Cruise ship health on PrimeTime live

[LissafromSJ]

Man, that one guy REALLY got around, didn't he? Not only is he quite creative, but obviously money isn't a problem for him, because he cruises on several different cruise lines throughout the year. Oh well. Sounds like a guy who probably doesn't have kids, so I'm not too worried about him taking a trip on DCL. Melissa

 

[Asil65]

That show was gross. I still don't get the ice cube tray . Yuck. We will definitely bring some wipes and purex with us. I wish hotels and cruise ships would wash the bedspreads more often. Ick.

 

[pdarrah]

I didn't see this show, but I've seen the same type of thing about hotels. The bedspread thing isn't that bad on the cruise - It is only on the bed during the day and I never sit on the bed unless I am fully dressed. At night our stateroom host removed it and put it away in the cupboard so I wasn't sleeping with it.

I agree that we would probably find a lot of GROSS if we tested our own homes. When traveling, we wash our hands many, many times per day and just try not to dwell on "gross".

I'm still trying to figure out how cherry yogurt got on my family room ceiling

My DS5 loves yogurt and I am constantly finding it in the strangest places even though I have him eat his snacks at his kid table - I don't know how, but there is yogurt on the floor, the couch, the walls, the drapes, .... ! It is a real pain to clean up.

Oh yes - the cleaning the bedspreads isn't just a logistical problem, it is also a wear&tear problem. If they laundered them every week they would wear out MUCH quicker and they are expensive. At WDW I have been on the backstage tour that visited the laundry and they told us the resort bedspreads are laundered once per month. I guess one question is does the laundering remove all traces of this stuff or are there always some residual bits remaining? If residual bits don't clean up, any of us with kids probably would not do well since I am sure "yucky stuff" got on a LOT of things before and during potty training!

pdarrah

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I am what some consider to be a bit of a neat and clean freak, but I'm sure if someone brought a blacklight into my home I'd be pretty grossed out too. What they found with a blacklight in hotels and cruise ships they will find in the homes of every one of us. Unless we hosed ourselves down with chemicals and walked around every day in a haz mat suit, we are all germ and yuck carriers. It's impossible to sanitize the world. And stay away from antibacterial stuff. According to the American Medical Association, they do more harm than good by making germs more resistant. And the CDC says they aren't necessary. Simple hand washing with regular soap and avoiding putting your hands into your mouth will protect you enough. (after learning about how dirty our hands can be after touching everyday things I quickly ended my nail biting habit!).

As for when I stay in a hotel or such, we don't use the bedspreads anyway, and I try to bring my own pillows if I can.

 

[LCTsMom]

I can't believe that some kind of spray hasn't been invented that would kill germs and viruses (but not humans or animals) on contact for fabric and other porous surfaces. I have a friend who actually just got back from cleaning a cruise ship (not Disney) because of the Norwalk virus problem. They have quite a system to disinfect everything...yet from what I am hearing from this TV show, it must not be that effective. For most of us, I guess it's more of being grossed out than getting ill from the germs left behind. Yuck!

 

[suesings]

I watched the show last night. I wasn't surprised by the blanket or bedspread, but I was surprised by the ice tray, walls and fridgerator. Some people are quite odd obviously

I think I will bring some wipes with for the cold box and ice bucket just in case

Sue

 

[budwmn]

One way to solve the bedspread problem is to do what many major hotels are doing: get rid of them! Instead, use a comforter with washable duvet cover.

Also, I didn't see the show, but did they identify the "bodily fluid" in the ice tray? Isn't mucus considered a bodily fluid? In that case, all you would have to do is sneeze on something to make it show up with a black light. Still gross, but more understandable than the alternatives.

After reading this thread, I feel like I need a shower!

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Gross as it is....no they identified it as either semen or urine......that was what they found on all the odd surfaces.

On the ice bucket tray?????????? EWWWWWW

 

[budwmn]

Gross as it is....no they identified it as either semen or urine......that was what they found on all the odd surfaces.

On the ice bucket tray?????????? EWWWWWW

I'm really grossed out now. That is just scary!

 

[inkkognito]

I agree with Lissa...I originally bought my black light to check out my house because we got a new cat who I caught whizzing on the rug. I said I was going to bring it on the ship as a joke, and so many people were interested that I did bring it on one of my cruises. Believe me, that stateroom was WAY cleaner than my house! No matter how well we thought we cleaned the cat barf, it showed up in our house under that light. In contract, the sleeping area of the stateroom was clean, and there was one tiny stain in an out of the way place in the bathroom. Even the carpet was clean...all that showed up was some grains of sand.
Barb

 

[DrBob]

Don't forget the most common source of pathogens, our fellow passengers! I read someting recently that said a third of all people don't routinely wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

On Crystal last year, the Captain wouldn't shake hands, not even at the reception. Not a bad idea.

 

[anlashokna]

Caught some of it. Not surprised..but all I can say is ICK!

 

[jdm]

Soooo, that's why you were tagged "black light Barb!" (Ikkognito). I had a whole different thought process going on there!

Jenn

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I guess I will add a containor of lysol wipes to my list of things to pack on my next vacation to wipe down remotes and door handles!


Use Purell and wash your hands!!!

Hey Purell has come out with a new product. They have attached a carring device to the small bottles of Purell. Which you can loop through a belt loop or on to a purse handle making Purell more accessible to use. I even attached one to my husband brief case since he takes public transportation to work. We also used them on our recent cruise.

You can never be to carefull.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Gross as it is....no they identified it as either semen or urine......that was what they found on all the odd surfaces.

On the ice bucket tray?????????? EWWWWWW

You can only assume that someone was probably in the bathroom and didn't wash their hands thoroughly, then came out and went for a drink with ice.

I wish more people would wash their hands more thoroughly. It happens all the time in everyday life and on cruises --> I observe people either not washing their hands at all after using the restroom or just grazing them under the water. That is so unsanitary! No wonder people get sick!

 

[LissafromSJ]

I guess the moral of the story is that when you go on a ship, you're bound to find some sea-men. (I'm sorry. I tried to control myself!) Melissa

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I guess the moral of the story is that when you go on a ship, you're bound to find some sea-men. (I'm sorry. I tried to control myself!) Melissa

LOL! Oh, that was left SO WIDE OPEN FOR YOU!!! I can't blame you! LOL

 

[6griswolds]

I missed the show, but it's funny this was on. My DH and I were just talking about this the other day. I know darn well they do NOT wash the comforters everyday. I know they can get down right disgusting. I am bringing some of my own blankets. I'm sure the filth is everywhere. Just visit your neighborhood Taco Bell.

 

[sasser05]

We always pack one suitcase of all bedding 2 blankets 2 top sheets and our own pillowcases, people say we are crazy, but at least I know I am sleeping on clean bedding. We also bring lysol spray and wipes to clean up the rest of the room so we dont have to wonder.
Jennifer

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Wow! I always pack my own pillow...but that has just been for the "softie" factor...it is iterally my childhood security "lovie." I think on my next cruise I might just ask the steward to just pack away the bedspreads and that should take care of most of the soft contamination. A spray of lysol will kill the germs on the hard surfaces, now that we know which areas that amore leaves its evidence. I still cannot get over semen on the ice bucket!