anyone else ill?

[newomary]

Hi, I boarded Azura for a 14-night cruise round Canaries on 24 Febuary 2024. Staff and service were excellent and my cabin was spacious and clean. Excursions were good and reasonably priced.
Unfortunately by Tuesday afternoon began feeling unwell enough not to go down to the Oriental restauarant for dinner. Shortly after I was violently sick iwice - and I can't sress hightly enough the 'violently'. Phoned reseption who confined me to cabin and was phone-contacted by nurse. Stayed confined for 3 and half days! Can't praise highly enough the special housekeeping team Philip and his mate who were always cheerful and helpful. But I'd only used my own cabin loo, washed hands thoroughly, and I blamed the food - the report for my travel insurance said 'gastroenteritis and colitis' But who can prove anything !??

newomary

[Mervyn and Trish]

From your description of the symptoms it sounds very much like norovirus to me, and if so nothing to do directly with the food. It's rife in the UK at the moment. From the timing it is possible you picked it up from another person before boarding, in the UK or on the plane, or from another passenger who'd brought it on board. Despite your sensible precautions it is incredibly infectious. As you say no-one can prove anything either way. However, our daughter had it recently and she's not been near a cruise ship for 18months. Just hope you are feeling better now.

[barney]

Norovirus.
It’s been reported that it was on the ship and they implemented their protocols.
It’s awful for those suffering but it’s not unusual in the winter, both on ships and land holidays.
Bad hygiene is the obvious cause.
We’ve all seen people leaving the toilet without washing hands. I’ve personally seen blokes leave the cubicle then open the door without washing hands.
It’s disgusting but far too commonplace.
I never touch a door handle if it’s avoidable and avoid crowded lifts and public spaces.
Fortunately, we’ve never succumbed.

[Stephen]

And as much as you feel like making a comment about it to them, it’s just not worth the hassle. They’re usually too thick to take it onboard and would no doubt just resort to abuse. Who needs the hassle when you are in a confined space and would now doubt bump into them again.


Welcome to the forum newomary

[oldbluefox]

We've not been so lucky on the norovirus front. We've have had it once and never want to have it again.

However it's not surprising when you really look at some of the practices of those on board. It's not just the lack of washing hands by both men and women you will also see walking sticks placed on tables to 'reserve' a place (I dread to think where else those sticks may have been! ), handbags put on tables, children in nappies sitting on tables, walking sticks used to press the lift buttons...........the list is endless.

It's not just a matter of washing hands but being aware of the danger spots. Use knuckles to call for a lift, avoid putting hand to mouth, eyes or nose and using hand sanitiser after you have got your food and sprinkled salt and pepper. We are now ultra careful and feel sympathy for the crew who go to such lengths to keep norovirus at bay only to be thwarted by some dirty so-and-sos spreading their germs all over everywhere.

[Ray B]

Cleanliness goes with tidiness. If you have no feelings on how you turn out with your appearance because you can't be bothered, washing your hands may go the same way.
So yes foxy , you summed it up correctly on how it is.

[Portsmouth]

Sailed on the Azura from Malta in April. No sign of norovirus but as others above have said, sometimes some of our fellow passengers showed a lack of hand washing or using hand sanitizer stations. Pressing lift buttons always used a knuckle rather than my fingers.

[towny44]

Whilst I always ensure I thoroughly wash my hands regularly, especially after visiting the toilet, I certainly don't go out of my way to rigorously try to avoid contact with any public surfaces, especially hand rails. I think it's far more likely that I would fall and break a leg, than catch noro, I like to try and keep my immune system on top form by feeding it the occasional germ or two, and so far on over 40 cruises I have never caught Noro, and only once come back with Covid after a cruise.

[Onelife]

This will no doubt come across cruel and rude but when you consider the size, mobility and age of many of the passenger’s this has to be a contributing factor as to why cruise ships are more susceptible to norovirus spread.

[Stephen]

It’s a fact of life.
So many people in a confined space it’s inevitable some are going to succumb to some form of illness. All you can do is look after yourself.

[david63]

hen you consider the size, mobility and age of many of the passenger’s this has to be a contributing factor as to why cruise ships are more susceptible to norovirus spread.

That is total rubbish - one of the most common places for catching Noro is hospitals and they are equally as bir, if not bigger, have a more diverse age of people visiting and I have no idea where mobility comes into this.

[Onelife]

hen you consider the size, mobility and age of many of the passenger’s this has to be a contributing factor as to why cruise ships are more susceptible to norovirus spread.

That is total rubbish - one of the most common places for catching Noro is hospitals and they are equally as bir, if not bigger, have a more diverse age of people visiting and I have no idea where mobility comes into this.

I think you should read your post again and think about what you have posted, in particular why Hospitals are more prone to infections.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Noro is incredibly easily transmitted. That is why it is prevalent in closed communities, such as cruise ships, hospitals, residential homes, offices, schools etc. It is also very clever. People are infectious before they have symptoms and for a couple of days after they think they are okay. Its transmission has little to do with age, mobility or size. I've had it twice, both many years ago, once in a 5 star hotel and once at home. In neither case did I or the people around me fall into any if those categories.

The main factors in cruise ship spread are the number of people in a relatively small space, the disgusting toilet habits of a few who can spread it to many, and the selfishness and dishonesty of those who would rather spread it further than spoil their own holiday confined to their cabin, so don't report symptoms to the medical staff and are out and about passing it on before they are fully fit.

[Onelife]

Size…Hygiene after toileting can be challenging for patients who are obese.

Mobility/Age…As a person ages, declining mobility and other conditions, such as dementia, may affect the ability to maintain personal hygiene.

[david63]

Size…Hygiene after toileting can be challenging for patients who are obese.

Mobility/Age…As a person ages, declining mobility and other conditions, such as dementia, may affect the ability to maintain personal hygiene.

So what is your excuse for the many young people without declining mobility or conditions such as dementia who do not maintain personal hygiene by, for example, not washing their hands after using the toilet?

[Onelife]

Size…Hygiene after toileting can be challenging for patients who are obese.

Mobility/Age…As a person ages, declining mobility and other conditions, such as dementia, may affect the ability to maintain personal hygiene.

So what is your excuse for the many young people without declining mobility or conditions such as dementia who do not maintain personal hygiene by, for example, not washing their hands after using the toilet?

They of course are another contributing factor as to why infections get passed on.

[oldbluefox]

I've had norovirus onboard and I definitely do not want it again. I am amazed just how lax people are when it comes to the spread of germs and viruses. Young and old are guilty of not hand washing after using the loo but they are not the only culprits. The buffet must be a haven for spreading the unmentionables not just from dirty hands but from handbags and walking sticks laid on tables (God knows where they have been) plus cute little babies sat on them. It doesn't bear thinking about.
Consequently we take the health advice very seriously with frequent hand washing and use of sanitiser especially before eating bearing in mind these people use the tongs and servers to get their food and then the condiments to spice it up. Not neurotic about it but I could be bearing in mind what I see and it's not just the old ones. My wife says well dressed, manicured and coiffured ladies in full make up are some of the worst for walking out of the loo without washing hands so it's not just men either.
And I also use knuckles to press lift buttons especially after seeing one chap call the lift by using the end of his walking stick!!

[Portsmouth]

especially after seeing one chap call the lift by using the end of his walking stick!!

I've also seen this done. They think they are staying safe by using their stick this way but don't realize how unhygienic it is for the next person pressing the button. They forget what there walking stick may have pushed down in, like old animal poo .....Ugh !

[Stephen]

That’s it I’m getting a haz chem suit.