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Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten #90704
03/18/2016 11:18 AM
03/18/2016 11:18 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline OP
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Florida
The Norwegian Gem was due to dock in St Maarten this morning, 3/18. We have a few friends on board the ship and they told us 68 passengers were sick with GI issues after the stop in San Juan. Numerous announcements were being given to wash and sanitize your hands frequently. The Gem was originally held off shore while health officials from St Maarten held discussions with the crew. After a couple of hours of discussion, the Norwegian Gem was denied entry to St Maarten and the ship has since departed to Tortola.

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Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: wilsonck] #90705
03/18/2016 11:32 AM
03/18/2016 11:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
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Dansc Offline
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Dansc  Offline
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Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
what with the Sonesta thing going on i can see them wanting to be extra cautious! Sorry youre friends are caught up in it!

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: wilsonck] #90706
03/18/2016 11:41 AM
03/18/2016 11:41 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Wow, sorry your friends got caught up in this situation and did not get to SXM as a result! I hope they do not get sick. I wonder whether they will be able to dock in Tortola or not..


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90707
03/18/2016 11:47 AM
03/18/2016 11:47 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
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Dansc Offline
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Dansc  Offline
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norwalk, ct
somebody is going to need to let them dock at least for fuel and supplies

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Dansc] #90708
03/18/2016 11:53 AM
03/18/2016 11:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
I was just reading on Cruise Critic, that NCL seems to think that people got some bad water in San Juan, and that it's not noro, but I have no idea if they can test to determine what the exact cause is.


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90709
03/18/2016 12:20 PM
03/18/2016 12:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
SXMWendell Offline
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SXMWendell  Offline
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The next question is "Will Tortola health officials let them dock?"

SXM??? Wendell

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90710
03/18/2016 12:20 PM
03/18/2016 12:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
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Dansc Offline
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Dansc  Offline
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norwalk, ct
that is a very interesting excuse! never heard that one before!

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Dansc] #90711
03/18/2016 12:43 PM
03/18/2016 12:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Colorado and Sailing the World
Wow, that was very wise of Sint Maarten to turn the ship away. We saw the ship sitting offshore and thought it strange. Now we know why.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #90712
03/18/2016 03:47 PM
03/18/2016 03:47 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 71
Florida
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chicstersun Offline
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Posts: 71
Florida
We were on the Riviera on Feb 17th when it docked in St Maarten. There was Noro on the ship at that time. We got off the ship first thing. Shortly after getting off, disembarkation was suspended for several hours but was allowed to continue.


CHICSTERSUN Palm City, Florida
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Dansc] #90713
03/18/2016 08:58 PM
03/18/2016 08:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,106
Southport, North Carolina, US
candj Offline
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Southport, North Carolina, US
What Sonesta thing?


Fair winds and following seas!
SSN691-May She Ever Prowl The Seas in Defense of Human Freedom!
SSN787-Preserving Peace, Prepared for War
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: candj] #90714
03/18/2016 09:42 PM
03/18/2016 09:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Sonesta has been having some serious Noro issues in the past couple of months.


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90715
03/18/2016 09:55 PM
03/18/2016 09:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
EdB Offline
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EdB  Offline
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Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
It's not just at the Sonesta....its all over Maho, and most of the island. unfortunately, after two days of being miserable, finally am feeling like myself. It is a stomach bug, that just zaps all the strength, and stuff right out of your system. Was not fun....but fortunately it really lasted only a day and a half. Some pepcid tablets, which i always have, and some extra strength tylenol seemed to have done the trick.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: EdB] #90716
03/18/2016 10:20 PM
03/18/2016 10:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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I am sorry that you were sick, but glad you are feeling better. It may well be all over Maho, but I really don't think it's a problem over the whole island. Noro seems to be limited to very specific areas that have problems. Recently I have not seen any reports other than in the Maho area.


