Illness on Wonder

[atm55]

Scary stuff! I'm travelling with my granddaughter in 6 weeks. Considering asking her pediatrician if there is any meds I should bring with in case she comes down with a virus. Any suggestions?

 

[suzyqn]

Sorry to hear about all the illness.

My strategy before the cruise was to keep my children away from everyone for about 4 days before the cruise. We did not go to church and we did not have any playdates the week before.

I realize that school aged children can't do this but it made me feel better because I was so stressed about them being sick for the cruise.

Once we are on, you can only do so much but I plan to sanitize the heck out of everything like we did last time.

 

[outahere]

Scary stuff! I'm travelling with my granddaughter in 6 weeks. Considering asking her pediatrician if there is any meds I should bring with in case she comes down with a virus. Any suggestions?

You might want to ask about anti-nausea meds. The only problem would be keeping it down long enough for it to work. When my son was sick, the nurse on board had to give him an injection to stop the nausea. There is really not much else you can do for a virus, since viruses do not respond to antibiotics.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Not the news I want to hear! We leave on the Wonder on 1/31 for 4 day sail. Will definitely pack the cleaning items. Maybe I will throw in some stomach upset type meds. Better start loading up on vitamin C as well.

Please keep us posted!

I am overwhelmed by what plan/company/policy of trip insurance to buy. Any suggestions? What do I look for to get reimbursed should we get sick on board?

We sail on 1/31 also guess I will be stocking up to.

 

[TKH]

After all 4 in our family getting sick last time...we learned that Purell and antibacterial wipes do little to help against the illnesses spread on-board. Our doc told us to bring the real stuff next time...antibacterial soap...and watch out for the sandy beaches. A few dirty diapers in the sand can spread illnesses quickly to the next kiddo in the sand. Still use the wipes, but use soap as well.

 

[Zookeeperof4]

When we went to WDW in Nov we took the antibacterial sanitizers...I wish we had thought to bring the sprays and wipes....mostly wipes. None of us had gotten sick thankfully but my kids are always looking for reasons to brush teeth and wash hands. I am the one in the public restrooms who says dont touch anything or wash your hands in here, its to germy. People look at me like I have three heads. Im sorry but rinsing your hands under running water and shaking them dry is not washing them....
I take our chances with the Germ-X or Purell.

 

[natale1980]

we got off the wonder on the 14th and we are all in bed fighting for a chance to use the bathroom. We have to be out of our room in two hours.
This will be a fun flight home for all of us.

-nat

 

[andrewsmommy]

we got off the wonder on the 14th and we are all in bed fighting for a chance to use the bathroom. We have to be out of our room in two hours.
This will be a fun flight home for all of us.

-nat

Oh No! You poor thing! At least you got to Castaway Cay this time!

 

[taswira]

After all 4 in our family getting sick last time...we learned that Purell and antibacterial wipes do little to help against the illnesses spread on-board. Our doc told us to bring the real stuff next time...antibacterial soap...and watch out for the sandy beaches. A few dirty diapers in the sand can spread illnesses quickly to the next kiddo in the sand. Still use the wipes, but use soap as well.

I have ALWAYS used antibacterial wipes AND Purell and in my dozen DCL cruises have never been sick. They are at least 99% effective provided they are properly used. When using Purell or other gel, the correct method is to use a sufficient amount and to apply to all surfaces of your hands, front, back and between fingers, by rubbing them together as though you were washing your hands. Keep rubbing until your hands are completely dry. Antibacterial gels are ineffective unless applied in this manner. Few people take the time, which is one reason doctors say to use antibacterial soap instead. Yet as someone else pointed out, not many people thoroughly wash their hands with soap either, unfortunately.

 

[tink&cinderella]

We were also on the Wonder from Jan 10-14 but didn't have or experience any illness in our group. We were also on the Magic Dec 12-19 and there was one very noticable change between the two sailings. On the Wonder cruise this week, you weren't allowed to serve yourself from any of the buffets, or from the drink station during the day. They even had crew serving the food from the Palo buffet (which made for a very crowded buffet with the servers and the guests all trying to get around the food tables.) On the Magic in December it was very much help yourself.

