Cruising Without Masks?

[boscobeans]

7 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I don't wear a mask at the beach or park when I'm sitting in a lounge chair or blanket at home. I'm not paying good money only to have to wear it on the cruise all day and night. We book a balcony but I'm not confining myself to my room so I don't have to wear a mask. That's no better than being quarantined. 

There are now lots of videos on you tube with sailings on the Quantum as well as other ships.

They operate at 50% capacity and look deserted. Remember that Royal Caribbean can still turn a profit at 60% and 60% from what is now on video looks like an abandoned ship.

 

Lounge chairs by the pool and other outdoor areas do not require masks once you are seated.

The lounges are all socially distanced. You can sit with family as well without masks.

 

In the pools or hot tubs NO MASKS but there are limits to how many can be in the pools or soup pots at one time.

 

None when working out in the gym.

 

The same goes for the Theater, no masks once seated.

 

No masks for the shows in 270, once seated.

 

Lounges with bars have been set up so the seating fulfills social distancing requirement and no masks require once seated. 

 

Same rules apply to all the dining venues no masks required once seated.

 

And remember these sailings DO NOT require vaccinations.

 

I hope the C.D.C. is looking at the cruises going on now and learning something.. LOL

 

 

[broberts]

1 hour ago, coffeebean said:

When checking in, those people who are vaccinated will show proof of vaccination. Once it is determined that vaccinated people can not infect anyone, then and only then, a vaccinated person can board the ship with no mask and never need to wear a mask. Upon proving that said person is vaccinated, an ID bracelet will be placed on the person's wrist using a bright green color to signify that this person is "good to go" without a mask.

 

All others who board the ship without vaccination proof will need to wear a mask.

 

Anyone think this may work? At least I'm backing down a bit from my stance that all passengers and crew on cruise ships must be vaccinated.

 

Mask wearing is mostly to prevent an infected person spreading the virus. As far as I know it is not known definitively that the vaccinated cannot carry the virus in sufficient quantities to infect others. Also no vaccine is  100% effective so it is possible for a vaccinated person to contract the virus and thus able to pass it on.

 

We are a society that accepts dishonesty as the norm. It shouldn't be difficult to imagine that there will be those who will lie and even commit forgery to pass as vaccinated.

[jimdalva]

10 hours ago, Smiles1984 said:

It's interesting how people's attitudes land. In the UK there are very few situations where you're indoors or in close proximity with others outside of your home where mask wearing isn't the norm, and for most it's just not an issue. I'd rather be wearing a mask on a cruise than be wearing one in the supermarket, and I'd rather have a holiday than not.

 

It's also fascinating to me that this year there have been hardly any cases of flu or colds, likely down to a combination of social distancing and mask use. It's a very small thing we can all do some of the time to make a big difference to anyone, but the overwhelming majority on here say they won't. Compare that to the response to the knowledge a short while ago that there were private nude cruises where people sit on towels and everything is cleaned afterwards, and the outrage from quite a number about the hygiene implications of that. 

 

Not having a go, it just strikes me as ironic. 

We have been on those cruises. The Big Nude Boat!

 

 

[tonit964]

6 hours ago, ThirstyCruiser said:

I'm very interested to see how the first cruises from the USA especially from the northeast go.

I worry about the level of animosity on cruises where masks will be required. There will be too many people that won't comply once on board. Both sides of the issue will be fueled by the amount of money spent to be there, having their family with them, close proximity and lets add alcohol to the mix.

 

I think the cruiseline's max mandates will end sooner than planned due to all the issues they cause. I suppose some early reports of zero tolerance resulting in being put off at the next port may influence this, but the first cruises should be interesting. Count me out. I cruise to relax, not stress.

 

You touched on what I've been thinking all along. Once people are on board, they will push the mask wearing to the limit. After dining, taking time to put it back on, walking down the cabin hallways, people getting belligerent after drinking and refusing to put the mask back on, etc. I don't know how the staff would handle this. I just imagine it would be constant, not to mention passengers getting into over mask & no mask. We've all seen it in the grocery stores.

[jimdalva]

8 hours ago, billf0401 said:

We are booked on the Harmony of the Seas January, 2022...we will cancel if masks are required....Have completed the Moderna vaccine.....Life needs to return to normal....enough.

 

We also completed the Moderna vaccine, but remember with a few exceptions, only us people over 65 have been vaccinated . Over 100 other countries have ZERO vaccines. The whole world is in this together. We are still a ways from a return to normal.

