Cruises-outbreak

[stellarose]

I've never been on a cruise but want to someday. Did you hear about the recent St. Marteen cruise that had a 300+ person norovirus outbreak? Eh! That would be awful!!!

[GilliC]

It didn't sound that bad. I think they really only missed one port?

As for the conditions on the ship, if you were one of the 90% of the passengers who didn't get sick, it's really no big deal. I was on a cruise once that was just barely under the percentage threshold for having the itinerary suspended. We knew there were a lot of cases, because they did change the way some things were handled, but we only found out later (from a loose-lipped crew friend) that we were close to having our sailing suspended.

Suspected cases are quarantined in their cabins for 24 hours to limit exposure to other passengers. We had a pretty big CruiseCritic group on that sailing, and one of our two-dozen members was affected. He said that it kind of sucked, but it wasn't really a big deal. For the rest of the ship, they insisted on hand sanitizer whenever you entered a dining room (which some lines do regularly now). And when the numbers hit around 5% (or slightly higher) they changed the buffet from self-service, and everything was served by staff members. Honestly, I prefer it that way, because I've seen some pretty unpleasant buffet usage in my day.

I'm not sure I've been on a ship in the last ten years that hasn't had any norovirus cases. It's just a good reminder to wash your hands a lot. Which you should really do anyway.

[kellsbelles]

I think just basic hygiene, hand washing, avoiding buffets etc will keep you pretty safe. Eating healthy and taking extra vitamins usually help me too. It's interesting to me because I took around 7 cruises when I was younger for yearly family vacations and I never had problems with noro. I feel like it is so common now I wonder what the deal is with that?

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2014 8:49:16 GMT -5 kellsbelles said:

I think just basic hygiene, hand washing, avoiding buffets etc will keep you pretty safe. Eating healthy and taking extra vitamins usually help me too. It's interesting to me because I took around 7 cruises when I was younger for yearly family vacations and I never had problems with noro. I feel like it is so common now I wonder what the deal is with that?

I bet the outbreaks have always happened (just like described above, likely <10% affected) and those unaffected just weren't aware. Since we're in the internet age, now, everyone knows about if anyone is sick on a cruise. Years ago, though, as long as the crew kept quiet, no one would really realize that people were sick.

[panicked]

There is nothing on Earth more horrible-sounding to me than having Noro on a cruise ship. I am not a cruise fan in the first place and all the news coverage about the illness outbreaks aren't changing my mind any.

[kellsbelles]

Jan 27, 2014 9:06:50 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

Jan 27, 2014 8:49:16 GMT -5 kellsbelles said:

I think just basic hygiene, hand washing, avoiding buffets etc will keep you pretty safe. Eating healthy and taking extra vitamins usually help me too. It's interesting to me because I took around 7 cruises when I was younger for yearly family vacations and I never had problems with noro. I feel like it is so common now I wonder what the deal is with that?

I bet the outbreaks have always happened (just like described above, likely <10% affected) and those unaffected just weren't aware. Since we're in the internet age, now, everyone knows about if anyone is sick on a cruise. Years ago, though, as long as the crew kept quiet, no one would really realize that people were sick.

Ahh yes very true. Luckily i was never affected thank
God. I feel like it def wouldn't stop me from traveling though. I got a rare bacterial infection from a nice resort in Jamaica so it really can happen anywhere. Have you cruised lately? It's been prob 8 years since I have. I'm so sensitive to motion sickness now I don't know if I could handle it anymore.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2014 9:14:17 GMT -5 kellsbelles said:

Jan 27, 2014 9:06:50 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

I bet the outbreaks have always happened (just like described above, likely <10% affected) and those unaffected just weren't aware. Since we're in the internet age, now, everyone knows about if anyone is sick on a cruise. Years ago, though, as long as the crew kept quiet, no one would really realize that people were sick.

Ahh yes very true. Luckily i was never affected thank
God. I feel like it def wouldn't stop me from traveling though. I got a rare bacterial infection from a nice resort in Jamaica so it really can happen anywhere. Have you cruised lately? It's been prob 8 years since I have. I'm so sensitive to motion sickness now I don't know if I could handle it anymore.

I've never gone on a cruise. I get motion sick easily so I worry I'd be nauseous the whole time. 

[mnvegas]

We went on a RC cruise for Christmas and there was no outbreak of illness. At least not that we heard. Every time we entered any dining room/area they were pumping Purell into people's hands. Also saw crew constantly cleaning and sanitizing.

[Alyssa]

Norovirus is THE worst.  Oh boy that was awful, I couldn't imagine having it on a cruise.  I don't know if any of you have had it but it is a bad, you get a horrible stomach ache like someone has socked you in the stomach.  Then you randomly start to throw up.  Then the diarrhea starts.  Then all three happen AT THE SAME TIME.  All night you're up with the cold sweats and stomach cramps.  Oh those poor people.  It's so contagious too, my entire family came down with it, we all dropped like flies.

[IrishBelle]

Jan 27, 2014 12:06:35 GMT -5 mnvegas said:

We went on a RC cruise for Christmas and there was no outbreak of illness. At least not that we heard. Every time we entered any dining room/area they were pumping Purell into people's hands. Also saw crew constantly cleaning and sanitizing.

