Magic 11/16/02 Illness - THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN POST ABOUT THIS INCIDENT

[LianeMJ]

Originally posted by 4cruisin

Let's all stop panicking, speculating and judging both other cruisers and DCL itself.

Remember ....it's a darn stomach bug. So far there are no reports of people dying from it. In fact people that got it said they were pretty much over it in 24 hours. I get stomach bugs at least twice
a year and unfortunately, it's just a fact of life for most people now a days.

I am not panicking but I do think it sucks that I am going to have to be paranoid on my VACATION about washing my hands constantly, not touching railings, buffet items, or elevator buttons without sanitizing myself! And while it is "just" a stomach bug, some of us who have weakened immune systems may be concerned that it will hit us a bit harder. I am not cancelling my cruise on December 14th unless the outbreak becomes significantly large but I still think it stinks that we have to even worry about this. BUT...I know it's no one's "fault" that this is happening.

I have always known Disney to do the right thing though, and I am sure they are doing their best so I will do my best to have faith in that. I am going to Disney World in Central FL this weekend so I will have to let you guys know if I hear of any flu or NV outbreaks there.

 

[LisaFB]

As staed by 4cruisin

Remember ....it's a darn stomach bug. So far there are no reports of people dying from it. In fact people that got it said they were pretty much over it in 24 hours. I get stomach bugs at least twice a year and unfortunately, it's just a fact of life for most people now a days.

I agree... I don't understand why some people are acting like this is a serious illness... if it is the Norwalk Virus, then it's a virus.. I know it stinks if you get it and it's unpleassant, but it's a stomach virus, not a life and death disease..... We still don'tknow exactly what it is, but a virus is a virus... not a reason to cause major panic!

And as for weakened immune systems, if you ahve one then you should ALWAYS be concerned about wshing your hands more, etc like I do! Vacation or not, if you get sick easily then that's something you need to take care of yourself all the time!

 

[KenP]

RE: severity of illness. I was on and personally talked with several passengers on the Nov 16 Magic. It was no minor illness - some were sick for 4 days and couldn't stand.

RE: Disney cancelling a cruise. If they have to do it, from a financial standpoint, it would be much easier to do it within the next few weeks than wait till the busy Christmas season when the revenue per person is much higher. Also within the next few weeks they probably could accomodate people at Walt Disney World better (for those that chose this option) and put them up and the nicest resorts. Again, this is a finanical view.

 

[maleficent1959]

Originally posted by 4cruisin

Remember ....it's a darn stomach bug. So far there are no reports of people dying from it.

What about people with weakened immune systems, many of whom may not even know they have this problem? A "stomach bug" is a lot more serious for them. A baby or toddler runs an increased risk of dehydration and worse complications with constant vomiting and diarrhea -- even if it is only two days. You can pour pedialyte into them every fifteen minutes, but if the vomiting continues they aren't getting hydrated. Are these individuals acceptable risks?

I think we are all aware of the possibility of infections anywhere at any time. If people were really that afraid they would be living in plastic bubbles. I don't think anyone on this thread has shown signs of panic. I see concern and questions. While illness is always a possibility, I think Disney does bear some responsibility to find the cause of the problem and take appropriate steps to eradicate it from the vessel. And I don't think they should wait for four cruises like Holland America.

I'll eat my hat if the CDC proves that all it took to eliminate the virus was a great big dose of "Disney Magic."

 

[LisaFB]

I think Disney does bear some responsibility to find the cause of the problem and take appropriate steps to eradicate it from the vessel. And I don't think they should wait for four cruises like Holland America.

That's exactly what they are doing and what they've been trying to do fromthe start!

 

[suez live]

"I'm tired of hearing everyone trying to convince each other that their opinion is the right opinion. Please, lets realize that we all have different opinions. Play nice..........I'm tired of this thread and how it is turning.....not productive.......... (I'll go get my extinguisher)"


This is not about differing opinions or lack of a productive debate. If it were about whether or not we liked the newest parade or thought that Spaceship Earth should be refurbished, I can see the complaint.

This is about the health and well-being of THOUSANDS of people.

