Just off Symphony..Health Violations in Chops followed by Norovirus

[GarlicBread]

Yeah.

Still highly doubt it was chops. 

 

You went on the biggest ship in the world. Not everyone is going to be healthy. 

 

The older generation is going to be more susceptible to catching anything going around. She just got unlucky. 

 

If it was cross contamination from chops it would have hit a lot sooner.

[Milwaukee Eight]

6 hours ago, RPD said:

I’m sorry, but 83 might be too old to take someone on a cruise. If it were the plates that spread the norovirus, why didn’t others get it? I think you’re being pretty dramatic. 

This would eliminate many cruisers. 

[leisuretraveler223]

The fact that the OPs name is "Karen" is absolutely delicious!

[azkcruizers]

4 minutes ago, leisuretraveler223 said:

The fact that the OPs name is "Karen" is absolutely delicious!

And why is that?

[John&LaLa]

16 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

This would eliminate many cruisers. 

 

Might make Andy happy

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, azkcruizers said:

Hi, I posted my experience for others to just keep an eye open and because I was just so disappointed.  I'll try to clear a few things up.  We were on board for about 56 hours before going to chops and my Mom had no symptoms of anything at that time.   She doesn't hold hand rails, or door knobs, or touch elevator buttons, or get her own food.  She does touch tables and ate food given to her from the buffet.   When I realized the mess at the table and said something to my niece other people were already eating that course.  That was when the server leaned over and set three more plates down and I had the discussion with him.  Those last three plates were replaced.  The rest of my table did realize at that point something was going on.  They were not in view of this table and I explained it to them.  Of course I wished I had them give back the rest on their plates at that time.  Believe me it was a big deal.

 

Yes my mother is 83 and in a wheelchair but has no medical condition that warrants her to not travel.  I purchased her travel insurance as well. I do carry a list of her meds and gave it to the dr.   She received iv fluids for dehydration and blood was drawn.  Tests were done to check her kidney function due to the dehydration.  That is something her own dr had told  me in the past to do if she was dehydrated.  I was told she had norovirus and that it takes 24-48 hours to come down with.  I was also told there were others on the ship with it.  The second visit another iv was started with antibiotics.  I asked the nurse why and she said "in case of infection".  I asked if the norovirus comes back like this and she said "yes sometimes".  

 

You cannot place plates of food one on top of the other with the bottom of a plate on top of food that is going to be served.  You cannot store plates headed to a table and ones returned together.  A server touching the tops of both plates is definitely spreading germs.  I guess you had to picture what was going on at this little table.

 

Meeting with people at Royal, I was apologized to, told these things would be fixed and no they definitely are not supposed to do those things at that table.  The words cross-contamination were used.  I was told they watched video.  I have been offered compensation of some sort but it is through headquarters and I'm supposed to hear from them.  I don't think I'm being dramatic.  Cruising several times a year, my son had norovirus on the Oasis just over a year ago.  I didn't complain to anyone nor ask for anything because of it.  This was a totally different situation.  

 

I hope I cleared any questions up from my original post.  Happy and healthy cruising to you.

 

Thanks for changing the font color. Light Blue is hard to read

[RPD]

True not all 83 year olds are created equal, but I fail to see how this is Royal Caribbean’s fault. If you go on a cruise, you run the risk of getting sick, especially if you are elderly. The situation at Chops may as well be a non-sequitur since it happened too soon for it to cause the norovirus. 

 

Also, I think the OP acted inappropriately and seems to have put a damper on everyone else’s dining experience (hence her being the last one to leave). I would never spend that kind of money on a cruise and try to be a Debbie Downer the whole time.   

Edited March 11, 2019 by RPD

[leisuretraveler223]

31 minutes ago, azkcruizers said:

And why is that?

 

https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1444119-karen

[Grandma Dazzles]

Sorry that your mother became ill. I think if the meal were to blame you would have all had problems. Many others have commented on land-based restaurant procedures so I will not comment on that aspect of your complaint. 

 

Not sure why she was given antibiotics for Noro. Her dehydration seems to have been the main problem. 

 

I do feel that your comments about your mother not touching door knobs, railings, etc.  is ridiculous - that’s where you lost my sympathy. We all touch railings, door knobs, tables, etc. It’s part of life and human nature. How does she open a bathroom door, flush the toilet, etc. It’s very difficult to walk a corridor, go up and down stairs, sit in a chair, without touching something. Perhaps she doesn’t wash her hands as well and often as she should - that’s also a possibility. To say she never touches anything is unreasonable. 

