Invisible Bed Bugs?!

[ilikeanswers]

17 hours ago, isnowman said:

The recommendation of not putting your luggage on the floor, or another bed, is paramount in not bringing those uninvited guests home with you. Use the metal luggage valet, or place your suitcase on the top of the dresser during unpacking, and always close it tight when finished. 

 

Am I the only one who feels like there are less and less luggage racks in hotel rooms? Last trip in Europe I could count on one hand the luggage racks we had🙄. And even road tripping in Australia only about maybe every third hotel had a rack. 

[MMDown Under]

On 5/27/2024 at 9:54 PM, isnowman said:

Before retirement I traveled extensively all over the world staying in all types of hotels. Bed bugs don't care if it's a 1 star or 5 star accommodation, they're very opportunist.

The recommendation of not putting your luggage on the floor, or another bed, is paramount in not bringing those uninvited guests home with you. Use the metal luggage valet, or place your suitcase on the top of the dresser during unpacking, and always close it tight when finished. 

Another tip our crew used was to fill a couple of empty 2 liter water bottles with hot water. Place the bottles on the bed under the top sheet and cover them. The bugs are attracted to the warmth of the bottles and will come looking for a meal. Check the bottom sheet near the bottles after about 30 minutes, if there are bed bugs in your bed you should see them. As was previously posted, checking the mattress cover for blood spots also works, but only if a previous guest has been bitten.

Hope this helps.

Hot water bottle on the bed sounds like worth trying.  The things you learn on Cruse Critic!!  I have been researching Walt Disney World accommodation in Orlando and read of two cases of bed bugs in expensive to very expensive accommodation. The hard part seems to be getting hotel staff to believe the bights are from bed bugs.  

[MicCanberra]

Perhaps they are only invisible to staff?

[Mycruiseobsession]

Pleased to say there wete none in our Explorer cruise last week!

[MicCanberra]

Good to hear 

[Bubbeh]

Just a thought, how risky is it to store your suitcases under the bed?

[Aus Traveller]

Just now, Bubbeh said:

Just a thought, how risky is it to store your suitcases under the bed?

If the bed bugs haven't bitten, it would be quite safe to store cases under the bed. 😁

[Corinne288]

They tell you never to put cases under the bed apparently.

 

I will be travelling fare more ⚠️ in future that's for sure 

[Jean C]

Will you be on a Princess ship? We leave ours tucked away and standing up in the open wardrobe area. Wherever you put them, make sure the zips are tightly closed while stored. Also, to unpack and pack, I balance mine on the top of that oval glass table. Happy and safe travels 😊

[possum52]

On 5/28/2024 at 3:21 PM, ilikeanswers said:

 

Am I the only one who feels like there are less and less luggage racks in hotel rooms? Last trip in Europe I could count on one hand the luggage racks we had🙄. And even road tripping in Australia only about maybe every third hotel had a rack. 

The two places we have stayed in the past two months - a Melbourne Southbank hotel and a Victorian regional city motel - both had luggage racks. 

[ceeceeDee]

1 hour ago, possum52 said:

The two places we have stayed in the past two months - a Melbourne Southbank hotel and a Victorian regional city motel - both had luggage racks. 

Does anyone have any further news on Encounter and the bedbugs? Anyone been on board recently?

[Jean C]

Also, as @isnowman advised earlier, and I quote -

 

"Another tip our crew used was to fill a couple of empty 2 liter water bottles with hot water. Place the bottles on the bed under the top sheet and cover them. The bugs are attracted to the warmth of the bottles and will come looking for a meal. Check the bottom sheet near the bottles after about 30 minutes, if there are bed bugs in your bed you should see them. As was previously posted, checking the mattress cover for blood spots also works, but only if a previous guest has been bitten."

 

Maybe a couple of regular water bottles close together might also do the trick 🤔

[Corinne288]

sad to read its the end of P&O. Also to update that that the office of Fair Trading took over my case and P&O have offered a full refund. 

 

I was not interested in the refund I was more concerned that they, as a company were not adhering to carnival protocols and this problem was only going to get worse. I was horrified to think that over 3000 people cruise on that ship every week and god knows how many people are impacted by bed bugs and don't actually know it every cruise. Since I and others have gone public others have contacted us to say they had also experienced bites but had no idea until they were home. really sad.

 

Hopefully we helped raise awareness and somehow see stricter protocols moving forward. 

Edited June 4 by Corinne288

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, Corinne288 said:

sad to read its the end of P&O. Also to update that that the office of Fair Trading took over my case and P&O have offered a full refund. 

 

I was not interested in the refund I was more concerned that they, as a company were not adhering to carnival protocols and this problem was only going to get worse. I was horrified to think that over 3000 people cruise on that ship every week and god knows how many people are impacted by bed bugs and don't actually know it every cruise. Since I and others have gone public others have contacted us to say they had also experienced bites but had no idea until they were home. really sad.

 

Hopefully we helped raise awareness and somehow see stricter protocols moving forward. 

I was thinking this afternoon, wondering if the bed bugs turned the tables to make P&O Australia invisible.

 

I think much of the response on the ship was about mitigating compensation, when it should have been focused on fixing the problem. Some of us don't expect refunds or credits, and would rather that they just make it right. 

[Corinne288]

yes I agree..  My cruise was a special Offer so it wasn't ground breaking money so was never about that refund. It was, for me, the aftermath of taking these horrible things home. I live in Brisbane and the thought of people leaving the ship and going home or staying in Brisbane hotels unbeknown potentially with bed bugs was making me itchy. They spread so fast. 

 

I think they have had terrible publicity last few months between this and more significantly not following protocols. Sadly the same week we cruised a man jumped to his death in Sydney. Apparently their gambling regulations and protocols are being investigated and a law suit is coming. I think this is damage limitation on Carnivals part. 

 

Still no information on how they plan to manage the bedbugs onboard. It appears they are on many desks... Maybe ignore and hope it all goes away. 

[arxcards]

30 minutes ago, Corinne288 said:

I think they have had terrible publicity last few months between this and more significantly not following protocols. Sadly the same week we cruised a man jumped to his death in Sydney. Apparently their gambling regulations and protocols are being investigated and a law suit is coming. I think this is damage limitation on Carnivals part. 

 

The casinos operate at sea, where there are no federal or state regulations to follow. I can't see how a lawsuit could be filed.

[Corinne288]

You should read up on it. Apparently they refused to allow a self ban in the casino something they claim they offer. 

 

Just sharing what they are saying. Either way not all publicity is good publicity and a man jumping overboard is horrific.  Other reports of people being held on the ship and interrogated for hours after docking. 

 

Anyways I think that's it for me in relation to this topic. Time to move on! 

 

Take care everyone