Stomach bug on Fantasy

[hgon76]

Dont know if anyone has posted about this yet. We got off the Fantasy this past Saturday. Beautiful ship! Wonderful cruise! However, there seems to be a virus onboard. My daughter started w/ vomiting on Friday night (in Walt Disney theater during Farewell show) Continued all night into Sat. Morning when we disembarked. I reported it but they didn't seem over eager to get any info. Just asked if I wanted her to see the Dr. At the time, I wasn't sure it wasn't something she ate, so I declined. After we got off the boat & started chatting online w/ other families in our Facebook group, we learned several others also had the same symptoms. And that several servers, including ours, were absent from the dining rooms a couple of nights due to illness. 1 person did say she took her son to the Dr & he said it was most likely Norovirus. Disney must've known something considering some of their crew was sick. But I didn't notice any extra precautions such as not letting people serve themselves @ Cabanas. And they didn't take any info from me about my daughters symptoms. So, just wanted to post a warning to anyone sailing soon just to be overly vigilant about hand washing, etc. I wouldn't have traded the vacation for anything though. Ship was amazing! Just happy the virus struck @ the end & not the beginning!

 

[ccgirl]

Dont know if anyone has posted about this yet. We got off the Fantasy this past Saturday. Beautiful ship! Wonderful cruise! However, there seems to be a virus onboard. My daughter started w/ vomiting on Friday night (in Walt Disney theater during Farewell show) Continued all night into Sat. Morning when we disembarked. I reported it but they didn't seem over eager to get any info. Just asked if I wanted her to see the Dr. At the time, I wasn't sure it wasn't something she ate, so I declined. After we got off the boat & started chatting online w/ other families in our Facebook group, we learned several others also had the same symptoms. And that several servers, including ours, were absent from the dining rooms a couple of nights due to illness. 1 person did say she took her son to the Dr & he said it was most likely Norovirus. Disney must've known something considering some of their crew was sick. But I didn't notice any extra precautions such as not letting people serve themselves @ Cabanas. And they didn't take any info from me about my daughters symptoms. So, just wanted to post a warning to anyone sailing soon just to be overly vigilant about hand washing, etc. I wouldn't have traded the vacation for anything though. Ship was amazing! Just happy the virus struck @ the end & not the beginning!

There is a nasty stomach thing going around here too. Through my family and my DD's school. We weren't anywhere near the ship.

ETA: just noticed you were from MA. It's definitely going around here. Your DD could have been exposed to something before the ship. My DS started exhibiting symptoms about 4 days after the other family members. So, wash your hands well around here too. It's not pretty.

 

[hgon76]

There is a nasty stomach thing going around here too. Through my family and my DD's school. We weren't anywhere near the ship.

ETA: just noticed you were from MA. It's definitely going around here. Your DD could have been exposed to something before the ship. My DS started exhibiting symptoms about 4 days after the other family members. So, wash your hands well around here too. It's not pretty.

I would've thought that as well if there werent several other families reporting their kids were all sick at the same time or within 24-48 hours of ours. And others reporting their dining room servers were also sick and absent from the dining room like ours was. we had been away from home 8 days before she had symptoms. Incubation is usually 24-48 hours w/ those types of viruses. Also, 1 person did take her son to the pedi who confirmed it was most likely Norovirus. Way too many coincidences for it to be contracted anywhere else but onboard IMO.

 

[kcashner]

DCL only knows about those guests who opt to see the doctor. Obviously, they do know about their staff as CMs must report sick if they will not be working.

Frankly, at the end of the cruise they really just want you off the ship--if you choose to not see the doc, they don't care about your "story."

One family opting to see the doc does not mean extra precautions would be instituted. If they are aware of only CMs, there would be extra precautions among the CMs (basically isolation), and perhaps some increased cleaning/disinfecting in hopes of it NOT spreading to the guests.

I'm not trying to justify DCL's position, only to say that it sounds like they may not have been aware of the extent of the problem.

Any GI bug on the ship is automatically assumed to be Noro--they don't run virus IDs.

