Bathroom Question... - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Texashorselady · 04-12-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCcruiser

Julie, that's the first letter of the word Zhena, which is woman in Russian. It's usually written Zh in English, but it is much easier to pronounce. It's like the French J, or like the S in the English word "pleasure".

Thank you! Oh how I wish I'd know that back then!

I stared at it for the longest time trying to decide which door to choose...the men's room had some other cryptic symbol that didn't look any more or less correct than this one. I chose this one as a wild guess...but I think maybe I was slightly influenced by the shape, since it tapered in like a woman's figure !!

jstducky · 04-12-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCcruiser

Julie, that's the first letter of the word Zhena, which is woman in Russian. It's usually written Zh in English, but it is much easier to pronounce. It's like the French J, or like the S in the English word "pleasure".

No wonder you're the research lizard!!!

TerilynnS · 05-26-2006, 12:55 PM

MC - You're the best.

Alisa. Toilets in the Baltic were fine. As Julie recommended, bring the covers though, especially for Russia. We only came across ONE pay toilet in St. Petersburg. They took US $. (Really no surprise there.) The "guards" at that toilet were really, really mean though. Two older women who watched you like a hawk.....they could have been nuns from my old catholic school!

I brought toilet paper, but never needed it.

Party Life · 05-13-2009, 12:04 PM

Washroom facilities throughout Europe are awful compared to the US.

When we go out shopping in the UK at the weekend, I just hate using the loos as you feel you need a shower afterwards and we are supposed a forward country!

Don't get me started on France (my in-laws live there). Toilets don't exist for females end of.

Going to Disneyland in Florida (years ago now) my hubby was ill and he would have wanted to have come home but for the excellent standard of hygiene there.

I remember in St Petersburg there was no loo paper, no lock on the door and that was in a "proper" hotel.

Take some wet wipes, a decent loo roll (or part of) and some of the hand wash gel wherever you go throughout the Med and you won't go wrong. I do this as norm now.

MCcruiser · 05-15-2009, 01:00 AM

Party Life, I never had the problems with loos in the UK that you have, but you obviously have more experience than me!

Women should note that in Turkey and the former USSR, they may come across toilets that are simply depressions with a hole in the floor. You may see marks for where to put your feet, but other than that, you might not guess what they are for. It can be very disconcerting to say the least.
Here is an example:

Char · 05-15-2009, 08:46 AM

Is there a rail in front of the "depression" to hold on to? If not, I can imagine this would be a very difficult situation for elderly women.

MCcruiser · 05-15-2009, 10:18 AM

Char, I never saw a rail. I imagine most of the women who grew up using thsese had their hands full holding up clothing so it wouldn't get splashed. (Sorry for the visual.

) These were not the cleanest or freshest smelling facilities either.

luckybluesman · 05-16-2009, 02:23 AM

We have a product in Sweden called Alcogel. It is a liquid hand disinfectant and does not require a towel to dry. It comes in a small plastic bottle for travel. The larger size is found in all the bathrooms in hospitals in Sweden and I use it at home also. We always travel with this and toilet paper. When we stayed on Santorini we were not permitted to flush the toilet paper. We packed 1 liter plastic bags to deal with this. My wife has experienced some dirty toilets and even a stand up toilet. Some kind of hole in the floor. But when you gotta go, you gotta go.