Cabin/Cruise cough.

[clarets]

How do people who cruise quite often guard against this?

Only two cruises with p&o and my wife has come home from both badly affected, 1st arcadia (Baltics ) and now just returned off the Britannia ( Caribbean ) so

different ships different climate same outcome.

 

Also off this topic, earlier this week I posted Britannia where i  mentioned shorts on board but the one I wanted answers on was has p&o given up with trays on all ships

as they have done on Britannia, the post appears to have been taken down, have I missed something?

[jeanlyon]

Been on loads of cruises, never had a cough yet.  I guess your system doesn't like the air conditioning?  Never had norovirus either, touch wood.

 

Don't know about trays, not sailing until 26th April.

[Britboys]

I'm another passenger who tends to dampen a facecloth and hang it from the air-con unit overnight to keep the moisture level in the cabin up.  Another tip is to use some lip-balm or vaseline around your nostrils, the theory being that any 'infected' air or droplets will stick to the balm and so not work their way into your system.  I must say that I've never had a problem - even on Arcadia which has the 'worst' reputation for this.

[Hobson1754]

I’d only been on the ship 6 days when I developed a scratchy throat and cough - the waiters were calling it ‘Britannia cough’ - my husband developed it the day we were flying home. Whilst it had been 5 years since we last cruised (and we’ve done a fair few) I’ve never been like this on ship before and definitely think the air conditioning is mostly to blame. I’ve booked another Caribbean on Azura for next January but this time I’m going to take Echinacea for a month before we go and follow the recommendations on this forum for a damp towel/cloth next to the a/c unit.  

[jeanlyon]

Yes, but you are getting a bug from another passenger via the aircon I would think.   I've always noticed people coughing on checkin.

[AndyMichelle]

1 hour ago, clarets said:

How do people who cruise quite often guard against this?

Only two cruises with p&o and my wife has come home from both badly affected, 1st arcadia (Baltics ) and now just returned off the Britannia ( Caribbean ) so

different ships different climate same outcome.

 

Also off this topic, earlier this week I posted Britannia where i  mentioned shorts on board but the one I wanted answers on was has p&o given up with trays on all ships

as they have done on Britannia, the post appears to have been taken down, have I missed something?

I call it 'kennel cough'... 

We always get a bit of a tickle, but not enough to worry about having to take action yet. 

The flannels seem to be the answer, although you will now have to ask for them...

We had trays on Ventura at New Year, probably just a trial on certain ships for now. 

Andy 

 

[eddie11]

Just off 35 days on Ventura N001.  As our cruise continued, and especially the last 10 days after we left the Caribbean, the number of people suffering from coughs and colds rose and rose.  So much coughing in the theatre etc! 

 

We both took a daily probiotic capsule, to support our immune system as a whole (started these before Xmas & all the socialising, grandchildren etc).  In addition, we used Vick’s First Defence whenever we felt a scratchy throat or sniffy nose.  I’ve never used it before, was sceptical, and of course I can’t give any scientific proof that a cold would have developed without the treatment, but will now always pack a bottle for winter cruises.  No cough or cold for us - despite the appalling habits and behaviour from a few fellow passengers, but that’s another story ...

 

 

Oh - there were plenty of trays - often toasty hot straight out of the dishwasher 

Edited February 9, 2020 by eddie11
Addition

[wowzz]

No trays at any time in the buffet on Oceana at the moment. Have to say, it makes things much easier - I never knew what to do with the tray once I had used it.

[AndyMichelle]

30 minutes ago, wowzz said:

No trays at any time in the buffet on Oceana at the moment. Have to say, it makes things much easier - I never knew what to do with the tray once I had used it.

Yep, usually just dump it on the floor for one of the kind crew to pick up.

I suppose you just have to make more trips, no big deal. 

Andy 

[davecttr]

On my last 3 cruises I have taken with me a thermometer which also measures humidity. The readings have always been around 45% to 55% which according to web searches is the comfortable level for UK homes. So is it actually the aircon?

 

Do you sleep with your mouth open? I do and always have a dry throat during the night. A glass of water helps.