 

[hgon76]

I emailed DCL as did others to let them know. As I said, it was a wonderful vacation & I wouldn't have traded it just because of this. I just thought people cruising soon should know to be extra vigilant w/ sanitation as it does seem there was a virus onboard. I'd hate for anyone to experience this @ the beginning of their cruise & miss out on the wonderful ship due to being quarantined.

 

[njdisneylovr]

We were on the Fantasy the week before you and I was terrified of the Norovirus, even though I saw only one woman vomiting in the bathroom near Preludes. Thankfully we didn't get sick from that, but we did catch a nasty virus that seems like a notch up from the common cold. Oh well, with all those kids interacting together it's like playing trade with germs... "I'll swap you my Strep throat for your stomach bug".

 

[ccgirl]

I emailed DCL as did others to let them know. As I said, it was a wonderful vacation & I wouldn't have traded it just because of this. I just thought people cruising soon should know to be extra vigilant w/ sanitation as it does seem there was a virus onboard. I'd hate for anyone to experience this @ the beginning of their cruise & miss out on the wonderful ship due to being quarantined.

Another reason I haven't cruised. Quarters are too close and viruses will spread like wildfire. I wish I could get over that idea as I really do want to cruise. Maybe someday.

 

[Jaymepops]

thanks for the heads up....I hope she is feeling better now.

Norovirus doesn't come from the ship...it comes from the people that bring it on the ship with them. The PASSANGERS! Lack of good handwashing passes it around. Usually when it's reported and reaches a set percentage of passengers, they move to the 3 bucket syetem of sanitation and full boat cleansing of everything. Since it was the last day of the cruise and they have to clean and sanitize everything for the next cruise, I am sure that's why DCL didn't seem overly concerned. There are always people that get sick on a cruise from time to time, either stomach bug, cold etc...so unless it's a large amount of people reporting it, they arn't going to panic and start the haz-mat team....besides you and your family were leaving the ship...with the virus...so it wasn't "staying" on the boat and the boat was getting clean after you left.......thanks again for the heads up and glad you had a great cruise on the Fantasy.

 

[Jaymepops]

We were on the Fantasy the week before you and I was terrified of the Norovirus, even though I saw only one woman vomiting in the bathroom near Preludes. Thankfully we didn't get sick from that, but we did catch a nasty virus that seems like a notch up from the common cold. Oh well, with all those kids interacting together it's like playing trade with germs... "I'll swap you my Strep throat for your stomach bug".

Maybe she was sea sick?

 

[hgon76]

Maybe she was sea sick?

That was Another thought that crossed my mind until I found out about all the others being sick. Also it was upper & lower GI. With fever.I know the ship itself isn't responsible for the illness & it's obviously carried on by a passenger. I don't blame them, just think they should take note of any illnesses reported as it does spread very quickly onboard in such close quarters. If extra precaution isn't taken early, it can spread very quickly. Unfortunately our room hostesses was terrible & I feel SO bad for whoever was in our room after us. She never even cleaned out our fridge from the people before us. Nor did she clean our bathroom or my aunts in the next room once during our cruise. Those poor folks in room #7864 this week....

 

[226ra]

Dont know if anyone has posted about this yet. We got off the Fantasy this past Saturday. Beautiful ship! Wonderful cruise! However, there seems to be a virus onboard. My daughter started w/ vomiting on Friday night (in Walt Disney theater during Farewell show) Continued all night into Sat. Morning when we disembarked. I reported it but they didn't seem over eager to get any info. Just asked if I wanted her to see the Dr. At the time, I wasn't sure it wasn't something she ate, so I declined. After we got off the boat & started chatting online w/ other families in our Facebook group, we learned several others also had the same symptoms. And that several servers, including ours, were absent from the dining rooms a couple of nights due to illness. 1 person did say she took her son to the Dr & he said it was most likely Norovirus. Disney must've known something considering some of their crew was sick. But I didn't notice any extra precautions such as not letting people serve themselves @ Cabanas. And they didn't take any info from me about my daughters symptoms. So, just wanted to post a warning to anyone sailing soon just to be overly vigilant about hand washing, etc. I wouldn't have traded the vacation for anything though. Ship was amazing! Just happy the virus struck @ the end & not the beginning!

