Topic: Gastro Outbreak on Boudicca

I understand that there is a different level of cleaning that takes place when ships move from Europe to USA. We were talking to some members of the crew on the last european voyage prior to the ship completing its repositioning cruise. They explained that the US Authorities board the ship prior to it docking in the US and their inspection regime is very very strict. They explained that during the crossing they would be all performing a deep clean. She explained that the chemicals used make some of the staff ill they are that strong. We asked was it the same when the ship returned to UK / European waters in April and she said we are far more 'relaxed' about things and do not inspect the ship in the same thorough way. Perhaps this would explain why we seem to hear about the virus and read very little about the virus on US / Caribbean sailings. Just a thought. Vinny

VinnyTurner, Dukinfield;
.............................................. Perhaps this would explain why we seem to hear about the virus and read very little about the virus on US / Caribbean sailings. Just a thought. Vinny

The US/Caribbean sailings do get hit by the dreaded virus. The reason we don't read much about it is that they are several thousand miles away and not docking in a UK port with mainly British passengers on board.

The Carribean sailings also have problems, but as Harvey said, it's not news over here.

Digging thru the documentation for my last cruise, on Caribbean Princess
I came across a one-sheet Health Information advisory that I never even read!

I suppose I'm like most people, who take this sort of thing for granted..
until this current discussion, which has brought all sorts of factors to light.



The advisory contained some interesting pointers:

* Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 secs.
and rinse them well under running water. Please do this as often as possible.

* Use the alcohol hand gel after hand washing, and always before eating in the buffet
(-but not in the dining room? Hmmm...)

* Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in a trash bin after you use it.
If no tissues are immediately available, sneeze or cough into the the top of your arm,
rather than your hands!


I thought that last suggestion to be be clever and helpful..
.

QUOTE:

I understand that there is a different level of cleaning that takes place
when ships move from Europe to USA.

We were talking to some members of the crew on the last European voyage
prior to the ship completing its repositioning cruise.

They explained that the US Authorities board the ship prior to it docking in the US
and their inspection regime is very very strict.


We asked was it the same when the ship returned to UK / European waters in April
and she said we are far more 'relaxed' about things
and do not inspect the ship in the same thorough way.

Perhaps this would explain why we seem to hear about the virus
and read very little about the virus on US / Caribbean sailings.
Just a thought. ===> More than just a thought, Vinny..
..this points up a big disparity in inspection standards!

Thanks for the pertinent thought Vinny,
but most of us prefer to ignore the difference in thoroughness of inspection.

I was simply relaying what we were told (by more than one member of staff). I accept that the distance may relate to the lack of reporting, however, FO also cruise the caribbean and whilst they are cruising there (with thier mainly british passengers) you do not hear of the same outbreaks. Even to FO reviews for the caribbean do not mention the virus. I may be reading to much into this but if there are differences between the hygiene regimes of the US and Europe and from the discussion I had there clearly is, could this leave the UK sailings more open to the virus if the cruiseline, in an effort to reduce costs, relaxes the cleaning regime whilst in European waters?

QUOTE:

I was simply relaying what we were told (by more than one member of staff).
I accept that the distance may relate to the lack of reporting,
however, FO also cruise the Caribbean and whilst they are cruising out there
(with their mainly British passengers) you do not hear of the same outbreaks.

Even the FO reviews for the Caribbean do not mention the virus.

I may be reading to much into this but
if there are differences between the hygiene regimes of the US and Europe
-and from the discussion I had, there clearly is-
could this leave the UK sailings more open to the virus if the cruiseline,
in an effort to reduce costs, relaxes the cleaning regime whilst in European waters?

Sooner or later Vinny
the economically-inconvenient message will get through!
.

Has Fred purchased a hospital in Kent four wards are shut because of the virus or will he just get the blame for it as he called at Dover?

QUOTE:

I was simply relaying what we were told (by more than one member of staff). I accept that the distance may relate to the lack of reporting, however, FO also cruise the caribbean and whilst they are cruising there (with thier mainly british passengers) you do not hear of the same outbreaks. Even to FO reviews for the caribbean do not mention the virus. I may be reading to much into this but if there are differences between the hygiene regimes of the US and Europe and from the discussion I had there clearly is, could this leave the UK sailings more open to the virus if the cruiseline, in an effort to reduce costs, relaxes the cleaning regime whilst in European waters?

Norovirus sometimes known as Winter Vomiting Virus :o

Could the clue be in Winter