Disney Just Called Concerning Sickness (Thanksgiving Cruise)

[DisneyDarwin]

We too are packed and leave in 7 hours. I intend to report live from the Magic, although I suspect those not on the ship may have better information --- I'm sure if people get sick they won't be advertising it on board. But, I will be able to report how late we leave, the flurry of activity, etc. Like others, we'll be extra cautious. I'm more concerned with practical matters like when we will be allowed to board, when will the ship leave port, how will the ressie shuffle be impacted, will they suspend deliveries (Shirley?) etc. I don't look forward to sitting around the cruise terminal for hours, but will gladly do so without complaint if they need the time to clean. Notwithstanding my concerns, I've got a good book and a good attitude (like I'm really working at work this morning!) and I can roll with whatever comes.

McNuss and Pagemaker, sent y'all e-mails yesterday, have your DDs call mine once you're on board and settled. Cabin 7128.

 

[normr]

Contagious stomach virus strikes 100 aboard Disney ship



RELATED

• Holland America Line_

• Disney Cruise Line_





PORT CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- About 100 passengers on a Disney cruise ship contracted a contagious stomach virus, shortly after more than 500 people on another cruise ship came down with a similar illness, Disney officials said Thursday.

Passengers and crew members on the Disney Cruise Line ship Magic became ill Wednesday. The ship departed November 17 from Port Canaveral with 3,200 people on board and returns Saturday.

Disney will clean and disinfect the ship at sea, spokesman Mark Jaronski said. Disney's terminal and other locations also will be cleaned.

Sick passengers will be offered compensation. There are no plans to cancel any scheduled cruises aboard the Magic, he said.

Disney made its announcement the same day that Holland America's cruise ship Amsterdam returned to port for a stem-to-stern scouring after more than 500 people on its last four voyages became sick.

The ship had been scheduled to leave on a 10-day Caribbean cruise Thursday, but the voyage was canceled so the vessel could be sanitized.

After the latest passengers disembarked, 573 crew members began cleaning the ship, emptying garbage cans and wiping down remote controls, clock radios, even Bibles. During the next 10 days, crew members will replace 2,500 pillows and dry-clean, steam-clean and disinfect every surface aboard the ship, which is 780 feet long and has 690 staterooms.

The Holland America cruise line said that during the ship's just-completed 10-day voyage, 58 passengers and 18 crew members developed symptoms associated with the Norwalk virus. Eighty-seven of the 1,305 passengers left the ship at various ports in the Caribbean and were flown home.

In all, 454 passengers and 70 crew members have become sick within the past month during four successive voyages aboard the Amsterdam. The virus, spread through food and water and close contact with infected people or things they have touched, can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting.

The cruise line had spent more than 10 hours scrubbing the Amsterdam with a chlorine solution before it departed on its latest voyage.

On the cruise, passengers were barred from serving themselves at buffets or touching any food or drinks but their own.

"They were cleaning all the time. You'd see people and then they would not be there for dinner, so you knew they got sick," said Lori Druckeroff, a Boynton Beach retiree.

The cruise line is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Holland America Line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

 

[normr]

Hopefully most of you have probably read by now that Holland America has had this problem for a number of cruises and tried taking steps before this last cruise to disinfect the ship between cruises, but it apparently wasn't enough. People have continued to get sick on their last cruise and now they have cancelled the next cruise to hopfully get it corrected.

Now it looks like Disney may be suffering from a similar problem, the last time Disney had a problem like this, they figured it out, it came from food which was served at Port Canaveral

 

[ppiew]

Sure wish I were in Fla. right now - I would be looking for a last minute deal to go on the cruise!! It is not like no one ever got sick on their vacation before! The high standards that DCL adheres to is enough for me. At least maybe their won't be all the hoopla about whether non potty trained kids can use the Mickey pool anymore. Sorry I am somewhat negative about the reactions to this, I don't like to see anyone get sick, but neither do I like to see people use this as an excuse to get 'something for nothing.' I am supremely confident DCL will do EVERYTHING humanly possible to correct whatever problems there are - but nobody can guarantee everything. Life and living it always poses some risk.

 

[ducklite]

This is probably the same bug that has been making the rounds at WDW for the past three weeks. It's a 24-48 hour virus. I had it here in NJ back in mid to late October.

