Serenade is on the move

[TickledBlue]

15 hours ago, Baowen said:

I did see the refueling platform hooked up to the Ovation, so ??? I'm not sure why the Ovation is here so early. When is the Serenade's first Alaska cruise?

Serenade is going on a test cruise on July 7.   I'm going to guess that they'll announce Ovation will be doing a test cruise too.

[Baowen]

That's exciting news! sounds like our Alaska cruises will happen. 😃

[Tree_skier]

I'm perplexed by the need for a test cruise.  I thought these sailing were vac'd only so there would be no need for test cruises.  

[Jimbo]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I'm perplexed by the need for a test cruise.  I thought these sailing were vac'd only so there would be no need for test cruises.  

Will you still go if there are passengers on the ship over 12 years old unvaccinated? or are you still on the fence about that?

[Tree_skier]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Will you still go if there are passengers on the ship over 12 years old unvaccinated? or are you still on the fence about that?

Oh no I'm going I'm vac'd and recovered from covid.  I'm practically bullet proof.  However, it is still being marketed as a vax only cruise.  I'm curious why the need for a test cruise.

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Tree_skier

[Ferry_Watcher]

46 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Oh no I'm going I'm vac'd and recovered from covid.  I'm practically bullet proof.  However, it is still being marketed as a vax only cruise.  I'm curious why the need for a test cruise.

 

A test cruise is good business sense.  It gives the crew, along with the shore side staff a chance to do a 'slow or soft opening' with non-paying guests.  Remember no one who works these jobs has had any experience in the last 16+ months.  Also, both shore and ship crew can practice how to deal with any Covid problems - like health safety practices including the ship's medical team, and the social amenities like buffet lines, seating in venues, dining seating, bar capacity pool, gym, casino, whatever.  Better to iron out any problems before paying passengers arrive.  Shore staff have to check vaccination cards and the new health screening questionnaire before check-in.  Lots of new practices during this cruise season.

Edited July 1, 2021 by Ferry_Watcher

[allieic95]

Just got an email about the protocols for our July 26 sailing. I was surprised to see mask requirements even for vaccinated passengers as I assumed this was a fully vaccinated sailing. It shows Solarium as being open for everyone and wearing a mask in there doesn't sound appealing to me 😞

[chefchick]

19 hours ago, allieic95 said:

Just got an email about the protocols for our July 26 sailing. I was surprised to see mask requirements even for vaccinated passengers as I assumed this was a fully vaccinated sailing. It shows Solarium as being open for everyone and wearing a mask in there doesn't sound appealing to me 😞

Yikes!  I am sailing Ovation to Alaska August 20 and I will be very upset if vaccinated passengers have to wear masks.  I know protocols change weekly but that would be a bummer. 😔

[Tree_skier]

19 hours ago, allieic95 said:

Just got an email about the protocols for our July 26 sailing. I was surprised to see mask requirements even for vaccinated passengers as I assumed this was a fully vaccinated sailing. It shows Solarium as being open for everyone and wearing a mask in there doesn't sound appealing to me 😞

Really! That's very disappointing.  That is more restrictive on Vaccinated persons than the FL cruises not requiring vaccination.

[Tree_skier]

I just read on the blog that can not be named the health protocols for the July sailings aboard Serenade.  Very disappointed... Whats the point of requiring vaccines if you are going to treat those cruises the same as the cruises you don't require vaccines.  @allieic95 Do you have a copy of what you received you could post so we could all read it?  Particularly the part about the solarium.  Requiring masks in the Solarium is irrational.  This is a vaccine required for 16+ to cruise and 16 and under aren't allowed in the solarium.  Why this isn't a maskless area completely escapes me.

[smplybcause]

It seems Royal is anticipating having more than 5% under 16 (and later under 12) which is why they're doing the test cruises. And test cruises automatically means masks indoors. 

 

Presumably Royal has numbers on people already booked so they could see whether they could hit the 95% or not. Or they're just committing to their "bring on the kids!' stance. 

[Tree_skier]

Royal has now updated the website with protocols for Serenade.

 

 

 

 

This is really unimpressive!

 

[sfaaa]

Avoid cruising during school holidays and there will be fewer to no unvaccinated kids.

[ONECRUISER]

31 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Royal has now updated the website with protocols for Serenade.

 

 

 

 

This is really unimpressive!

 

Which part?

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, ONECRUISER said:

Which part?

Sorry I don't understand your question.

[ONECRUISER]

6 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Sorry I don't understand your question.

"This is really unimpressive!"

[Tree_skier]

What's the point of requiring vaccination when the protocols are no different than protocols on ships leaving Florida that don't require vaccination.  Also, saying the Solarium is open to unvaccinated and by implication requiring mask wearing when the requirement for July cruises is vaccine for 16+ and Solarium requires you to be 16+ is irrational.  

 

Nobody has thought this through at all

Edited July 2, 2021 by Tree_skier

[smplybcause]

When the Solarium is enclosed isn't it a back up main pool in inclement weather? So maybe it's just for when the weather is bad but they didn't want to put an asterisk on it? But maybe not. 

[ONECRUISER]

17 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

What's the point of requiring vaccination when the protocols are no different than protocols on ships leaving Florida that don't require vaccination.  Also, saying the Solarium is open to unvaccinated and by implication requiring mask wearing when the requirement for July cruises is vaccine for 16+ and Solarium requires you to be 16+ is irrational.  

 

Nobody has thought this through at all

No problem, just making sure wasn't missing something. Thanks

[blctlc]

We sail September 6th at which time 12 years and over will be required to be vaccinated. RC states that we will be notified within 30 days of sailing with the health protocols at my sign in. I noticed the ones posted above are for July and August.  I'm hoping that the percentages of vaccinated passengers and protocols will change by the time I sail. 

 

[Tree_skier]

4 minutes ago, blctlc said:

We sail September 6th at which time 12 years and over will be required to be vaccinated. RC states that we will be notified within 30 days of sailing with the health protocols at my sign in. I noticed the ones posted above are for July and August.  I'm hoping that the percentages of vaccinated passengers and protocols will change by the time I sail. 

 

I am hoping the same is true for August sailing as it is 12 and up vaccinated

[Tinkbelle87]

Both Ovation and Serenade have made it to Seattle! Glad to see them in town!

 

ETA: Oops just read that someone already spotted them. Still great to stop by there on the way home from work and see them there!

Edited July 2, 2021 by Tinkbelle87

[Blizzard54]

1 hour ago, Tinkbelle87 said:

Both Ovation and Serenade have made it to Seattle! Glad to see them in town!

 

ETA: Oops just read that someone already spotted them. Still great to stop by there on the way home from work and see them there!

You must have walked over to the park.  I shot was from the road.

 

[Baowen]

Both the Serenade and the Ovation are on the move again. The Ovation will return to Seattle on July 8th and the Serenade is returning to Seattle on July 5th. 

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

What's the point of requiring vaccination when the protocols are no different than protocols on ships leaving Florida that don't require vaccination.  Also, saying the Solarium is open to unvaccinated and by implication requiring mask wearing when the requirement for July cruises is vaccine for 16+ and Solarium requires you to be 16+ is irrational.  Nobody has thought this through at all

Because it is not a 100% vaccinated cruise. And cruises that have run using these rules have had COVID onboard already.