When a ship gets sick!

[Reedsafloat]

Outbreaks of the worrying Norovirus in two Queensland hospitals a while back reminded me of what happens when it strikes a crowded cruise ship.

 

For cruise passengers cocooned aboard a sick ship, there is no escape.

 

Unless you lock yourself away in your cabin until the problem passes and get your meals on wheels, the shipboard attempt to control Norovirus is all pervading.

 

From the vomit bags in the lifts,to the crew demanding you hand wash at every corner..It’s hands off in the buffet and the glad wrapped food displays where once fingers had gone free range.

 

Crew with masks and backpack sprays, like a scene from ghostbusters, were spotted fumigating polluted cabins and corridors.

 

On a Holland America’s Asia Pacific cruise on the Volendam a couple of years back we were the victim of not one, but two major outbreaks.

 

Chinese authorities so concerned they delayed our landing in Shanghai for hours until they found a volunteer amongst us prepared to undergo tests to prove we weren’t bringing them a boatload of Avian Flu.

 

That volunteer who succumbed to a very personal probe by what he described as “something like a pair of chopsticks” had earlier been confined to his cabin for 48 hours .

 

Although HAL insisted he was one of only 28 cases, crew confided the numbers were in the hundreds, almost thirty percent of the 1400 passengers and 600 crew aboard.

 

The Volendam’s sick bay was overwhelmed. Stories spread like the plague as everybody knew somebody who had come down with it and how sick they had become.

 

The Captain’s plea for victims to isolate themselves became a stern order of demand as the Virus spread.

 

And the frustration grew when the ship arrived in Kobe.

 

Passengers on the next leg to Alaska given $50 to buy themselves lunch ashore while the entire ship was fumigated from bow to stern .

 

Every item washed, sprayed, or steam cleaned.

 

Annoyingly within days of our departure, the Norovirus was back. Passengers, or was it crew, apparently ignoring the captain and his increasingly impassioned pleas to lock themselves away.

 

Cruisers looked at one another with suspicion as they passed in the narrow passageways.

 

Crew immediately swabbing tables and chairs with antiseptic the moment we vacated dining areas.

 

The crew were outstanding with even the dancers and magicians called on to arm themselves with bottles of sanitiser and guard every stairwell, lift or doorway.

 

Eventually we won the battle and the barriers came down on the library book shelves ..the hundreds of metres of cling wrap protection removed from the Lido buffet. Once again we could serve ourselves coffee and far too many cakes..

 

Passengers were finally able to enjoy what was otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable cruise.

 

Beating Norovirus requires caution, co-operation and patience from everyone aboard.

 

It didn’t spoil our holiday, but it easily could have.

[oaktreerb]

I no longer use the public bathrooms on the ship. It's easy enough to return to my room for a bathroom break.

 

I prefer to be served at most meals rather than dipping into the buffet.

 

I always use the hand sanitizer at the entrance to the dining room even though I have washed my hands.

 

Yes, I've had it. No fun. Quarantined. Trying to get the kitchen to make some red jello. Waiting till my release time to get off the ship. I still cruise.

 

Lessons learned.

Edited March 2, 2016 by oaktreerb

[sail7seas]

Ships don't get sick; people do.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands AND

 

Keep those hands away from your face. Don't touch your eyes, nose, mouth...... No portals into your body means you do not contract Noro. You not only have to touch something that is 'dirty' but you have put those dirty hands to your face or open wound.

 

[MARLEY225]

Ships don't get sick; people do.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands AND

 

Keep those hands away from your face. Don't touch your eyes, nose, mouth...... No portals into your body means you do not contract Noro. You not only have to touch something that is 'dirty' but you have put those dirty hands to your face or open wound.

 

 

I totally agree with Sail7Seas. Wash those hands constantly and keep them away from your eyes, nose, and month!!!!! ;)

[Keith1010]

When you travel with so many people things happen whether that is by ship, train, planes or even automobile.

 

You can do a lot of wise things to help prevent getting sick or getting other sick but you can't avoid it completely.

 

Remember though some of the places with the most germs include;

 

Taxis

 

Airplane

 

Hotels (telephones, etc.)

 

Keith

[OlsSalt]

Visit the CDC website for more information about moro-virus and how it affects large institutional settings, not just ships. Luckily while we have been on ships that have had occasional problems in our 300 days, nothing like you described at all.

 

Most people had slight inconveniences as a result and the numbers affected are quite small before a ship is required to go into a code red. But it is always good to keep reminding how relatively simple it is to avoid and prevent contact. Watch where you put your own fingers is key.

