Will You cancel Your Upcoming Cruises if Royal Caribbean Doesn't Require Vaccinations

[lr657]

10 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Royal has been sailing in Singapore since last December and other cruise lines have been sailing in Europe without any vaccinated passengers and no major outbreaks. 

 

I agree, but the Singapore sailings have strict safety protocols that have a huge impact on the entire cruise experience. The protocols that were released for the Adventure sailings from Nassau do not require the mask wearing or social distancing as passengers over 16 are required to be fully vaccinated.

 

Seems to me that we would enjoy a cruise much more without the strict protocols that will now be required due to the ship sailing with a larger amount of unvaccinated passengers. We are vaccinated and are not at all worried about catching Covid. We will wait and see what the safety protocols will be and make our decision whether to cancel based on that. There are plenty of other cruises we can book that will require vaccinations and therefore likely provide a much more enjoyable cruise experience.

[harkinmr]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

I read through some more of the CDC guidelines and there is a condition when CDC says to cancel a sailing:

 

During simulated voyages, this threshold is met when 1.5% of COVID-19 cases is detected in passengers or 1.0% of COVID-19 cases is detected in crew.

 

Technical Instructions for Simulated Voyages by Cruise Ship Operators under CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order | Quarantine | CDC

 

But, nowhere did I find anything similar to revenue sailings. The CDC web site did mention that they don't plan to release any Phase 4 (Restricted passenger voyages) related documents, but simply update the existing site with info from Phase 2B and 3.

 

 

It is in the Conditional Sail Order itself and the threshold includes crew AND passengers.  Page 33. 
 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Conditional-Sail-Order_10_30_2020-p.pdf

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by harkinmr

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

It is in the Conditional Sail Order itself and it includes crew AND passengers.  Page 33. 
 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Conditional-Sail-Order_10_30_2020-p.pdf

 

Right, but in the technical instructions (which page 33 refers to for the threshold to cancel the sailing), I couldn't find anything specific for revenue sailings.

[harkinmr]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

Right, but in the technical instructions (which page 33 refers to for the threshold to cancel the sailing), I couldn't find anything specific for revenue sailings.

I expect that will be updated at some point once test sailings are completed. It would make no sense to have a threshold apply to test sailings and not restricted voyages. 

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, harkinmr said:

I expect that will be updated at some point once test sailings are completed.

Some, like Celebrity, are skipping test sailings. But, you are right, since they already have the 1.5% and 1.0% figures (not sure why the crew figure is lower), they could just add that to some document.

[harkinmr]

Just now, Biker19 said:

Some, like Celebrity, are skipping test sailings. But, you are right, since they already have the 1.5% and 1.0% figures (not sure why the crew figure is lower), they could just add that to some document.

The application of a threshold might be very different for a fully vaccinated sailing versus a mixed sailing. I guess we will see. 

[coldflame]

11 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Royal has been sailing in Singapore since last December and other cruise lines have been sailing in Europe without any vaccinated passengers and no major outbreaks. 

In both places they are following fairly strict guidelines. Including "shorex bubbles". It's not like they're cruising as normal.

[ccndfw]

44 minutes ago, Demongear said:

Here is an outside the box idea on how to satisfy everybody. Royal has multiple ships doing the same durations and similar itineraries, ie: 3&4 night Bahamas out of PC and Miami. Make 1 ship that proof of vaccinations are required and 1 ship where they are not. Then people can make a choice just like we make a choice in what cruise to book. It could also set a delta for the cruise industry as to what the numbers of infection flare-ups are for on each type of cruise. 

It’s impossible to make everyone happy and they won’t bother trying.  Things are not going to go 100% perfect when they start sailing again and anyone lacking patience or expecting a perfect vacation should probably stay home.  It’s pretty simple… if you feel safe and that it will still be an enjoyable cruise, then go.  If not, stay home or do something else.  

[ccndfw]

7 hours ago, Mariketa said:

This is why the requirement to be vaccinated on a ship is so ridiculous. They had a captive audience, of course the outbreak looked terrible. Let them test and track all the Disney goers, casino players, etc. There is zero reason to test and track only one business. So many hundreds of thousands of people touching ride rails and gaming machines each day, but let’s treat cruises differently because there’s just one way out and we love to flex our governmental might. 😂

I’ve been wondering this for months.  I realize it’s a little different on a cruise ship because you have so many people in closer proximity, but why are they still singling out a single industry.  Me and my traveling companion got covid last year after visiting a casino, even while being super careful and wearing masks and gloves during our trip.  If it was that easy for us to get it when I’m a self proclaimed germ-a-phobe, I’m sure other people did too.   

Edited June 6, 2021 by ccndfw

[BSocial]

It depends.  My next cruise is a short one in October.  I have ‘cancel for any reason’ insurance so have the ability to watch how the sailings and protocols evolve before making a decision.   I’m looking forward to getting out on the ocean for a much wanted getaway, surrounded by blue seas.    
 

Honestly,  think about it -  people going on non-cruise vacations have no idea who around them are vaccinated, or the percentages of vaccinated people.   So right now I will not cancel.  
 

(I am vaccinated so can sail whether required or not) 

[ccndfw]

Exactly what we are doing as well.

3 minutes ago, BSocial said:

It depends.  My next cruise is a short one in October.  I have ‘cancel for any reason’ insurance so have the ability to watch how the sailings and protocols evolve before making a decision.   I’m looking forward to getting out on the ocean for a much wanted getaway, surrounded by blue seas.    
 

Honestly,  think about it -  people going on non-cruise vacations have no idea who around them are vaccinated, or the percentages of vaccinated people.   So right now I will not cancel.  
 

