Crown Princess and Norovirus?

[premiumrican]

I read on another thread that a few people who were on the Nov. 4th Sailing weren't feeling too well when they got back. Does anyone know if there is a norovirus running through the ship on this week sailing?

[Host CJSKIDS]

Yes, the virus was evidently going around last week and it's been reported that it is on the ship this week. They have taken the salt and pepper off the tables and various other things as of this week I believe to try and contain the virus. Various people on our cruise have reported being ill and seeing others ill last week.

 

Towards the end of our cruise they were handing you sanitizing wipes when we reboarded the ship starting in St Marteen so we were wondering if the virus was on board.

 

I'm on a strong anitibotic this week from a bad sinus infection and had a bout with my stomach which I thought was a side effect but from the medicine but I'm now questioning whether it's something from the ship.

 

I'm sorry if the virus ruined anybody's cruise last week and hopefully they contain it this week.

[premiumrican]

Thanks for the response. I hope they contain it for this week sailing and hope alot of people coming back didn't get affected.

[willysgrandma]

Yes, the virus was evidently going around last week and it's been reported that it is on the ship this week. They have taken the salt and pepper off the tables and various other things as of this week I believe to try and contain the virus. Various people on our cruise have reported being ill and seeing others ill last week.

 

Towards the end of our cruise they were handing you sanitizing wipes when we reboarded the ship starting in St Marteen so we were wondering if the virus was on board.

 

I'm on a strong anitibotic this week from a bad sinus infection and had a bout with my stomach which I thought was a side effect but from the medicine but I'm now questioning whether it's something from the ship.

 

I'm sorry if the virus ruined anybody's cruise last week and hopefully they contain it this week.

 

My sister-in-law was ill Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I came home Saturday and was sick Sunday. My husband had a bit of stomach upset as well. We also saw ship doctors and nurses in rooms on either side of ours on the Baja deck, so I am sure there were a lot more people sick than we knew about. I am wondering if perhaps one of the service people that was in our rooms perhaps had something, since it is odd that so many cabins near each other apparently had ill people.

 

But no one gave us any wipes when we reboarded the ship in St. Maarten or anywhere else. We were pretty scrupulous about using the sanitizers at the buffet.

[kcb]

Yes, the virus was evidently going around last week and it's been reported that it is on the ship this week. Various people on our cruise have reported being ill and seeing others ill last week.

 

I'm on a strong anitibotic this week from a bad sinus infection and had a bout with my stomach which I thought was a side effect but from the medicine but I'm now questioning whether it's something from the ship.

 

 

Wow Carolyn,

 

You just can't catch a break! I'll bet RCI is looking better all the time?;)

 

~Kent

[bphman]

You could bathe in hand sanitizer and still get sick because the knucklehead in front of you didn't use it. I wish they would do away with self service buffets. AND KEEP YOUR KID'S DIRTY HANDS OFF THE FOOD. We're going on the Liberty for Christmas and plan on being very careful. We'll have to wait until August to see if we get sick on the Crown! Is it going to get to the point that we're going to have to wear rubber gloves?

[Tahoestarr]

Wow Carolyn,

 

You just can't catch a break! I'll bet RCI is looking better all the time?;)

 

~Kent

 

Kent...

 

My mother just got back from Panama on RCI's Serenade of the Seas....sorry to tell you, but it was on that ship too, she along with many others came home with it. The outbreak happened toward the end of the curise! No one allowed to serve themselves at the buffet..etc. This virus has no bounds!

[FOGGY DAZE]

 

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VSP Home > Disease Surveillance and Investigation > Cruise Ship Outbreak Summaries

Outbreak Summaries for International Cruise Ships

 

 

 

 

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• The following is a list of outbreaks aboard cruise ships with international itineraries from 1994 until the present. The cruise ships that are included in these criteria fall within the purview of the Vessel Sanitation Program (see about VSP) and are:
  • sailing on voyages from 3-21 days;
    
  • carrying 100 or more passengers; and
    
  • cruise ships in which 3% or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to the ships medical staff during the voyage.

  [*]CDC has not verified all of the case numbers represented in the following updates.

