Stomach bug on Fantasy

[JennyT2]

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....

So sorry that this happened. We leave in less than than 3 weeks and pray for a germ free trip. Did you not complain that your bathroom never got cleaned? That is unacceptable to me.

 

[lbgraves]

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.

It is a shame that it is still onboard. The doctor commented to me that the ship was a giant floating daycare. That is why I asked an officer why the straws were open in bins with so much going around the ship and their emphasis on things being sanitary. I saw too many kids running up to get a drink, grab a handful of straws & drop what they didn't want back. At the beginning of the MV there were unwrapped black straws in the bins at the drink stations. Soon after I said something the covered straws were placed in the bins. Hopefully that helped a little.

 

[clukas]

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.

My son spent all day Sunday throwing up after getting off the ship on Saturday. Luckily the cruise was over but he obviously caught something at the end of the cruise. Let's wait for the reports from this weeks cruise to see if it continues.

 

[disneywonderfun]

Tough break to get sick. Hope all is getting better!

 

[hgon76]

So sorry that this happened. We leave in less than than 3 weeks and pray for a germ free trip. Did you not complain that your bathroom never got cleaned? That is unacceptable to me.

No. I felt bad & didn't want her to get in trouble so I just filled in the comment card under "stateroom cleanliness" as "just okay". I think she was new. She forgot our navigator a couple of times, never vacuumed the rug, never refilled my aunts shampoo/conditioner. She had to catch her in the hall & ask a couple of times for new bottles. Our servers were "blah" too. Nice, but basically no different than if we just went out to any restaurant & had any waiter. We're used to the fun/ interactive ones we've had in the past. But, the assistant was also new. Our head server was wonderful, Burak. I knew there were going to be some "kinks" as this is a new ship, with some new crew. And I still had a fabulous time regardless of all the "bumps"

 

[lbgraves]

A stateroom host who does that bad of a job needs to be retrained. It is unsanitary and it's likely a contributing factor to the spread of germs on the ship. I hope that someone reports her soon so that the problem can be corrected. There is a difference between being new and neglect. IMO cleaning the bathroom is the first thing that should be on the list of what needs to be clean. I can forgive the vacuuming unless there is a ton of sand [which can happen with kids who have been to the beach].

 

[JennyT2]

A stateroom host who does that bad of a job needs to be retrained. It is unsanitary and it's likely a contributing factor to the spread of germs on the ship. I hope that someone reports her soon so that the problem can be corrected. There is a difference between being new and neglect. IMO cleaning the bathroom is the first thing that should be on the list of what needs to be clean. I can forgive the vacuuming unless there is a ton of sand [which can happen with kids who have been to the beach].

F

I agree 100%. Cleaning a bathroom is not rocket science! It's a sure fire way to spread germs

 

[taximom00]

I teach Kindergarten and I am neurotic about handwashing. And in a pinch, hand sanitizing....though I admit in the midst of a sickness in school, I do both!

Before my first (non Disney) cruise a few summers ago, a veteran cruiser friend gave me a few tips that made me feel better...and frankly they are probably good for any time, not just cruising!

When you get to your room, take out the container of Clorox wipes that you have brought with you and wipe down all the surfaces, doorknobs, sink handles, phones, remotes etc. In theory, the rooms are cleaned before you board but in practice, are they sanitizing? Not positive. (I actually do this when I get to a hotel, too)

Use the hand sanitizer they put at the beginning of the buffet line (I hope they do this on DCL...they did on Carnival)

At the buffet, use a napkin to pick up the serving utensils. (yes, you might get strange looks...but if people realize why you are doing it, they might think you are smart and do the same thing!)

Also, take food from the back of the plate not the front.

When you get back to your seat, sanitize your hands again (or wash them in the bathroom)

When you leave a bathroom, use a tissue to open the door. Again, Carnival provided tissues by the door and a wastebasket on the other side. I thought that was genius!

Wash your hands before you eat. This includes before making that soft serve cone as you pass the machine (do they have these on Disney?)

When you are ready to eat in the main dining room, if you have touched a menu that will be returned, wash your hands (hand sanitizer)

Menus are touched by many (unclean) hands!

These all sound OCDish, I know! Spending my day with 5 year olds, I can tell you,their hands are in places they shouldn't be!! Being neurotic about handsanitizer on a cruise might sound crazy but could keep you from getting sick!

Basically, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! And don't put them in your eyes,nose or mouth!!

 

[hgon76]

A stateroom host who does that bad of a job needs to be retrained. It is unsanitary and it's likely a contributing factor to the spread of germs on the ship. I hope that someone reports her soon so that the problem can be corrected. There is a difference between being new and neglect. IMO cleaning the bathroom is the first thing that should be on the list of what needs to be clean. I can forgive the vacuuming unless there is a ton of sand [which can happen with kids who have been to the beach].

I'm hoping that since I checked off "very good" or "excellent" for almost everything else, the only "just okay" comment will catch their eye. My aunt did write about the bathroom specifically on her comment card though. Also, I charged my tips & gave a little extra to everyone except her. So, I'm thinking they will get the hint.

 

[ldymcbth]

I am so sorry to hear this, as we leave soon. I hope we have good luck on our cruise and don't catch anything. We will be vigilant about handwashing, but the kids will be in the clubs for at least a little while and it's hard to keep hands clean in there.

I know strep and tummy viruses are both really active this time of year, on a cruise or on land. I just would hope that people who are already sick are not knowingly boarding ships and then spreading it around.

I'll guess we'll just keep our fingers crossed!

 

[algae]

I am so sorry to hear this, as we leave soon. I hope we have good luck on our cruise and don't catch anything. We will be vigilant about handwashing, but the kids will be in the clubs for at least a little while and it's hard to keep hands clean in there.

