Norivirus outbreak on Princess Cruise. What is Disney doing to avoid this?

[alaskanabbott]

My youngest got sick with vomiting and loose stools the last night of our Wonder cruise last year. I call the desk and told them and I was basically told no big deal. They didn't tell me to keep her in the room, and didn't offer any assistance. It was my first disappointment with DCL. I got the impression that since we were getting off in the morning we didn't really matter anymore. My concern was that the room be a little extra sanitized for the next group staying there- and that my daughter was going to share her illness with everyone huddled together getting off the ship.
We will still cruise DCL, but it was the moment the rose colored glasses came off

 

[terrybsw]

Not every GI issue is Norovirus, is it? How does one know if some vomiting etc. is bad food, some other bug etc? Is there a test for the virus? In a group of 2500 people, some are likely to be sick...

 

[csidisney]

Not every GI issue is Norovirus, is it? How does one know if some vomiting etc. is bad food, some other bug etc? Is there a test for the virus? In a group of 2500 people, some are likely to be sick...

Norovirus is the number one cause of gastroenteritis with the symptoms of stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. It spreads quickly and is contagious. When other family members start coming down with the same thing over a course of a few days (and have not eaten the same thing), it is not food poisoning. My DH had norovirus while serving in Iraq. When he got it again on the ship, he said he knew right away and it was déjà vu of when he had it before.

 

[jennyjinx3]

My kids school just had norovirus going though it so yes it can happen anywhere. And no it is not pleasant.

 

[DahliaRW]

Not every GI issue is Norovirus, is it? How does one know if some vomiting etc. is bad food, some other bug etc? Is there a test for the virus? In a group of 2500 people, some are likely to be sick...

With norovirus you're going to have stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomitting. If you don't have all of those, chances are it's not norovirus. I can also get all of those symptoms from eating gluten. So for me there would be no proof it was noro if I'd had gluten (which I don't, but just saying those symptoms can be from other things).

With motion sickness, you're probably not going to have the lower GI problems.

I always drink some bentonite clay every day while on cruises or when going to crowded places (think WDW or other theme parks, etc). Never gotten sick at those places (knock on wood!).

 

[hgon76]

My youngest got sick with vomiting and loose stools the last night of our Wonder cruise last year. I call the desk and told them and I was basically told no big deal. They didn't tell me to keep her in the room, and didn't offer any assistance. It was my first disappointment with DCL. I got the impression that since we were getting off in the morning we didn't really matter anymore. My concern was that the room be a little extra sanitized for the next group staying there- and that my daughter was going to share her illness with everyone huddled together getting off the ship. We will still cruise DCL, but it was the moment the rose colored glasses came off

This was our experience too. It was our last night on the Fantasy & My poor DD vomited all the way up the stairs in the Walt Disney Theater just as the show was starting. She's still hates to bring it up, she was SO embarrassed that SO many people saw. . The vomiting, stabbing stomach pain, diarrhea, headache continued all night & for a couple days later. Poor thing had no choice but to vomit in our garbage pail that I kept dumping out. I tried to tell DCL for the same reason. To sanitize EXTRA for the next group. I still feel awful for the poor people who followed us in that room. And to make matters worse, our stateroom host was not very good. But, I got the same feeling that we were leaving & didn't really matter. Plus, they just didn't want to know any of it. We still sailed after that as well, but was disappointed to know that next time who knows if WE will be that poor family following in a room with Noro.

 

[alaskanabbott]

This was our experience too. It was our last night on the Fantasy & My poor DD vomited all the way up the stairs in the Walt Disney Theater just as the show was starting. She's still hates to bring it up, she was SO embarrassed that SO many people saw. . The vomiting, stabbing stomach pain, diarrhea, headache continued all night & for a couple days later. Poor thing had no choice but to vomit in our garbage pail that I kept dumping out. I tried to tell DCL for the same reason. To sanitize EXTRA for the next group. I still feel awful for the poor people who followed us in that room. And to make matters worse, our stateroom host was not very good. But, I got the same feeling that we were leaving & didn't really matter. Plus, they just didn't want to know any of it. We still sailed after that as well, but was disappointed to know that next time who knows if WE will be that poor family following in a room with Noro.