I asked several times if this was always the case on the Wonder or something they'd started recently (since our previous cruise was less than a month before.) Each time I got the same answer -- that it was fairly recent within the past few weeks, and was because of the cold and flu season the crew was taking extra precautions to help keep people healthy. Our stateroom host also mentioned that he was late preparing our room the first day because they had just had to sanitize the ship from the previous sailing (1/7 - 1/10 cruise).

I know DCL likes to keep any illness issues quiet, but between the extra sanitizing mentioned by the stateroom host, the extra precautions around the buffets and drink stations, and the illnesses being reported by others in this thread, it makes me think it was just more than precautions and more like damage control.

Our family has been on 8 Magic cruises and on several of them we have had the servers all of sudden (ie: in the middle of the cruise) start to serve us at the buffets.

As we have some friends that work on the ship we have been told that this is done if there is a flu like outbreak on the ship. Apparently a certain number of guests have to have been identified and quaranteened before such measures are implemented.

Having said that, although we have had this on several cruises, none of the four of us have ever had flu like symptoms or caught that sort of thing... our kids did get a cough once on the Christmas 2006 cruise, but I always carry anti biotics with me just in case and we started using them and all was well..

If you have small children with soothers, and they are good at keeping them in their mouth, vs their hands, and you keep wipes or antibacterial cleansers on you, it will be a bit easier then those tots who like to thumb suck... We never really took any extra measures, just regular hand washing, and the use of the elbow to open bathrooom doors when (or us adults would do it for the kiddies) and we were always ok...

I dont' think stressing about it will be helpful... do what you can,,, and try to have a nice trip.

Tink&Cinderella

 

[Twinsn2004]

We just got off the 4 night Wonder Cruise Jan 10-14 and all four of us that were on the cruise have been sick since late Thursday night. Thank God we were fine for the flight home, but once we got home, we were all a MESS!! I have to say though, I am thinking it must have come from the Mickey Pool. I carry antibacterial hand sanitizer with me ALL the time and we used it even after we used the Sanitizing wipes they gave us at all meal times. So even doing that is not always effective I must say. I am a big germ-a-phobe and it still didn't help this time. I am almost ready to say that we may not cruise again, it was that BAD!! And we have cruised 4 times previously and never had a problem. I think they need to do some serious disinfecting of the Wonder. I can't wait to see if anyone else from the 3 night that gets off today reports any problems. There were 2 adults and 2 five year olds in our room and we were also on the 6th floor.

 

[Tneah]

We just got off the 4 night Wonder Cruise Jan 10-14 and all four of us that were on the cruise have been sick since late Thursday night. Thank God we were fine for the flight home, but once we got home, we were all a MESS!! I have to say though, I am thinking it must have come from the Mickey Pool. I carry antibacterial hand sanitizer with me ALL the time and we used it even after we used the Sanitizing wipes they gave us at all meal times. So even doing that is not always effective I must say. I am a big germ-a-phobe and it still didn't help this time. I am almost ready to say that we may not cruise again, it was that BAD!! And we have cruised 4 times previously and never had a problem. I think they need to do some serious disinfecting of the Wonder. I can't wait to see if anyone else from the 3 night that gets off today reports any problems. There were 2 adults and 2 five year olds in our room and we were also on the 6th floor.

I personally do not use pools or hot tubs. I know this is reaching, but I always think people go #2 and I'm sure just throw on something and get into the pool. Wiping leaves traces of residue. Kids aren't the best at wiping, either. What if the person has diarrhea. A great way to spread something.

I'm not a germ-a-phobe, and I do not carry wipes, or gels or whatever. We have gotten lucky this year on our 4 cruises. None of us have come down with anything from those cruises. Generally, we as a family do not get sick. I could almost say never in a year.

However, on the Wonder it does seem that they have something going around that they are trying to clear up. In a case like this I would be even more aware of touching handrails, doors and etc.

 

[DMMarla07860]

afte cruising 9 times I've never gotten sick on a cruise or after a cruise. Of course though I never get sick at home. hopefully my trend will keep up when I go in March

 

[Twinsn2004]

I think that is why I am so bothered by this, because I haven't had a stomach issue like this for probably atleast 10 years or so, I am 30. My kids who are twins, both 5 have NEVER had the stomach issue like this at all. My hubby also 30 hasn't been this sick for over 10 years either. So its not like we are a sick family, we hardly ever get sick that is why I know it came from the Wonder, we were all fine before we cruised and it wasn't until late Thursday night after leaving the ship that morning that we all were sick! I am sure it was the Norwalk virus. I am just so glad we made it home to our 2 bathrooms instead of trying to fight over the one in our room!! But I mean it when I say I am seriously thinking after this we may not be cruising again, it was that BAD!!