[Mikew0805]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Might make Andy happy

LMAO Made my morning!!

 

OP - I am glad your Mother is on the mend.

 

To the other one that said 83 was too old to cruise... That may actually be the most ridiculous thing I have heard on CC in my 13 years of reading these boards, and I have read a lot of nonsense. (probably posted some as well. 🙄)

Edited March 11, 2019 by Mikew0805
word usage

[leisuretraveler223]

3 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

 

To the other one that said 83 was too old to cruise... That may actually be the most ridiculous thing I have heard on CC in my 13 years of reading these boards, and I have read a lot of nonsense. (probably posted some too 🙄)

 

And that's saying a LOT! Because I post some really ridiculous things myself! LOL!

[blueridgemama]

16 minutes ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

Sorry that your mother became ill. I think if the meal were to blame you would have all had problems. Many others have commented on land-based restaurant procedures so I will not comment on that aspect of your complaint. 

 

Not sure why she was given antibiotics for Noro. Her dehydration seems to have been the main problem. 

 

I do feel that your comments about your mother not touching door knobs, railings, etc.  is ridiculous - that’s where you lost my sympathy. We all touch railings, door knobs, tables, etc. It’s part of life and human nature. How does she open a bathroom door, flush the toilet, etc. It’s very difficult to walk a corridor, go up and down stairs, sit in a chair, without touching something. Perhaps she doesn’t wash her hands as well and often as she should - that’s also a possibility. To say she never touches anything is unreasonable. 

 

If you read her post you would have noted that her mother is in a wheelchair so it is entirely possible that she does not touch as many things as an able bodied person would. Are you a doctor or a specialist of some kind? if not don't make assumptions on health care and why she was given antibiotics. If the poster was looking for a sympathetic ear she obviously came to the wrong place. 

[leisuretraveler223]

18 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

Are you a doctor or a specialist of some kind? if not don't make assumptions on health care and why she was given antibiotics.

 

Okay, I'll bite.  I've been a board certified pediatrician for fifteen years.  Either there is more going in than norovirus, or she received inappropriate care.

[BecciBoo]

3 hours ago, azkcruizers said:

I believe I said I leaned to my niece and asked her what was going on as I had just realized something wasn't right.  That was how the situation began to unfold.  I didn't say that I kept this a secret from the table.  I couldn't have if I wanted to.  There were a couple of waiters at our table and the manager and I was obviously upset.  I'm also baffled why we didn't get up and just leave and stated that as well.  I actually was shocked.

 

So wish you had your iphone with you.  I would have started a video of the table,  so I could prove absolutely that violations were occurring.  But hindsight......I wouldn't let this deter me from cruising even Symphony again.  We are on her in Sept. and will most certainly be at Chops.  We'll have our phones with us thanks to your post so don't feel guilty.  I am usually very stoic about germs and such but if I saw what you saw, I would certainly report it and follow up about it.,..and tell them I have video to prove it, you would certainly have gotten better results on board if you had.

 

That being said, normally we are very conscientious about washing hands and not touching things because we expect that there might be a bug going around.  I might have even demanded that the all the plates be removed and new ones brought directly from the kitchen as we watched.  But again, just hindsight.  Hope your future cruises are fine.

 

By the way, My mother was 87 on her last cruise on a family reunion on Liberty...no sickness at all.

[Allaboutsailingrc]

I was on this cruise. Never heard one word about any illness/norovirus. I was impressed by the many hand washing stations. Also dined at Chops and did not see any health violations. It was a fantastic and amazing cruise.

[klfhngr]

So sad that as to what CC has become (not CC in general, but some of the people on CC)... Fellow cruisers go out of there way to report issues for the sake of others... and then they get flamed! If you don't like what's being posted, move on to another thread! No need to flame someone that has taken the time to help fellow cruisers! How many of us have seen something that isn't right and never said anything?! I know I'm guilty of this!

 

Anyhow, thanks Op for the heads up! I'll be on SOS in May and I'll definitely be looking out! Glad that your mother is feeling better. My mom is 71 and she has another 20/30 years of cruising left in her!

 

Cruise on!