Makes me want to bring some Clorox wipes and do my own cleaning

 

[hgon76]

Makes me want to bring some Clorox wipes and do my own cleaning

I do! And a bottle of Lysol. No one is allowed to touch tv remote, wave phones, door knobs, light switches, toilet, shower , etc. until I have sprayed it. Can't Lysol the whole ship, but I always get our room. lol

 

[beaglefan]

Makes me want to bring some Clorox wipes and do my own cleaning

We bring some handy disinfectant wipes from Costco, and like the other poster said make sure to get room very well.

We are boarding a 15 night PC sailing, and this talk it getting me a little concerned since it is aboard the Wonder. Are there certain meds we should bring in case there are cases of Norovirus that break out?

 

[DreamBound23]

We bring some handy disinfectant wipes from Costco, and like the other poster said make sure to get room very well. We are boarding a 15 night PC sailing, and this talk it getting me a little concerned since it is aboard the Wonder. Are there certain meds we should bring in case there are cases of Norovirus that break out?

We are cruising in a few weeks and I am wondering the same thing. What should we bring, just in case? We got it on our first cruise and it wasn't fun!

 

[DreamBound23]

We bring some handy disinfectant wipes from Costco, and like the other poster said make sure to get room very well. We are boarding a 15 night PC sailing, and this talk it getting me a little concerned since it is aboard the Wonder. Are there certain meds we should bring in case there are cases of Norovirus that break out?

Wondering the same thing. We are cruising in a few weeks. What should we bring just in case?

 

[Minniemiss]

Makes me want to bring some Clorox wipes and do my own cleaning

I do! And a bottle of Lysol. No one is allowed to touch tv remote, wave phones, door knobs, light switches, toilet, shower , etc. until I have sprayed it. Can't Lysol the whole ship, but I always get our room. lol

We bring some handy disinfectant wipes from Costco, and like the other poster said make sure to get room very well.

We are boarding a 15 night PC sailing, and this talk it getting me a little concerned since it is aboard the Wonder. Are there certain meds we should bring in case there are cases of Norovirus that break out?

Check the products you are using. Most over the counter sprays and wipes do not kill norovirus.

 

[Kenny1113]

Makes me want to bring some Clorox wipes and do my own cleaning

I did! And was so glad I did. I wiped down the entire room after each time DS vomited and or had diarrhea and made wash his hands and use the hand sanitizer afterward too.
Now reading that others on our ship had virus I think the Clorox and handsanitizer helped keep the rest of us from getting it from DS12. Since the rest of us didn't get it I thought maybe it was something he ate, but reading that it was going around ship, I'm thinking otherwise.

 

[Minniemiss]

Here is an interesting read from National Geographic.

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/02/the-norovirus-a-study-in-puked-perfection/

 

[beaglefan]

From the Lysol website:

"when used per label directions, LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray "Brand III" is effective against norovirus. However, LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes are not effective against norovirus."

 

[Minniemiss]

From the Lysol website:

"when used per label directions, LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray "Brand III" is effective against norovirus. However, LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes are not effective against norovirus."

LYSOL Disinfectant Spray Brand III has Professional printed above the word Lysol on the can. When you look for it in the stores don't confuse it with the Regular Lysol.

 

[MCC Retired]

DCL is certainly not immune to the virus but seems to have friends in the news media.
We had it aboard the Fantasy in Feb .
Never said how many but the staff served you everything for several days , captain made personal pleas to wash your hands frequently.
Eventually returned to self service at the buffets.
Never made the news .

 

[csidisney]

DCL is certainly not immune to the virus but seems to have friends in the news media.
We had it aboard the Fantasy in Feb .
Never said how many but the staff served you everything for several days , captain made personal pleas to wash your hands frequently.
Eventually returned to self service at the buffets.
Never made the news .

I agree with you. DCL (and Disney in general) is very good about keeping things hush hush.

I read that national geographic article...wow!

 

[Magic Fanatic]

I agree with you. DCL (and Disney in general) is very good about keeping things hush hush. I read that national geographic article...wow!

I don't believe Disney has any control whatsoever when it comes to keeping any outbreak on a ship hush hush. They are required to report these outbreaks jot the proper agencies just as every other cruise company is required.

 

[hgon76]

I don't believe Disney has any control whatsoever when it comes to keeping any outbreak on a ship hush hush. They are required to report these outbreaks jot the proper agencies just as every other cruise company is required.

True, but if they refuse to acknowledge & document that someone has it (which happened in mine & a few others cases), then there's nothing to report. They're smart. If they don't take the info, no need to report it.