Norovirus on Rotterdam / Mid-cruise Disinfection

[QM2 Cruiser]

Good evening from the Rotterdam. The ship is currently experiencing an outbreak of Norovirus during the current 14-night sailing to Northern Europe. I’ve been on many HAL cruises, including some with “code red” measures put in place. However, this is the first time I will experience a mid-voyage disinfection of all staterooms. We have been asked to vacate our staterooms tomorrow by 9:30AM, and either go ashore, or wait in designated waiting areas on the Lido Deck until the staterooms re-open at 1:30PM. 
 

Has anyone else ever experienced a mid-cruise disinfection? I’m very glad that they are taking these sanitation measures, but I’m quite concerned that the outbreak is far more significant than they are telling us. At this point, I just want the cruise to end, and hopefully escape in a healthy state. Four more days until disembarkation. Fingers are crossed. 

[Gigi1977]

We experienced this same thing on Rotterdam last October.  We had to leave the ship.  We were not given the option of remaining onboard.  Each passenger was given $25. OBC to cover transportation and lunch.  All staterooms were disinfected.  
 

Before the outbreak,  I had told my husband I would not be surprised if it happened.  I personally witnessed many folks exiting the restrooms w/o WASHING their hands!  I was very careful not to touch a door pull or knob.   I don’t know if it is cultural but I DO know it is GROSS.  

 

Also Rotterdam has those wonderful sinks in the lido - no excuse for not using them - but again many people didn’t.  
 

All I can say is - WASH your hands!  Most of us learned this as very young children. 

I suggest being very careful about eating in lido and touching surfaces others frequently touch and wash your hands and don’t touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth).  
 

we escaped without contracting it - but we were VERY careful.  

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

HAL's Lido is mostly served, thank goodness. Here's a tip for areas that are not served. Get a paper napkin and use it like a potholder any time you have to use utensils. I saw a woman do that on Queen Elizabeth (I was surprised at how much of that buffet was self-serve), and thought it was brilliant. 

[GeezerCouple]

Having had what was probably Noro on a cruise about 20 years ago, and it might have been Noro at a hotel ~5-6 years ago, there is NO way I would have been able to "leave the ship" for half a day.

I would definitely not have been able to leave the cabin for that amount of time.

😱

The thought of an absolute directive like that, with some passengers ill like that... is actually laughable.

 

The second time, although we also don't know for sure what "it" was, I ended up with the hotel calling an ambulance, per instructions from a physician the hotel arranged to stop by to see me a couple of times.  But I kept getting worse...

Again, I was NOT going to be "out in town" for a few hours, to put it mildly.

We weren't on a cruise, but we had stayed at a hotel the previous week at a hotel where there were a lot of after-cruise travelers.

 

I'm sure that not everyone on the ship who "has it" is in the medical center, or has even told any HAL staff about it...

 

I guess I'd have needed to go to the medical center for the "time out", if we really had to vacate for a while.  (oooh... *no* pun intended! 🙄 )

 

GC

[highscar]

I pack food grade plastic gloves. They are very inexpensive and take up very little room.  Use them lido, casino, washroom anywhere other people may touch barehanded.   Just stick them in my pocket.  

[KAKcruiser]

Wow.  I have never experienced such an intense cleaning.  They must really want to get the situation under control.  They can't afford to have bad publicity.

[Mary229]

Norovirus happens.  I am glad they are getting it under control.  You can end your cruise whenever you want just let them know you are leaving. 

[kazu]

43 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Norovirus happens.  I am glad they are getting it under control.  You can end your cruise whenever you want just let them know you are leaving. 

 

Not always.  You need to make arrangements.  There may be customs requirements and not all places are geared for handling just one couple.

Arrangement can usually be made but it’s not a matter of just saying “I’m leaving”.

[Mary229]

4 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Not always.  You need to make arrangements.  There may be customs requirements and not all places are geared for handling just one couple.

Arrangement can usually be made but it’s not a matter of just saying “I’m leaving”.

I was just being terse.  

[Gigi1977]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

HAL's Lido is mostly served, thank goodness. Here's a tip for areas that are not served. Get a paper napkin and use it like a potholder any time you have to use utensils. I saw a woman do that on Queen Elizabeth (I was surprised at how much of that buffet was self-serve), and thought it was brilliant. 

Unfortunately this was not true on Noordam New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific to Vancouver in March, April, May….. SO much self serve.  More than pre pandemic. So we avoid the self serve!  WHY are people so gross? 

