Reflection Norovirus 11/26

[keesar]

It's that time of year for coughs, cold, and other illnesses. When we get word of significant illnesses aboard, we try to avoid buffets and minimize exposure as best as we can. Staff and cruisers do not take sick days.

[mycruises]

Gym appeared closed this morning for cleaning.

[riclop]

There seems to be quite an unpleasant Norovirus situation on Reflection currently. We were in Luminae yesterday and they removed all the flowers from the tables and didn’t replace them. This morning, they removed all salt and pepper and milk with no explanation. Room cards have now been sanitised and they are enforcing santitiser at restaurant. Despite this, some people are still refusing sanitiser which is so very frustrating!

Not good.

[BuckeyeMan]

We are on this ship leaving Dec. 8th. Please keep us updated on how the currently sailing fares with the virus.

[crz4all]

Just read on an Eclipse thread that they canceled Dec 1 St Lucia stop and replaced with Martinique.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[kands6191]

You know some people like myself are allergic to most sanitizers.....

I, too, am allergic to sanitizers. For me it is a respiratory thing. Breathing the vapor of it causes severe coughing and I have to carry an inhaler in case it gets too bad. It's very difficult for me to be on a ship where there are groups of people all using Purell. At the entrance to the buffet I literally have to hold my breath and go around all of the people ahead of me so I won't be downwind of the Purell vapor. I am a medical professional and I am very careful about washing my hands. I am also careful about what I touch including my own eyes, nose, and mouth. Please don't judge others who avoid Purell. Also, don't rely on Purell alone to prevent norovirus. It may be used in addition to hand washing but not as a substitute. You can read this on the CDC website on the "preventing norovirus infection" page.

[mycruises]

We have had it confirmed this morning that CDC is onboard and this is now a serious issue as cases have kept growing through the night. Disembarkation is extremely slow today.

[mic123]

Well....last night we were walking out of dinner in opus and a man vomited all over the carpet near the stairwell and then walked over to the elevator and vomited there.

They immediately closed off the area and a man in a hazmat suit came out and looked to be testing “it”.

A while afterwards we were sitting in Cafe al Bacio and we see same man walking up there to get tea. I would think they would have quarantined him.

When we went back to our cabin there was the letter regarding noro but it said small percentage. They are serving everything this morning, including beverages.

We are in Tuscan awaiting disembarkation and they are not offering coffee or anything else. The staff member said it was due to the virus.

I will also attest to lots of people coughing which is not noro but still do not want that either.

Cruise has been fantastic. Be diligent about hand washing and you should be fine.

[Sammy1]

Just bought some new sanitizer for our upcoming cruise. Lasts 24 hours. Called Zoono. Has all ingredients for Noro and not harmful to skin. Worth a try

 

I've done a little online research on Zoono, and it does look promising. Do you mind telling us where you bought it?

Thank you!

[theservs]

Just got off the reflection and in 19 cruises never felt so sick! Keep in mind one can be contagious for up to three days AFTER symptoms end so we are all now leaving the ship I’ll. I’m sure they will sanitize thoroughly but I picked up some great tips on this board: don’t use the handrails, sanitize your hands after your card is used, use that sanitizer everywhere, push the elevator buttons with your key card or knuckle, wash hands often and I will start using fork and knife for all eating from now on too. And if you get sick, call down to medical and don’t leave your room. They will come to you with meds. I saw so many sick people out and about this morning. I refused to leave my room until number called during disembarkation and walked straight off the boat so as to not spread any further. Otherwise, Celebrity Reflection is fabulous!

[Tennant]

Has anybody had a baby get noro on a cruise? We are cruising on reflection 1/2/18 with our 10 month old. Getting very worried!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[theservs]

Infants, elderly and immunocompromised are at risk. Noro itself isn’t the issue, it’s the severe dehydration

 

 

 

 

Has anybody had a baby get noro on a cruise? We are cruising on reflection 1/2/18 with our 10 month old. Getting very worried!

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ronews]

I've done a little online research on Zoono, and it does look promising. Do you mind telling us where you bought it?

Thank you!

 

 

Had to order it from Amazon and cross border to Niagara Falls to pick it up

[Sammy1]

Had to order it from Amazon and cross border to Niagara Falls to pick it up

 

Thanks very much! Will buy some when we head down to Florida in a few weeks. I understand CVS carries it under their house brand label.

[jules815]

Thanks very much! Will buy some when we head down to Florida in a few weeks. I understand CVS carries it under their house brand label.

 

Interesting! I just checked on Amazon and it's not available with Prime. We leave next week for our Reflection cruise, and I'm afraid we might not get it in time. So this would be CVS brand sanitizer??

[Vacationcheese]

Interesting! I just checked on Amazon and it's not available with Prime. We leave next week for our Reflection cruise, and I'm afraid we might not get it in time. So this would be CVS brand sanitizer??

I was told wet wipes in the YELLOW BOX will work. Easy to pack and carry with you. I bought along the individually wrapped wipes.

 

Safe travels

[Sammy1]

Interesting! I just checked on Amazon and it's not available with Prime. We leave next week for our Reflection cruise, and I'm afraid we might not get it in time. So this would be CVS brand sanitizer??

 

I just want to caution here, I'm no authority on how effective this relatively new product is, nor I'm guessing is "ronews". So, with that disclaimer, CVS carries several different hand sanitizers, the one we're talking about here is a foam hand sanitizer that looks like a cylindrical shaped pump, and supposedly provides a 24-hour barrier against all kinds of germs. I see its $6.99 at Amazon, and the CVS version is their "Advanced Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer" that I see is $5.99 at the store or $4.19 right now online. I'm not in the US right now, so can't go to CVS and compare and make sure its the very same product. Its up to you to check it out. Maybe ask the pharmacist. Good luck!

