Cleanest Ships in the Biz

[Barbara Rhines]

I don't think Disney would have a big problem with a breakout. I constantly see and smell cleaners cleaning everything on the ship! I love it. They also change the serving spoons at the buffets every few minutes and pass out wipes on the way in and out. Only cruise with Disney.

 

[Vovin]

Agreed, they wouldn't consistently get high USPH scores if they didn't do a good job. I've seen numerous 100% scores.

Also the crew get recognition if the ship does well. A party or high end food for a day.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I don't think Disney would have a big problem with a breakout. I constantly see and smell cleaners cleaning everything on the ship! I love it. They also change the serving spoons at the buffets every few minutes and pass out wipes on the way in and out. Only cruise with Disney.

I think the cases from the Wonder prove that no cruiseline is immune from having an outbreak of the coronavirus on the ship. It doesn't matter if surfaces are disinfected frequently or spoons changed out. The person in the theater chair next to you can be an asymptomatic carrier and spread the virus to you by talking, or even just breathing, in your vicinity.

 

[KashasMom]

I've frequently read about people being sick on or after Disney cruises. I believe Disney has had a lot of (unreported) cases of norovirus. Yes, they may clean a lot - and ALL cruises I've been on have either wipes or actual sinks and soap at the entrance to the buffet. What I HAVE seen on Disney is plenty of people filling up their personal "bottles" at the soda stations with their bottles touching the dispenser, which is so gross. And of course, lots of kids touching/taking food and putting it back at the buffet. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean those things don't happen. I know many people like to think that though.

As far as Covid-19, cleaning the ship has little to do with it. They can't clean every single surface every time someone touches it.

 

[o&smom]

This virus does not care about excessive cleaning. The crew on the WBPC cruise were constantly cleaning-even more than usual. My husband and I commented more than once on the people assigned to clean the stair railings. ALL day long they cleaned the railing from deck one to the top, and when they they got to the top, they turned around and went back down to deck one cleaning the railings. We appreciated them so much, but thought that must be so monotonous, especially on a 13/14 day cruise.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The CDC's concerns with cruise ships (and seagoing vessels in general) is more about the lack of distancing. Crew quarters are small and tightly packed. Crew mess is small and tightly packed. Heck, MDRs are tightly packed, and that is the guest space. Going two abreast in hallways is a challenge.

I keep saying this, but you think the Roosevelt was unclean? An aircraft carrier on a peacetime journey is ultra clean. Yet 25% of the sailors tested positive. It is because of the close proximity.

 

[MomOTwins]

Completely agree that person to person airborne transmission is the real threat, not surfaces.

But I do think its funny to pretend DCL is spotless. Sure kids wash their hands at the kids club entrance but then stick their fingers in their mouth or nose and touch all those touchscreens and buttons. I also have seen a lot of people turn down wipes at the mdr or walk past handwashing stations at cabanas. And the pools are kid stew, usually with at least one baby obviously too young to be potty trained. Plus people keep taking plates of food everywhere and spilling or leaving plates of half eaten food on the floor. And I agree refilling cups is gross.

DCL may exercise good cleanliness standards, but that means nothing if guests are slobs.

 

[hrhdhd]

According to Business Insider, approx. 16 ships received perfect scores during their last CDC inspections. Clearly more ships than Disney's have excellent sanitation.

 

[bbel]

Well, the fantasy only got 94 on their last inspection... (even carnival ships were getting better scores than that )
While it's a pass for CDC, Disney themselves consider anything under 95 a fail...

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

This virus does not care about excessive cleaning.

Cleaning is actually very important. One of the main ways the virus spreads is via people touching contaminated surfaces, and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose. People can also contract it by breathing in droplets, which is why cleaning is not all it takes to stop spread, but cleaning is important. Infected droplets last much longer on surfaces (days) than they do in the air (hours). The small outbreak on the Wonder undoubtedly would have been much worse without excellent sanitation procedures.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Well, the fantasy only got 94 on their last inspection... (even carnival ships were getting better scores than that )
While it's a pass for CDC, Disney themselves consider anything under 95 a fail...

Every Disney ship has received 100% scores at least 3 times out of the past five years, with the very lowest score in that period being the Fantasy's 94 in 2019 (Dream & Wonder were 100, Magic was 96).

Meanwhile, the Carnival's Fantasy ship received a failing score of 77. None of the 18 ships that got 100% in 2019 were Carnival ships, even though they have a massive fleet.