[SeaHunt]

I've experienced delays in boarding due to deep cleaning, but none in the middle of a cruise. It seems like HAL is being very serious about stopping any outbreak, which I would so appreciate if I was onboard. I have never experienced Noro while traveling but that must be terrible. 🫢

 

BTW The CDC is also investigating this Nieuw Amsterdam sailing 5/6 - 5/21:

 

Cruise Line: Holland America

Cruise Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Voyage Dates: May 6–May 21, 2023

Voyage number: 539

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 160 of 1,970 (8.1%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 26 of 816 (3.19%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea

Causative agents: unknown

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2023/Nieuw-Amsterdam_5-16.html

[Mary229]

2 minutes ago, SeaHunt said:

I've experienced delays in boarding due to deep cleaning, but none in the middle of a cruise. It seems like HAL is being very serious about stopping any outbreak, which I would so appreciate if I was onboard. I have never experienced Noro while traveling but that must be terrible. 🫢

 

BTW The CDC is also investigating this Nieuw Amsterdam sailing 5/6 - 5/21:

 

Cruise Line: Holland America

Cruise Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Voyage Dates: May 6–May 21, 2023

Voyage number: 539

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 160 of 1,970 (8.1%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 26 of 816 (3.19%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea

Causative agents: unknown

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2023/Nieuw-Amsterdam_5-16.html

I agree with your post.  We should remember there are very few public facilities that are required  to report norovirus , cruise ships are one

[lissie]

3 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Wow 

Well the facts are pretty clear - I doubt the cause is contaminated seafood Norovirus Fact Sheet - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) 

[Mary229]

Just now, lissie said:

Well the facts are pretty clear - I doubt the cause is contaminated seafood Norovirus Fact Sheet - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) 

I am not questioning facts,

[syesmar]

5 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

…Here's a tip for areas that are not served. Get a paper napkin and use it like a potholder any time you have to use utensils….

I do this, too, plus also use a napkin for doorknobs, handles, etc. 

[Essiesmom]

5 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Not always.  You need to make arrangements.  There may be customs requirements and not all places are geared for handling just one couple.

Arrangement can usually be made but it’s not a matter of just saying “I’m leaving”.

Yes, you need to make arrangements with the ship…but they are in Europe.  Last port was a Schengen port, so are the remaining ports.  No customs or immigration until you leave the Schengen area, which is probably when they fly home.  EM

[Crew News]

8 hours ago, SeaHunt said:

I've experienced delays in boarding due to deep cleaning, but none in the middle of a cruise. It seems like HAL is being very serious about stopping any outbreak, which I would so appreciate if I was onboard. I have never experienced Noro while traveling but that must be terrible. 🫢

 

BTW The CDC is also investigating this Nieuw Amsterdam sailing 5/6 - 5/21:

 

Cruise Line: Holland America

Cruise Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Voyage Dates: May 6–May 21, 2023

Voyage number: 539

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 160 of 1,970 (8.1%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 26 of 816 (3.19%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea

Causative agents: unknown

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2023/Nieuw-Amsterdam_5-16.html

As a current passenger on this cruise, I can report that all self-serve is cancelled and the Lido Market serving lines are encased in Saran Wrap to prevent passengers from touching food items. From the first day, passengers are served at the Beverage Station. 

 

Unfortunately, there are no handwashing facilities in the Lido Market.rather Purell stations with crew members encouraging passengers to have a squirt.  Many  passengers have reverted back to wearing masks to protect themselves from this contact virus. 

 

Other than the Captain's announcements to wash our hands often , I have heard little passenger conversation on the subject and /or the proliferation of cases.

 

I remember passing by a room on my first day at sea and hearing the occupant apologizing  to her Room Steward for vomiting all over the room. 

[0106]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

Purell stations with crew members encouraging passengers to have a squirt.

Unfortunately hand sanitizer can't kill norovirus. Wash your hands before eating.  Use a tissue for door handles etc. Bleach will kill the virus.  I carry Clorox Wipes for when I can’t access soap & water.

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

As a current passenger on this cruise, I can report that all self-serve is cancelled and the Lido Market serving lines are encased in Saran Wrap to prevent passengers from touching food items. From the first day, passengers are served at the Beverage Station. 

 

Unfortunately, there are no handwashing facilities in the Lido Market.rather Purell stations with crew members encouraging passengers to have a squirt.  Many  passengers have reverted back to wearing masks to protect themselves from this contact virus. 