[lauren0309]

We have both completed our series of vaccination. It is not even known if when we're vaccinated if we can still transmit the virus.  Every week is a different story as far as this virus goes. Since we got our vaccinations we feel much safer and have been going on with our lives as far as dining out, going to the gym, and traveling. We only wear masks if we enter a store that says masks required.  Otherwise, we're done with these masks already!

[Ashland]

4 minutes ago, lauren0309 said:

We have both completed our series of vaccination. It is not even known if when we're vaccinated if we can still transmit the virus.  Every week is a different story as far as this virus goes. Since we got our vaccinations we feel much safer and have been going on with our lives as far as dining out, going to the gym, and traveling. We only wear masks if we enter a store that says masks required.  Otherwise, we're done with these masks already!

This is a work in progress...not all specifics are completely known yet...we prefer to err on the side of caution especially in public spaces. We don't need to have a posted sign to tell us to. 

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, boscobeans said:

There are now lots of videos on you tube with sailings on the Quantum as well as other ships.

They operate at 50% capacity and look deserted. Remember that Royal Caribbean can still turn a profit at 60% and 60% from what is now on video looks like an abandoned ship.

 

Lounge chairs by the pool and other outdoor areas do not require masks once you are seated.

The lounges are all socially distanced. You can sit with family as well without masks.

 

In the pools or hot tubs NO MASKS but there are limits to how many can be in the pools or soup pots at one time.

 

None when working out in the gym.

 

The same goes for the Theater, no masks once seated.

 

No masks for the shows in 270, once seated.

 

Lounges with bars have been set up so the seating fulfills social distancing requirement and no masks require once seated. 

 

Same rules apply to all the dining venues no masks required once seated.

 

And remember these sailings DO NOT require vaccinations.

 

I hope the C.D.C. is looking at the cruises going on now and learning something.. LOL

 

 

That all sounds wonderful but let's remember the quantum is sailing out of singapore with singapore residents only and they have the virus well under control in their country.

The ships currently sailing in europe such as MSC Grandiosa out of Italy continue successful sailings.  Sure they have an occasional positive/sick person or 2 but their handling of everything works for me but doubt it will for our cdc.

[boscobeans]

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

That all sounds wonderful but let's remember the quantum is sailing out of singapore with singapore residents only and they have the virus well under control in their country.

The ships currently sailing in europe such as MSC Grandiosa out of Italy continue successful sailings.  Sure they have an occasional positive/sick person or 2 but their handling of everything works for me but doubt it will for our cdc.

Not all Singaporeans at all.  Many from all parts of the world. I have been watching them for a while, since they first left Singapore..

[Sunshine3601]

54 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

Not all Singaporeans at all.  Many from all parts of the world. I have been watching them for a while, since they first left Singapore..

Incorrect.

Rcl agreement with Singapore government is that only citizens of singapore are allowed to sail quantum ots sailings between november 30 2020 thru june 21 2021.

This is clearly stated on rcl website and news releases.  If you try to do a mock booking, it will tell you there too.

 

[lenquixote66]

21 hours ago, George C said:

I would bet lots of money that masks will not be required by November.

I would take that bet,George.

[lenquixote66]

On 2/27/2021 at 6:28 PM, handbellplayer said:

I would love to boo a cruise for late 2021 or early 2022.  DH says we will not book a cruise until we are sure we can cruise without masks. Best guesses as to when that will be? Not that it's relevant to the question, but we are both receiving our second vaccine a week from today.

July 2023. Solely out of curiosity what is a hand bell ?

[coffeebean]

4 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Mask wearing is mostly to prevent an infected person spreading the virus. As far as I know it is not known definitively that the vaccinated cannot carry the virus in sufficient quantities to infect others. Also no vaccine is  100% effective so it is possible for a vaccinated person to contract the virus and thus able to pass it on.

 

We are a society that accepts dishonesty as the norm. It shouldn't be difficult to imagine that there will be those who will lie and even commit forgery to pass as vaccinated.

Yes, I'm aware it is not proven yet that vaccinated people are not contagious but I surely hope that will be known, without a doubt, in the near future, one way or the other.

 

There is consideration for a Digital Vaccine Passport. Hopefully this will be forgery proof..........

Digital Vaccine Passport

 

 

Edited March 1, 2021 by coffeebean

[coffeebean]

4 hours ago, tonit964 said:

You touched on what I've been thinking all along. Once people are on board, they will push the mask wearing to the limit. After dining, taking time to put it back on, walking down the cabin hallways, people getting belligerent after drinking and refusing to put the mask back on, etc. I don't know how the staff would handle this. I just imagine it would be constant, not to mention passengers getting into over mask & no mask. We've all seen it in the grocery stores.