(I am vaccinated so can sail whether required or not)

[ricksurf]

I have too many bad memories of cruises gone bad from last year; so I will cancel any cruise which is not fully vaccinated.  I will not book any cruise which is not fully vaccinated.  I think for the first few months of cruising then these strict protocols should be in effect.  We want to keep cruising open and don't want to doom it in the first few cruises.

If RCI is so short sighted and did not learn any lessons from the past then they might be doomed for the future.

[Iamcruzin]

10 hours ago, Goodtime Cruizin said:

 

I think you're incorrect on your thoughts of this. The CDCwill most likely allow a 'difference between the two types of cruisers in an effort to help convince people to vax up. Time will tell. 

I have to agree with this with this. On the news the other day they were reporting all of the incentives different states were offering. They didn’t say which state was offering a free cruise but West Virginia was offering a free gun. More and more Children are coming into the store to be vaccinated and at the same time the parents are getting passport photos of them. NY is vaccinating 12 and up. I don’t know where the rest of the country stands.

[lr657]

I am curious what the protocols at the ports will be. The current cruises are not sailing from the US so either have all adults vaccinated or do not have any port stops (Singapore). I wonder if we will now need to book ship excursions in order to get off the ship, as the vaccinated cruises don't require this. Also curious if some of the scheduled ports will now deny the ship access since all passengers are not vaccinated. Hopefully Royal will make this information available in a timely enough manner so those booked can make a decision whether they want to sail or not. 

[not-enough-cruising]

7 hours ago, ChuckRambo said:

Ever heard of a logical fallacy? How about non sequitur...has that one ever crossed your radar?

 

RC is not a school.

 

Schools are typically required by state law (not federal law) to have proof of immunization for minors. There is a specific carve out in HIPAA that allows parents (and students 18 and over) to give permission to a school  to access medical records of a minor. Those parents not wishing to grant permission are free to home school their children and many do. There is no exception in HIPAA for cruise lines. 

HIPAA doe not apply to school vaccinations either 

[Iamcruzin]

1 hour ago, Demongear said:

Here is an outside the box idea on how to satisfy everybody. Royal has multiple ships doing the same durations and similar itineraries, ie: 3&4 night Bahamas out of PC and Miami. Make 1 ship that proof of vaccinations are required and 1 ship where they are not. Then people can make a choice just like we make a choice in what cruise to book. It could also set a delta for the cruise industry as to what the numbers of infection flare-ups are for on each type of cruise. 

It would be interesting to see how the ships book and how prices fluctuate between the different ships.  I can see a vaccinated person changing to a unvaccinated ship if there is a dramatic price drop and vice versa.

[Junkhouse]

No, just wish they would open up earlier. Have talked to many people who either had COVID or were exposed to COVID who will not be getting the vaccination. How many people have had COVID twice or that their tests were not accurate? One person tested negative on several tests until their doctor ran a blood test and they had it. A family relative, in college had 4 roommates and three had COVID and were asymptomatic. A lot more people have built in immunities so as long as I am vaccinated let’s go!

[not-enough-cruising]

3 minutes ago, BSocial said:

Well, they kind of do now. Requiring vaccinated for Alaska cruises out of Seattle.   

You know, you are 100% correct.  I stand corrected.

[not-enough-cruising]

2 minutes ago, librarylady19 said:

“Never heard of CDC” - guess you never heard of Ebola or AIDS either then. Not allowed in Texas?

One of the hospitals I cover in Dallas treated the first Ebola patient in the US

[firefly333]

Just now, librarylady19 said:

“Never heard of CDC” - guess you never heard of Ebola or AIDS either then. Not allowed in Texas?

Of course I've heard of the names of those diseases, just never was forced to lay attention to the cdc and their biases  ...  like being told by teachers what to say and kids sit home on zoom. I'm outraged and wish someone would fire them. Political body. Dont follow science. No studies proving staying locked up was better than opening. ..mistake after mistake. Bunch of idiots controlling my cruises. 

 

I'd like to go back to ignoring them. I don't tolerate idiots well.

[RW_MI]

17 hours ago, wingatesl said:

The vaccination status of others will not affect my choice to cruise. The only reason the coronavirus affected it is because they were shut down. 

 

this x 100!

[TeeRick]

16 hours ago, Blauelini said:

No worries, by September at the latest RCCL will have  Covid outbreak on one of their ships due to this policy. Media will pounce,  images of people in biohazard suits escorting people off the ship will be broadcast nationwide. RCCL will change their policy overnight for fear of being being shutdown by the CDC.

It will be far too late to change their policy with this scenario.  It potentially shuts down the entire cruise industry again.

[boscobeans]

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

More and more Children are coming into the store to be vaccinated and at the same time the parents are getting passport photos of them. NY is vaccinating 12 and up. I don’t know where the rest of the country stands.

Very true.  Making the claim that a 100% vaccinated cruise on a family based cruise would never sell.

 

GET VACCINATED... IT IS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE WITHOUT WAITING AND AT NO CHARGE..

Edited June 6, 2021 by boscobeans

[BSocial]

35 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

One of the hospitals I cover in Dallas treated the first Ebola patient in the US

Oh wow.  I remember the news coverage of that case.   Have a lot of respect for you and the medical community and hospital workers who are confronted with these diseases. 

[JsMom2]

18 hours ago, Kokomo91165 said:

This is a safety issue, not a human rights or liberties issue. 
 

My right to be safe and enjoy a vacation should not be trumped by people refusing to get vaccinated and wanting the same treatment as those that are. 
 

This is a bait and switch. We all booked cruises under the policy of vaccines. Now they just decide to change it?  Irresponsible and unconscionable. 

Yes!  What about the rights of the people who would like the option to be able to sail on a fully vaccinated cruise?  Those who don’t want to get vaccinated have the option of waiting for the test cruises to be completed.   
 

I just don’t understand what is wrong with giving people a choice.