So to suggest that Carnival's sanitation is better than Disney's is misleading, to say the least.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But, again. Sanitation isn't really the only issue on a ship. It is all about the proximity.

 

[o&smom]

Cleaning is actually very important. One of the main ways the virus spreads is via people touching contaminated surfaces, and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose. People can also contract it by breathing in droplets, which is why cleaning is not all it takes to stop spread, but cleaning is important. Infected droplets last much longer on surfaces (days) than they do in the air (hours). The small outbreak on the Wonder undoubtedly would have been much worse without excellent sanitation procedures.

I did not say that cleaning is not important, I said that the virus does not care about excessive cleaning. The crew on the WBPC cruise were constantly cleaning. It was very noticeable that it was even way beyond the normal amazing job of cleaning that they do to keep us all safe and mitigate infections. Even with all of that many people were infected with Covid 19 while on the cruise. My point was to people who have been posting that because of Disney’ cleanliness it will not allow Covid 19 to spread on the ships. Unfortunately, that is just not true.

 

[bbel]

Every Disney ship has received 100% scores at least 3 times out of the past five years, with the very lowest score in that period being the Fantasy's 94 in 2019 (Dream & Wonder were 100, Magic was 96).

Meanwhile, the Carnival's Fantasy ship received a failing score of 77. None of the 18 ships that got 100% in 2019 were Carnival ships, even though they have a massive fleet.

So to suggest that Carnival's sanitation is better than Disney's is misleading, to say the least.

Thing is, if they really were the holy grail of sanitation as a lot of people try to argue, then all 4 ships should of gotten scores of 100 5 times in the last five years.

Fact is, there are a lot of ships out there that are just as good and/or better.

Btw - only added the C word for the predictable response

 

[starvenger]

I agree with most people here. Correlation does not imply causation.

Don't assume that because a ship has a high CDC rating, you'll be immune to whatever viruses are running around. It's a good data point to look at, and certainly something for cruise lines to parrot in a press release, but sometimes, you just get sick and a crew member constantly wiping down a handrail won't necessarily prevent that.

 

[mevelandry]

I don't think Disney would have a big problem with a breakout. I constantly see and smell cleaners cleaning everything on the ship! I love it. They also change the serving spoons at the buffets every few minutes and pass out wipes on the way in and out. Only cruise with Disney.

They have had great scores during the CDC inspections which is always reassuring.

However, like other cruise lines, DCL have had norovirus outbreaks in the past.

It’s important to know that the « risk zero » doesn’t exist.

(What happens right now is going to change the cruising world forever. It’s going to be interesting to see what is done.)

 

[mevelandry]

I've frequently read about people being sick on or after Disney cruises. I believe Disney has had a lot of (unreported) cases of norovirus. Yes, they may clean a lot - and ALL cruises I've been on have either wipes or actual sinks and soap at the entrance to the buffet. What I HAVE seen on Disney is plenty of people filling up their personal "bottles" at the soda stations with their bottles touching the dispenser, which is so gross. And of course, lots of kids touching/taking food and putting it back at the buffet. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean those things don't happen. I know many people like to think that though.

As far as Covid-19, cleaning the ship has little to do with it. They can't clean every single surface every time someone touches it.

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen tons of people refusing to wash their hands before entering Cabanas and as long as self-serve ice cream and soda exist, it’s never going to be completely safe from catching anything really.

 

[mevelandry]

Well, the fantasy only got 94 on their last inspection... (even carnival ships were getting better scores than that )
While it's a pass for CDC, Disney themselves consider anything under 95 a fail...

I think 95 or more is a great goal considering a note below 85 is considered a « fail ». The CDC should make 95 the norm.

p.s.: I’ve sailed on the Carnival Victory right after she had received a score of 100.

 

[cgolf]

I have now been on 3 lines and all were equally as clean and the workers doing the cleaning seemed to be equal amount. It seemed all 3 lines had a similar work pattern. That isn't to say other lines are at the same level as the 3 I have sailed to date.

Over the years I have read about Noro outbreaks on DCL ships on this board, that were never reported, perhaps they didn't have the right % to have to report.

 

[bumbershoot]

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen tons of people refusing to wash their hands before entering Cabanas

If I have just been in the restroom, washed my hands, opened the door with a paper towel, pushed the elevator button with an elbow, and touched nothing else, why would I need to wash them again?

And if I touch something that is germy while getting food, I can then control my actual exposure by *not putting my hands to my mucous membranes*. No finger food. Just utensils being used. No fingernail biting. That way o keep myself safe from a germy surface. (And so can others)