[Ataraxia]

The cough on the Ventura for the 35 day cruise was a very nasty virus, which caused many chest infections. Many people left the ship for the hospital. 

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Yep, usually just dump it on the floor for one of the kind crew to pick up.

I suppose you just have to make more trips, no big deal. 

Andy 

that is probably why they have got rid of them because everybody did the same and seen many times waiters pick them up give them a quick wipe and then put them back in the pile at entrance to buffet. 

[AndyMichelle]

7 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

that is probably why they have got rid of them because everybody did the same and seen many times waiters pick them up give them a quick wipe and then put them back in the pile at entrance to buffet. 

It's one of them things you think you need, but actually, they are a pain. 

Andy 

[Rocky of London]

2 hours ago, davecttr said:

On my last 3 cruises I have taken with me a thermometer which also measures humidity. The readings have always been around 45% to 55% which according to web searches is the comfortable level for UK homes. So is it actually the aircon?

 

Do you sleep with your mouth open? I do and always have a dry throat during the night. A glass of water helps.

In the early years of cruising and we had inside cabins and state rooms with a window, we always ended up with a cough....but for the last 7 years, we get a balcony and I always leave the balcony door ajar and let enough fresh air in....I use safe contractions to achieve the door staying open ......no coughs and a good sleep, even if it’s cold outside....

[Rocky of London]

The damp flannel is a good idea...

[KnowTheScore]

6 hours ago, clarets said:

How do people who cruise quite often guard against this?

Only two cruises with p&o and my wife has come home from both badly affected, 1st arcadia (Baltics ) and now just returned off the Britannia ( Caribbean ) so

different ships different climate same outcome.

 

 

This was discussed in another thread this week.  Arcadia is absolutely renown for cabin cough, so much so that regular cruisers call it "Arcadia Cough".  You can actually Google it.   You might be interested in this article which mentions the term:

 

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/cruise/771399/p-o-cruises-payout

 

Google also returns a thread in another forum called "Arcadia Cough" here:

 

https://cruise-community.me.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5926

 

 

There are 2 separate things involved here.   The Arcadia Cough is NOT a cold or flu virus.  It refers to the fact that the air-con on Arcadia is extremely strong and whilst you are sleeping it dries your mouth and throat out so much that it makes you cough.

 

The solution is to take a hand towel (flannel is too small imho) and thoroughly wet it completely and then lightly wring out most of the water so it won't drip, then put it on a metal clothes hanger and hang it from the air con vent in the ceiling over (often your bed).  It will keep moisture in the room and prevent cabin cough.

 

 

The other aspect of this is that due to the strong air-con system I personally believe that cold and flu viruses circulate between cabins more than other ships and thus I am more likely to get sick on Arcadia than other ships, and that HAS been my personal experience whether my assumptions are right or wrong.    I like Arcadia as a ship, but out of all the fleet I personally refer to it as the "sick" ship and thus have shunned it for some years and favoured Aurora and Ventura and Azura and very occasional trips on Oriana and Oceana.

 

I can only offer you my opinions base on personal experience nothing more.

 

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by KnowTheScore

[emam]

I have cold type symptoms for the entire winter but it's not contagious. I was lucky this year as it was December before it started but is still on going. It gets worse when I go out in the car, probably due to the close proximity of the heater. 

 

I imagine it would be easy to catch a cold on a cruise of 35 days over the winter.

[davecttr]

2 hours ago, Rocky of London said:

In the early years of cruising and we had inside cabins and state rooms with a window, we always ended up with a cough....but for the last 7 years, we get a balcony and I always leave the balcony door ajar and let enough fresh air in....I use safe contractions to achieve the door staying open ......no coughs and a good sleep, even if it’s cold outside....

You realise that P&O do not like you doing that. apart from trying to air condition the ocean it compromises your safety if there is a fire. Cabins have a positive air pressure which stops smoke entering from the corridor. Leave the balcony door open and any smoke will be sucked into the cabin, you might die!

