch. That was exactly the correct response and leads to loyalty to a cruise line. Oceania has gone totally in the opposite direction with their handling of all the recent Norovirus outbreaks on Riviera.

 

 

Just because I do the future cruise listing on that board and, it is in effect public knowledge, gigianne was on Holland America.

Edited February 22, 2016 by kazu

[kazu]

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 :(:(:(

 

 

I heard some established. O. Cruisers saying the same thing on our. November sailing.. Some were cancelling future bookings. It's not the Noro but how. It is handled, communication, etc.

[Mura]

I do understand why passengers were so unhappy with Riviera recently. (We encountered Noro on Marina last spring but I don't think it was as serious and it was handled somewhat better. Our cruise wasn't the special experience we were used to but other than the impossibility of getting rare meat, we weren't inconvenienced all that much.)

 

I can also understand why someone whose first Oceania cruise was on one of these sailings would say "never again". But I don't understand why someone who has sailed on Oceania a number of times before would come to the same conclusion. It seems to me that these problems are more the exception than the rule. (Comes the day when all ships have this problem all the time, sure, we'll be gone, too.)

 

While our Marina cruise wasn't the super experience our previous cruises have been, we still are booked on three more in the next year. (June/July 2016, October 2016, April 2017) It would take more than one such disaster for me to say "never again".

 

Then again, our next two cruises are on "R" ships and I haven't heard of Noro being a problem there -- maybe it's just dumb luck.

 

I don't deny that it definitely sounds like the outbreaks on Riviera could have been handled better. Indeed, SHOULD have been handled better.

 

Mura

[RJB]

We joined the cruise on the 12th Feb, unaware that there was an ESCALATING problem with the norovirus. As someone succinctly put it, we were used as Guinea pigs to see if they had managed to control the spread of the virus. They hadn't, so it didn't matter how often I washed MY hands that would not preclude me catching the virus as I joined the virus ship, I didn't bring the virus with me. They then went to plan B which was to cut short our cruise so the next cruise could be norovirus free. So no, I don't think 25% is sufficient compensation as, from the start, our cruise was always going to be compromised.

Foe sure. It should be at least 50% or more.

[rallydave]

Someone refresh my memory, wasn't the CDC on board, checking things out prior to the cruise on the 12th? If so, they must have thought the problem was under control ( obviously it wasn't). I guess my only point is that not only O, but the also CDC, thought the ship was good to sail on the 12th. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Believe there have been on board reports from the Nov. TA thru the last cruise that docked on the 20th but, only the TA and the latest cruise went over the 3% requiring CDC reporting so don't think that any CDC people would have been on board on the 12th before the previous sailing.

 

Not positive about this but, hope others who were on those 6 or 7 cruises can comment. Believe there has been extra cleaning on board since November.

[wristband]

After we got off in Dec., we canx several Riviera bookings. Largely due to the ineptitude and indifference by mgmt. That said, we have kept our booking this summer on Marina.

 

I am struck by something NOT mentioned here after the outbreak was first announced 3 months ago. Most of us, myself included, have blamed a lack of sanitary/hygiene practices of guests and possibly crew (though the numbers for crew ill pale in comparison to the documented passengers that sought medical attention). After observing those habits, its a legitimate concern. And the numbers are much higher than reported b/c many do not seek medical attention and are not documented.

 

But it cannot explain why the virus has persisted for so long .

 

Why could the culprit not be somewhere inside the ship itself? Water tanks perhaps? The laundry lacking proper temperatures? It seems odd with guests & crew getting on & off every two weeks that the virus continues unabated for nearly 100 days.

 

Seems to me this signals something very wrong internally onboard (rather than just humans who can't act as responsible adults) which is causing the outbreaks.

[hypercafe]

Looking at what Oceania chargers for all non included things on the ship along with transfers and hotels along with how they give nothing for missed ports, not even port fees I think they are very bottom line orientated, to much so to do the right thing.

[kazu]

After we got off in Dec., we canx several Riviera bookings. Largely due to the ineptitude and indifference by mgmt. That said, we have kept our booking this summer on Marina.

 

 

 

I am struck by something NOT mentioned here after the outbreak was first announced 3 months ago. Most of us, myself included, have blamed a lack of sanitary/hygiene practices of guests and possibly crew (though the numbers for crew ill pale in comparison to the documented passengers that sought medical attention). After observing those habits, its a legitimate concern. And the numbers are much higher than reported b/c many do not seek medical attention and are not documented.

 

 

 

But it cannot explain why the virus has persisted for so long .

 

 

 

Why could the culprit not be somewhere inside the ship itself? Water tanks perhaps? The laundry lacking proper temperatures? It seems odd with guests & crew getting on & off every two weeks that the virus continues unabated for nearly 100 days.

 

 

 

Seems to me this signals something very wrong internally onboard (rather than just humans who can't act as responsible adults) which is causing the outbreaks.

 

 

I saw a lot of sick crew. And missing crew on our cruise. I suspect they were told not to report and, instead they would be visited by the doctor. Just a suspicion of course from what I saw (back up to the back up to the back up all sick for bingo and CD having to come, missed bar servers who said they were sick and how many were, etc.). The numbers in the CDC report didn't add up. If there were that few sick as reported, then there is no explanation for service issues we faced. It's the only explanation I have.

