Richard Fain, RCG CEO, discusses vaccination strategies during restart of cruising

[Alibaster McGillicutty]

I'm going to get my vaccine card enlarged and screen printed on my shirt.

 

I read all 10 pages of this thread but all I still know is my cruise is October and the process will change  several times by then.

 

Good luck to everyone on upcoming cruises and stay safe!

 

Ali McG

Outlawed J&J Single Shot

 

[ReneeFLL]

4 hours ago, RFerrington said:

This scenario (first 5% then, cut everyone else out) would probably not be very popular.  Since most Suite guests check in first, then Suites would seem to get priority and non-suites would be SOL ?  I can't imagine this working

There are probably going to be a lot of things that aren’t very popular for the unvaccinated.

[ReneeFLL]

1 hour ago, Beeline Cruiser said:

I think if Royal left it open for rule changes and offered us significant OBC or room upgrades some of us would get the vaccine before heading out to port. 

For unvaccinated like you? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Beeline Cruiser]

3 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

For unvaccinated like you? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

ReneeFLL, I have a very strong sense that are more alike than not.  Yes 100% if RCL makes it worth it. And I'm also not sure that would work on everybody but some of us would liked extra perks.

[Coralc]

As far as cruise vacations go. I am really more of a mind that you should be inconvenienced for not getting vaccinated, rather than rewarded. 

[Beeline Cruiser]

1 minute ago, Coralc said:

As far as cruise vacations go. I am really more of a mind that you should be inconvenienced for not getting vaccinated, rather than rewarded. 

 

Yes but I highly recommend trying the carrot too otherwise why should I even bother? Seriously, I've already had covid so am MUCH LESS likely to get it than many vaccinated!

[firefly333]

10 minutes ago, Coralc said:

As far as cruise vacations go. I am really more of a mind that you should be inconvenienced for not getting vaccinated, rather than rewarded. 

I read elsewhere that celebrity is using the carrot to only get vaxxed to sign up. If you arent vaxxed you take a test at boarding ... at your own cost. Didnt say how much you would be charged. Charge is only for unvaxxed. A line you might not be allowed off in every port if you are unvaxxed. .. and maybe there will be areas of the ship unvaxxed not welcome. ..it was not a quote, but things they can do to get to that 95% on celebrity. Carrot and stick approach? 

 

We cant ask for your vax card at boarding, but if you dont show it, then a test will be administered you have to pay for.

[Cobra1365]

2 hours ago, Beeline Cruiser said:

 

Yes but I highly recommend trying the carrot too otherwise why should I even bother? Seriously, I've already had covid so am MUCH LESS likely to get it than many vaccinated!

Except, that’s not true.  There are many cases of reinfection.  Some cases are worse the second time around.  You’re also more likely to transmit it.

 

Now, since you’ve had it, if you were to GET the vaccine, indications are you have a greater immunity than just those vaccinated.

[Iamcruzin]

3 hours ago, Beeline Cruiser said:

 

ReneeFLL, I have a very strong sense that are more alike than not.  Yes 100% if RCL makes it worth it. And I'm also not sure that would work on everybody but some of us would liked extra perks.

Washington State is offering Joints for Jabs and West Virginia is offering free guns. Plenty of incentive out there you just have to find the one that works for you.

[gatorskin76]

59 minutes ago, Cobra1365 said:

Except, that’s not true.  There are many cases of reinfection.  Some cases are worse the second time around.  You’re also more likely to transmit it.

 

Now, since you’ve had it, if you were to GET the vaccine, indications are you have a greater immunity than just those vaccinated.

Source?

[ArthurUSCG]

8 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

I have a real problem with what he said about having a problem requiring vaccines, given that they chose to cancel their entire summer sailing season out of New Jersey a few days earlier (cancelling my Oasis sailing in the process). The governor there would have been happy to let him require that passengers be vaccinated. Yet they choose to sail out of Florida and Texas instead. Makes not sense to me.

I don't get it either, NJ and Maryland has governors that are biting at the bit to get the economy back to normal again. I can hear Hogan's 3pm speech in my head right now with him boasting about being the first state back sailing thru in unprecedented collaboration with state, federal and local partners and the Regan Republican way of encouraging business by cutting thru the red tape and not creating unnecessary barriers.

[trippintex]

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I read elsewhere that celebrity is using the carrot to only get vaxxed to sign up. If you arent vaxxed you take a test at boarding ... at your own cost. Didnt say how much you would be charged. Charge is only for unvaxxed. A line you might not be allowed off in every port if you are unvaxxed. .. and maybe there will be areas of the ship unvaxxed not welcome. ..it was not a quote, but things they can do to get to that 95% on celebrity. Carrot and stick approach? 

 

We cant ask for your vax card at boarding, but if you dont show it, then a test will be administered you have to pay for.

I agree with celebrity and also testing while on the ship during the trip and before getting of at the home port  all prepaid before boarding are your not allowed onboard

[not-enough-cruising]

On 6/7/2021 at 7:49 PM, not-enough-cruising said:

They could say "if you would like to avoid this $350 COVID test, we will accept your vaccine card as a waiver; by the way there will be another $350 COVID test on days 3 and 6 as well."

When I posted this it was intended as a joke (sort of) 

It now seems Celebrity is planning something very much in line with this. 

[harkinmr]

4 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I read elsewhere that celebrity is using the carrot to only get vaxxed to sign up. If you arent vaxxed you take a test at boarding ... at your own cost. Didnt say how much you would be charged. Charge is only for unvaxxed. A line you might not be allowed off in every port if you are unvaxxed. .. and maybe there will be areas of the ship unvaxxed not welcome. ..it was not a quote, but things they can do to get to that 95% on celebrity. Carrot and stick approach? 