   

[Julia’s Journey’s]

We had lots of it on our Diamond cruise in September, I never used my fingers to press elevater buttons, didn't touch hand rails, the buffets were not self service, they had someone doling out the food, we didn't use the restrooms besides our cabin and just pretty much were aware of what we did and non of us got the virus luckily.

Be careful and have a good cruise!!!:D :D

[dresch25]

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1. VSP Home > Disease Surveillance and Investigation > Cruise Ship Outbreak Summaries

Outbreak Summaries for International Cruise Ships

 

 

 

• Email this page
  
• Printer-friendly version

• The following is a list of outbreaks aboard cruise ships with international itineraries from 1994 until the present. The cruise ships that are included in these criteria fall within the purview of the Vessel Sanitation Program (see about VSP) and are:
  • sailing on voyages from 3-21 days;
    
  • carrying 100 or more passengers; and
    
  • cruise ships in which 3% or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to the ships medical staff during the voyage.

  [*]CDC has not verified all of the case numbers represented in the following updates.

   

 

Thank You for the link. Did anyone else notice that Princess only had 2 outbreaks in the 2006 year so far. They must be doing something right.

 

Vicki

[10X]

I really don't think there is too much the ship can do to prevent something like this, nor do I think that it is their fault.

 

All it takes is for one passenger to board the ship at the beginning of the cruise and it will spread like wildfire. The germs will be spread to every handrail, deck chair, theater seat, dining room chair/table, buffet chiar/table, elavator, every item in the shops, etc., that the passenger touches.

 

It is easy to see how this happens too. How many of you, if you just weren't feeling quite up to par, would not board the ship, thinking that if you do you might make hundreds of others sick too? My guess is that, after making all your plans, paying all that money, and looking forward to the cruise for so long, that everyone reading this would board in a heartbeat, including me.

 

However, in the end, not all that many people are generally affected. Certainly not everyone on the ship. I know that in my own office, if one person comes to work sick, probably everyone else in the office will be sick soon too. So I have about a 100% chance of getting sick in the office and something far less than that on the cruise ship.

 

Although it is unfortunate that this happens, I don't worry about it. If I get sick, we'll deal with it. If I don't, I'll have a great cruise.

[flarad]

It is always disappointing to me when I read about Norovirus. I know that it's so hard to contain and sanitize. That was the one thing we were SO impressed with on the new NCL Jewel last year. They have had sanitizers at the entrance to every dining area and most public places. After all port calls there is a staff member squirting passengers hands with sanitizer as they reboard. It's not an option but it's handled very professionally and expertily. It gave us all the "feeling" that the Jewel was doing everything they could to contain illness. I also noticed that they have had not one case of reported illness since they've been afloat. Perhaps other lines should incorporate this.

[premiumrican]

It is easy to see how this happens too. How many of you, if you just weren't feeling quite up to par, would not board the ship, thinking that if you do you might make hundreds of others sick too? My guess is that, after making all your plans, paying all that money, and looking forward to the cruise for so long, that everyone reading this would board in a heartbeat, including me.

 

When we boarded the Crown's repo, before checking in they were handing out a form asking if you recently experienced digestive problems and or diarrhea. I also said to myself, how many people will honestly answer these these questions. Also what would happen to that person who checked yes on that questionaire? Would they have to go through the ship's doctor for clearance or would they just be left out on the pier waving goodby to the cruise they looked forward too for God knows how long?

[willysgrandma]

You could bathe in hand sanitizer and still get sick because the knucklehead in front of you didn't use it.

 

That is absolulet true. At the entrance to the buffets, I was amazed at how many people did not use the hand sanitizer at the stations.

 

We also noticed when we were getting on and off the ship at later ports that ship employees were spraying all the rails with something - didn't know what it was, but perhaps a sanitizer.

 

I don't believe it even has to be from the buffets - it could be from the railings and any public space. And I don't believe it is limited to Princess only - it can happen on any ship line.

[Host CJSKIDS]

That is absolulet true. At the entrance to the buffets, I was amazed at how many people did not use the hand sanitizer at the stations.

 

We also noticed when we were getting on and off the ship at later ports that ship employees were spraying all the rails with something - didn't know what it was, but perhaps a sanitizer.

 

I don't believe it even has to be from the buffets - it could be from the railings and any public space. And I don't believe it is limited to Princess only - it can happen on any ship line.