 

I also saw sick crew serving food (coughing) and serving passengers in the Terrace Grill. I don't think the fault falls just to the passengers. At least on our cruise and what I saw. JWIS (Just what I Saw)

Edited February 22, 2016 by kazu

[buggins0402]

Believe there have been on board reports from the Nov. TA thru the last cruise that docked on the 20th but, only the TA and the latest cruise went over the 3% requiring CDC reporting so don't think that any CDC people would have been on board on the 12th before the previous sailing.

 

Not positive about this but, hope others who were on those 6 or 7 cruises can comment. Believe there has been extra cleaning on board since November.

 

Thanks, I went back on this thread to the 11th and 12th and it only mentions a frantic cleaning by crew, but no CDC check. Sorry, darn search thread key doesn't work with my I Pad and I was trying to go from memory.

Edited February 22, 2016 by buggins0402

[Cruseforme]

We were on the 12/2 and 12/12 cruises (ending 12/22). I believe the captain stated there were 2 passengers ill with Noro on the 12/2 cruise, however all future announcements by the captain stated "gastro intestinal" and NOT noro for the remaining days. However due to CDC reporting, we had to be under code red, as ANY gastro needs to be verified in the 72 hours after, so every 72 hours, if someone went to the Dr with a gastro problem...back into code red for another 72..and there was 1 or 2 each day.. And so on...for 19 of the 20 days..so we endured the sticky, smelly stuff for 19 solid days,..And yes, the poor crew including our stateroom steward cleaned constantly. And yes, ABC cleaning was onboard on 12/12 cleaning in between the two cruises, I saw their shirts as they were getting on, when we were getting off (we were last ones off due to B2B)...per CDC. But must have been a quickie because we were back onboard by 11 ish on 12/12 after disembarking at 9:45.. CDC inspection, no clue...

Edited February 23, 2016 by Cruseforme
DH corrected me, it was 72 hrs, not 48 as I stated previously.

[Noxequifans]

We have always noticed the procedure getting on and off the ship with the ID cards issued to guests. The security person who takes your card has just touched the cards of the hundreds of people before you.

 

At our gym we hold up our cards and the receptionist wands the cards ... the cards never leave our hands. No transmission of pathogens.

 

Given the recent norovirus situation on the Riveria wouldn't this make sense?

[CruiserPK]

We have always noticed the procedure getting on and off the ship with the ID cards issued to guests. The security person who takes your card has just touched the cards of the hundreds of people before you.

 

At our gym we hold up our cards and the receptionist wands the cards ... the cards never leave our hands. No transmission of pathogens.

 

Given the recent norovirus situation on the Riveria wouldn't this make sense?

 

On our 2/12 voyage, we held up our cards and they were scanned. The security person never touched my card that I recall.

Edited February 23, 2016 by CruiserPK

[cruiselvr1]

Yes, back in November or December during the crossing from Europe. in addition, the ship had the virus on the following cruise and possibly beyond. I'm sure others that know more can elaborate or you can do a search

 

 

Just heard again from my friend that all passengers have to show their keycards to enter any of the dining venues as some paxs that are sick are sneaking out of their rooms!!! unreal.

 

Nancy

Instead of showing your card, have a machine where you put your card in. If your not supposed to be out of your room, a nice noise maker and security to escort you back, might stop those who want to escape. Embarrassment can be a mighty deterrent.

[Cruseforme]

We have always noticed the procedure getting on and off the ship with the ID cards issued to guests. The security person who takes your card has just touched the cards of the hundreds of people before you.

 

At our gym we hold up our cards and the receptionist wands the cards ... the cards never leave our hands. No transmission of pathogens.

 

Given the recent norovirus situation on the Riveria wouldn't this make sense?

 

Ditto at our gym (except we have a stationary reader that we swipe on), and great idea! I 'think' the disembarkation/embarkation people wore clear plastic gloves on our cruise, but....they never changed them between passengers...so why bother?!

[HeatherInFlorida]

The CDC was everywhere today. Everyone is very upbeat and positive all will be well. They're sanitizing tables and you have to wait for them to dry before next group can sit. Everyone is using the sanitizer and this is a new type ... Sticky, takes a while to dry. They were way backed up getting people into their cabins. We were lucky and our bags were already here when we came to our room. Library cabinets are locked for now; will be opened after 3 days if all is well. If it is, all else will return to normal, too.

 

The crew and staff are upbeat, hopeful and as wonderful as I remember. Ice in cabin in room is only by request though I can't figure that one out. We touch nothing. There is no salt, pepper, sugar...nothing on the tables.

 

We had a delicious surf and turf in Waves for lunch and a casual dinner in the Terrace for dinner. Hated not having the tables set and welcoming, but it's a small price to pay if we can be virus free. Everyone I've spoken to knows about the last cruise. So time will tell.

[RJB]

On our 2/12 voyage, we held up our cards and they were scanned. The security person never touched my card that I recall.

Exactly, never touched our cards or any others we saw. Just held them up to scan. Good job by crew.