Board DCL while Sick???

[lrmillen]

Somewhat of a moral dilemma has come up concerning illness before a cruise. So, if you were sick would you let DCL know before boarding. They ask at the port. This has become a serious issue with the somewhat recent Norwalk virus outbreaks on other cruiselines.

The thread where this is being discussed is:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=491108

 

[AnnMorin]

well I voted no I would not risk infecting other people, But then I have been on a cruise (actually two) where I have seen first hand what an outbreak looks (and smells) like. Not a pretty picture, too bad the people who knew they were ill did not do the right thing,instead many many people got their illness.

 

[4cruisin]

In all honesty, if I had the remnants of a cold, I would probably board if possible. But, if I had been vomiting and had "other" gastro symptoms in the previous 48 hours, why ruin the cruise for 2300 other people? Besides, the last place I would want to be would be on a cruise ship while sick.

Some people are just very self-centered and do not care.

Nancy

 

[CRSNDSNY]

The last place I would want to be while sick is on a cruise ship. No way. It's too expensive to waste money laying around being ill. That's what trip insurance is for.

 

[MarkRG]

I voted no too. If I was sick I'd report myself.

 

[The4OfUs]

I voted no too - absolutely. if I had the sniffles or a sinus thing or a slight cough from my asthma, that's one thing, but if I was sick and knew it was more than those things, my family would be cruising minus one...I'd feel too selfish any other way personally.

 

[randytenn]

My first cruise was a 4 day land, 3 day cruise. While at the Caribbean Beach Resort, I developed one nasty head cold, due to the air conditioner in the room. I went on the cruise. While it was in no way near a Norwalk type illness, I was pretty puny. However, after one afternoon sleeping by the adult pool in the sun, I felt 100% better.

I would have to agree, though, if I were vomiting and dehydrated, I would probably skip the cruise and cash in on the travel insurance.

 

[Dreamer04]

If I had symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever--I would not want to be on a cruise ship-as I tend to get sea sick.

 

[year2late]

The cruiseship is THE ultimate vehicle for harboring transmissible illness. Because of close quarters would feel personally irresponsible if I risked transmitting it to so many other people.

I would not board with flu like symptoms either. (flu shots don't matter - if you have flu like symptoms it could be a strain not covered by the shot) Suffice it to say that if I had a fever and malaise I would not be boarding.

If I had a cold or sinus infection it would depend on the stage I was in, but I would not withold information from the cruise.

 

[mkandk]

No.

I've been sick--the vomiting, diarrhea kind--on our last two vacations. You couldn't PAY me to do that intentionally.

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by year2late
I would not board with flu like symptoms either. (flu shots don't matter - if you have flu like symptoms it could be a strain not covered by the shot) Suffice it to say that if I had a fever and malaise I would not be boarding.

How RIGHT you are...*sigh* I had the shot in October, and the day after Xmas came down with the flu...as did my son a few days later, also a shot receiver...and it really knocked me on my butt for a long time. I'm still not 100% over it. The shots this year are NO guarantee against the flu - it's supposed to make it last less time and be less intense...if that's the case, I think I might have died had I NOT gotten the shot...



At least I got it over with before I set sail!

 

[jlp651]

Nope. I wouldnt board...neither would BF...we are both in the medical field...and even though we could probably take care of ourselves...we wouldnt be able to take care of all the others we would infect. We come in contact with all sorts of stuff on a day to day basis, so, we have the immune systems of a rock to say the least...but that is still no excuse to infect how many others...

When people entered Ellis Island they were not allowed passage if they had anything infectious...when entering a ship you are entering another world...why contaminate it.

 

[my3kids]

If I was sailing on the Magic on Saturday and one of my family had had an upset stomach at lunch on Thursday, but had been totally fine since that single episode of an upset stomach....would I answer truthfully that for 48 hours no one has had any stomach disturbance? Interesting question. That is a totally different delimma than boarding the ship while sick, in my opinion, yet DCL treats it as the same question........

