Do you enjoy meeting the captain on each of your cruises? While meeting the captain is a highlight for most cruise passengers, one cruise line has added a no-shake policy between the captain and passengers according to ABC News.
Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises added the no handshake rule between passengers, the captain, and a few other crew members as a preventative health measure. This official policy, which is now in affect, is due to norovirus concerns and for the health of captain and crew members. While he is more than happy to meet passengers, he just won’t be shaking their hands.
The cruise line released a statement saying that they “maintain exemplary sanitation standards and facilitate preventive measures in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control recommendations, including thorough disinfection of public areas, and high touch surfaces like railings, door handles, and elevator buttons”.
Many media outlets unfairly label norovirus as a “cruise sickness”. However, the virus is easily spread anywhere groups of people are confined to tight quarters. This includes schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and dorm rooms. According to John Bradberry, a former Medical director for Carnival Cruise Line, 80% of infectious diseases can be spread via a hand shake. He said that the policy won’t prevent norovirus, but it will help reduce the risk significantly.
Why not wear white gloves? Or would that still not solve the problem?