Scared of Noro, should we cancel?

[longboard55]

How do we know if this person got it on the Magic, or got it on the airplane flying to the Magic. I did a cruise during ebola, they were fanatic about wipes

 

[jrabbit]

probably a much higher chance of getting in a auto accident than getting Noro on a cruise. But you still drive.

Go ahead and Cruise.
1) Wash your hands frequently,
2) minimize touching the handrails & buttons in the elevators then do 1)
3) keep your fingers and hands out of your mouth unless you've just done 1)

We've been on 15+ cruises and never had an issue with Noro. Well actually I think we were on a Noro cruise with NCL - because they were constantly spraying down the carpets and port excursion vehicles (and wiping them down before we boarded), no self service at buffets, etc. BUT we did NOT catch it even with all of those very old sick people on board.

 

[Chica1581]

you all have really calmed my nerves! thanks so much!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

You've received excellent advice already and I wanted to tell you a quick story that I laugh about now but I also survived it, so hang in there. At sailaway on our Fantasy 4/2014 (Spring Break cruise) I got pooped on by a seagull. Not a huge deal but I said, "ok it's bound to be good luck". It gets better! At the first dinner, not long after sitting down, the kid next to me puked all over me and it was so fast my ninja moves couldn't escape it. I took a quick 2 second pause then realized I couldn't stay there but I'll admit my first thought was OH NO I'M GOING TO GET NORO and it's the first night! I'm a mom so I felt bad for the kid, he didn't mean to do it and the dad was apologizing profusely. I excused myself to go back to the cabin to change, wash off, etc. I then came back and finished dinner. The dad kept saying he wasn't sick, it was just other things and I prayed he was right.

I never got sick so I assume he was either telling the truth or I'm one of the very lucky few that's immune to it (I'm going to do the testing one day, I swear). So I said all that to tell you - even if you get puked on, it's not the end of the world!! I was certain I was doomed but it got better after that and I stayed healthy the entire time. I'm adding a little humor in here as I know if it was really Noro it can be highly contagious so I'm not making fun of it, but that was my experience. I will tell you there were others spotted throwing up throughout that week but it wasn't a lot, it just happened. Some in our cruise group mentioned their kids were sick but sometimes kids just get sick or their nerves get the better of them, the different foods, too much of stuff, etc.

Have a great cruise
Heather

 

[AquaDame]

My husband wants to cancel our scheduled cruise because of the recent Noro virus reports on the Magic and Wonder. Any ideas on how I can convince him it likely won't affect us? Or should we really be concerned?

The odds are ever in your favor of not catching noro (the vast majority of people on the cruise with the outbreak did NOT catch it). If you take normal precautions of washing your hands and such you should be fine. FWIW, I am boarding the Wonder this Sunday (just one cruise between the outbreak and me) and I am not afraid at all - at least not any more so than I always am since you can ALWAYS get sick anywhere from someone else if they are contagious.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

The odds are ever in your favor of not catching noro (the vast majority of people on the cruise with the outbreak did NOT catch it). If you take normal precautions of washing your hands and such you should be fine. FWIW, I am boarding the Wonder this Sunday (just one cruise between the outbreak and me) and I am not afraid at all - at least not any more so than I always am since you can ALWAYS get sick anywhere from someone else if they are contagious.

I didn't know the Magic recently had a Noro outbreak!? When was this?

I was on the cruise that had the recent Noro outbreak on the Wonder this past April. No one in my party got sick.

I would NEVER cancel a cruise because of what happened previously. In fact, I would much rather get on a ship after an outbreak cause the ship would be squeaky clean!

I always always always tackle my stateroom as soon as I enter my room for the 1st time each and every cruise regardless of a Noro outbreak, and my boys know that as soon as they enter the room they're to wash their hands right away!

I also never ever touch hand rails!! I push the elevator buttons (if I use them) with my knuckle or elbow, and I use my elbow to open most doors (I'm a bit OCD)

I do these things everywhere, not just on a cruise, and I'm happy to say that the 14 cruises I've done (13 Disney) no one has ever gotten sick.

Just wash your hands frequently, and don't touch your face. I also disinfect my cell phone many times during the day and at night because we touch that all day, so it too gets a good cleaning as well.

I also never let my kids leave the room in their PJ's. I see kids all the time doing all sorts of things in their PJ's at night and then god knows what they could have picked up and then brought into bed with them (I'm talking germs) not bugs lol

Dont stress and enjoy your cruise! Disney is always cleaning the ship, non stop!! Just be smart, and mindful of what you're doing and you should be fine!

 

[jiminy14]

I also got off the Magic yesterday and was told by several cast members that there were only six passengers ill and two crew members. The two crew members were quarantined in their cabins and had no direct contact with the passengers. I would not be concerned about a "Noro" outbreak on the Magic if only 8 people out of more than 4000 on board were ill. I saw more sick people (seasickness) on our Tortola excursion than I saw on the Magic.
Self service was shut down and cleaning was increased. Crew members were handing out wipes before boarding the boat in addition to the hand sanitizer stations. The only inconvenience we encountered was when dining at Cabanas. Since self service was discontinued, the crew had to serve your food was made the lines a little longer.
As stated by PPs, a norovirus can be picked up anywhere. I had same day surgery at a local hospital and picked up a norovirus there.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

As stated by PPs, a norovirus can be picked up anywhere. I had same day surgery at a local hospital and picked up a norovirus there.

