Weird question but ... hand sanitiser

[Missmilphie]

Odd question but... I've been reading the pet peeves thread and hand sanitiser comes up a lot with some saying it's not optional before meals.

Now as a family we're mainly happy to use it but my eldest is allergic to alcohol based stuff (her hands go bright red and sore) - I assume they won't mind if we give her a wet wipe instead? Also is the soap based in the public bathrooms the strong hospital type stuff? (Just thinking we might have to take our own for her).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Odd question but... I've been reading the pet peeves thread and hand sanitiser comes up a lot with some saying it's not optional before meals.

Now as a family we're mainly happy to use it but my eldest is allergic to alcohol based stuff (her hands go bright red and sore) - I assume they won't mind if we give her a wet wipe instead? Also is the soap based in the public bathrooms the strong hospital type stuff? (Just thinking we might have to take our own for her).

Those are questions you really need to call and ask DCL about. I don't recall that the soap in the public restrooms was particularly "strong" but it certainly wasn't floral smelling.

I'm not certain that the hand sanitizer wipes they hand out are alcohol based, but, hopefully, someone at DCL will know.

Maybe contact the Special Services people. They may have a better knowledge of what's being used.

 

[JW9DVC]

Not mandatory. Just suggested.

 

[bumbershoot]

Odd question but... I've been reading the pet peeves thread and hand sanitiser comes up a lot with some saying it's not optional before meals.

Other people don't dictate what I do with my health. If I have literally just come from the bathroom, having washed my hands thoroughly, I'm not using sanitizer. If I have just come from my stateroom and I washed my hands properly and I touched elevator buttons with my elbow or went down the stairs not using the handrails, I'm not using sanitizer. Since those are things I do, I don't use sanitizer. It's a poor subsituation for washing thoroughly anyway; I don't trust the people relying on sanitizer. Do they not know how to wash their hands?

Don't worry about those people. It's not mandatory.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

The hand sanitizer wipes are non-alcohol. I'm pretty sensitive to fragrance and have asthma; they were lemon scented and didn't bother me. On the Fantasy, they added hand wash stations, but the sanitizing wipes were also available.

 

[Missmilphie]

Thank you everyone! I think I might take a little hand wash just in case but great to know that the sanitiser isn't compulsory if she does react to it.

 

[BCV23]

Odd question but... I've been reading the pet peeves thread and hand sanitiser comes up a lot with some saying it's not optional before meals.

Now as a family we're mainly happy to use it but my eldest is allergic to alcohol based stuff (her hands go bright red and sore) - I assume they won't mind if we give her a wet wipe instead? Also is the soap based in the public bathrooms the strong hospital type stuff? (Just thinking we might have to take our own for her).

Just for clarification, it is not hand sanitizer but rather hand wipes which are distributed at the entrance to each MDR and Cabanas. My skin is quite sensitive. I have had no reaction to the wipes nor to the liquid soap in the public restrooms but I think your idea of bringing some wipes that you know she will be able to tolerate is prudent. Happy sailing.

 

[mmouse37]

Odd question but... I've been reading the pet peeves thread and hand sanitiser comes up a lot with some saying it's not optional before meals.

Now as a family we're mainly happy to use it but my eldest is allergic to alcohol based stuff (her hands go bright red and sore) - I assume they won't mind if we give her a wet wipe instead? Also is the soap based in the public bathrooms the strong hospital type stuff? (Just thinking we might have to take our own for her).

Here is a pic of the soap they use in the bathrooms....my friend loves the scent and wanted to find out what type it was.



This was from October and they had the same stuff in January. I am pretty sure they use the same stuff on all the ships.

MJ

 

[clten]

The wipes are not mandatory and it would be helpful if the staff handing them out realized it too and people around were not so judgmental. We regularly wash our hands with soap and water and are sure to do so before heading out to eat. We also bring our own hand sanitizer gel so that we know it doesn't contain any allergens. We will use that - especially after going through the buffet line. Most people sanitize when they enter the buffet but then they go through the line and I've seen the sneezing, coughing, touching the face, popping food in the mouth and then handling the serving spoons. So we make sure our hands are clean when we enter the buffet but then we also use our hand sanitizer before we start to eat.

PS If you are not sure if the wipes they hand out will be okay, they have the containers sitting out around quick service areas so you can read the labels once you are onboard. And I personally don't have allergies so I do use the wipes they hand out -- to wipe off my KTTW card at least once a day, especially if it's a port day and it's been handled by a number of people getting on/off ship.

 

[Missmilphie]

Thank you! Especially for the photos - so helpful!

 

[JWG]

Here is a pic of the soap they use in the bathrooms....my friend loves the scent and wanted to find out what type it was.

View attachment 239808 View attachment 239809 View attachment 239810

This was from October and they had the same stuff in January. I am pretty sure they use the same stuff on all the ships.

MJ

Great company and great product by the way...

There is no substitute for properly washing your hands. Warm water and soap, wring your hands with that combination for 20+ seconds (2x through your ABC's or the Happy Birthday song). Don't forget your thumbs (many people do). I know many people have varied opinions on the use of sanitizer and its impact on creating a "super bug" or diminishing your ability to fight infection, but the recommended way to clean hands is to wash as above and then sanitize (clean and disinfected aren't the same thing).