[emam]

Has anyone tried a battery operated diffuser for cabin cough. I was just thinking they can have 3 uses, add moisture to the room, a night light and air freshener.

[2BACRUISER]

If you flew to the ship ie to Caribbean then it's more likely you picked up the cough on the aeroplane becoz they DO recirculate the air so if somebody sneezes at the front by time you walk to the back it's been despatched via the air system to one and all. By time it incubated and fosters u r on the ship and hey presto cough attributed to the ship but probably not 🤔🤔

[Hobson1754]

11 minutes ago, 2BACRUISER said:

If you flew to the ship ie to Caribbean then it's more likely you picked up the cough on the aeroplane becoz they DO recirculate the air so if somebody sneezes at the front by time you walk to the back it's been despatched via the air system to one and all. By time it incubated and fosters u r on the ship and hey presto cough attributed to the ship but probably not 🤔🤔

Yes we did and to be honest I originally thought it may have been the flight which started it, but I don’t think air conditioning helps - probably got a ‘double whammy’ as there were so many people coughing & sneezing on board. 

[emam]

While looking at other things I came across this.  

 

True or false: can air conditioning make you ill?

Finally, an answer to the question of whether air conditioning can make you ill or not

It’s summer in a lot of places around the world, which means the temperatures are rising and we all try to keep our cool. Some people use fans to stay cool but other people have the luxury of having air conditioning in their home. Hotels often have A/C as well, as do cars and a lot of stores and offices. But sometimes, after having spent a lot of time in a room with A/C, we end up with a cold. The question is: does air conditioning really make you ill?

 

The answer will surprise you.

Air conditioning is healthy

You might not expect this, but the answer is no. The cold air coming out of the air conditioning unit cannot make you ill. The electronic device can make sure that you get ill more quickly, though. So, how does this work? The A/C sucks hot air inside from the outside and then blows cold air into the room after it goes through the damper. The warm air condenses on the damper, after which dry, cool air is blown out of it, into the room. Plus, the A/C filters the hot air that enters the unit. Because of this, pollen and other polluting substances are kept out.

That sounds pretty healthy, but how, then, can A/C units cause you to get ill more quickly? Go to the next page to find out!

Bad maintenance

So, we’ve established that A/C units that properly clean the air are actually quite healthy. Research conducted by Yale University even showed that using air conditioning can reduce heart problems. Yet there are definitely downsides to air conditioning. Units that haven’t been maintained properly will end up with clogged filters. Due to the damp surroundings, this is then a Valhalla for moulds and bacteria to grow, which can lead to health risks. When the air that comes out of the A/C is of bad quality, you can end up with a cold, throat ache, flu symptoms, tearing eyes and irritated airways. Asthma patients can also experience breathing problems.

Warm and cold air

Dutch general practitioner Job Nievaart explains that it mostly has to do with whether or not you already carry a virus or bacteria with you at the moment you enter an air-conditioned room. “Air conditioning can’t make you sick. But if you already carry something, like a cold, for example, then the virus can spread more quickly due to the coolness. The same is true for when you move from a cooled room into the hot outside air. It won’t give you a cold unless you carry a virus or bacteria already. In that case, you can get sick more quickly,” the GP explains.

 

 

 

[2BACRUISER]

11 hours ago, emam said:

Maintenance Yet there are definitely downsides to air conditioning. Units that haven’t been maintained properly will end up with clogged filters. 

 

 

 

 

Well that begs the question how often are air con units on ships serviced when you consider in cruising hot climates they are working 24/7.? 🤔

[terrierjohn]

37 minutes ago, 2BACRUISER said:

Well that begs the question how often are air con units on ships serviced when you consider in cruising hot climates they are working 24/7.? 🤔

I don't think that the cabin outlets have any filters fitted, I believe these and the heating and cooling equipment are all centrally located, so they can be serviced routinely. 

I doubt that any cruise line would want the attendant bad publicity of a legionnaires outbreak by not servicing them according to the manufacturers guidelines.

[jeanlyon]

Yes I would agree with you.  It would be their worst nightmare.