Was I Wrong To Suggest That A Fellow Passenger Wash Their Hands Last Week?

[IanHardacre 6]

Advice please.

Last week on Arcadia's fjord cruise I observed a number of (male) passengers using the loos and not washing their hands, so finally I suggested to one that washing his hands might be a good idea (yes that politely!)

I was subjected to a torrent of abuse along the lines that he was fed up by being told to wash his hands by P&O and he'd wash them if he wanted to and that he didn't want to and most of all I should mind my own business (expletives and repetitions deleted)

 

Should I have just ignored him or is there a way of asking that would not offend?

PS Last time I was on Arcadia (May 2012) we had a serious outbreak of norovirus - hence my concern

[roseyroo 77]

you would think an adult wouldnt need telling to wash their hands after using the bathroom

[Guest shilly3191]

lets hope he reads this forum or anyone that does and dont wash thier hands after using the bathroom are totally ashamed of themselves and their filthy habits.

[Waves49 51]

Must admit I haven't seen any ladies not washing their hands but some just rinse under the tap which isn't much better is it!

[doratheexplorer 90]

I can't think of any way you could ask an adult to was their hands without subjecting yourself to abuse, when my kids were young they would do this for me as they always commented if someone was leaving the toilets without washing their hands ( out of the mouth of babes ) i would just smile to myself

[Tally 390]

First of all I find it absolutely disgusting that someone would not wash their hands after going to the loo. I think you were quite brave to point it out to the passenger, but I'm not sure there is a way to tell someone to wash their hands. It's no wonder the norovirus thrives with filthy people like this. It makes you despair sometimes at certain peoples attitude doesn't it? 

[Waves49 51]

I can't think of any way you could ask an adult to was their hands without subjecting yourself to abuse, when my kids were young they would do this for me as they always commented if someone was leaving the toilets without washing their hands ( out of the mouth of babes ) i would just smile to myself

 

sorry I just had this mental picture of someone standing by whilst some chappy washed his hands and then said 'oh well done'

Ok that's my daft post for the day 

[Blackiesbird 19]

Offend or please, if I saw a fellow passenger not washing their hands I would say something. can't help myself, I'm afraid.

However on a recent cruise my husband saw an elderly man put his walking stick next to the urinal with the foot of the walking stick underneath the urinal. Although he did wash his hands when he had finished he then left the toilets, went to the lift and used the foot of the walking stick to press the button to call the lift!!

[Pesky Pirate 162]

Some people are disgusting…. 

[Northern Star 166]

Offend or please, if I saw a fellow passenger not washing their hands I would say something. can't help myself, I'm afraid.

However on a recent cruise my husband saw an elderly man put his walking stick next to the urinal with the foot of the walking stick underneath the urinal. Although he did wash his hands when he had finished he then left the toilets, went to the lift and used the foot of the walking stick to press the button to call the lift!!

Yuk!

Just as well I never use the lifts on board any ship ..the stairs help ward off the extra pounds!

[cruise chef 865]

i applaude your stance and not meaning to sound harsh in anyway but he should be confined to his cabin with a severe dose of Noro Virus!!!!!!!  that will be the only way he learns, you teach children to wash their hands obviously he has regressed back to being the terrible 2's

[Sailaway 21]

I can't believe how disgusting people are - I bet he'd one of the first to make a complaint if he contracted norovirus from a fellow passenger who too had the same hygiene regime as him!

[enrique 16]

i can't believe adults dont wash their hands, its just a case of cleanliness, i have seen some women not wash their hands too, i admit i only use hot water but im allergic to most liquid soaps, however my squeezy hand sanitizer is always in my bag and used EVERY time i visit the toilet,  people that do not wash are never the ones who get ill!!!

[vamp23 77]

It is people like that, that cause norovirus and the ship gets the blame. That person should have known better . I bet he would be the first person to complain if he or family member was taken ill .

[Tally 390]

Offend or please, if I saw a fellow passenger not washing their hands I would say something. can't help myself, I'm afraid.

However on a recent cruise my husband saw an elderly man put his walking stick next to the urinal with the foot of the walking stick underneath the urinal. Although he did wash his hands when he had finished he then left the toilets, went to the lift and used the foot of the walking stick to press the button to call the lift!!

I have seen people do that and it annoys me so much ( I mean use their walking stick to press the lift button). I rarely use the lift but if I do I use a tissue(clean) or a wet wipe to press the button. I'm amazed so many people use their fingers, you NEVER know who or what has just touched it  . 

[richardh 44]

It is the same classic response when you honk poor driving and the offender suggests it is you that has the problem.

 

Fact is people in this country take criticism very very badly and tend to go on the offensive. My wife last week suggested a child should stop kicking a dog and his father appeared and said 'f*ck off b*tch' to my wife strongly suggesting where the child learned his poor behaviour from.

 

I applaud you commenting on this unacceptable demonstration of disrespect for other passengers.

[Maddie3 55]

Some people should know better! it doesnt cost anything to stay clean

[naamah 29]

Re the man using his stick to press the lift buttons, I agree it's disgusting but think of those who use the handrails without having washed?????

[cruisingsal 0]

I agree with all the above posts - but are we ever going to change these habits of ignorant people?

 We have tried to minimise the spread of infection by using our spoon from our wrapped cutlery to serve ourselves from the buffet - bet your life those people who come straight from the loo without washing hands will go straight in to the buffet and touch every spoon in every dish - yuk.

[Rum+Sun 96]

TOP TIP ALWAYS CARRY HAND SANTIZER INCASE YOU SEE ANY OF THE ' GERM SPREADERS ' ABOUT!

[James Ikpeme 4]

I Once saw an adult use his finger to scrape the remnants of sticky toffee pudding off the serving spoon. He then licked his finger, and put the spoon back into the pudding basin. I was surprised he did not lick the spoon as well.

[Popsicle 295]

The non washers will most likely be the most vocal if/when an outbreak of NV occurs!!!

 

Disgusting, lazy & totally avoidable.

[ron 606]

Some people will never learn no matter how hard everyone else tries, and it only takes one dirty person to affect everyone else

[iknowlescourier 207]

I never touch the hand rails and press lift buttons with my knuckles. And if I see a guy walking out of the toilets having not washed his hands, I shout out to him "wash your hands, you dirty #*****#" (if he's not as big as me, that is).

[june63 107]

It just proves the point that it is not the fault of the Cruise Lines when they get an out break of N.V.

You were very brave to point out the error of his ways but I doubt whether I would have had the guts to do that.

David