Puke Ship, Worst Trip

Item: Independence of the Seas
Rating: 1.9
Author: amberjdlewis

Independence of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

amberjdlewis

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 55

Overall rating:

1.9 out of 5

Verified Review

5 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 11, 2017

Ship: Independence of the Seas

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 2674

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

I want a refund. We saved thousands of dollars to take our children on an epic adventure and instead they, along with hundreds of others, were made ill. And the attempt to redirect blame to inefficient hand washing is offensive.

Embarkation

2 out of 5

Expected more of a "celebration"

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Caused food poisoning to hundreds....so not great

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Bars were kind and entertaining when able to get away from puking children.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Fun at climbing wall the days those not vomiting could do it

Children's Programs

2 out of 5

Fun shows but grease and comedian were not appropriate

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Design fine. Cleanliness- the forced santizer couldn't distract from the smell and stories of puke

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Started great until it was covered in vomit

Ship tip

Don't.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

3 out of 5

Saw alligators

Thumbs Up 0

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

2 out of 5

Day of poisoning. Wet.

Thumbs Up 0

Falmouth, Jamaica

2 out of 5

Barely saw it due to needing to take turns in order to be available to the sick children

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

Fine. Ready to get off.

17 Comments

krob1218 6 years ago

im sorry this made me laugh, did u get on board looking for a babysitter?? u review on the bars seems as u were...bar was fun when able to get away from puking kids?!??!! are u speaking of your kids...could never imagine being mad because my sick kid, regardless how they got sick inconvienced my need to hit the bar?!?!?! am i missing something here??

Thumbs Up 3

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rpcorvo 6 years ago

It wasn’t that bad. We didn’t get sick either. The crew was great and supportive. Of course they had to take extra precautions, and not serving fruit is one of them. Someone got on that ship knowing they were sick, not RC’s fault. We made the best of it, very careful not to touch thinks, and if we did to wash and sanitize immediately. It could have been much worse, but the RC crew made it better. Thank you RC.

Thumbs Up 2

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Travelwizard1 6 years ago

So sad CoriO.

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CoriO 6 years ago

This cruise was horrible and no one in my party got sick! The service was terrible from the beginning. Other passengers vomiting and soiling themselves uncontrollably near elevators and in guest services line was the icing on the cake. I do feel we should be compensated somehow because while it is not the cruiseline's fault, we could't do many things, like have drinks with fresh fruit or ANY fresh fruit for that matter, kids couldn't go to camp as they wanted to, arcade was closed, etc. It put a major damper on the entire cruise, not to mention fearing becoming ill and obsessively washing our hands 40 times a day. The crew put so much sanitizer on the cabin door handles that one of ours shorted and we couldn't get in the cabin for over an hour until security and maintenance came to unlock door and replace key card mechanism.

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vickylo 6 years ago

Sorry to hear you was sick. Hope you are all ok now

Thumbs Up 2

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GospelCruiser 6 years ago

And it's not like sick people can cancel their flight and cruise,it costs to much money!

Thumbs Up 1

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faithman43 6 years ago

Me personally I never touch door handles,public toilet seats or handles,etc. without a paper towel. Keep a few in your pocket/purse and you can throw them away when done. I’ve seen too many people “wash” their hands to do otherwise!

Thumbs Up 2

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Sarahs58 6 years ago

The cruise lines do their best to clean and sanitize the ship but with the best will in the world they cannot stop people bringing illness on board. How many people who have looked forward to a cruise for many months are going to own up on the health questionnaire that they have been in contact with illness before going on board. How many people have you all seen walking out of the public restrooms without bothering to wash their hands. The best way is to use the bathroom in your own cabin whenever possible , go to the MDR rather than the Windjammer if there is an outbreak on board and as said before you can never wash your hands too many times.

Thumbs Up 5

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Castiel 6 years ago

Dramatic, much?

Thumbs Up 3

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JusMe 6 years ago

I always pack Lysol wipes to clean down all the things in the cabin I touch.... door knobs, phone, tv remote, light switches, cabinet pulls and the bathroom. With this and washing my hands often I have only gotten stomach issue on one of about 30 cruises.

Thumbs Up 3

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Travelwizard1 6 years ago

I only ever became ill while on a cruise once. Many years ago while we were at Labadee for the day. Had to be something I ate or drank. Fortunately it only lasted 24 hours. But that kind of illness can really put a damper on your cruise. Sorry to hear that you guys had issues. I always wash my hands very frequently ( nurse) and use the hand sanitizer. Really difficult to police little ones so they don't get sick. They are always touching things and sticking their fingers in their mouths.

Thumbs Up 2

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twangster 6 years ago

Ships don't generate it. A passenger most likely brought it on board, maybe from a taxi, bus, airplane, church, school who knows. Sure it sucks, just like a high school is affected. Not the cruiselines fault.

Thumbs Up 3

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lab341 6 years ago

Tip: Unfortunate reminder to properly wash our hands everytime we touch something. Norovirus isn't killed by sanitizer or Clorox Wipes unless they are for Health Care.

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jsnyder2048 6 years ago

I’m so sorry for such a disappointing trip.

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markcross 6 years ago

Don't touch the elevator buttons bare handed, don't touch handrails bare handed and don't touch your face without washing and using hand sanitizer frequently, oh, and stop licking the door knobs

Thumbs Up 20

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karlee 6 years ago

Norovirus.. not food poisoning.. same as flu. Hand washing absolute nessecity

Thumbs Up 14

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funboomer47 6 years ago

I doubt there was any food poisoning. All cruiselines go through this every winter. It is cold and flu season and it is not the cruiselines fault. People come onboard already having the virus and spread it. Cruiselines have no obligation to compensate you.

Thumbs Up 17

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Other reviews of this sailing

I need a refund. My wife was sick aboard the ship as were hundreds others. Call me at 813.654.2656

Awful a viral infection affected hundreds of people including myself I was sick most of the trip vomiting and diarrhea

Major dissapointment