Protocols for January

[rjrpar]

When can we expect RCCL to issue protocols for Jan, 2022.  We are most interested in masking requirements inside the ship
Thanks in advance.

[Sunshine3601]

For most cruises protocols have been released 30-days +/-     Even then there were last minute changes made.    For now, assume that everything will stay the same as I don't see the cruise lines going to let their guard down and loosen up indoor masking especially if they plan on increasing passenger capacity for holiday cruises.

[rjrpar]

6 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

For most cruises protocols have been released 30-days +/-     Even then there were last minute changes made.    For now, assume that everything will stay the same as I don't see the cruise lines going to let their guard down and loosen up indoor masking especially if they plan on increasing passenger capacity for holiday cruises.

Thanks. We were hoping if Celebrity has success with their more liberal masking policy, that it might be adopted by RCCL

[molly361]

16 minutes ago, rjrpar said:

When can we expect RCCL to issue protocols for Jan, 2022.  We are most interested in masking requirements inside the ship
Thanks in advance.

Probably mid December

[Sunshine3601]

5 minutes ago, rjrpar said:

Thanks. We were hoping if Celebrity has success with their more liberal masking policy, that it might be adopted by RCCL

The difference is Royal has a lot more families with unvaxxed children than Celebrity.

[cruisegus]

4 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

The difference is Royal has a lot more families with unvaxxed children than Celebrity.

this will also change dramatically late Nov early Dec when the vaccine is approved for 5+ age group.

Royal make give it 4-6 weeks after approval but then it will also be the requirement.

I see the protocols being; Vaxed; tested; masked indoors for the foreseeable future.

[GKMCruising]

31 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Covid cases majorly trending downward in U.S. indicates policy change will be required soon for U.S. departures. Nationwide U.S. has almost 1/2 as many new cases than a month ago.

And we all know how quickly things can start trending in the other direction too.

[neverbeenhere]

April 1, 2022 - no more masks required. 
 

If all goes well. 

[twangster]

10 hours ago, rjrpar said:

Thanks. We were hoping if Celebrity has success with their more liberal masking policy, that it might be adopted by RCCL

 

Celebrity never did simulation sailings and enforced 95% vax on board so they could do different protocols.

 

Royal allows children who aren't eligible to be vaccinated.  Royal did do simulation cruises specifically so unvaccinated could sail.  

 

A lot has changed since those decisions were made but with fewer kids on Celebrity the two lines have very different goals despite being sister brands under the RCG umbrella.

 

Until the CDC drops the federal requirement to mask on planes, trains and buses they won't let it go easily on ships.  As it is the CDC wanted cruise lines to drop vaccinated areas where masks weren't required but Royal didn't go there.  Unless the federal rules change or Royal bans children (unlikely) masks will be a part of cruising.

 

I hate masks.  Cancelled some cruises because of mask policies early on.  But then I was invited on a free simulation cruise.  I had to wear a mask but it was a free cruise so I sucked it and did it.  It wasn't as bad as I feared and now I've completed seven cruises with masks.  My love of cruising is stronger than my hatred of masks and it's a non-issue for me now.  YMMV.

 

We won't hear about January protocols for another month or more.  Things are changing too quickly.  They want to sail with as few protocols as they can but that means waiting to announce protocols hoping things continue to get better.  If they had to announce protocols for January now they'd have no choice but go with more restrictive protocols and that's the last thing they want to do.

[deliver42]

We sailed on the Ovation last month and the masks weren't always needed even indoors. It depended on the venue. If the venue was for vaccinated people only, no masks were required.

[rjrpar]

47 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

We sailed on the Ovation last month and the masks weren't always needed even indoors. It depended on the venue. If the venue was for vaccinated people only, no masks were required.

Thanks.   Our concern is we would like to cruise on the Anthem out of NJ in January.  With the cold weather, we will be mostly confined to the interior of the ship for the first and last days. Neither of us is comfortable wearing masks for an extended time. 
Cruise fares are very attractive but we’ll probably wait, and if mask requirements change,  book last minute.

[RoyalC]

12 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Covid cases majorly trending downward in U.S. indicates policy change will be required soon for U.S. departures. Nationwide U.S. has almost 1/2 as many new cases than a month ago.

But 3-4x as many cases as when the country was in full panic and shutdown.

[zekekelso]

13 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Covid cases majorly trending downward in U.S. indicates policy change will be required soon for U.S. departures. Nationwide U.S. has almost 1/2 as many new cases than a month ago.

I wouldn’t count on it. Even if this game are down, they are way too <friggin> high. 

[smokeybandit]

We don't even know November protocols yet. And with the CSO expiring (though likely to be extended since cruise ships continue to be covid petri dishes according to the CDC), that puts new protocols in even more flux

[taglovestocruise]

8 hours ago, deliver42 said:

We sailed on the Ovation last month and the masks weren't always needed even indoors. It depended on the venue. If the venue was for vaccinated people only, no masks were required.

I saw a video from a vloger on Ovation from Seattle a few weeks ago. He said that the American Icon Grill dinning room was very overpacked with two tops being jammed together.  The second and third nite the room was far less crowded. He said vaxed in the Icon Grill were opting to move upstairs to the Grande where the unvaxed were and empty tables were in abundance.. Any truth to that.

[Sunshine3601]

21 hours ago, rjrpar said:

Thanks.   Our concern is we would like to cruise on the Anthem out of NJ in January.  With the cold weather, we will be mostly confined to the interior of the ship for the first and last days. Neither of us is comfortable wearing masks for an extended time. 
Cruise fares are very attractive but we’ll probably wait, and if mask requirements change,  book last minute.

If you like to hang out in solarium on sea days that are chilly currently no masks required in solarium as it has been for vaxxed only.  Currently No masks in casino and shows that are for vaxxed only do not require a mask. 

Masks are required in promenade since mingling with unvaxxed children.