Please do not dismiss legitimate concern as some sort of trivial banter.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks again, KenP, RE: the severity of illness

However, as the last poster just said, you can tell people this for the fourth or fifth time, and some just will not get-it.

Like a poster said on one of other threads, if seeing CDC officials and a crew of people in HAZMAT suits spraying clorox and disinfectant everywhere doesn't make you think...

As far as the risk of this virus to young children (which is significant) Remember, we are talking about a cruise ship with hundreds of young children onboard.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by maleficent1959
I don't think anyone on this thread has shown signs of panic.

Not meaning to flame but please re-read the entire thread!

OK, for those with upcoming cruises, if you are concerned, DCL HAS offered an opt-out. If you are concerned that they may cancel your cruise, take them up on their offer. If you are afraid that you or your companions may become ill, take them up on their offer. IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT DCL IS DOING IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT SITUATION, take them up on their offer.
Use the refund to schedule on another line, go elsewhere, or stay home. DCL has given YOU the option to decide for yourself - kinda like opposable thumbs, free will is what sets us aside.

 

[Michelle]

I'm letting this thread continue as we need a place to be able to discuss this. Please keep in mind, though, that the board rules still apply. Folks can certainly disagree, just keep the discussions civil and no personal attacks.

The information I have been told is that the 11/30 cruise WILL SAIL AS SCHEDULED, at least at this point.

 

[LisaFB]

tstobb, I totally agree with you.. DCL is offering an opt-out option and if anyone is afraid, they should take it!

 

[LianeMJ]

Originally posted by tstobb
Not meaning to flame but please re-read the entire thread!

OK, for those with upcoming cruises, if you are concerned, DCL HAS offered an opt-out. If you are concerned that they may cancel your cruise, take them up on their offer. If you are afraid that you or your companions may become ill, take them up on their offer. IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT DCL IS DOING IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT SITUATION, take them up on their offer.
Use the refund to schedule on another line, go elsewhere, or stay home. DCL has given YOU the option to decide for yourself - kinda like opposable thumbs, free will is what sets us aside.

No need to talk to us like children. Some of us do NOT want to cancel this cruise or get a refund as we have waited months for it, and can not reschedule and would not rather stay at Disney for the week (since some of us live here in FL and can do that anytime).

We have the right to be concerned, though, about our own well-being while on a vacation we are paying a lot of money to go on! We have every right to discuss it as long as we want to or the problem is erradicated. I am concerned, but not overly so, since the percentages are small at this point.

***Steps off soap box***

 

[KenP]

I respect everyone's opinion on this board and it is a personal choice about whether to cruise on the next few cruises. I think it is excellent that Disney is giving guests the opportunity to cancel with no penalty.

Sorry I have repeated myself about the severity of the illness, but I just want my DIS friends to make their own decisions based on facts, not wishes. If I didn't care, I wouldn't have repeated myself.

 

[Wishing on a star]

LisaFB,

You say that is what DCL has been doing, and trying to do, from the start...

1. They did not notify passengers until it was already international news.... Notification may have allowed some passengers to take precautions and to not become ill.

2. They did not take any additional steps or precautions that I have heard of re: buffet, pools, etc. until that very last moment.

3. They sailed Saturday, all of one hour behind schedule... (Hello, is it possible to sanitize an entire cruise ship and stop an outbreak in all of ONE hour....)

4. There are now, who knows how many, people with the virus on the current sailing...

 

[ppiew]

If I had a family member with immune deficiencies, I doubt I would go on ANY cruise with ANY cruiseline. Any crowd situation presents risk. No one WANTS to cancel a vacation, but if personal concerns are that heavy, why jeopardize possible health problems. The way out is there for the taking. Viruses will continue to be brought on board by passengers with each and every cruise - regardless of the sanitizing. Each individual bears personal responsiblity for their own decisions. It appears that an overwhelming amount of info is available to make that decision. And what ever you should chose to do, don't look back and say 'if only'. SMILE, heads up and go forward. None of us has a crystal ball to predict the future. "What if's" are excuses, not reasons.