 

We cant ask for your vax card at boarding, but if you dont show it, then a test will be administered you have to pay for.

It’s more than a test that has to be paid for. Unvaccinated passengers end up in a lottery of sorts at the terminal. Once the 5% cap is reached, you are turned away. Protocols apply. Masks everywhere on the ship except in cabin and when actively eating or drinking.  No unescorted shore excursions. It’s not really a carrot and stick.  It’s a carrot and sledgehammer. 😉

Edited June 9, 2021 by harkinmr

[jrapps]

Just now, harkinmr said:

It’s more than a test that has to be paid for. Unvaccinated passengers end up in a lottery of sorts at the terminal. Once the 5% cap is reached, you are turned away. Protocols apply. Masks everywhere on the ship except in cabin and when actively eating or drinking.  No unescorted shore excursions. 

Remains to be seen what kind of carrot they can do for RCI cruises. I'm sure they will have the exorbantly expensive covid test at the start and during your cruise as a deterrent, but everyone will still be masked up and social distanced, and there is no 5% target threateneing to deny them boarding. There is no more stick to throw at them.

 

Waiting to see how it all unfolds.

[harkinmr]

8 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

When I posted this it was intended as a joke (sort of) 

It now seems Celebrity is planning something very much in line with this. 

Devious executives or creative lawyers?  I’m still assuming the good Governor will be out today screaming about putting the brakes on this plan. 

[BSocial]

1 minute ago, harkinmr said:

It’s more than a test that has to be paid for. Unvaccinated passengers end up in a lottery of sorts at the terminal. Once the 5% cap is reached, you are turned away. 

Is there a source stating people will be turned away?  If so that is so unfair to families.    
 

I thought Celebrity indicated they will handle by managing bookings ahead of time. 

[not-enough-cruising]

Just now, harkinmr said:

Devious executives or creative lawyers?  I’m still assuming the good Governor will be out today screaming about putting the brakes on this plan. 

And Carnival just announced a 100% exclusion of age ineligible children on all Alaska sailings as well as July Galveston sailings. 

[not-enough-cruising]

1 minute ago, BSocial said:

Is there a source stating people will be turned away?  If so that is so unfair to families.    
 

I thought Celebrity indicated they will handle by managing bookings ahead of time. 

They did state the ship would not leave the dock with greater than 5% unvaccinated souls 

[boscobeans]

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Washington State is offering Joints for Jabs and West Virginia is offering free guns. Plenty of incentive out there you just have to find the one that works for you.

Free soda package for kids that get the vaccine or $100 in arcade games ??

[BSocial]

1 minute ago, not-enough-cruising said:

They did state the ship would not leave the dock with greater than 5% unvaccinated souls 

yes they did.  My family is vaccinated so not personally affected. Still, .  I don’t think it is fair to their customers if they do a first come first served at port.  Wrong, wrong.   

[harkinmr]

1 minute ago, BSocial said:

Is there a source stating people will be turned away?  If so that is so unfair to families.    
 

I thought Celebrity indicated they will handle by managing bookings ahead of time. 

It was a statement made by Celebrity on a call with travel agents. The quote is either above or in another thread. It is unfair for a reason. They are saying don’t bother showing up if you are unvaccinated. What’s really unfair is that the State of Florida has forced the cruise line’s hand and results in this unnecessary legal gymnastics. 

[firefly333]

3 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

It’s more than a test that has to be paid for. Unvaccinated passengers end up in a lottery of sorts at the terminal. Once the 5% cap is reached, you are turned away. Protocols apply. Masks everywhere on the ship except in cabin and when actively eating or drinking.  No unescorted shore excursions. It’s not really a carrot and stick.  It’s a carrot and sledgehammer. 😉

I was replying to Bee who wanted carrots to get vaccinated to get on rcl. 

 

I'm curious how carnival will handle it. I have a large amount of obc on vista, and wanted to use it to book excursions. (and other things) but wanted twister. It's going to be a rush to book excursions if we have to only book carnival. They came out with protocols today and I'm not sure what carnival means.

 

I couldnt resist booking a 5 day on breeze the price is so cheap and with the drink pkg. Now they took away the drink pkg rate from me lol. I got it twice though. I thought for 2 days about driving there just for a 5 day, missed the best cabin and lowest price but gave in last weekend. I love bargains, I'll be honest. No extra obc for breeze, just vista. Hopefully the protocols become more plain. I'm sure carnival is abuzz today with the new protocols ..I just have more questions. Lol what does this say about private excursions, no? My roll call is feeling confused too. And then carnival says this is just for july, we may change for later.

 

SAFE SHORESIDE EXPERIENCES

We’re working with local authorities, destinations and tour operators so that the enhanced health and safety measures on board are maintained ashore. We will follow the health protocols for every port we visit. There may be a reduction in the capacity of excursions and tour vehicles. Only shore excursions that comply with our prescribed protocols will be permitted, with strict adherence required of all guests and denial of re-boarding for any guests who do not comply.

 

 

[harkinmr]

6 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

They did state the ship would not leave the dock with greater than 5% unvaccinated souls 

That’s the legal pickle. They can’t because if they exceed that figure the CDC will not allow them to sail.  

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

That’s the legal pickle. They can’t because if they exceed that figure the CDC will not allow them to sail.  

Even out of Galveston if carnival says vaccinated to me that means 95% but they havent said how they will get there. Hopefully not a lottery at the port. 

 

While I get it you blame florida. ..I'm out of Galveston vaccinated and to me it's the cdc who said 95%. ..which isnt anything to do with florida. 

Edited June 9, 2021 by firefly333