Agree. Things could get really ugly when alcohol is involved.

[Biker19]

5 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

I hope the C.D.C. is looking at the cruises going on now and learning something..

They didn't seem to have since sailings restarted last July. 

[suzyluvs2cruise]

1 hour ago, boscobeans said:

Not all Singaporeans at all.  Many from all parts of the world. I have been watching them for a while, since they first left Singapore..

 

Only Singapore residents can sail. Residents may originally be from "all parts of the world" but need to be current Singapore residents to sail. 

[boscobeans]

16 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Incorrect.

Rcl agreement with Singapore government is that only citizens of singapore are allowed to sail quantum ots sailings between november 30 2020 thru june 21 2021.

This is clearly stated on rcl website and news releases.  If you try to do a mock booking, it will tell you there too.

 

Thank you. I guess the people I have seen on YouTube were Ex-Pats living in Singapore... As to their citizenship ??

[tinkertwo]

We have sailings in October and I personally don't mind if there is a mask mandate.  With the number of people who say they will not sail if they need a mask, that could make our sailings a much nicer time.  Less people to via for the deck chairs, less people to take up wanted dinning reservations less people in the pools and my personal favorite, less people in the casino 🎰.  I can live with that.  😉

[Iamcruzin]

13 hours ago, jean87510 said:

amen.  Im currently in Cozumel and having a great time following mask rules where needed even with both doses but still independently able to go off on my own.  Its going to be really difficult to conform to rumored nanny state cruise ship rules after my mini vacations this year.  And getting harder to justify spending the vacation dollars on the rumored type of vacation.

Enjoy your trip in Cozumel. DW is vaccinated and I will receive the second moderna dose March 26th.  I will feel much better about traveling once I am fully vaccinated. However, I won't even look at cruising until it is well on its way. Too many variables  to consider from the time of booking until actual sailing like ship changes and itinerary changes.   Also I'm not interested in sailing on any ship for less than 9 days.  

[Iamcruzin]

7 hours ago, boscobeans said:

There are now lots of videos on you tube with sailings on the Quantum as well as other ships.

They operate at 50% capacity and look deserted. Remember that Royal Caribbean can still turn a profit at 60% and 60% from what is now on video looks like an abandoned ship.

 

Lounge chairs by the pool and other outdoor areas do not require masks once you are seated.

The lounges are all socially distanced. You can sit with family as well without masks.

 

In the pools or hot tubs NO MASKS but there are limits to how many can be in the pools or soup pots at one time.

 

None when working out in the gym.

 

The same goes for the Theater, no masks once seated.

 

No masks for the shows in 270, once seated.

 

Lounges with bars have been set up so the seating fulfills social distancing requirement and no masks require once seated. 

 

Same rules apply to all the dining venues no masks required once seated.

 

And remember these sailings DO NOT require vaccinations.

 

I hope the C.D.C. is looking at the cruises going on now and learning something.. LOL

 

 

I can live with that.  I can also live with having to wear them all over except while lounging on the sun deck.  

[Iamcruzin]

12 hours ago, mek said:

One of the reasons I'm not concerned about having to take a ship's excursion on my next cruise is because it's on Oasis, which I have always felt is the destination with the ports being secondary.  While not ideal, I can stay on the ship for the week without getting off. I won't do it again, but by November I will probably be so happy to get away that I can live with whatever rules are enforced - but one time only.

 

I can understand that.  I'm not a fan of the Oasis class ships because I book for itinerary but under the circumstances I wouldn't miss anything since the ship goes to Florida, Nassau and Coco Cay. Coco Cay would be the only port that I would visit.  

[allisonb22]

On 2/27/2021 at 8:45 PM, Tree_skier said:

If masks were the only serious change and most everything else had returned to close to normal I would be ok with some wearing of a mask

i totally agree! i worry about not being able to get off without having a preplanned excursion . have a 11 night port intensive itinerary booked and don't always want to book excursions

[allisonb22]

On 2/27/2021 at 9:59 PM, George C said:

I would bet lots of money that masks will not be required by November.

interesting. if things keep trending down the way they are i'd bet your right.. 

[MommaBear55]

14 hours ago, time4u2go said:

I feel the same way.  I'm so used to wearing a mask that it doesn't even bother me now.  I would happily go on a cruise where masks are required. 

I was actually freaked out to see two people who weren't masked when I was skiing the other day. It felt wrong to see someone outside my bubble's face. 

[allisonb22]

13 hours ago, mek said:

by November I will probably be so happy to get away that I can live with whatever rules are enforced - but one time only

thats how i feel about my january cruise. i'll do it since im so desperate to cruise!