But, if people are relying on the sanitizer wipes to be "the" solution, they're going to be disappointed.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

On the Fantasy, they added hand wash stations, but the sanitizing wipes were also available.

The Wonder also has the hand washing stations.

 

[AndreAggie]

Keep in mind if she goes in the clubs, they are required to wash hands at the hand washing stations upon entering and exiting the clubs. It would be worth having a conversation with the counselors too if she's sensitive to the soap.

 

[ashley0139]

Other people don't dictate what I do with my health. If I have literally just come from the bathroom, having washed my hands thoroughly, I'm not using sanitizer. If I have just come from my stateroom and I washed my hands properly and I touched elevator buttons with my elbow or went down the stairs not using the handrails, I'm not using sanitizer. Since those are things I do, I don't use sanitizer. It's a poor subsituation for washing thoroughly anyway; I don't trust the people relying on sanitizer. Do they not know how to wash their hands?

Don't worry about those people. It's not mandatory.

I agree. I am almost fanatical about washing my hands (probably too much so) and I hate hand sanitizer. If I have just come from washing my hands, (and if it's before a meal then I have), I won't be using a wipe or sanitizer. I haven't been on a Disney cruise yet, but other cruise lines are doing it too, and it's ridiculous that they make you feel like you have to use it. I just say "no thank you" and pass by.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I agree. I am almost fanatical about washing my hands (probably too much so) and I hate hand sanitizer. If I have just come from washing my hands, (and if it's before a meal then I have), I won't be using a wipe or sanitizer. I haven't been on a Disney cruise yet, but other cruise lines are doing it too, and it's ridiculous that they make you feel like you have to use it. I just say "no thank you" and pass by.

I totally understand your concern. No one wants to feel forced, especially if you know you've already washed your hands. I will say that they usually pulled out a wipe and thrust it in my direction when I approached, but I don't think they were trying to force it on me. They were just making it as convenient for me as possible to take one. I saw several people decline them each meal and I never saw a CM protest that at all. They have a lot of wipes to hand out, so they are just trying to get it to you as quickly as possible so that you can have it if you want it. Have a great trip!

 

[Dug720]

I totally understand your concern. No one wants to feel forced, especially if you know you've already washed your hands. I will say that they usually pulled out a wipe and thrust it in my direction when I approached, but I don't think they were trying to force it on me. They were just making it as convenient for me as possible to take one. I saw several people decline them each meal and I never saw a CM protest that at all. They have a lot of wipes to hand out, so they are just trying to get it to you as quickly as possible so that you can have it if you want it. Have a great trip!

Worst case, hold it with your fingertips for the few seconds it takes to get to the trash can and drop it in there. But I agree I have never seen anyone FORCED to take them.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My boys joked when we got off the ship about missing the "shhhp" noise (of the wipe being pulled out of the container) as they approached any restaurant. They don't force, but they suggest strongly. I came out of the washroom, having just washed my hands and I still took one, because you feel like people are looking if you don't. But yeah, I'd rather wash with soap and then wash the soap off, than wipe with a chemical that I'm not able to wash off. As I said, they may kill the germs, but I'll still be eating dead germs. yuck.

It's a no-win situation.

 

[RedSox68]

The wipes are not mandatory and it would be helpful if the staff handing them out realized it too and people around were not so judgmental. We regularly wash our hands with soap and water and are sure to do so before heading out to eat. We also bring our own hand sanitizer gel so that we know it doesn't contain any allergens. We will use that - especially after going through the buffet line. Most people sanitize when they enter the buffet but then they go through the line and I've seen the sneezing, coughing, touching the face, popping food in the mouth and then handling the serving spoons. So we make sure our hands are clean when we enter the buffet but then we also use our hand sanitizer before we start to eat.

So true. Hand sanitizer or wet wipes is a requirement in our family after touching buffet utensils! [UGH, the things I have seen -- like the kid on Carnival who came in off the pool deck and was washing his hands at the soda station using the water button!!!]

 

[ashley0139]

I totally understand your concern. No one wants to feel forced, especially if you know you've already washed your hands. I will say that they usually pulled out a wipe and thrust it in my direction when I approached, but I don't think they were trying to force it on me. They were just making it as convenient for me as possible to take one. I saw several people decline them each meal and I never saw a CM protest that at all. They have a lot of wipes to hand out, so they are just trying to get it to you as quickly as possible so that you can have it if you want it. Have a great trip!

Like I said, haven't been on DCL, but I have definitely judged on other lines for not using sanitizer and strongly encouraged to do it.

So true. Hand sanitizer or wet wipes is a requirement in our family after touching buffet utensils! [UGH, the things I have seen -- like the kid on Carnival who came in off the pool deck and was washing his hands at the soda station using the water button!!!]

This is why I try to use napkins to touch any shared utensils anywhere. I don't believe that hand sanitizer helps, nor does it make my hands feel clean, but the utensils are definitely .

 

[jrabbit]

The Wonder also has the hand washing stations.

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