[chengkp75]

5 hours ago, azkcruizers said:

You cannot place plates of food one on top of the other with the bottom of a plate on top of food that is going to be served.

Sorry, this is what I find to be unbelievable in the OP's story.  So, no one noticed that their food was all flattened from having another plate stacked on top?  No one noticed that when the courses were removed that the tablecloth was stained by the food on the bottom of the plate from being stacked on food?

[azkcruizers]

4 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Sorry, this is what I find to be unbelievable in the OP's story.  So, no one noticed that their food was all flattened from having another plate stacked on top?  No one noticed that when the courses were removed that the tablecloth was stained by the food on the bottom of the plate from being stacked on food?

The plates were salads and not stacked straight up in the air.   I would say probably 50 percent in order to fit them on this small table/counter.

[azkcruizers]

52 minutes ago, klfhngr said:

So sad that as to what CC has become (not CC in general, but some of the people on CC)... Fellow cruisers go out of there way to report issues for the sake of others... and then they get flamed! If you don't like what's being posted, move on to another thread! No need to flame someone that has taken the time to help fellow cruisers! How many of us have seen something that isn't right and never said anything?! I know I'm guilty of this!

 

Anyhow, thanks Op for the heads up! I'll be on SOS in May and I'll definitely be looking out! Glad that your mother is feeling better. My mom is 71 and she has another 20/30 years of cruising left in her!

 

Cruise on!

Thank you....someone is actually human here lol.  

[leisuretraveler223]

6 minutes ago, klfhngr said:

So sad that as to what CC has become (not CC in general, but some of the people on CC)... Fellow cruisers go out of there way to report issues for the sake of others... and then they get flamed!

 

I think that's a bit skewed view.  It's perfectly reasonable, if someone is going to come on here and put forth a detailed complaint, that people respond to it how they see fit.  There may be some issues that diminish the validity of the criticism. And there is nothing wrong with pointing that out.

[Cruiser_1977]

10 minutes ago, azkcruizers said:

The plates were salads and not stacked straight up in the air.   I would say probably 50 percent in order to fit them on this small table/counter.

Do you mean stacked like this? It would be impossible to stack plates directly on top of each other, especially salad. (See pictures of salads from Chops) 

 

Edited March 11, 2019 by JennyB1977

[Ocean Boy]

11 hours ago, RPD said:

I’m sorry, but 83 might be too old to take someone on a cruise. If it were the plates that spread the norovirus, why didn’t others get it? I think you’re being pretty dramatic. 

Seriously?😏

[tennislvr8]

1 hour ago, klfhngr said:

So sad that as to what CC has become (not CC in general, but some of the people on CC)... Fellow cruisers go out of there way to report issues for the sake of others... and then they get flamed! If you don't like what's being posted, move on to another thread! No need to flame someone that has taken the time to help fellow cruisers! How many of us have seen something that isn't right and never said anything?! I know I'm guilty of this!

 

Anyhow, thanks Op for the heads up! I'll be on SOS in May and I'll definitely be looking out! Glad that your mother is feeling better. My mom is 71 and she has another 20/30 years of cruising left in her!

 

Cruise on!

She wasn't flamed. No one was rude to her. Since when did we become a society that can't have a conversation or disagreement or question respectfully? That's what was done here, no one has been mean or rude to the OP, some have respectfully questioned her story. If anyone feels that's flaming, then perhaps posting on social media isn't for you. 

[RazorbackIslandGirl]

My mother is in her 80s & I take her on a cruise every year. She too is in a wheelchair but, otherwise healthy. I hope we have many more years of cruising together! OP... I would feel horrible if this happened to my mother, as getting ill at their age can become serious quickly. I'm sorry this happen to her & put you in the position of caregiver making you also miss out on your experience. As to how she contracted it or how she was treated, I'm not a healthcare provider so I will let Mikew0805 & leisuretraveler223 speak on those issues. But I am glad to hear she is doing well!

[ramja96]

6 hours ago, azkcruizers said:

We were on board for about 56 hours before going to chops and my Mom had no symptoms of anything at that time.

 

But you stated in your original post that you went to Chops on the 2nd day. Even if you boarded at noon one the 1st day an 8pm reservation on the 2nd evening would only be 32 hours on board. Something doesn't add up.

Edited March 11, 2019 by ramja96