Substitute RC for Celebrity and Christmas for early January and this was our experience as well.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2014 11:39:17 GMT -5 kooshball said:

These outbreaks are one of a few reasons I have never been on a cruise. I can't imagine going on vacation where the risk of puking is this high and known. heh

I have been on 7 cruises with 5 out of the seven being 8+day cruises.  I have never been sick on the ship or gotten something from the ship where I was sick soon after I returned.

[caden]

Jan 27, 2014 9:06:50 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

Jan 27, 2014 8:49:16 GMT -5 kellsbelles said:

I think just basic hygiene, hand washing, avoiding buffets etc will keep you pretty safe. Eating healthy and taking extra vitamins usually help me too. It's interesting to me because I took around 7 cruises when I was younger for yearly family vacations and I never had problems with noro. I feel like it is so common now I wonder what the deal is with that?

I bet the outbreaks have always happened (just like described above, likely <10% affected) and those unaffected just weren't aware. Since we're in the internet age, now, everyone knows about if anyone is sick on a cruise. Years ago, though, as long as the crew kept quiet, no one would really realize that people were sick.

from what I understand cruise ships are required to report GI illnesses before they reach a US port. I don't know if that has always been the case or if it's relatively new, but now that the media keep an eye out for stories like this I think it's publicized more often. I don't think hotels are required to report outbreaks like this so who knows how often it happens elsewhere.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2014 20:49:43 GMT -5 kooshball said:

Jan 27, 2014 20:28:29 GMT -5 vigurl said:

I have been on 7 cruises with 5 out of the seven being 8+day cruises.  I have never been sick on the ship or gotten something from the ship where I was sick soon after I returned.

Well, if EVERYONE got sick then there would be no cruises at all.

That kind of wasn't my point unless you mean that some people are immune to noro virus and I might be.  I was trying to say that those odds look pretty damn good.  45+ days at sea and it hasn't happened to me.  Of course I probably jinxed myself now by saying that.

[Deleted]

We were on a Costa cruise over Christmas and they also had hand sanitizer in all the eating areas.

I think the risk of illness is amplified on a cruise, but I figure my risk of contracting an illness is pretty much always high when traveling - between planes, trains, buses, breakfast buffets, etc.

[GilliC]

Jan 27, 2014 21:29:42 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 27, 2014 20:49:43 GMT -5 kooshball said:

Well, if EVERYONE got sick then there would be no cruises at all.

That kind of wasn't my point unless you mean that some people are immune to noro virus and I might be.  I was trying to say that those odds look pretty damn good.  45+ days at sea and it hasn't happened to me.  Of course I probably jinxed myself now by saying that.

It's probably just a combination of statistics and good hygiene. Even on a ship that has to be quarantined for an extreme norovirus outbreak, 90% of the passengers won't contract the virus.

I've also never contracted norovirus, and I've done around 90 nights of cruising. And sailed on more than one ship with a significant outbreak. Seriously, just washing your hands regularly is an enormous step towards prevention. There are a lot of railings on a cruise ship with a lot of people touching them throughout the day. A quick wash does wonders.

Jan 27, 2014 22:21:05 GMT -5 @juliash said:

I think the risk of illness is amplified on a cruise, but I figure my risk of contracting an illness is pretty much always high when traveling - between planes, trains, buses, breakfast buffets, etc.

This is completely true. The prevalence of norovirus is strongly linked to a fixed group of people sharing a confined living space, because it makes it so easy to transmit. It's also extremely common in nursing homes.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2014 5:36:41 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Jan 27, 2014 21:29:42 GMT -5 vigurl said:

That kind of wasn't my point unless you mean that some people are immune to noro virus and I might be.  I was trying to say that those odds look pretty damn good.  45+ days at sea and it hasn't happened to me.  Of course I probably jinxed myself now by saying that.

It's probably just a combination of statistics and good hygiene. Even on a ship that has to be quarantined for an extreme norovirus outbreak, 90% of the passengers won't contract the virus.

I've also never contracted norovirus, and I've done around 90 nights of cruising. And sailed on more than one ship with a significant outbreak. Seriously, just washing your hands regularly is an enormous step towards prevention. There are a lot of railings on a cruise ship with a lot of people touching them throughout the day. A quick wash does wonders.

Jan 27, 2014 22:21:05 GMT -5 @juliash said:

I think the risk of illness is amplified on a cruise, but I figure my risk of contracting an illness is pretty much always high when traveling - between planes, trains, buses, breakfast buffets, etc.

This is completely true. The prevalence of norovirus is strongly linked to a fixed group of people sharing a confined living space, because it makes it so easy to transmit. It's also extremely common in nursing homes.

Great!  DH just started working at an nursing home.  Now I double jinxed myself.  

I appreciate the tip from a more experienced cruiser  I never touch the railings when taking the steps and always use the hand sanitize in the dinning rooms.   

[Deleted]

I've done 3 cruises and been fine. I am a diligent hand washer.

That being said, the norovirus is SO SO contagious even the most diligent hand washer can get it. It just takes tiny little droplets. The germaphobe in me really, really hates that thought. Lol.

[anna7602]

This whole thread makes me think of "Love in the Time of Cholera." That is all, carry on.