I think I am about to throw up just reading these posts!! I am gagging now!! How would you like the job of emptying the sewer bilge tanks on one of those floating rabbit hutches? OMG!!!
They actually process their sewage...the modern cruise ships are quite amazing with the infrastructure, power, water, sewage, etc;
I will say this: Without trying to sound like I’m touting the idea of a cruise, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people go on them with no problems. I think they are a good vacation value, but they are such a value for folks who like having everything done for them. IF you are the type who likes to visit museums and local things or take day trips, the costs mount as you have to buy those things and you’re quite limited if you have a 5-hour port stay. And, by the way, if you’re late to the ship, they will NOT wait for you; so you really have to go the cruise-line sponsored day trips where they know that 33 people are late, all on the same bus. THEN they will wait.
For the Caribbean, they are pretty good, because if you are food-sensitive, you can control what you eat by eating on the ship.
Ultimately, my admonition about washing your hands is like having a guard on a power saw. You have the guard in place even if you’ve used the saw for 30 years because the one time you get complacent.....