 

[LianeMJ]

Originally posted by ppiew
If I had a family member with immune deficiencies, I doubt I would go on ANY cruise with ANY cruiseline.

This is ridiculous. I, for example, had cancer. HAD. I don't any longer but due to having had chemo and radiation, I now have a weakened immune system. If I lived my life in fear of public places and never took a vacation, what would my life be like? Part of how I beat cancer was by not letting IT beat me, and avoiding places where there *might* be illness is ridiculous - I could never leave my house then! Should I zip myself up in a plastic bubble?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sorry!!! I apologize!!!

KenP, that was a sincere thank-you.
Your input has been appreciated!

LisaFB, please do not take my disagreement as a personal attack.

I just hope this virus problem can be taken care of!

 

[LisaFB]

Wish on a Star, I personally saw DCL take steps while on last week's ship even before I knew what was going on.

1)DH & I noticed them cleaning every possibly thing from day 1 (which we were told is the norm for them anyway).

2)And we noticed days before it was announced that guests were not allowed to serve themselves at the buffets. In fact, one of my dinner table mates told us on Wed that he was at the buffet and saw a guest reach for a roll himself and the server tookthe entire tray away.

So yes, DCL was doing a lot of stuff even before anything was announced to us at all.

3) I don't know when it first came on the news, but my parents said they didn't hear anything about it until Friday and my dad watches the news all the time. I didn't see anyting on tv until Friday either and we were all told on Tursday.

4) And they started cleaning the staterooms as soon as people were leving them to goto breakfast to make the cleaning go quicker as well as having had extra peopel on boards to help clean before letting the next group on the ship agian. We even saw them taking linens out of every single room and putting them in plastic bags. Every single stateroom was thouroughly cleaned.

I'm not sure if you were on the cruise last week or not, but plently was done that I saw and that the people I met saw as well. I even met someone at the airport who's son had gotten sick and she was telling us how great DCL was for everything they were doing, etc. Ad she was also tellnig us that even though he was sick for a day they all had the best trip ever!

Edited to say: I'm not taking anything as a personal attack on here, I'm jsut stating my feelings and what DH & I saw personally!

 

[SmallWorld2222]

Michelle,
Sorry you put a lock on my other post.
Trying to weed through the "other" post of the Norwalk is impossible. I wanted to know the stories of those that got sick, not hear about peoples opinions and comments about the Norwalk. This is impossible to do with 250 some odd post! I am planning a cruise with my parents after Christmas and am trying to establish a pattern of this illiness. Did some of the passengers also go on a HAL ship recently? Any word that Disney hired HAL staff? What ports do the Magic and Amsterdamn have in common?
Don't want to subject my parents to this virus.
A little straight infomation from only those that were ill would be helpful. I thought that this is what the cruise boards were all about!
Sorry to have bothered your board. I will go back to the HAL board. That's who we are cruising with anyway. Can't talk the parents into a Disney cruise. We loved both the Magic and Wonder!

 

[4cruisin]

Moderator Michelle,

You are doing a terrific job here. I would not want your job for any amount of money....do you even get paid

How about we have a pro-go thread and a no-go thread, that way no one will fight. LOL

Again, thanks for doing a great job!!

Nancy

 

[Michelle]

Hi Small World,

If you go back to the beginning of the posts you will see the information that has been posted by those ON the ship at the time of the 11/16 outbreak and on the ship currently. That has lots of the details you are looking for.

As for current information, DCL has hired an expert from the CDC who is on the ship now, along with two microbiologists from Disney World, to supervise the cleaning of the ship. They have found NO source at this point but believe it is the Norwalk virus. There are NO links to those being on other ships. The Amsterdam sails a SOUTHERN Caribbean route; the Magic sails Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Amsterdam does go to St. Thomas, which the Magic does on its Eastern route. That is the only port in common.

I hope this is helpful. You are welcome to post SPECIFIC questions such as the ones you asked but to post asking for details of those who were sick on the cruise is redundant, as that information is contained in the other posts on the board.

Also, if you want to contact me feel free to send a private message or e-mail me.

Thanks for your understanding.