Anne

 

[maleficent1959]

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but there are similarities between HAL and DCL in this instance. Yes, it was more widespread in terms of numbers on HAL, but it was over successive cruises (all on the Amsterdam). On the last Amsterdam cruise , they had 76 sick people (58 passengers and 18 crew members) which is less than the 100 the Magic is currently reporting.

Instead of complaining that the media has blown the HAL problem out of proportion, you should be thankful that they brought attention to the problem. Maybe 500 people won't have to get sick on the Magic before DCL does a proper disinfection or determines the root cause of the illness.

 

[ChiTwnFam]

We were on the November 9 - 16th Western Carribbean Magic cruise. There was no talk of a virus spreading at that time but our server and assistant server both got sick. Each missed a single day of work and were back to work the very next day. Each were in close contact with our kids and were handling our food but none of us got sick and feel fine to this day. Lucky? Maybe. But it seems to back the theory of a 24 hour virus rather than the same virus on the Holland ship.

 

[dis4me]

Chi twn fam We were on that cruise also. Although we did not encounter any sick people I was concerned so I asked our pediatrician today. He said to keep an eye out it doesn't habe to be after immediate exposure and it is sudden onset.

 

[vbfamily]

I think this is more than the flu-there is a good chance this is the same thing that plagued HAL.

I'm sure Disney is trying everything they can, but I would still be concerned especially if I have infants or young children, or pregant or have a weekened immune system from Chemotherapy or something.

The Orlando Sentinal said Disney was cleaning the ship while it was out at sea???? If one infected person goes to the bathroom and doesn't properly wash his/her hands doesn't that just start the cycle all over again? How do you clean a ship with sick people on it? Where do all the contaminted water/cleaning cloths, etc. go?

 

[dianedisney]

Whenever you have that many people in a confined space any illness will be more threatening. How many time has anyone flown on an airplane and gotten a cold or sniffles? Last winter when I flew to Fairbanks Alaska the man sitting next to me was constantly blowing his nose and had a really gross cough. I just kept my head turned away from him and turn my air blower in his direction and dared him to say anything. How many people get "Montezumas Revenge" in Mexico when they vacation there? The best advise is like the travel expert said on the morning show....buy independent travel insurance. You may cringe at the cost but if you do get sick or have to use it for any reason you will be really glad you got it. I always insure any trip I take whether it is a short DLR vacation or a huge Hawaii one. Knock on wood I have never had to use it but I am always glad I have it as a back up just in case. I will be cruising the Magic on January 11, 2003 come rain or shine.

 

[mcnuss]

Cruising Health Risks Declining, Acc. to CDC

In recent months, media coverage of illness on board cruise
ships has created for some the impression that there has
been in increase in health risks for cruisers. Not so, says
an epidemiologist from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in a story in today's USA Today
< http://www.usatoday.com/travel/vacations/destinations/2002/2002-11-22-sick-cruise.htm
>.
In fact, says Elaine Cramer of the CDC, "We've seen a
decline in the relative number of gastroenteritis outbreaks
since 1990." The fact that there are now more ships
carrying more passengers, combined with increased media
attention, has raised public awareness of illness on cruise
ships. The reality is that the likelihood of getting a
virus on a cruise has decreased.

Here are some ideas for talking to your clients about
cruise health:

-- When speaking to potential cruisers, be honest about the
health risks. Like any other activity, there are potential
hazards. Realistically, the hazards of cruising are in no
way extreme or out of proportion with the risks of everyday
activities like driving a car or riding a bike.

-- Show them the 11/22/02 USA Today story, "Despite
illness, ships don't harbor more germs."

-- Explain that the CDC carefully monitors illness on
cruise ships with a surveillance system implemented in 2000
that enables them to track any on-board illnesses closely.

-- Cruise lines work closely with the CDC to address any
health issues that come up. Most recently, Holland America
Line cancelled a sailing of the Amsterdam in order to
contain the virus and clean the ship.

-- The CDC has seen a decrease in per-passenger sickness
since 1990.

 

[suwoogie]

I was on the Wonder from Nov. 14-17. I was pretty sick last night and another person in our party was sick two days ago. I'm not sure it's from the ship or not but wooo, I don't want that again!!

 

[Redhead01]

The flu is going around everywhere. My neice brough a note home from school on Thursday that due to so many illness's..over 1/2 the school out sick, plus many staff members...that today (Friday) was going to be a School Improvement day...basically meaning there would be no school.