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: EdB] #90717
03/18/2016 10:25 PM
03/18/2016 10:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391
San Antonio
sumbeach Offline
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San Antonio
10 years ago or so, before the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises went belly up, We started a cruise in SXM. We departed Monday evening for Tortolla. Tuesday morning I woke up feeling bad and ended up being the sickest I had ever been, from about 6:00 AM till about noon, then I was fine. About a third of the passengers and crew ended up being sick, including the captain. They traced it back to a virus in SXM - they said every hospital bed on the island was full.


Dan
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: sumbeach] #90718
03/18/2016 10:28 PM
03/18/2016 10:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391
San Antonio
sumbeach Offline
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San Antonio
Meant to say Ed, you are correct. Whatever name they give it, it is not fun.


Dan
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90719
03/18/2016 11:52 PM
03/18/2016 11:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
EdB Offline
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EdB  Offline
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Boynton Beach, FL
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
I am sorry that you were sick, but glad you are feeling better. It may well be all over Maho, but I really don't think it's a problem over the whole island. Noro seems to be limited to very specific areas that have problems. Recently I have not seen any reports other than in the Maho area.


Carol.....i hate to disagree with you. According to people that i have chatted with on Orient the other day....the largest seems to be Maho area, but it has spread down into other areas.......loads of people are getting this bug......the druggists are having a field day. Also heard lots of people in Simpson Bay are also coming down with it. Funny thing, we brought purex along, and i personally have never washed my hands as often as i did last week....but to no avail. C'est la Vie. Glad I have a bit more than two weeks left to enjoy our second home. Oh...BTW.....they aren't using the words Noro.....just a stomach bug....so who knows if it's really Noro or not.....

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: wilsonck] #90720
03/19/2016 01:42 AM
03/19/2016 01:42 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 27
M
Macadoo Offline
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Hate to do this, but after reading this thread I felt I needed to do this... On two separate occasions last week, when we were on the island, someone in our party witnessed employees leaving the men's stalls in the restroom w/o washing their hands. Once at a casino and once at a restaurant. We had gone into have a cocktail before dinner at the restaurant and after seeing this we walked out. I did mention to the maitre d , on our way out, our experience and he immediately wanted names and would have fired the individual on the spot, my role in this was not to see somebody lose a job but I was just providing feedback for him. They no doubt need to do a better job of educating their workers, ala sonesta.......

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: SXMWendell] #90721
03/19/2016 07:50 AM
03/19/2016 07:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
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wilsonck Offline OP
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They were allowed to dock in Tortola this morning.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: wilsonck] #90722
03/19/2016 08:07 AM
03/19/2016 08:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
We've been on island one week now. Spent time in Maho at beginning of last week but didn't eat or drink anywhere there. So far we are not ill, nor have we run into anyone ill or saying they've been ill. Spent Friday morning at Le Zafir, ate there, walked the beach spoke to a couple staying at Beachside Villas she said she hasn't heard of any sickness.

I mention this because I'm the one who always catches whats going around. On the plane I wiped down the armrests, seatbelt, tray table with clorox wipes, having heard about Sonesta on this site. At grocery store bought spray Lysol and sprayed everything when we entered condo.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: EdB] #90723
03/19/2016 09:07 AM
03/19/2016 09:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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The thing is, just because you're staying in one area, doesn't mean that's where you picked up the bug. It could be anywhere. When I was on island at Regatta, I did eat at Fig, but until this situation dies down some, I don't think I personally would go anywhere near any restaurant in Maho.


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90724
03/19/2016 09:39 AM
03/19/2016 09:39 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Quote
Carol_Hill said:
The thing is, just because you're staying in one area, doesn't mean that's where you picked up the bug. It could be anywhere. When I was on island at Regatta, I did eat at Fig, but until this situation dies down some, I don't think I personally would go anywhere near any restaurant in Maho.