Was on the same cruise and my daughter got sick on Monday night (day 3) in our cabin. It lasted 24 hrs and she was back to normal. Thankfully the rest of us (myself, wife and another kid) did not ever get sick. It was definitely a virus, not seasickness.

 

[hgon76]

Was on the same cruise and my daughter got sick on Monday night (day 3) in our cabin. It lasted 24 hrs and she was back to normal. Thankfully the rest of us (myself, wife and another kid) did not ever get sick. It was definitely a virus, not seasickness.

Oh, I'm so sorry it happened that close to the beginning of the cruise. We were thankful it happened on the last day. Yes, our daughter's was only about 24 hours as well. Unfortunately, it started IN the Walt theater & all the way up the stairs in front of everyone. She was terribly embarrassed. I told her to just think, she will NEVER forget THIS cruise.

 

[disneyholic family]

from the centers for disease control:

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html

 

[lbgraves]

There was something going around the Fantasy on the MV as well. A few of the hosts & servers were quarantined for some time during the cruise due to being ill. Several DISers reported getting sick onboard. DS got strep day 4 and the doctor said he wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last one he would see for that.

 

[linco711]

Was on the same cruise and my daughter got sick on Monday night (day 3) in our cabin. It lasted 24 hrs and she was back to normal. Thankfully the rest of us (myself, wife and another kid) did not ever get sick. It was definitely a virus, not seasickness.

kids can really spread a virus...improper hand washing..fingers in nose..etc..etc...I was a kindergarten teacher and believe me colds and virus's spread fast...It's amazing it when it doesn't happen IMO???

 

[dlf246]

I had norovirus (am a physician and boarded a ship with a norovirus alert 10 years ago. CAn attest that I had classic case.) I notified ship doctor and quarantined myself. Princess was appreciative of my diligence. I was so careful 3 other family members (though only one stayed in my cabin) did not get sick.

So I understand likelihood of the virus and thoughts of the OP.

For those of you like myself who like objective info on the recent risk for a route or cruise line (just like the prior poster said, this is brought on by passengers, often by an outbreak on land. So just as useful to notice outbreaks in the area as on your particular ship), I have found the link below useful. Hope it helps, and wash those hands!!

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events.html

 

[hgon76]

There was something going around the Fantasy on the MV as well. A few of the hosts & servers were quarantined for some time during the cruise due to being ill. Several DISers reported getting sick onboard. DS got strep day 4 and the doctor said he wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last one he would see for that.

There have been a couple reports of Strep from our cruise so far as well.

 

[hgon76]

I had norovirus (am a physician and boarded a ship with a norovirus alert 10 years ago. CAn attest that I had classic case.) I notified ship doctor and quarantined myself. Princess was appreciative of my diligence. I was so careful 3 other family members (though only one stayed in my cabin) did not get sick.

So I understand likelihood of the virus and thoughts of the OP.

Hope it helps, and wash those hands!!

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events.html

Yes, definitely wash, wash, wash!

 

[njdisneylovr]

Yes, I think she could have been seasick as well. There are too many variables as to what makes people vomit. Another poster said something about strep and now that I recall, when we took our DD to the Dr on the ship the last night ( she fell and was bleeding from the head), he said something about strep running rampant through the ship. This was the April 7th sailing of the Fantasy.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Ugh! I am so sorry OP that this happened to your child and others sailing with you! This happened to my DH on our cruise on the Magic in 2010 and he was quarantined for 3 days...including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

We were on the Fantasy April 7th-14th and didn't notice anyone getting sick,...however, I commented to DH more than once that the crew didn't seem as adamant about the hand wipes when entering the dining room as they have been on our other cruises. We were always to the dining room within a few minutes of our scheduled dining time, and sometimes there was no one at the entrance handing out wipes. Hopefully they will get more strict about this with future cruises...that may or may not have anything to do with the recent illness on the Fantasy, but I can't help but think that it is a possibility.