 

[klcason]

Dd got a stomach bug at disneyworld a couple of years ago, then I came down with it 48 hours later. We had been there for 4 days. It was awful. Fortunately we were in a rental home also...one with 3 bathrooms. I firmly believe that is what kept dh and ds from getting it also. So now as soon as we check in anywhere, cruise included, I spray everything with oust. Including the couches and bedspreads. I take chlorox wipes and wipe down everything before the family ever comes into the room. At our rental homes we wash all kitchen items and wipe everything down first thing too. I am a certifiable germ a phobe!!

We are on the Wonder March 14th and I will probably go even beyond my norm if these illnesses keep popping up! However there's only so much you can do about pools and chairs and surfaces outside of your control....

Kayla

 

[MASrules]

We were on Jan 10-14 and everyone did great, but DS6 was down with vomit and diarrhea on the 14th at Disney. My wife got to enjoy the room at Bay Lake Tower more than she thought. He was fine on the 15th. Short violent, just as described in this thread.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

hope they get a handle on this ASAP! I'm already apprehensive enough about cruising- this is our first one, and I'd sworn previously I'd never try it! But it's for DH's 40th bday- and if I come home sick, I will screw up our DD's birthday plans as we arrive home ON her bday (we're leaving the kids behind!) Gonna stock up on wipes and may think twice about the hot tub/pools!

 

[Chloe's mom]

We just got off the 4 night Wonder Cruise Jan 10-14 and all four of us that were on the cruise have been sick since late Thursday night. Thank God we were fine for the flight home, but once we got home, we were all a MESS!! I have to say though, I am thinking it must have come from the Mickey Pool. I carry antibacterial hand sanitizer with me ALL the time and we used it even after we used the Sanitizing wipes they gave us at all meal times. So even doing that is not always effective I must say. I am a big germ-a-phobe and it still didn't help this time. I am almost ready to say that we may not cruise again, it was that BAD!! And we have cruised 4 times previously and never had a problem. I think they need to do some serious disinfecting of the Wonder. I can't wait to see if anyone else from the 3 night that gets off today reports any problems. There were 2 adults and 2 five year olds in our room and we were also on the 6th floor.

Twins2004, what was your cabin number? Just curious.... We're going on our first ever Disney cruise on the Wonder Jan 21 and have a 6th floor verandah room mid-ship. Thanks!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

What's up with Deck 6? That's where we were, too. Of course I did see a little girl vomit outside the theater just as a show was letting out on the third night. I feel certain this is where we were exposed to it.

I did not contact the cruise line, I really wish I would have now and i encourage all of you who just got off to do so and tell the of the reports of others from the Wonder. Maybe they could do a large disinfecting.

I want to go on the DCL again very badly, but I will be so scared about getting sick. It may sound silly but I'm scared to do a week-long one because of it.

 

[Minniemiss]

When our DS got sick last April on the Magic, it started almost exactly 48 hours after we boarded and he went to Ocean Quest. The Dr. told us that the noro virus has a 48 hour incubation period, and after we told them everywhere he had been, and the timeframe, they didn't hesitate to diagnose it as noro virus.

Sorry to hear your little guy had to deal with that! yuck! -- but that reinforces my point - 24 hours isn't Norvo or other virus from the ship. I didn't know Norvo was 48 hours - good to know that tidbit.

Here's hoping NOBODY is sick on vacation - because that just sucks. And hugs to all who have been sick!

We did that when DS was 18 months old at WDW. He got sick first (8 days into our trip) then it hit me and then DH. At least we had a nice big rental home that trip so we had room for others to do stuff when one of us was down and out.

This is frome the CDC website regarding Norovirus.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-factsheet.htm

Clinical Presentation

The incubation period for norovirus-associated gastroenteritis in humans is usually between 24 and 48 hours (median in outbreaks 33 to 36 hours), but cases can occur within 12 hours of exposure.