Health warning for Magic 12 day Med

[just drea]

Be sure to take meds for cold/sinus infection, respiratory illness. We caught it just like many others crusing before us, on the 7th and 8 days. I Had to see the ship doctor which cost 252.00. I wasn't real impressed with the visit either. there were many people in the stores looking for medicines, as lots of guests were coughing , getting sick, not even able to sleep.

The staff handed out wet wipes at each restaurant as you enter, first time we'd seen this, so I think they knew the germs were on the ship. My hubby uses oxygen and this type of illness is extremely serious for him. We are both still very sick, have seen our doctors at home, and don't see the end of the tunnel to wellness yet.

The only bright spot for us once sick ,was the room service. Also Disney should buy better quality facial tissues, my nose was so raw, it was just another "pain" to bear.

 

[Love2Cruise]

I was on the June 27th med and developed a sore throat around day 5 followed by some congestion and typical cold symptoms. It was mild compared to other respiratory viruses and I can't really blame it on the ship. I think I most likely got it on the airplane or while touring n Barcelona before the cruise. I did not see a Dr as there was no fever and aside from being tired, I was not uncomfortable, just sneezy and congested for about 3 days. BTW, This was my 7 th DCL cruise and don't recall any cruise where they did not hand out the antibacterial wipes as you enter a dining room. I would recommend packing some cold medicine or decongestants as there are few choices on the ship. I did notice there were a good many people sneezing and coughing on the ship, crew as well as guests.

 

[lilpooh108]

I read it started on the EBTA. We were on the June 1 Med, and we came down with it around day 6. By the time I got home all of us were in varying stages of coughing and 3 of us eventually got sinus infections with coughs lasting about 3 weeks.

 

[disprincess4ever]

On the 3rd day of the cruise (June 27th 12 night) I noticed I had a bit of a sore throat. I came prepared though. Took a few Vitamin C chews; which I alway do when I start to feel sick, and then I felt fine the rest of the time! None of my family got sick for the rest of the cruise. Just bring some hand sanitizer and use it especially when on the plane and in ports, as well as bring some Vitamin C chews! I swear, they work like Magic

 

[Melcatfish]

Be sure to take meds for cold/sinus infection, respiratory illness. We caught it just like many others crusing before us, on the 7th and 8 days. I Had to see the ship doctor which cost 252.00. I wasn't real impressed with the visit either. there were many people in the stores looking for medicines, as lots of guests were coughing , getting sick, not even able to sleep.

The staff handed out wet wipes at each restaurant as you enter, first time we'd seen this, so I think they knew the germs were on the ship. My hubby uses oxygen and this type of illness is extremely serious for him. We are both still very sick, have seen our doctors at home, and don't see the end of the tunnel to wellness yet.

The only bright spot for us once sick ,was the room service. Also Disney should buy better quality facial tissues, my nose was so raw, it was just another "pain" to bear.

This has been standard practice on every DCL cruise for a long time.

Mel
x

 

[mindelmouse]

Be sure to take meds for cold/sinus infection, respiratory illness. We caught it just like many others crusing before us, on the 7th and 8 days. I Had to see the ship doctor which cost 252.00. I wasn't real impressed with the visit either. there were many people in the stores looking for medicines, as lots of guests were coughing , getting sick, not even able to sleep.

The staff handed out wet wipes at each restaurant as you enter, first time we'd seen this, so I think they knew the germs were on the ship. My hubby uses oxygen and this type of illness is extremely serious for him. We are both still very sick, have seen our doctors at home, and don't see the end of the tunnel to wellness yet.

The only bright spot for us once sick ,was the room service. Also Disney should buy better quality facial tissues, my nose was so raw, it was just another "pain" to bear.

We were on the June 15th sailing and all though some had colds didn't see or hear about any widespread outbreaks and as long as I've cruised with DCL (2008) they have always handed out wipes before entering a dining room so I wouldn't use that as support for your conclusion. They are very serious about keeping away viruses. Sorry if you were sick, but I think that can happen anywhere.

 

[just drea]

our first DCL trip was 2000, and I don't remember this bring done, we had not cruised since 2002, and we still can't remember this procedure on our previous 3 cruises.

 

[lilpooh108]

I agree that illness can happen anywhere, but my family doctor also agreed with us that if we had the same symptoms as the people we saw on the ship (same chunky cough, same respiratory issues), we likely got what was going around the ship. Seems like common sense to me.

It also isn't a coincidence that several trip reports mention this exact same illness.

It was more obvious on the cruise if you had kids--- all of the Lab-age kids had it, and they were passing it around to each other.

 

[Deb in IA]

Be sure to take meds for cold/sinus infection, respiratory illness. We caught it just like many others crusing before us, on the 7th and 8 days. I Had to see the ship doctor which cost 252.00. I wasn't real impressed with the visit either. there were many people in the stores looking for medicines, as lots of guests were coughing , getting sick, not even able to sleep.

The staff handed out wet wipes at each restaurant as you enter, first time we'd seen this, so I think they knew the germs were on the ship. My hubby uses oxygen and this type of illness is extremely serious for him. We are both still very sick, have seen our doctors at home, and don't see the end of the tunnel to wellness yet.

