Reflection Norovirus 11/26

[ORV]

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?

 

According to the CDC website it's 5.7% of passengers, 173 people, and 3 crew members, .24%

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

That's still a bunch of people. Surprised there is not more crew members. Maybe they aren't reporting, that could be a problem.

[mmsJack]

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.

 

Great point Sammy1, I should have mentioned that we packed a few pairs of disposable gloves for use w/ these super-wipes which we'll only use in our room. Honestly I wouldn't go to this extreme if it wasn't for reports of noro outbreak on Reflection & my older mother traveling w/ us whom I want to doubly protect. (Not that any of us want/need to get sick :fever:)

 

Generally the every-day type of disinfecting wipes and some hand sanitizer are perfect to along with good old fashion hand washing <-- which is always the best defense. These Über-wipes may not be worth the hassle to some cruisers and aren't for every day...

[mycruises]

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

 

173 passengers, 3 crew

[ORV]

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

 

173 passengers, 3 crew

 

Is there an echo in here?

[jules815]

According to the CDC website it's 5.7% of passengers, 173 people, and 3 crew members, .24%

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

That's still a bunch of people. Surprised there is not more crew members. Maybe they aren't reporting, that could be a problem.

 

I wonder how many people didn't contact the ship's doc?

[keesar]

How do you deal with those passengers that return to the buffet with dirty plates and use the serving spoons which touch their plates? No type of hand sanitizer will help in that case. Same with people using fingers to take food. Disgusting!

[Kmangel]

How do you deal with those passengers that return to the buffet with dirty plates and use the serving spoons which touch their plates? No type of hand sanitizer will help in that case. Same with people using fingers to take food. Disgusting!

 

Stay away from the buffet as much as you can, I imagine. Perhaps eat as many meals as possible in the MDR. That way only the waitstaff is handling your food. Plus I love to eat in the MDR much more than the buffet anyway!

[Kmangel]

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 bought some for my upcoming cruise, though I have time to get it since we don't sail until December 24. However, it did look like there was an overnight shipping cost if you are really desperate and want the product next day. Costly but better than nothing.

 

I had never heard of this product before, so very glad to learn of it here and am going to give it a whirl. I am pretty consistent using hand sanitizers in general, but to have 24 hour protection is a plus. I was lazy last week and didn't use my hand sanitizer as much as I usually do and low and behold, I came down with a cold. Not Noro Virus, but annoying still the same. Now I will have something that will protect me (so the product promises) up to 24 hours. Thanks to Cruise Critic peeps for sharing information that I otherwise would be totally oblivious of!

[keesar]

Stay away from the buffet as much as you can, I imagine. Perhaps eat as many meals as possible in the MDR. That way only the waitstaff is handling your food. Plus I love to eat in the MDR much more than the buffet anyway!

 

When we suspect there is illness aboard, we eat all meals at the MDR or the Mast Grill. Sorry, but the use of these hand sanitizers provides limited protection as I have been told. The hospital here said to wash your hands with soap and hot water for 30 seconds. That is probably the best that you can do.

[krmnc]

https://www.groupon.com/deals/gs-zoono-germfree-24-hour-hand-sanitizer-pack-includes-2x-50ml-foamers

[Geckotraveler]

Just got off of Refection this morning. DH and I have not been on a cruise for 5 years but felt the whole experience has declined. I became ill with a cold several days into the cruise then my husband came down with it. We selected to quarantine ourselves to our state room to avoid passing it on to other passengers. Our state room attendant appreciated our decision and was respectful but also reached out to us to bring us anything we needed. We were in Aqua class and when my husband informed the staff at Blu we would not be joining them for a special meal they were preparing for us they sent it to our cabin. We mainly ordered room service and made quick runs for hot tea when we knew the beverage areas would be least populated. If only the staff would have been as cautious we may not have become ill to begin with. So many servers had colds and were coughing over the food stations.

 

Yesterday when they started serving us our food I noticed a gloved beverage server dispensing drinks but he would touch the hands of the passengers when passing the drinks, essentially contaminating all of us. There was no official announcement that we heard about the Noro outbreak (although we didn't hear announcements in our cabin). We found out when our state room attendant casually informed us. Information is always the best policy. Informing the passengers and giving them exact instructions to help keep everyone safe and healthy should be the priority instead of trying to ignore what is happening on the ship and allowing gossip and misinformation to rule. IMHO there were many ill passengers but no where near 50%. The passengers who were infected had their luggage wrapped and the majority of luggage was not wrapped during disembarkation..

 

There was nothing available onboard to purchase for a cold. No cough drops, cough syrup, nasal spray, nothing. Luckily my husband was able to get off the ship in Antigua and found a pharmacy near the dock where he made some purchases to get us through the last few days of the cruise.

 

This was not a good trip for us for many reasons but this added to our disappointment.

[DEGates]

Rather than guess at this, I did the research - here it is:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

Less than 5% were ill. Read and post responsibly, not wrecklessly.

[nikel]

We were on the Reflection in late October. No norovirus , but upper respiratory virus was going around. We're still coughing on November 26. It's always something! [emoji47]

 

 

If that was the TA you were on, I got it too, antibiotics for sinus infection twice since then and still coughing.

