Regal Princess - Where are masks required? (8 night, Dec 21st 2021)

[The Fun Researcher]

Potential first time Princess cruiser here.    I like this itinerary and duration.  Hoping you all can help me understand where masks are required on the Regal Princess.  This is what Princess says.

 

ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators, retails shops, in the casino, and other designated areas except while eating and drinking.  Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate

 

That's all clear except for the "other designated areas" comment.  Very ambiguous.

 

Can you help explain where masks are required? I'm balancing it against NCL where masks aren't required anywhere.

 

Thanks,
Dan

[memoak]

2 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Potential first time Princess cruiser here.    I like this itinerary and duration.  Hoping you all can help me understand where masks are required on the Regal Princess.  This is what Princess says.

 

ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators, retails shops, in the casino, and other designated areas except while eating and drinking.  Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate

 

That's all clear except for the "other designated areas" comment.  Very ambiguous.

 

Can you help explain where masks are required? I'm balancing it against NCL where masks aren't required anywhere.

 

Thanks,
Dan

The "other areas" gives them the leeway to change rules depending on the amount of crowding and case counts

[The Fun Researcher]

1 hour ago, memoak said:

The "other areas" gives them the leeway to change rules depending on the amount of crowding and case counts

Thanks for the reply.  That's what I figured.  I'm looking for anyone with first hand experience on this ship, or similar Princess ships out of Florida, as to how they are actually handling this in practice. 

 

I want a better idea of where I'm required to wear a mask before committing time and money to this cruise.

 

Dan

[memoak]

Things will be changing constantly for awhile in my opinion until case counts are down and surges don’t continue to happen

[NSWP]

35 minutes ago, memoak said:

Things will be changing constantly for awhile in my opinion until case counts are down and surges don’t continue to happen

Someone on an earlier live said masks required in the Princess Theatre. 

[skynight]

Follow and ask on the Enchanted Princess thread. Believe this Enchanted cruise is the 1st Princess cruise from Ft Lauderdale. Protocols change very quickly. What is today may not be the same in December. Example, if positive cases show up during the cruise masking could become a requirement mostly everywhere. You may also want to read through Yellow Fish Blogs from the Emerald Princess thread.

 

[chrysalis]

5 minutes ago, skynight said:

Follow and ask on the Enchanted Princess thread. Believe this Enchanted cruise is the 1st Princess cruise from Ft Lauderdale. Protocols change very quickly. What is today may not be the same in December. Example, if positive cases show up during the cruise masking could become a requirement mostly everywhere. You may also want to read through Yellow Fish Blogs from the Emerald Princess thread.

 

Actually, the Emerald was the first sailing out of Port Everglades a few days ago...there is a "live from" thread on the sailing.

[Steelers36]

14 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Thanks for the reply.  That's what I figured.  I'm looking for anyone with first hand experience on this ship, or similar Princess ships out of Florida, as to how they are actually handling this in practice. 

 

I want a better idea of where I'm required to wear a mask before committing time and money to this cruise.

 

Dan

As mentioned above, you/we cannot predict the future.  If you don't want to be doing mask wearing, it's about as tight as they can make it now, so anything else going forward has to be better as time goes on.  Otherwise, I don't see how it could be worse.

[The Fun Researcher]

5 hours ago, skynight said:

Follow and ask on the Enchanted Princess thread. Believe this Enchanted cruise is the 1st Princess cruise from Ft Lauderdale. Protocols change very quickly. What is today may not be the same in December. Example, if positive cases show up during the cruise masking could become a requirement mostly everywhere. You may also want to read through Yellow Fish Blogs from the Emerald Princess thread.

 

Thank you for the suggestion.  I just posted my question to that thread.

 

Dan

[matadams4u]

I found that people pretty much everywhere indoors except when eating or drinking.  This is my experience on the Majestic.

[PRNole47]

On 11/10/2021 at 7:24 AM, Steelers36 said:

As mentioned above, you/we cannot predict the future.  If you don't want to be doing mask wearing, it's about as tight as they can make it now, so anything else going forward has to be better as time goes on.  Otherwise, I don't see how it could be worse.

Like the Sky out of the UK? Mask up between sips and bites? And Sister Emilia standing over your shoulder with ruler in hand, watching your every move?

[The Fun Researcher]

Thanks for the replies all.  After further research I’ve decided against Princess right now.  I’m not anti mask by any means, but it’s just too much for me considering a fully vax’d ship with everyone having a negative test prior to boarding as well.  
 

Dan

[luv4cruises]

On 11/9/2021 at 12:28 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

Potential first time Princess cruiser here.    I like this itinerary and duration.  Hoping you all can help me understand where masks are required on the Regal Princess.  This is what Princess says.

 

ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators, retails shops, in the casino, and other designated areas except while eating and drinking.  Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate

 

That's all clear except for the "other designated areas" comment.  Very ambiguous.

 

Can you help explain where masks are required? I'm balancing it against NCL where masks aren't required anywhere.

