No more handshaking on Crystal Cruises to limit norovirus

Fist bumps and finger guns rule the Captain’s greeting line on Crystal Cruises. The luxury line is, according  to ABC News, employing a no handshake policy to keep norovirus at bay.

Crystal Cruises has a no-shake rule for the captain, in addition to other “preventative measures” when it comes to health and safety on board its ships.

 “The safety and health of our guests and crew is paramount at Crystal Cruises. We maintain exemplary sanitation standards and facilitate preventive measures in accordance with Centers for Disease Control recommendations, including thorough disinfection of public areas, and high-touch surfaces like railings, door handles and elevator buttons,” the cruise line said in a statement to ABC News. 

“Other measures involve encouraging guests to use the complimentary anti-bacterial wipes before boarding the ship. And while the captain is very pleased to meet all our guests, he refrains from shaking hands as an additional preventive measure.”

I’d want to see data on the antibacterial wipes efficacy against human norovirus before employing them as a control measure.

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About Ben Chapman

Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of less foodborne illness, his group designs, implements, and evaluates food safety strategies, messages, and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, Chapman investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben co-hosts a biweekly podcast called Food Safety Talk and tries to further engage folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and, maybe not surprisingly, Pinterest. Follow on Twitter @benjaminchapman.