Hand Sanitizers on Millennium 28 Aug

[mikemo]

We sailed from Barcelona on the Millennium in May and noticed that virtually no one used the hand sanitizers: guess that also means few wash their hands as well.

Have lived in Mexico for 4 + years and never been ill - soap and water goes a long way.

M (MD, etc.)

[Pontius Navigator]

Mikemo, we noticed this on Constellation too. Usually there was a hand dispenser at the restaurants but I cannot remember one on the pool deck. Unlike the other cruise lines it was frequently left to the passengers to use the dispensers whereas the others always had stewards at every entrance acting as catcher.

[Schplinky]

It would be nice if folks could be adult enough to wash their own hands but sadly, that is not the case. I have seen men leave the stalls of the restroom and head straight for the buffet. Blech.

[Jim_Iain]

On our last couple cruises - Infinity and Constellation - I was very impressed by both the number of sanitation stations as well as attendants at eating areas.

 

On the Wester Caribbean - there were attendants at all buffet and restaurants entrances with bladders full of hand cleaning solution dispensing it as each passenger entered. They were also at the security entrance to the ship after each stop.

 

In INMO Celebrity is doing a good job of trying to protect it's customers. As others have said maybe ALL passengers should be as cautious.

[Schplinky]

 

In INMO Celebrity is doing a good job of trying to protect it's customers. As others have said maybe ALL passengers should be as cautious.

 

 

I agree with you. A cruise line can do all the cleaning it wants but it is at the mercy of its passengers and their habits. Folks who don't wash after the bathroom are the worst, but so are those who fib on the questionnaire they give you before you board, asking if you have had any gastro issues in the past 72 hours.

[CatServants]

On our last cruise X had sanitizer dispensers everywhere you looked - restaurants, stairwells, bathrooms, etc. My DH and I were ALWAYS careful to use any and every dispenser we saw (the skin on my hands suffered!). In fact, we were sometimes the objects of hostility as people pushed or walked around us because they didn't like forward progress into the dining room halted by those (politely) using or waiting to use the dispensers. This was all to no avail. I developed a cold (of course better a cold than an intestinal virus imho:o). It was the first time I had EVER gotten sick on a cruise. It didn't ruin our vacation (we had a wonderful cruise!:)) but my DH was VERY happy that we had a CS so he could sleep in the living room while I coughed all night in the bedroom. The 3-4 days that my cold lasted, I rarely left our cabin, but when I did, (the room attendant REALLY wants pax out when cleaning) I was careful not to touch railings, knobs, etc., and, when venturing out further than a chair by the elevator, sought out sanitizer just in case I did touch something. The crew was unbelievably solicitous. Our butler and and other crew members told us that there had been a cold going around the ship since the first couple of days of the cruise and that I was lucky to stay healthy for nearly two weeks. My DH and I noticed (confirmed by the crew) that only a small percentage of the passengers use the dispensers. No matter how careful YOU may be, if the other guy isn't, well, clean never-the-less sanitary, you don't stand a chance. Even if pax don't want to use the sanitizer, studies show that soap, water, and a little scrubbing do the trick.

 

Cruise lines can only make sanitizer available and suggest, ask, beg the pax to be responsible enough to use it. It always comes down to the pax.:rolleyes:

 

Happy cruising anyway!

 

Denise

[NorCalCruiseGuy]

I agree with you Schplinky. I've seen men leave the restroom countless times on a cruise without washing their hands. Probably the same ones that complain how horrible it is when there is an outbreak of Norovirus and why doesn't the ship do something about it????? Maybe they should look in the mirror, or perhaps it would be a great invention for someone to come up with-- If you haven't washed your hands when leaving the restroom, there is a loud alarm and flashing lights. That ought to remind them.

[bigwally]

Ooh you guys! You had to go and mention "restroom" and "bladders full" on the same page. I need to go to the bathroom now! :o

[grandsix]

It is sad to see as many men and women leaving the bathrooms without washing their hands. It is by habit and in all probability these same people do not wash their hands at home or work.

[gracecarmo]

We always carry hand sanitizer in our pockets and use it frequently, at home, as well as traveling.

On cruises, we do wipe down the cabin upon entering and frequently during the cruise. We do it after the casino, and after touching banisters, etc. Call us clean freaks, but we have never had noro or flu virus since doing this.

Now...the thing that is beyond our control re sanitary cleanleness would be the hot tubs. Who knows what the bathroom practices are of the people using these giant bathtubs? I know I would not want to get into one. This may well be a good breeding ground for spreading noro.

Here, our public pools have been shut down for days because of poluted waters due to hygenic issues.

I don't really know how X monitors the pools and hot tubs to make sure that they are germ free. Does anyone know?

[hillbil]

-this heading is very misleading - if the topic is using or not using hand sanitizer, that should be the heading!!:mad:

[Schplinky]

I think the general thought is that poor personal habits likely contribute to noro outbreaks.

[Pontius Navigator]

It is sad to see as many men and women leaving the bathrooms without washing their hands. It is by habit and in all probability these same people do not wash their hands at home or work.

 

Washing your hands or not is only part the problem.

 

If one person does NOT wash their hands they can contaminate the washroom door handle. This negates the value of every other person that did wash their hands.

 

The only solution after that is to use the sanitizers. Unfortunately far more than one person does not.

 

Then there are the food tongs. Sometimes the staff use them, other times the passengers. Yet more path ways.

 

This, IMHO, is where Constellation fell down. It did not have stewards ensuring that the sanitizers were used.

[Fogfog]

We are all soo grossed out by others poor hygiene:mad: :eek:

 

--my kids will even use a piece of paper towel rather than grab the door handle..

