Back from our cruise: One serious concern about the Edge

[ohhbother]

All, if you followed along on my Live thread, you know we loved our 12/1 cruise on the Edge. But there is one thing that really concerns me. The handwashing stations in Oceanview Cafe aren't going to cut it. The vast majority of people skipped handwashing entirely, and there are no Purell dispensers before you enter. It's either use the handwashing sinks or nothing. My husband and I liked the sinks -- better for our skin than using so much Purell -- and we washed our hands every time. But, as I said, A LOT of people didn't. We'd like to see Purell stands placed there in addition to the sinks. That way, maybe people would use one of the two.

[Loracpin2]

8 minutes ago, ohhbother said:

All, if you followed along on my Live thread, you know we loved our 12/1 cruise on the Edge. But there is one thing that really concerns me. The handwashing stations in Oceanview Cafe aren't going to cut it. The vast majority of people skipped handwashing entirely, and there are no Purell dispensers before you enter. It's either use the handwashing sinks or nothing. My husband and I liked the sinks -- better for our skin than using so much Purell -- and we washed our hands every time. But, as I said, A LOT of people didn't. We'd like to see Purell stands placed there in addition to the sinks. That way, maybe people would use one of the two.

We first used this method of washing our hands last summer on the Anthem of the Seas with our children and grandchildren. The few times we all went to their café for lunch together, there were busboys strategically placed at all café entrances "herding" everyone to the handwashing stations and we all followed the route. If Celebrity wants this new system to work, they might want to consider the same type of herding.  

[hcat]

18 minutes ago, ohhbother said:

All, if you followed along on my Live thread, you know we loved our 12/1 cruise on the Edge. But there is one thing that really concerns me. The handwashing stations in Oceanview Cafe aren't going to cut it. The vast majority of people skipped handwashing entirely, and there are no Purell dispensers before you enter. It's either use the handwashing sinks or nothing. My husband and I liked the sinks -- better for our skin than using so much Purell -- and we washed our hands every time. But, as I said, A LOT of people didn't. We'd like to see Purell stands placed there in addition to the sinks. That way, maybe people would use one of the two.

 

I  hear your concerns but we bring our own Purell...and wash hands just before we eat.., We definitely will not be using the public trough .Kind of gross and definitely will not be herded like cattle by a busboy.

....

.Perhaps.. washrooms  just outside the cafe would have been a better idea,,,..

 

 Actually, when I saw the topic heading,  I  thought it might be something else....

Our one big  fear about cruising EDGE is the excessively loud music, flashing lights, wierd goIngs on in EDEN , general chaos,.  So far it seems pervasive,...in EDEN, the Martini Bar,  the Club,.,etc    Wondering if there are any quiet mellow spots for  the evening.???

Just not our style of Modern Luxury..we like to mellow out not rave out! Sorry to change the  hygiene subject but to us this us a serious concern, too!

Edited December 4, 2018 by hcat

[WonderMan3]

I recall encountering these handwashing stations on my NCL cruise earlier this year. They also had a staff member with the squirt sanitizer standing there so people had two options. It doesn't matter what they have though. If people do not want to wash their hands or use sanitizer they can't force them to.

[MizDemeanor]

I too note that NCL has both options. The personnel that are present one or two ready at the get go are the best option for capture I feel. 

[hcat]

2 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

I recall encountering these handwashing stations on my NCL cruise earlier this year. They also had a staff member with the squirt sanitizer standing there so people had two options. It doesn't matter what they have though. If people do not want to wash their hands or use sanitizer they can't force them to.

I agree,.options are a good idea and will likely get more cooperation..we would take the sanitizer but not the trough..  now we have to carry our own

[first mate]

Using the "trough" isn't any different than washing your hands in a public restroom.  The important thing is to wash your hands. Better than getting sick on your cruise.

[MizDemeanor]

Even on NCL if feels like an open washroom in a food venue with the only thing missing is the toilette.  It’s not a good feeling. I never take food into a washroom.

 

I’ve never liked it but at least on NCL they offer the human sanitizers as an alternate option. 

 

Does not not sound like that alternate option exists on this ship and from all the reports I am starting to count the ways they are eliminating staff. 

Edited December 5, 2018 by MizDemeanor

[Turtles06]

6 hours ago, Loracpin2 said:

We first used this method of washing our hands last summer on the Anthem of the Seas with our children and grandchildren. The few times we all went to their café for lunch together, there were busboys strategically placed at all café entrances "herding" everyone to the handwashing stations and we all followed the route. If Celebrity wants this new system to work, they might want to consider the same type of herding.  

We’ve sailed on Anthem twice and I think the setup of the hand washing stations there is excellent. Just off to the side of the buffet so you don’t feel Iike it’s a washroom in a dining area, but still on the way in.  Lots of compliance.  And hand washing is much more effective than using hand sanitizers. 

 

Not even remotely a public “trough.”  I wish all ships had Anthem’s setup.

Edited December 5, 2018 by Turtles06

[ipeeinthepool]

Why is everyone assuming that people are not washing their hands before they go to the Oceanview Café?  Don't they wash their hands before they eat at all of the other venues?

[Oville]

21 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Why is everyone assuming that people are not washing their hands before they go to the Oceanview Café?  Don't they wash their hands before they eat at all of the other venues?

I don’t know, after all you pee in the pool.