 

 

There were also people who took things off the buffet without using the tongs provided but rather their hands! I also can't tell you how many women I saw leave the restroom without washing their hands, yuck!

[amsmom11]

The staff was exceedingly careful during the Nov 11-Nov 18 cruise. They stood at the entrance to buffets, dining rooms, and even the International Cafe and pizza place with bottles of sanitizer. On the last 2-3 days, the crew served from the buffet and were very nervous if anyone touched a spoon to serve themselves. Wipes were given out at the gangway before entering the ship from each port. I didn't see anyone sick but one of the crew members said people were sick on board, and a friend did hear evidence of at least one violently ill person.

[LouinMA]

We just returned from the Crown yesterday (11/11 to 11/18). By the second day all Salt and Pepper shakers were removed and Everyone was required to use the hand sanitizers. By mid week all tongs were removed from the buffet areas and the staff was serving everyone.

 

My wife asked for salt and the waiter came to our table with a salt shaker on a plate. He shook the salt to her satisfaction and took the shaker away.

 

There were attendants in the public restrooms scrubbing down all surfaces routinely.

 

It was clear that the ship was at a Heightened level of precautions.

 

Lou

[Randycurit]

Hi all,

 

We were on the crown 11/11 - 11/18 - there was a lot of hand sanitizer being used on the ship and they had crew severing at the buffet. No one in our group was sick but I thought it was funny that everything was being cleaned so often. It makes sense now looking back that they did remove the salt and pepper shakers and hand out a lot of hand sanitizer. I guess we were the lucky ones. I did not hear anyone say anything about people being sick.

 

Randy

[mortysmama]

Friends of mine just got back from the Canada/NE cruise...the Star I think...and she came home sick...virus/flu kinda symptoms. Gets me nervous cause my pregnant daughter is coming with us in March on the CB to the E Caribbean. Last year on the Jewel...they were really strict about the sanitizers. You couldn't get on the buffet line unless you used it. They also had them at the gangway when you reboarded.

Now I have a question..that I'm sure I know the answer to, but I'll ask it anyway. Does the flu shot give any protection against this virus? Probably not...but at least we'll be protected from the flu...for the most part.

Any of you going on a cruise in the near future...take any precaution you can, be careful and hope for the best.

Happy cruising!

[tvaud]

Last week, the Carnival Liberty was escorted into port due to a very large outbreak of the virus...as was reported in the news. I know tht the ships are trying to prevent outbreaks, but with passengers who truly need lessons in hygene, it can be difficult to completely prevent. On my October 9th Crown cruise, the first night in the dining room, you couldn't enter until you received your squirt of hand sanitizer. I thought it strange at the time, but later thought it was a very smart thing to do. I carry my own mini Purell bottle in my purse at all times, so I was always prepared. I was not aware of any outbreaks of the virus on our cruise....just outbreaks of rear end gas...:eek: ...that pesky phantom farter.

[2boyzmom]

It is always disappointing to me when I read about Norovirus. I know that it's so hard to contain and sanitize. That was the one thing we were SO impressed with on the new NCL Jewel last year. They have had sanitizers at the entrance to every dining area and most public places. After all port calls there is a staff member squirting passengers hands with sanitizer as they reboard. It's not an option but it's handled very professionally and expertily. It gave us all the "feeling" that the Jewel was doing everything they could to contain illness. I also noticed that they have had not one case of reported illness since they've been afloat. Perhaps other lines should incorporate this.

 

I was also very impressed by this. At the buffet exits, there was a crewmember there directing you towards the hand sanitizers- they were really determined to keep the ship free of bugs!

[OC PAT]

The virus was aboard a plenty. A waiter said over 300 folks were hit with it. It was at its height Thursday when we were in Aruba. That would be 10%. Numerous measures discussed above were used to keep the virus down. The waiter said if Aruba hadn't been our last port we may have had to get off the ship??? Don't quite understand that.

 

My Dh had the virus on the Westerdam Easter "05. We were both quarantined in our cabin. He didn't care but I wasn't sick and was a bit unhappy but what can you do? I certainly would not like to spread the virus.

This is the virus season and ships will continue to get hit with it because people spread the virus!

 

If you wash your hands frequently, use the provide lotions and not touch you face you will decrease your chances of getting the bug.

OC PAT