 

Other than the Captain's announcements to wash our hands often , I have heard little passenger conversation on the subject and /or the proliferation of cases.

 

I remember passing by a room on my first day at sea and hearing the occupant apologizing  to her Room Steward for vomiting all over the room. 

I don’t understand that at all.  I’m pretty old and I’ve never gotten sick anywhere but in the toilet or very close it it and I’m the one who cleans it up.  I’d be mortified if I did that.  

[3rdGenCunarder]

4 hours ago, Crew News said:

As a current passenger on this cruise, I can report that all self-serve is cancelled and the Lido Market serving lines are encased in Saran Wrap to prevent passengers from touching food items. From the first day, passengers are served at the Beverage Station. 

 

I remember Saran Wrap around the stations back when HAL did "code orange" at the start of a cruise to break the potential cycle of infection in case anyone brought it on board at embarkation. It was funny to watch passengers who didn't know about "code orange" try to figure out how to get their breakfast when they couldn't reach for food. 

 

For a long time, the Lido had sugar, salt, and pepper in little packets to avoid things that multiple people touch. On my cruise last winter, I noticed that they were using sugar dispensers and salt and pepper shakers in order to reduce waste from all those empty packets in the trash. Have the packets come back as part of the Noro response?

[Iamthesea]

There was a noro outbreak several years ago on an Oceania cruise that DH and I were on.  The outbreak happened on the cruise before us and continued on.  All staterooms were washed down with a sticky disinfectant, and the halls sprayed with a fog like substance.  Men in hazmat suits.  Our ports were cancelled by the government of those stops.  Eventually, the cruises ended early in Miami.   I can understand why you would want to be off for good.  
 

We are onboard the N. Statendam currently.  Mostly all food in Lido are served by crew.  The cookie station, a a few other items are not.  I use my least prominent hand to use the tongs.

[Jldevlin]

We leave on Sunday on the Nieuw Amsterdam and our check in time has been pushed to 2:30. Which will actually help us as the other 2 ships can get most of their passengers on before we go and hopefully avoid the long lines in Vancouver... sucks for those that have no where to go and will still be stuck down there waiting.

[Crew News]

5 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I remember Saran Wrap around the stations back when HAL did "code orange" at the start of a cruise to break the potential cycle of infection in case anyone brought it on board at embarkation. It was funny to watch passengers who didn't know about "code orange" try to figure out how to get their breakfast when they couldn't reach for food. 

 

For a long time, the Lido had sugar, salt, and pepper in little packets to avoid things that multiple people touch. On my cruise last winter, I noticed that they were using sugar dispensers and salt and pepper shakers in order to reduce waste from all those empty packets in the trash. Have the packets come back as part of the Noro response?

No small packets.  Conservation take precedence over Norovirus.  No sugar, salt, or pepper shakers except upon request.

 

The Lido Market is currently being sanitized on side at a time.

Edited May 17, 2023 by Crew News

[QM2 Cruiser]

The ship-wide disinfection took place today. Each department was in charge of their specific area, and the ship’s services were limited during the cleaning.
 

We removed all personal items from the cabin countertops, shelves, and bathroom as instructed, and left the ship before 9:30AM. However, I have my doubts if anything was actually disinfected in my cabin. The same coffee ring on the desk that I noticed this morning was still there when I got back to the ship after the cleaning. To me, that means the countertop wasn’t even wiped off. My cabin attendant hasn’t been very attentive this cruise, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t do the more thorough cleaning. It took a decent amount of time to pack up all of our things around the cabin last night for the disinfection, and then replace them again this afternoon, so I wasn’t too happy to see the coffee stain still on the desk. 
 

With all the measures they are taking around the ship, I’m surprised that they still held the Chocolate Surprise, and went around handing out finger foods to people in the Music Walk. Waiters in the dining room now just pass the sugar jars and the salt and pepper shakers directly from table to table, which totally defeats the purpose of removing them from the tables. 

We are being as careful as possible, and hoping to stay healthy. 

[RuthC]

56 minutes ago, QM2 Cruiser said:

However, I have my doubts if anything was actually disinfected in my cabin. The same coffee ring on the desk that I noticed this morning was still there when I got back to the ship after the cleaning. To me, that means the countertop wasn’t even wiped off.

When I saw the cleaning for norovirus, there was a hazmat type team spraying. They didn't wipe things down.