 

[year2late]

I think although it would be a flag to screeners, you would still be allowed. An upset stomach 48 hours prior has little to do with severe vomiting and diarrhea that can accompany Norwalk virus.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

...because I would generally vote that I would not knowingly get on the ship sick, but those here that know my story might call me a liar, so I'll just not vote and instead, rehash our story.

We were scheduled to drive to Floriday on Saturday to stay at a hotel the night before boarding the Wonder on Sunday for a 4 day cruise.

Wednesday night, our son begins to throw up with a stomic virus. At first, no worry, these things only last 24 hours and we have four days before we board the ship.

Friday night, my wife gets sick followed by me getting sick Saturday morning.

Saturday afternoon, I call DCL and tell them "THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS A STOMIC VIRUS". I ask questions about using the Travel Insurance to just cancel the trip, but AccessAmerica is only available on weekdays for questions. I ask about rescheduling for the following week, but they quote me a price of about $250 (for a trip that initionally costs about $1100, that's about a 20% increase). DCL does NOT say anything about if we come we will be denied passage or placed in quarantien because we've recently been sick.

After getting off the phone, I carefully read the AccessAmerica insurance policy. It seems to indicate the only way I can get a refund is if we visit a doctor and the doctor recomends the trip cancelled. In my attempts to contact doctors, they say they can see me, but are not willing to say they will "recomend we cancel our trip" even if they diagnose a stomic virus.

So by Saturday Night, symtoms have passed enough for us to travel and we decide to drive all night to get to the port on time to catch our cruise.

Sunday morning we are SUPRIZED by the question of "have you had symtoms of illness in the last 72 hours". After all the reasonable steps I took Saturday to avoid being on the ship, having already talked freely about our situation with DCL without any consequences being mentioned, and after driving through the night to get to the ship... well what do you think we did?

 

[CRB#33]

If I had a cold, I would not have a problem getting on the ship. I learned when my children were little not to get all wired up about colds. While you might not feel that great when you have one, you certainly can enjoy your cruise.

If I or any of my family had symptoms of a stomach virus, I would inform them DCL.

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by HooKooDooKu
[BSunday morning we are SUPRIZED by the question of "have you had symtoms of illness in the last 72 hours". After all the reasonable steps I took Saturday to avoid being on the ship, having already talked freely about our situation with DCL without any consequences being mentioned, and after driving through the night to get to the ship... well what do you think we did? [/B]

I hope you did not board the ship as you said yourself everyone in your family had the stomach virus..you would still be contangious........

 

[Bella2000]

The poll determination can be changed by how people define "sick". Sick could mean a cold - which is frankly also contagious but has a different connotation than the Norwalk virus. I can't keep track how many times I have flown with sick people sneezing and hacking on me. Our last trip in Dec I arrived home only to come down with the flu later. SO if I am a betting person I would guess many people would not cancel their trip for a cold, or symptoms that they internally have not determined there to be harm to another. It seems to be accepted and expected that a trip will be continued dependant upon the illness. Try telling your boss you aren't flying because you might infect someone. I am in no way comparing a cold to the Norwalk virus just pointing out I think people define internally what they determine is sick vs. sick.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I hope you did not board the ship as you said yourself everyone in your family had the stomach virus..you would still be contangious........

This issue was previously hashed over in This Post if you want more information.

I just tried to point out a situation where everything was fuzzy as what should be done and DCL was not helping even though we were upfront about illnesses when I tried to get answers.

 

[ppiew]

No, I absolutely would NOT board if myself or anyone in my family were sick.
#1 It is dead WRONG to knowingly infect others.
#2 I sure wouldn't enjoy the vacation if there were illness in our cabin.
#3 It sure would be nice if everyone considered other folks! How would like it if your cabin next door had sick people in it???

That said, I have noticed where many have 'self diagnosed' their discomfort and gone ahead with trip plans anyway - with little or no regard to the other passengers or crew on that particular voyage or the upcoming trips - as this virus DOES stick around.
Bluntly speaking - I think it is selfish, and unjustifiable to possibly harm another individual.