[mic123]

You are probably safer on this next cruise going out today, as they are on high alert and everything is being sanitized.

We did not get sick, but we are very diligent with hand washing, and not touching railings, buttons, etc.

I think the worst culprit is the utensils in the buffet (tongs, serving spoons) which is why we try to avoid eating there, or go to the areas where it is not "self service"

[ORV]

Yes, it must be bad. We're also on ship and have been told by fellow pax that the ship is up to as much as 50% sick with noro. T

 

50%???

 

Must be a record.

[mycruises]

I don’t think it’s 50% but it was very high. There were hundreds of quarantined suitcases in clear bags in reclaim. Everybody who was ill got escorted off the ship and through customs quickly.

 

How does Celebrity normally deal with these things after an outbreak? Are pax compensated?

[ronews]

Thanks very much! Will buy some when we head down to Florida in a few weeks. I understand CVS carries it under their house brand label.

 

The house brand at CVC is called Germfree 24. Looks to be the same stuff according to Zoono site (says private brand) Of course the 24 is for hours of germ free

[serendipity1499]

I don’t think it’s 50% but it was very high. There were hundreds of quarantined suitcases in clear bags in reclaim. Everybody who was ill got escorted off the ship and through customs quickly.

 

How does Celebrity normally deal with these things after an outbreak? Are pax compensated?

 

Don't understand why anyone would expect to be compensated? Outbreaks occur in many different venues because there are so many careless people who don't use hand sanitizer or water to clean their hands..

 

We will be boarding Reflection for Christmas & hope that we will not get sick, but if we do we will not expect compensation..:cool:

[mmsJack]

Just as Sammy1 said, I'm not an authority (and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ;p) so...

 

Per a suggestion from another thread about the norovirus (on another ship) I did buy some wipes from Amazon for our upcoming cruise. These are made for industrial use (so a different formula than those available in a local grocery) https://www.amazon.com/Saalfeld-30825-Disinfectant-Norovirus-Rotavirus/dp/B01M24FNAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1511803989&sr=1-1&keywords=norovirus They are also approved by the FDA for use in hospitals to fight the norovirus (as indicated per this link:https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/list_g_norovirus.pdf)

 

Here's a link to CDC page that offers information about Norovirus outbreaks on ships which is also available in many other norovirus threads: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm#2017 Reflection has not been listed yet but I have no idea how often this info is updated. The site indicates that ships are required to report if more than 2% of total passengers get sick I believe (unless I'm reading that wrong...)

 

Hand sanitizers seem to offer a limited abet important defense against noro but keep in mind that they should be at least 70% alcohol according to most. I've also read that the hand-sani used on cruise ships is a different and more effective than the stuff we, mere mortals, can buy over the counter. Not sure if this is true or not but out of an abundance of caution it may be wise to use the ship stuff on occasion (if you're not allergic) in addition to the stuff we'll all probably bring along? Also per another thread I bought this brand of hand sanitizer because it was reported that it's more effective. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the original thread which was the basis of this info so take this with a grain of salt. (No - I don't work for Clorox) This brand does have slightly higher alcohol content than Purell but honestly - there may be very little difference so apologies in advance if this is a bit of BS - BUT this item does state, "tested and kills norovirus" so there's that?! https://www.amazon.com/Clorox-Bleach-Free-Sanitizer-Moisturizers-Alcohol-Based/dp/B00DDZNSDK/ref=lp_9125405011_1_1_a_it?srs=9125405011&ie=UTF8&qid=1511806131&sr=8-1

 

Hope everyone stays safe, washes their hands often and has a great time!

[ronews]

I just want to caution here, I'm no authority on how effective this relatively new product is, nor I'm guessing is "ronews". So, with that disclaimer, CVS carries several different hand sanitizers, the one we're talking about here is a foam hand sanitizer that looks like a cylindrical shaped pump, and supposedly provides a 24-hour barrier against all kinds of germs. I see its $6.99 at Amazon, and the CVS version is their "Advanced Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer" that I see is $5.99 at the store or $4.19 right now online. I'm not in the US right now, so can't go to CVS and compare and make sure its the very same product. Its up to you to check it out. Maybe ask the pharmacist. Good luck!

 

You are right Sammy. I am no expert. Just thought it looked interesting and willing to try anything not to get sick. while on vacation. I checked Zoono site and they said they sell it under a private label "Germfree 24" at CVS Checked CVS site and they do not show any product by that name. The Advanced Hand Sanitizer looks like that may be it. Please post if you have anymore information

[Sammy1]

Just as Sammy1 said, I'm not an authority (and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ;p) so...

 

Per a suggestion from another thread about the norovirus (on another ship) I did buy some wipes from Amazon for our upcoming cruise. These are made for industrial use (so a different formula than those available in a local grocery) https://www.amazon.com/Saalfeld-30825-Disinfectant-Norovirus-Rotavirus/dp/B01M24FNAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1511803989&sr=1-1&keywords=norovirus They are also approved by the FDA for use in hospitals to fight the norovirus (as indicated per this link:https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/list_g_norovirus.pdf)

 

Hope everyone stays safe, washes their hands often and has a great time!

 

You provided some really great info, mmsJack. I looked up the link for the Chlorox wipes. I'm pretty sure I've seen this product at our nearby hospital, so must be quite effective. My only concern is that it does come with some cautions about skin contact, so may have to use gloves to use the wipes, or at least wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after. So, may be a little inconvenient for some applications. We also like to use sanitizing wipes in the airplane on our way to a cruise, and in our hotel rooms pre- and post-cruise, not wanting to pick up any bad bugs to spoil our trip.