The only bright spot for us once sick ,was the room service. Also Disney should buy better quality facial tissues, my nose was so raw, it was just another "pain" to bear.

Sorry you got sick - it is sure not fun when you have planned so long for a cruise.

The hand wipes have been used for at least the last 3 - 4 years, possibly longer. I think it was started after the norovirus outbreaks several years ago.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that not all viruses are killed by alcohol-based wipes/hand sanitizers, and that you should wash your hands with soap and water as well.

As for the doctor, well, there is not really much to do for most viral illnesses. What did you want him/her to do?
Your cost may be covered by your health insurance - have you contacted them?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Also Disney should buy better quality facial tissues, my nose was so raw, it was just another "pain" to bear.

I agree. After coming down with the sniffles on one cruise, I always bring my own kleenex on my DCL cruises. Theirs is like sandpaper.

 

[LyndaC]

I was on the June 27th 12 night Med Cruise. While it's a small sample, neither my husband nor I contracted anything on the ship. As a previous poster has mentioned, it's standard throughout the cruise industry to enforce hand disinfection upon entering the dining rooms. Started after the Norovirus waves a few years ago.

And honestly, the DCL tissue is way better than any you'd get in a hospital. I used to tell my patients that the tissue there doubled as sandpaper.

Any time you're spending time with a lot of people in an enclosed space, you're likely to come down with a new bug, it's always a good idea to be prepared.

 

[feelthenspeak]

We were on the June 15th sailing and all though some had colds didn't see or hear about any widespread outbreaks and as long as I've cruised with DCL (2008) they have always handed out wipes before entenegativelining room so I wouldn't use that as support for your conclusion. They are very serious about keeping away viruses. Sorry if you were sick, but I think that can happen anywhere.

What do you mean it can happen anywhere? i'm sure the op understands that. Why is it that some dis posters are so quick to defend disney as if they have to discredit anything that happens to someone that might possibly reflect negatively on Disney? ...I'm not trying to take over the thread, sorry...this just really bugs me about this board.

 

[Melcatfish]

What do you mean it can happen anywhere? i'm sure the op understands that. Why is it that some dis posters are so quick to defend disney as if they have to discredit anything that happens to someone that might possibly reflect negatively on Disney? ...I'm not trying to take over the thread, sorry...this just really bugs me about this board.

Well the OP specifically called it a health warning for the Med cruise. I suspect the PP is merely pointing out that this is not specific to those cruises, to Disney cruises or infact any cruises. A cruise ship will of course offer a great breeding ground for viral illness with so many people confined in one space and everyone needs to be aware of this but I would suggest that the poster who you are taking issue with is not just defending Disney but trying to offer a more balanced perspective about your chances of getting a viral illness if you choose a vacation which includes air travel or accommodations in close quarters with others. This illness has everything to do with that and precious little to do with the location of the cruise or the company operating it.

Mel
x

 

[gydell]

We were on the same cruise with no problems for us. I think more germs are on the planes than the ship.

 

[Stimpy]

We were on the July 13th Med cruise and we didn't notice anything out of the ordinary except our server got a cold and was out for two nights. The plane ride over to Barcelona, it seemed half the plane was hacking away and I was panicking that my kids or I would catch something! They never did and we were all fine the whole trip. Considering I seem to catch things very easily and have asthma, I was very grateful for that. (My kids have great immune systems, thankfully, but I just didn't want them sick and whiny just in case LOL)

The wipes have been given out before entering any restaurants for at least 5-6 years now. They were doing it way before our Baltic cruise and have been doing it every cruise since. It's been a family joke, my kids want me to do it in the kitchen at home

I'm not saying it wasn't possible that the OP didn't get sick on board, but I don't think it's necessary to cause a panic either. I'm sorry you got sick but I really can't see how it's DCLs fault. Things just happen sometimes.

 

[just drea]

my only purpose in my post was to suggest taking meds for illnesses on your cruises. The European especially because there aren't any Walgreen's in the port towns. I didn't want to be negative toward Disney. With the exposure in all the public spaces (airports, planes, restaurants) as well as the fatigue that 12 hours of travel can bring.....the odds of catching something are indeed high.

I do wash my hands frequently with soap and water, and I consciously avoid even using my hands in public places if possible. My receipts went to my insurance company as well.

 

[jennorthernireland]

my only purpose in my post was to suggest taking meds for illnesses on your cruises. The European especially because there aren't any Walgreen's in the port towns. I didn't want to be negative toward Disney. With the exposure in all the public spaces (airports, planes, restaurants) as well as the fatigue that 12 hours of travel can bring.....the odds of catching something are indeed high.

I do wash my hands frequently with soap and water, and I consciously avoid even using my hands in public places if possible. My receipts went to my insurance company as well.

Thank you for the suggestion! Our upcoming trip on the Magic will be our first ever cruise and I hadn't thought to bring decongestants before reading this, but it does make sense to do so. My husband tends to have sinus pain when he catches a cold, so I will definitely add some decongestants to my mini first aid kit. I am going to have to have a good think now about anything else I should be packing!