 

CDC - Vessel Sanitation Program - VSP - tips for cruise passengers and learn the CDC protocol for healthy ships:http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/

Edited March 2, 2016 by OlsSalt

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been on quite a few ships with the Noro virus.

It isn't fun when many items are not available. It was so bad on a couple of cruises that the pools and whirlpools were closed, library closed, many activities cancelled. Beauty salon closed. Casino was closed for a couple of days while all the chips, etc. were hand washed. People were given gloves to wear once the casino re-opened.

[DaveOKC]

We have been on quite a few ships with the Noro virus.

It isn't fun when many items are not available. It was so bad on a couple of cruises that the pools and whirlpools were closed, library closed, many activities cancelled. Beauty salon closed. Casino was closed for a couple of days while all the chips, etc. were hand washed. People were given gloves to wear once the casino re-opened.

 

It must have been bad if they closed the casino! On our noro virus cruise, it was pretty bad (many people down with it), but they never to my knowledge closed the casino, which I though was strange given how everything else was restricted or cleaned constantly. After all, with all the people touching common surfaces everywhere all the time you would have thought that would be the first place closed.

[3rdGenCunarder]

On our last two HAL cruises (Veendam last fall and Oosterdam recently), there have been noro outbreaks. Very small outbreaks, but the ships went into code red in what both captains called "an overabundance of caution." On Veendam, each cabin got a bottle of the super Purell (high alcohol content), extra sanitizers were everywhere (they were even wiping down the pens in the shop before you signed for a purchase), hot tubs closed. I didn't see a difference in the number of passengers out and about, so I don't think it was a huge outbreak. But they jumped on it instantly and contained it.

 

To add to what Sail said about ships not being sick, at the start of this cruise, Veendam had just returned from a long cruise to Europe and had to be inspected upon arrival in Boston. She scored 100%, so the ship was clean and crew practices were seen to be top notch. So somebody, somehow brought it on board and contaminated the nice clean ship.

 

On Oosterdam, small outbreak with reported numbers never more than 1% of passengers, but they went into code red and it didn't become a massive outbreak. When I told a friend about how small the outbreak was, she was doubtful. She survived the horrible outbreak on Explorer of the Seas a few years ago, and her comment was "don't believe the REPORTED cases. There are always more. Just walk around the ship and count the do not disturb signs."

[Happily@Sea]

On our last two HAL cruises (Veendam last fall and Oosterdam recently), there have been noro outbreaks. Very small outbreaks, but the ships went into code red in what both captains called "an overabundance of caution." On Veendam, each cabin got a bottle of the super Purell (high alcohol content), extra sanitizers were everywhere (they were even wiping down the pens in the shop before you signed for a purchase), hot tubs closed. I didn't see a difference in the number of passengers out and about, so I don't think it was a huge outbreak. But they jumped on it instantly and contained it.

 

To add to what Sail said about ships not being sick, at the start of this cruise, Veendam had just returned from a long cruise to Europe and had to be inspected upon arrival in Boston. She scored 100%, so the ship was clean and crew practices were seen to be top notch. So somebody, somehow brought it on board and contaminated the nice clean ship.

 

On Oosterdam, small outbreak with reported numbers never more than 1% of passengers, but they went into code red and it didn't become a massive outbreak. When I told a friend about how small the outbreak was, she was doubtful. She survived the horrible outbreak on Explorer of the Seas a few years ago, and her comment was "don't believe the REPORTED cases. There are always more. Just walk around the ship and count the do not disturb signs."

 

I disagree with this [bolded by me] statement - I was on the Oosterdam when they had this recent outbreak [the segment before and the segment during]. People used Privacy Please signs during both segments - sometimes the signs mean just what they say Not - "I'm sick".

[3rdGenCunarder]

I disagree with this [bolded by me] statement - I was on the Oosterdam when they had this recent outbreak [the segment before and the segment during]. People used Privacy Please signs during both segments - sometimes the signs mean just what they say Not - "I'm sick".

 

Sure, some people just want to be left alone. But when you see a sudden huge increase in the number of privacy signs coinciding with a noro outbreak, as my friend did, you've got to figure they aren't ALL channeling Greta Garbo.

[Happily@Sea]

Sure, some people just want to be left alone. But when you see a sudden huge increase in the number of privacy signs coinciding with a noro outbreak, as my friend did, you've got to figure they aren't ALL channeling Greta Garbo.

 

I can understand that part and it sure is compelling in its evidence. But I saw very few on either segment of our cruise, but it was kept below one percent by going into their early prevention mode.