[ipeeinthepool]

Could be...  But my hands are clean before going to the Oceanview Café.

[Jannyflo1908]

7 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Why is everyone assuming that people are not washing their hands before they go to the Oceanview Café?  Don't they wash their hands before they eat at all of the other venues?

Because you can literally see them walking in without washing their hands. 

[Turtles06]

8 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

We’ve sailed on Anthem twice and I think the setup of the hand washing stations there is excellent. Just off to the side of the buffet so you don’t feel Iike it’s a washroom in a dining area, but still on the way in.  Lots of compliance.  And hand washing is much more effective than using hand sanitizers. 

 

Not even remotely a public “trough.”  I wish all ships had Anthem’s setup.

I didn't have access to my photos when I posted the above last night. Here's the hand washing station outside the buffet on Anthem:

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

[kearney]

14 hours ago, hcat said:

 

I  hear your concerns but we bring our own Purell...and wash hands just before we eat.., We definitely will not be using the public trough .Kind of gross and definitely will not be herded like cattle by a busboy.

....

.Perhaps.. washrooms  just outside the cafe would have been a better idea,,,..

 

There is nothing gross about it.. you don't tough the faucets.... you don't touch the soap dispenser...the paper towels are automatically dispensed... there is no door handle. Purell does not work! If it did there wouldn't be so many cases of this at this point. People seeing you walk past without washing your hands ... might well think you are, well, gross. Having gotten the Norovirus on a NCL ship before... it will ruin your cruise. Just remember just because you washed your hands earlier... you touch elevator buttons, railings etc.

[kearney]

Sorry if I seemed over the top... but my sister brought purell with her to Spain. The public rest rooms left a lot to desire. She got sick immediately after arriving home and headed to the ER... She picked up BOTH E coli AND Salmonella.... became very ill... it has taken quite a while to recover and she is still not sure she has totally recovered.... several trips to ER, three CAT scans, IV antibiotics.... several different ones needed.  Believe me.... wash your hands immediately before going to ocean view. Now she might have gotten it in the food itself.. we will never know...

[TeeRick]

Purell and similar anti-infection lotions are not entirely effective.  Maybe they help a bit.  Thorough hand washing with soap and water is the most effective- just ask any medical professional or surgeon. 

[WonderMan3]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Purell and similar anti-infection lotions are not entirely effective.  Maybe they help a bit.  Thorough hand washing with soap and water is the most effective- just ask any medical professional or surgeon. 

 

Correct. Those hand sanitizers will not kill the norovirus. They will help with other germs though.

[Jannyflo1908]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Purell and similar anti-infection lotions are not entirely effective.  Maybe they help a bit.  Thorough hand washing with soap and water is the most effective- just ask any medical professional or surgeon. 

I totally agree.  Unfortunately, most of the soap dispensers on Edge were inoperable.  People tried a few of them, no soap was dispensed so they just walked away.

[sakigemcam]

2 hours ago, Jannyflo1908 said:

I totally agree.  Unfortunately, most of the soap dispensers on Edge were inoperable.  People tried a few of them, no soap was dispensed so they just walked away.

 Why do I find this funny (and also quite concerning of course?)?

[ipeeinthepool]

9 hours ago, Jannyflo1908 said:

Because you can literally see them walking in without washing their hands. 

 

How do you know what they did before they walked to the Oceanview Café?  I wash my hands and I assume that others do as well and we don't need to stop at the washing trough at the entrance.

Edited December 5, 2018 by ipeeinthepool

[Jannyflo1908]

2 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

How do you know what they did before they walked to the Oceanview Café?  I wash my hands and I assume that others do as well and we don't need to stop at the washing trough at the entrance.

I happen to know because they got on the elevator with me after leaving the casino.  It was casino-elevator-food.

[Floater4life]

I see people use the restroom all the time and don't wash their hands (work, restaurants. etc.)  I go to restaurants and bars do I think everyone has scrubbed for surgery before touching anything I do...nope.  You can't make anyone have good hygiene, that was their mothers job.  I wash my hands before I eat, after I use the restroom, and just periodical after being out and about.  I will not use hand sanitizer unless stuck somewhere without water or soap.  Can't make me don't like it.  Make access easy...I agree.  Bottom line you can only control your behavior. 

[Badin]

My concern is that even though I wash my hands I have to touch the serving tools to get my food.  Others have touched the same tools  with perhaps dirty hands.  My solution is to find a napkin (hard to find) and wrap that around the tongs etc so you have a barrier from others germs.   

I would like Celebrity to address the other restaurants aboard with some hand sanitizer option.  I do wash my hands prior to dinner but there are plenty of places to pick up germs on the way to the dining areas.

 

[Teacher42]

Alcohol kills influenza virus which is airborne.Rhinovirus is sensitive to acids ( vinegar, citric). Above 80 degrees  at 81 degrees F there is no transmission of the influenza virus. It survives up to 4 days on surfaces and survives in the air at low temperatures, it needs to be wiped off.Cats and dogs do not get either.,only primates do. Avian influenza is not a major dilemma for humans for it is not easily transmitted to us and is not contagious from one human to another human. We take a large spray bottle of alcohol and another of vinegar to spray our hands after washing. We hit the room surfaces with everything including clorax wipes and we finally spend time with an utraviolet light wand charged up before we go. I still got sick the last day of the cruise from a cougher on the elevator.