Illness onboard?

On the face of it, cruise liners are the height of luxury, the high-end of the holiday market, waking up in a new and glamourous location everyday and enjoying first class service everynight - but when you scratch beneath the surface what's actually there? Since the smoking ban many a struggling pub has re-invented into itself into what many term as Gastro pub. With fancy menus describing food with such spin that would make  Alistair Campbell proud. Once you are over the distraction of the fancy new décor with flowered wallpaper you realise that whatever Gallic flavour is given to describe food such as “sausage and mash” is it still just that. Often I feel the only difference is the price tag  and leave such re-vamped places wondering if the food was actually any better than it was in the previous albeit dingier place. I know for a fact that my wallet feels lighter when leaving, coupled with the thought I had paid double for the ambience of the new looking place but doubting I got better quality food? You might be thinking - what has this got to do with travel? Well, traditionally I consider cruising as the height of luxury. I have Cruised once so far going around the Caribbean and plan to cruise again some day because I loved it. Cruises are expensive holidays, albeit there is speculation price cuts in light of the recent tragedy on the Costa Concordia are to come.  My experience albeit wonderful and positive was that it did not meet my expectation of the height of luxury. The cruise ship was indeed glitzy and the décor was magnificent and modern but on the other hand there was buffet style food available and fast food sections serving burgers and pizzas. More after a nightclub feel.  There was also a fine dining area and it was marketed that the alternatives I mentioned were for those who did not want to dress up. My colleagues and I  have represented many people that have contracted and suffered from illness on board cruise ships. We have had clients who have experienced the glamour and luxury of a cruise liner but had that enjoyment curtailed due to illness suffered whilst on board. Due to illness, which often gets labelledd as gastrooenteritis they might have spent most of their time inside their cabin room in the bathroom using up the medication they hoped they would never need. Cruise ships are large environments catering for a large number of guests and staff who all live and work on board. Virus and illness  can spread like wildfire. Cruise liner operators have an obligation to have preventive procedures in place as well plans of action when there is an outbreak. The operators don’t always get it right. When something as major as Ship sinking can occur you can easily see how the smaller things like for example food preparation and storage can be overlooked. Don't get me wrong, problems are very much the exception, but when they do occur, it's not always just one of those things. The moral of my ramblings is that paying more does not necessary you mean you get better quality of food but at least it looks nicer, well unless you are ill that is. For more information you can visit the website!