[Sammy1]

https://www.groupon.com/deals/gs-zoono-germfree-24-hour-hand-sanitizer-pack-includes-2x-50ml-foamers

 

Wow...that's a great find, krmnc! I just placed an order. Now I don't have to go all over looking for it when we get down to Florida in a couple of weeks. Thanks very much! :D

[Sammy1]

Rather than guess at this, I did the research - here it is:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2017/Celebrity_Reflection_11-27.html

 

Less than 5% were ill. Read and post responsibly, not wrecklessly.

 

Its interesting that the CDC report lists only 173 reported cases of noro among the over 3,000 passengers, even though some of passengers who disembarked today indicate the numbers were actually much higher. As suggested by another poster, its possible many sick passengers didn't report their illness, so the reported total may be skewed. Its especially surprising that there were only 3 crew members of the over 1,200 reported to be sick, although many showed signs of some sort of illness. The bottom line is many of the passengers did not enjoy their journey, and I do feel sorry for them. It sounds like it was a sick ship. Hopefully they'll have it all scrubbed and in good shape for the people starting their journey today. Looking forward to hearing about their experience.

[Fruggers]

My daughter came down with it yesterday morning on the Reflection and was confined to quarters for the rest of the day and then late last night my wife got it also. I ended up calling the nurse at 11:30PM last night and they came and gave her a shot for nausea and some anti-diarrhea meds. I asked the nurse how many cases she'd seen that night and she said she'd lost count by that point so I'm doubtful of the reported numbers. We got home from the airport this afternoon and both went straight off to bed.

[keesar]

From CDC:

-Norovirus spreads very easily and quickly

• It only takes a very small amount of norovirus particles (fewer than 100) to make yousick.

• People with norovirus illness shed billions of virus particles in their stool and vomitand can easily infect others.• You are contagious from the moment you begin feeling sick and for the first few daysafter you recover.

• Norovirus can spread quickly in enclosed places like daycare centers, nursing homes,schools, and cruise ships.

• Norovirus can stay on objects and surfaces and still infect people for days or weeks.

• Norovirus can survive some disinfectants, making it hard to get rid of.

[krmnc]

Wow...that's a great find, krmnc! I just placed an order. Now I don't have to go all over looking for it when we get down to Florida in a couple of weeks. Thanks very much! :D

 

We're not cruising until next summer but I ordered some too to try. Supposed to be a bad flu season so if it helps with that, all the better.

[Oceangoer2]

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

 

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Edited November 28, 2017 by oceangoer2

[Oceangoer2]

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!

 

We're not germ-a-phobic...but...just returned from Reflection last night and many cruisers were afflicted. We used the sanitizer whenever offered...going into and coming out of the Oceanview. Staff had been affected also (before it became public, we noticed less attendants and wondered why) so anything that is touched, doors, rails, elevator buttons, could transmit the noro. We're not sick but we were told about 150 passengers and some staff were. Our cabin mates next door did NOT leave their cabin almost the entire cruise. We think they were quaranteed.

[Oceangoer2]

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

 

 

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Many, many complaints re St Lucia tendering. Our tour was sent downstairs, then upstairs, then back downstairs. LONG lineups to tender...very badly organized. Tour started 45 min. late waiting for 34 persons to leave ship for shore. No surprise that St Lucia has been cancelled for now. We were told extended dock to accommodate larger ships was supposed to be finished by now, but probably will not be until around March.

[Oceangoer2]

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"

 

Too bad it took until the 2nd last day of the cruise to go into 'alert' mode. I appreciated they put tables across the coffee stations so no one could self serve...the staff poured and provided the cream/sugar. All buffet stations were wrapped in plastic wrap - plates, tongs, everything behind plastic. Increased the work of the servers but also helped prevent spread. When we left we could see staff industriously cleaning. And no, they didn't let us know there was so much sickness aboard (passengers could have taken extra steps to prevent contamination). First sign was the coffee stations at 8am.

[Oceangoer2]

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?

 

Not sure all were accompanied off the ship. We overheard a large party waiting to disembark just ahead of us and they were talking about how many of them were ill with the virus and how they were just starting to feel better. That didn't make us feel better however, with them in close proximity. Maybe they didn't report it.

[Kevinb1176]

My wife and I just got off the ship yesterday (11/17-11/27), the last couple days were really bad. A LOT of people were sick. I noticed by the last day in Luminae that there were wrapped butter pats on the table vs open on plates the whole cruise. While running on the track on 15, I noticed the Mast Grill had no self service for condiments, looked like the buffet was staff serving and the drink machines were behind the barricade poles.

 

My wife got sick and was vomiting in our bathroom for hours. Our Butler and supervisor requested someone from the medical team visit our suite so she wouldn't be sick in public areas and vomit in an elevator or public area. Several calls by the suite staff to the medical staff and one by myself asking when someone would arrive and I was told within a half hour. NOBODY called or showed up! She spent most of the night in the bathroom sitting on the floor. When the Michael's Club concierge called the following morning, a nurse was at our door in minutes.

 

I spoke to customer service and the head officer of Guest Relations, no real apology, explanation, or desire to address so another customer doesn't have that experience. Just excuses that "they're very busy" and "it was an unusual situation". I guess she has more important issues to deal with such as preparing stories to sit on stage with the Captain and Cruise Director for the Liars Club Show in the theater.

 

The service by suite level staff is outstanding, the rest, not so good.

 

I hope they cleared up the virus for the current sailing.

[tbmrt]

We're scheduled for Reflection 12/8/17 departure...Hoping that things are cleaned up well beforehand.