 

[Thumper1]

Here in Las Vegas, Nevada, a couple of weeks ago my husband had what he thought was food poisoning and had Monteczuma's revenge. A couple of days later I was having problems at both ends. I told him that I didn't think he had food poisoning. I think that the stomach flu is going throughout the country.

Last year when I was on the Magic I got the flu - a bad cough, chest and head cold and I felt like I was hit by a sledgehammer. Unfortunately we still had a week to go at WDW. It turned into bronchitis and lasted quite a while. That was a lot of fun. A couple of fellow cruisers on the Dis boards said that they had come down with the same symptoms.

People pass germs to each other. I think the Magic is doing the best they can to take care of the problem and unfortunately the good-old-press is making the most of it. The press love to make mounds out of molehills. How else are they going to sell papers?

We're going on the Magic in two weeks and no matter what happens we're determined to have a great time.

 

[ThreeCircles]

I have a great deal of confidence in Disney and am not worried at all about the outbreak. As others have mentioned, 100 people on a ship that holds several thousand is not a significant percentage. It sounds as if Disney is going to do everything possible to stop this thing in its tracks.

As for me, on with the cruise!

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi gang,

Though it's the Wonder I will be sailing on in a week, I would still go if it were the Magic. Just keep in mind that this is a common problem and that if everyone parctices good hygene you'll have less of a chance of contracting the virsus.

*Get your flu shot....( I did before we cruised earlier this month, that way you know you can rule that out if you do get sick).

*wash your hands after using the bathroom and through out the day as well. (think of all the places you touch that everyone esle touches as well and when you add in all those other countries too who's hygene practices maybe different than ours...yuck.)

* MAKE your kids wash not only their hands but faces as much as possiable, (think of how many times they wipe their noses on their sleeves etc.)

*Besure you are PROPERLY washing your hands. The Oprah show did a whole show on how many people inproperly washed their hands and even timed them in the bathroom. Did you know that you should wash your hands long enough to go through the WHOLE rendition of the song 'Happy Birthday' before you even rinsing?

Just use common sense guys and good hygene and you'll have a wonderful cruise....as for everyone else who is already sick (including the cast and crew of the Magic) I hope ya'll get better soon....

Mmketeer

 

[mmouse37]

It is amazing how the news gives out such misinformation. They just report on our local Channel 2 CBS station here in New York that the Disney Magic had to cut its cruise short and return to Port early. They said it sailed on Sunday and is coming back to Port Canaveral (Sat) one day early.

They also said the Amsterdam is in Port in Port Canaveral. They should at least get the info correct!!!

MJ

 

[Buschfan]

It would help if DCL had information on their site in regards to this matter. Getting information from third parties like the media and posters here is only making the facts harder to come by.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello everyone - this is Shirley from The Perfect Gift - I would like to share some things with each of you - first I spoke to Disney today and the Magic will sail tomorrow - on the news tonight it was announced that the health officials will be there as soon as the Magic comes in for a full inspection AND speak to as many of those that took sick - the ship is to be fully cleaned and sanatized and will have the record of being the healthest on the sea - I sincerely believe that Disney will keep their word on this since they are health conscience for most part - Now we have had a lot of problems with the red tide also here in Brevard County - it has cleared up now so that is behind us - it was announced that out of 2500 cruisers, 100 took sick, but to be that sick and on sea - ugh ----from what I understand credit will be issued for all of those that took sick ---I just pray they all get home well and feeling better ---Now for just the record, I want those who order baskets from us, we take every precaution to make sure everything is perfect to including wearing gloves with while making our baskets or handling the flowers - we pass the health board with perfect record each time the inspectors come to the shop.
Anyhow just thought I would share with those that leave tomorrow -other than it being cooler here - everything should go without a hitch.
Thoughts go with each and all
Always
shirley

 

[CathyCanada]

Thanks for sharing that info, Shirley! Having been the recipient and the giver of some of your beautiful baskets, I have no doubt that what you and your staff does is first-rate!

I have no doubt that DCL will do their best to clean up the ship properly and make things right, because they can't afford not to. I agree that folks who had family members that were ill should be offered compensation, but not others. While it may have been a "downer" to be on the ship with that illness, as others have said on other threads here, that is the chance you take. I know many disappointed people on other cruises who were not able to go to Castaway Cay either, but the one thing Disney hasn't learned to control (yet) is the weather.

I would also agree with others that say to take all precautions you can with hand washing and use Purell often and try to enjoy your cruise! I know I would!
Cathy