 

The most troubling thing I saw when we were at a port - was watching a returning crew member walk past the hand-sanitizer - while all the passengers were using it religiously. [Maybe an allergy or something to the stuff - I can't imagine any other acceptable reason.]

[3rdGenCunarder]

I can understand that part and it sure is compelling in its evidence. But I saw very few on either segment of our cruise, but it was kept below one percent by going into their early prevention mode.

 

The most troubling thing I saw when we were at a port - was watching a returning crew member walk past the hand-sanitizer - while all the passengers were using it religiously. [Maybe an allergy or something to the stuff - I can't imagine any other acceptable reason.]

 

(bold is mine) Yes! Both times I was impressed at how quickly HAL responded to a low number of cases. Friends who have sailed on other lines have said the response is never that quick.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I bring my own Purell with Aloe.

The first time we encountered the Noro on a ship, I was using the ship's Purell all the time. Within a few days my hands were bleeding and I was down in the infirmary getting a special ointment to heal them.

Now I use a walker and it is very hard to use the Purell no matter who's it is. Until I get it completely rubbed in, I tie up lines entering the dining room as I can't hold the handles to move the walker.

[summer slope]

I've packed my own purell, cleansing lotion, and clorex wipes. I know it may not prevent it but I sure as heck want to slow it down. :)

[3rdGenCunarder]

I bring my own Purell with Aloe.

 

The first time we encountered the Noro on a ship, I was using the ship's Purell all the time. Within a few days my hands were bleeding and I was down in the infirmary getting a special ointment to heal them.

 

Now I use a walker and it is very hard to use the Purell no matter who's it is. Until I get it completely rubbed in, I tie up lines entering the dining room as I can't hold the handles to move the walker.

 

Ooh! I didn't know about Purel with aloe. I'm definitely going to look for that. My hands get dry after a few squirts of Purel. Not to the point of bleeding, but uncomfortable.

 

Something I noticed on our last trip. So we're careful to hit elevator buttons with a knuckle or the back of our hands. Aren't we careful!! Then we get in the elevator and the first thing we do is lean on and rest our hands on the railing inside. :eek:

 

There are so many things we touch without thinking about it. It's no wonder Noro spreads the way it does.

[Blue Mudshark]

As used on cruise ships, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (including Purell, with or without aloe), are not effective against Norovirus. It makes it look like they're doing something effective, which seems to be the reason for it

[3rdGenCunarder]

As used on cruise ships, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (including Purell, with or without aloe), are not effective against Norovirus. It makes it look like they're doing something effective, which seems to be the reason for it

 

There's nothing like washing your hands thoroughly. I believe the high-alcohol purell is effective against viruses. The regular Purell, no. Sanitizing hand wipes would be far better. Purell pushes the germs around. Wipes get them off your hands.

[sail7seas]

Ooh! I didn't know about Purel with aloe. I'm definitely going to look for that. My hands get dry after a few squirts of Purel. Not to the point of bleeding, but uncomfortable.

 

Something I noticed on our last trip. So we're careful to hit elevator buttons with a knuckle or the back of our hands. Aren't we careful!! Then we get in the elevator and the first thing we do is lean on and rest our hands on the railing inside. :eek:

 

There are so many things we touch without thinking about it. It's no wonder Noro spreads the way it does.

 

Years ago, we were on Maasdam and having a before dinner drink at what was then the Casino Bar. We were with the GRM who was joining us for dinner. I excused myself to wash my hands before dinner, returned to the bar, pronounced my hands 'squeaky clean', then put out my left hand to the edge of the bar to balance as I seated myself. GRM and DH started laughing and ordered me back to re-wash my hands. :) Those 'squeaky clean' hands were already dirty again. :)

 

[summer slope]

Purell may not do what I think it does, but it keeps me from putting my hands on my face or any part thereof. Helps that way.

[just_cruising_along]

Hand washing is something you can do to prevent illness. If washing with soap and water is not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is a good option. It is true alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs, but it is a good first step. Sometimes people do not use enough sanitizer or they wipe it off before it is dry, or use it when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Hand sanitizer has been documented to eliminate influenza A virus. So there are other reasons besides Noro to use sanitizer. Someone posted the CDC site for cruise ship inspection. This link takes you directly to reported cases of Noro on ships. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

[maxie99]

Purell may not do what I think it does, but it keeps me from putting my hands on my face or any part thereof. Helps that way.

 

--bingo, I so agree, with that goop on your hands, I don't touch my face at all, after a while ,it becomes a new habit