Well, they do have those cool hand washers in the Dream and Fantasy in the Oceaneers clubs. Sorry to hear about others being/getting sick on the sailing. We've been ok so far, but we are careful to not touch railings and stuff much; always use the wipes before eating--and during at the buffets since the serving utensils are touched by everyone.

I know strep and tummy viruses are both really active this time of year, on a cruise or on land. I just would hope that people who are already sick are not knowingly boarding ships and then spreading it around.

Um, right. Even though you have to check the proper boxes on the health forms to check in at the terminal, sometimes you don't know you are sick until a couple days later. There were plenty of coughing and sniffling people on the Fantasy last week. Fortunately, we didn't see any technicolor yawns onboard, but my son's school had some just before we sailed, so the germ is running around on and off ships now.

 

[Had2disneycruz]

We were also on the 4/7 sailing of the Fantasy. I didn't hear of any illnesses while we were on board. During the late dining, CM's were vigilant about handing out wipes before going in the dining room. However, we did see folks who refused to take them. Crazy!

Thanks to our DIS'er friends, we got hand sanitizer in our FE and we used it! (Thank you!) I also brought Clorox wipes and used them, especially during excursions.

Good luck to all of you sailing in the future!

 

[Tinknalli]

We were on the same cruise and in addition to Noro and Strep there was at least one case of Whooping Cough.

 

[ALSBC91]

We just got off the ship Saturday as well, and seems my daughter also caught the stomach bug. It showed up yesterday with fever and vomiting, but only lasted less than 24 hrs. She's feeling much better now.

We all had a fabulous cruise, even with our Costa Maya excursion being canceled due to weather and can't wait to sail on the Dream next year.

 

[disney1990]

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.

I have never know viruses to be ramped on a Disney cruise. We have been on 4 Disney cruises and nobody has even gotten sick. Proper hand washing and other precautions do substantially decrease the risk of getting sick. I wouldn't let that keep me from cruising if it is really something you want to do.

 

[Disney922]

My DD and at least 4 of her friends (during communion time) were all vomiting last weekend. I am now just getting over a cold. Hoping we will be immune for the next 3 weeks.....We are on the May 12th Fantasy sailing.

I though traveling springtime we would be good vs fall which is what we usually do.....

Missy

 

[ldymcbth]

We were on the same cruise and in addition to Noro and Strep there was at least one case of Whooping Cough.

The incubation on pertussis can be up to like 3 weeks, so it's unlikely the Whooping Cough person caught the bug on the ship. That said, they likely exposed a bunch of people to it, so here's hoping their vaccinations were up to date!

I wish I had stayed off the disboards this close to our cruise - now I'm anxious about getting sick onboard. UGH. I know it does me no good to worry, but I am crazy.

 

[jenbeloco]

We were on the same cruise as hgon and our daughter threw up for 5 hours sat nite after we got home and followed that up with strep. She was not in the kids club and stayed away from the petrie dishes on deck 11. There were at least a dozen people on our FB page with issues and we did not interact with that many of them so I am sure there were many others. It was not seasickness.

 

[LuAnimal]

I teach Kindergarten and I am neurotic about handwashing. And in a pinch, hand sanitizing....though I admit in the midst of a sickness in school, I do both!

Before my first (non Disney) cruise a few summers ago, a veteran cruiser friend gave me a few tips that made me feel better...and frankly they are probably good for any time, not just cruising!

When you get to your room, take out the container of Clorox wipes that you have brought with you and wipe down all the surfaces, doorknobs, sink handles, phones, remotes etc. In theory, the rooms are cleaned before you board but in practice, are they sanitizing? Not positive. (I actually do this when I get to a hotel, too)

Use the hand sanitizer they put at the beginning of the buffet line (I hope they do this on DCL...they did on Carnival)

At the buffet, use a napkin to pick up the serving utensils. (yes, you might get strange looks...but if people realize why you are doing it, they might think you are smart and do the same thing!)

Also, take food from the back of the plate not the front.

When you get back to your seat, sanitize your hands again (or wash them in the bathroom)

When you leave a bathroom, use a tissue to open the door. Again, Carnival provided tissues by the door and a wastebasket on the other side. I thought that was genius!

Wash your hands before you eat. This includes before making that soft serve cone as you pass the machine (do they have these on Disney?)

When you are ready to eat in the main dining room, if you have touched a menu that will be returned, wash your hands (hand sanitizer)

Menus are touched by many (unclean) hands!

These all sound OCDish, I know! Spending my day with 5 year olds, I can tell you,their hands are in places they shouldn't be!! Being neurotic about handsanitizer on a cruise might sound crazy but could keep you from getting sick!

Basically, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! And don't put them in your eyes,nose or mouth!!

Honestly....I think taking these kind of precautions is why people do get sick. You need to be subjected to germs to build up a resistance and it needs to start at an early age. It's no different than the concept of vaccinations, your body needs to build up an immunity. Be deligent, but learn from history of diseases and what it has taught us.

 

[hgon76]

We were on the same cruise as hgon and our daughter threw up for 5 hours sat nite after we got home and followed that up with strep. She was not in the kids club and stayed away from the petrie dishes on deck 11. There were at least a dozen people on our FB page with issues and we did not interact with that many of them so I am sure there were many others. It was not seasickness.

Hi Jen! No, definitely NOT seasick. It crossed my mind @ 1st when she started vomiting. But when the other symtoms started, and when I saw all the others with issues AFTER they got home, I knew it was a virus caught onboard. And the servers.....there was a virus traveling along with the rest of us onboard the Fantasy. Still a great vacation regardless. Although, my husband did comment that the sani-wipes got smaller since our last cruise. Maybe that was it.