You are correct, Carol, in that the bug might be picked up anywhere, but since Ed is the third person I've personally known or known of staying in the Royal Islander/LaTerrasse/Sonesta area who has possibly experienced it over the past two to three weeks, much as I hate to say it, I think it might pay to be doubly cautious about this area of the island in particular right now. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: pat] #90725
03/19/2016 09:50 AM
03/19/2016 09:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,481
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That's kind of what I meant to say, but didn't say it correctly. Ed said that the illness is all over the island. What I was trying to say, badly, is that people staying in other areas of the island might have eaten somewhere in Maho and gotten the bug in Maho. So, the fact that someone was staying at Orient and got sick might mean that they got sick at Orient, or it MIGHT mean that they went somewhere in Maho and got sick.


Carol Hill
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: pat] #90726
03/19/2016 09:50 AM
03/19/2016 09:50 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
The_Lurker Offline
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Yes, I agree. I'm not even going to shop at the grocery store there in Maho.
Both my husband and I had it in SXM, maybe 2 years ago, and it is a mean virus! I already have a stomach condition, so I'm very nervous.
Hope things are improving there.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: The_Lurker] #90727
03/19/2016 02:52 PM
03/19/2016 02:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
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wilsonck Offline OP
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I've heard of unconfirmed reports of issues at Westin at Dawn Beach going back to December, so i don't think this issue is confined to Maho. Precautions should be taken anywhere.

There is a story on the Gem's issue on Friday at http://smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin...lic-health.html

Last edited by wilsonck; 03/19/2016 02:53 PM.
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: wilsonck] #90728
03/26/2016 07:56 AM
03/26/2016 07:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 129
Maine
PJP Offline
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PJP  Offline
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Maine
We are finishing our second week of a 3 week stay at Royal Islander. We have not been sick, nor have friends of ours here for 6 weeks, although another acquaintance of theirs was sick for 2 days. We are careful about hand washing and othe safety procedures. The resort is busy with lots of people around the pool, all seemingly healthy. However, a resort employee did warn us that a "virus" was going around and to be careful.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Carol_Hill] #90729
03/26/2016 09:42 AM
03/26/2016 09:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
the captain Offline
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the Long Island
HOLY CRAP! You guys just added up everything for us here.

We were at La Terasse in January and left a day prior to Storm Jonas, trying to beat the storm home to NY.

While on the AA flight, someone was sick in the rear of the plane. Upon landing in MIAMI(NY connection was cancelled), my daughter woke up w/ a 24 hr bug, became a VOMINATRIX.

Within 24 hrs of her getting sick, my son and I got it. Then the family we were staying with in MIA all got hit later that week.

Now it all adds up. Likely Norovirus spread on the plane from a Sonesta visitor.


WILD.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: the captain] #90730
03/26/2016 09:58 AM
03/26/2016 09:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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Ohio
Here is a prior discussion.


J.D.
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: ruralcarrier] #90731
03/26/2016 10:34 AM
03/26/2016 10:34 AM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 331
Detroit Area
Mantas Offline
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Detroit Area
I always thought food poisoning was like a bomb going off in your body......that is until I got Noro (which is like a wmd). Luckily both of these horrific illnesses only last a day or two. My heart goes out to people who catch it on their vacation. Many people only make large trips every 10 years or so when they save money or for special occasions in life.....such a shame to build up a vacation in your mind and then be absolutely miserable.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: Mantas] #90732
03/26/2016 10:43 AM
03/26/2016 10:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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Having had both actual food poisoning and Campylobacter (Google the term if interested), it is not something I would wish on anyone. Campylobacter can last from 2-10 days, trust me, I know.


J.D.
Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: ruralcarrier] #90733
03/26/2016 02:47 PM
03/26/2016 02:47 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
the captain Offline
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Just read the other link, ruralcarrier. I think it was noro.

It was nuts w our daughter. She fell soundly asleep. When we got in bed next to her, she casually got up and without warning, she became Linda Blair. All through the night.


We never ventured to Sonesta, but that sick kid on our AA flight doomed us.

Re: Norwegian Gem Turned Away from St Maarten [Re: the captain] #90734
03/26/2016 02:55 PM
03/26/2016 02:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
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...without the head spinning I hope.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Hangover.gif" alt="" />


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