My favorite story about "you can get it anywhere" is from a television show about park rangers in the upper eastern seaboard area. They were sent out to find a lost hiker who was sick. When they finally found him and got him back to the hospital, it was determined he had noro - out there in the woods, all by himself.

 

[RubySue]

How do we know if this person got it on the Magic, or got it on the airplane flying to the Magic. I did a cruise during ebola, they were fanatic about
wipes

Airplanes. Somehow a lot of people forget about the flight to the vacation. Airplanes are generally not cleaned often or well. A lot of people in a very confined space. If you get ill a day or two after arriving chances are you picked up something on the plane. I'm not usually a germaphobe, but we always wipe down our airplane seat surfaces, armrests, & tray tables.
OP - as PP have said, Noro is everywhere. Take simple precautions and have a great vacation!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I have a comprimised immune system. So for me to get something like this is very serious and I still cruise. What I do is just assume probability. Out of 2,000 plus people onboard somebody is going to have noro or something! So I assume that and am just very careful, wash regulaly take no shortcuts. Never use the hot tubs ( I got cellutitis last year from the hot tub ) or pools. But I don't want my life to stop!

But remember folks all it takes is just one time of not washing your hands and you got it! I have got ill on NCL but never on DCL. They are very clean. I would go. But be careful. But then you always should be!

 

[The Sasquatch]

i would assume now would be the best time to go because they are ultra sensitive and I am sure have increased cleaning activity

 

[FigmentSpark]

We're arriving 3 days before our cruise, now I'm scared, not of the cruise, but of the plane! That's just a nice incubation period for a nasty virus to appear right before boarding... or not boarding, since someone just got sick.

 

[Markonefive]

I'm thinking hand wipes, and trying to avoid touching the tray or armrests.

 

[MUN]

Wash you hands often, don't hold on to railings (or wash after). As far as convincing him; Washing our hands kept us along with the other 95% of passengers quite healthy throughout the recent April 27 Wonder Noro -cruise.
We also didn't use the Family or Mickey pool except when it was first opened, without anyone else there. We took stairs or empty elevators (wash after pushing buttons). That is all you can do anywhere you go, even a 5 star resort.
If he is so concerned, then do what you feel most comfortable doing.
If it will always be on you mind that it affects the enjoyment of the cruise then you may want to rethink the vacation. Good luck which ever way you decide to vacation

If you are concerned about norovirus, I would suggest having your daughter skip the pools, kids clubs, theaters, and buffets.

 

[phinz]

You're more likely to get into a car accident on the way to the port than you are likely to get norovirus on the ship. If we all listened to the news and took "precautions" we'd never leave the house. Live your life. I find the ships to be cleaner and more sanitary than The Happiest Petri Dish on Earth, so I'd choose a cruise over WDW any day of the year.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I've never done the 'airplane seat' wipedown, but I have a friend that works for an airline and she said she always does a wipedown. I think it's time to start.

 

[hubbard53]

crazy.

As everyone else has said, normal adult habits will prevent you from becoming infected. It's not airborne so as long as you don't put your fingers in your mouth you'll be Ok. Who even does that?
Don't touch the business end of your eating utensils and then put it in your mouth. Wash your hands. Don't touch all over touchable surfaces like rails, door pulls, etc.

easy.

 

[jahber]

crazy.

As everyone else has said, normal adult habits will prevent you from becoming infected. It's not airborne so as long as you don't put your fingers in your mouth you'll be Ok. Who even does that?

easy.

My husband (and most other Indian people eating Indian food with naan/roti/chapati/rice) eats with his hands frequently on a ship. And kids. And anyone eating a hamburger or hot dog or sandwich or...yeah. Lots of people put their hands in their mouth without even thinking about it. If you touch food and put it in your mouth, you are essentially putting your hands in your mouth . That's why it spreads so easily. Washing hands is essential because your hands (or at least, germs from your hands) WILL end up in your mouth at some point.

 

[2boysmommy]

I've never done the 'airplane seat' wipedown, but I have a friend that works for an airline and she said she always does a wipedown. I think it's time to start.

I do this every time we fly. My husband makes so much fun of me, but hey...every little bit helps! I have a baggie with 4 wipes in it...one for each seat. I have taught my boys to clean every surface, using a different part of the wipe along the way. Especially under the seat belt flap/connector thing and the twister on the tray table. After they are done (and this now takes them less than 2 minutes total) they put the used wipes back in the baggie, sanitize their hands, and we are done. No where else in my life am I that clean, but I have a good friend who is a flight attendant and, well I'd rather not take any chances on vacation!
As far as noro on the ship? I'm not concerned. We wash our hands and try to only use our stateroom bathroom when feasible. But my kids have gotten noro at school so I know 2 things - it's going to hit you no matter where you are, and (if you are a relatively healthy person to start with) it's not the end of the world.

 

[emnems34]

Goodness no! Rescheduling won't do you any good. You could be on the next cruise that has an outbreak no matter when you book! If anything, going on a cruise right after a Noro outbreak is the best time to go because it's when they've been most diligent about cleaning. Remember to wash your hands often (soap and hot water, not just sanitizer) and always say yes when you're going in for meals and they offer you sanitizing wipes. Remember- you could catch Noro anywhere and at anytime. Don't let it ruin your fun!