 

On another cruise--they had little dispensers of tissue for that purpose--and a little trash can--

 

Soap and water goes a Looong way to preventing this stuff..

pax and staff!

[NorCalCruiseGuy]

 

If one person does NOT wash their hands they can contaminate the washroom door handle. This negates the value of every other person that did wash their hands.

quote]

 

Not only can they contaminate the door handle, but also silverware on the buffet line, the coffee cups, glassware and all of the self-service items. Just remember that next time you see someone running their hands all over the coffee cups, glasses, or silverware, or reaching for that little item of food on the buffet line.

[tomcruiser1234]

OK,

 

I have a question, If you were to admit not feeling well before getting on the ship will they not allow you on? Or will they just restrict you too your room for a time?

 

Honestly, that would be tough admit being sick if you will lose your cruise. There has got to be lot's that would not admit.

 

I say use the hand sanitizers

[HspncElvis]

Every chance I had I would use the hand sanitizer dispenser. Celebrity Constellation was very good about having plenty of sanitizer stations through out the ship. Even as we returned to ship from a tour, they had 2 or 3 Celebrity employees with sanitizer at the entrance of the ship.

 

We did have 30 cases of Norovirus reported. I noticed the self serve drinks (water, coffee, milk) etc.. had been taped off as the crew would hand you your drink. In all was a fantastic trip.

[ecslady]

-this heading is very misleading - if the topic is using or not using hand sanitizer, that should be the heading!!:mad:

 

Agree...very misleading....Perhaps one of our hosts(are you listening?) could change the title, so it is not alarming....:eek:

[Jean4ever]

Okay, I keep reading posts about sanitizers and poor hygiene habits and in today's world, those concerns are valid. Let's not forget that the really bad things out there are usually viruses, immune to hand sanitizers and actually growing stronger thanks to them. So the answer for most people is to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth and use common sense. Most of use grew up playing in the dirt and eating who knows what and are fine. I guess I am saying don't panic and just be careful about the products you buy that eliminate the body's ability to naturally fight off the bad guys. Focus on the wonderful products out there that fight off bacteria, like probiotics. Maybe, Celebrity could offer yoghurts and cheeses that help everybody protect their natural immune system work....makes alot more sense than santizers IMHO.:)

[ATLfuzzy]

I just got home from the affected sailing, did not get sick during the 12 day cruise but 4 hours into my flight from Venice starting getting chills, and then the "other" symptoms started. Blech.

 

Off to bed..

[Schplinky]

 

If one person does NOT wash their hands they can contaminate the washroom door handle. This negates the value of every other person that did wash their hands.

quote]

 

 

 

 

 

Not only can they contaminate the door handle, but also silverware on the buffet line, the coffee cups, glassware and all of the self-service items. Just remember that next time you see someone running their hands all over the coffee cups, glasses, or silverware, or reaching for that little item of food on the buffet line.

 

Railings in the stairwell, too.

 

OK,

 

I have a question, If you were to admit not feeling well before getting on the ship will they not allow you on? Or will they just restrict you too your room for a time?

 

Honestly, that would be tough admit being sick if you will lose your cruise. There has got to be lot's that would not admit.

 

I say use the hand sanitizers

 

They would examine you. Not everyone who has had diarehha has noro and the screening is pretty quick, I understand. Theyw ould quarantine you for two days if the cruise is underway but I don't know if they would bar you from boarding in the first place. They would also quarantine your roommate, obviously.

[Pontius Navigator]

sanitizers and poor hygiene habits and in today's world, those concerns are valid. Let's not forget that the really bad things out there are usually viruses, immune to hand sanitizers

 

Sanitizers are only part of the solution.

 

Soap and water is the first line of defence

 

If you have a contaminant on your hands a sanitized might neutralise any virus present. Soap and water will transport that virus off the body and minmize the residual contaminant. The sanitized will then have a far easier job.

 

I guess really the people reading here are already converted.

[Fogfog]

I agree with you Schplinky. I've seen men leave the restroom countless times on a cruise without washing their hands. Probably the same ones that complain how horrible it is when there is an outbreak of Norovirus and why doesn't the ship do something about it????? Maybe they should look in the mirror, or perhaps it would be a great invention for someone to come up with-- If you haven't washed your hands when leaving the restroom, there is a loud alarm and flashing lights. That ought to remind them.

 

ROFLOL:D

 

THAT would be great- wouldn't it!!

 

Wasn't there a comic strip or Saturday Night Live paraody about that exact thing years ago?:rolleyes:

[KnoxvilleSam]

 

They would examine you. Not everyone who has had diarehha has noro and the screening is pretty quick, I understand. Theyw ould quarantine you for two days if the cruise is underway but I don't know if they would bar you from boarding in the first place. They would also quarantine your roommate, obviously.

 

On our pre-cruise land tour with Princess in Alaska in June, my DW got sick in Denali - pretty sure it was food poisoning. When we got to the Princess McKinley hotel that afternoon, I called the front desk to ask if they had any medical staff available to check out my wife and help. They sent two customer relations clerks (in their early 20's) who asked a series of questions about her symptoms, what she'd eaten, where she'd eaten, etc. After 20 minutes of this, they handed us a letter informing us that we were being denied boarding in Whittier on the Coral Princess the next night. That was the end of our cruise - before it even started. The clerks had NO medical qualifications.

 

IMHO, think long and hard about what you tell them. In fact, the lead customer relations person at the Princess hotel told me the day after OUR quarantine started that had she been on duty when I'd called, she would have warned us about the implications of our answers. IMHO, I think the cruise lines ought to have medically-qualified staff examining you - not clerks straight out of college (if even that).

 

Sam

[Pontius Navigator]

Different Cruise Company:

 

Ts & Cs specify that company provided sanitizers are to be used.

 

Anyone seen this elsewhere?