 

Thanks,
Dan

Celebrity doesn’t require masks either for vaccinated guests!!!! ( has never) Hope Princess soon follows Celebrity’s lead!

[memoak]

Just now, luv4cruises said:

Celebrity doesn’t require masks either for vaccinated guests!!!! ( has never) Hope Princess soon follows Celebrity’s lead!

Why would you expect Princess to copy Celebrity ?      

[minnesotasisu]

1 hour ago, memoak said:

Why would you expect Princess to copy Celebrity ?      

It is called "competition". If you don't please your customer base they may go elsewhere....

[Nebr.cruiser]

5 minutes ago, minnesotasisu said:

It is called "competition". If you don't please your customer base they may go elsewhere....

Exactly.  We booked our upcoming cruise with Celebrity over several other cruise lines  because of the difference in masking rules.  Fully vaccinated + booster, we had Covid last year, ship is fully vaccinated, plus we will still as much as possible social distance and of course wear masks when required.

Edited November 14, 2021 by Nebr.cruiser

[Marelaine]

There have really been no surprises. Masks are worn inside - theater, elevators, casino, hallways, shops, while waiting for a table. Once seated at a table in bars and restaurants, the masks can come off. Masks aren't worn around the pool, unless we're ordering food or drinks at a counter.  

 

[wowzz]

On 11/11/2021 at 2:45 PM, PRNole47 said:

Like the Sky out of the UK? Mask up between sips and bites? And Sister Emilia standing over your shoulder with ruler in hand, watching your every move?

It certainly wasn't sip and cover on Sky in Europe, other than in the theatre. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

@The Fun Researcheryour points are all very valid. I am also unconcerned about catching Covid on a cruise ship with the testing and vax requirements.  Even with the few who fake the card or get special accommodations I trust my vaccine AND I believe I have a strong immune system in general. 
 

I was fortunate enough to be on the inaugural Alaska sailing this past July on the Majestic. We were not required to wear masks anywhere (crew was masked). It really was wonderful.  Sighhhhhhhhh.

I’ve since been on a sailing (out of LA) with the current guidelines in place.  I found the rules to be reasonable. Folks followed them with rare exception.  In the MDR, all lounges & piazza I was maskless from the minute I sat down (after asking the crew if that was ok). In the Princess theater it was hit and miss with no enforcement. In fact I never saw any passenger being told to put on a mask. Even the maskless couple that got in the elevator with me and walked into the PES Happy hour in the One 5 Club at the same time as I did. 
 

Since I tend to spend most of my time outside (where no masks are ever needed……so far) I am not bothered by the masks. If you are mostly outside as well you might feel the same. 
 

Princess really provides a great experience.  As bad as the medallion class ap is before sailing, once on board it’s awesome!  You can order from a very wide range of food and drinks for delivery anywhere on board.  Getting drinks that are included in the beverage package delivered to your cabin is a real game changer for me anyway. I love getting my morning specialty coffees & croissant delivered while I’m on my balcony waking up and my evening wine delivered while dressing for dinner.  
 

happy sailing

[PRNole47]

5 hours ago, wowzz said:

It certainly wasn't sip and cover on Sky in Europe, other than in the theatre. 

• Well, I had read about the tightening of mask wearing aboard the Sky to include the famed "sip and cover between bites and sips" method.  I suspect  the enforcement was lax, as per your comment.                       
•                                                                                                                                         
• 
• •  804
• August 19, 2012
• UK

• #1  

Posted October 16

This notice has been recently put out onboard.  Sitting sipping your drinks in the bar and lounges now needs to be done wearing mask. 

[spyro1952]

On 11/9/2021 at 7:18 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

Thanks for the reply.  That's what I figured.  I'm looking for anyone with first hand experience on this ship, or similar Princess ships out of Florida, as to how they are actually handling this in practice. 

 

I want a better idea of where I'm required to wear a mask before committing time and money to this cruise.

 

Dan

Just got off Regal today and masks are worn inside except your state room.  Theater and casino sip & cover

[wowzz]

26 minutes ago, spyro1952 said:

Just got off Regal today and masks are worn inside except your state room.  Theater and casino sip & cover

But not in bars and restaurants  ?

[trbarton]

On 11/9/2021 at 12:28 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

Potential first time Princess cruiser here.    I like this itinerary and duration.  Hoping you all can help me understand where masks are required on the Regal Princess.  This is what Princess says.

 

ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators, retails shops, in the casino, and other designated areas except while eating and drinking.  Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate

 

That's all clear except for the "other designated areas" comment.  Very ambiguous.

 

Can you help explain where masks are required? I'm balancing it against NCL where masks aren't required anywhere.

 

Thanks,
Dan

I sailed on the Ruby Princess on its first cruise from San Francisco on October 31 & the only places where no mask was required was outside on any open deck & while eating. Every place including the Princess theatre & other venues you needed to have your mask on. 
 

When having a drink I just left my mask off & I saw other people doing the same. 
 

Perhaps different Princess ships have different policies. Having a mask policy did not detract from anything I did. FYI on January 15, 2022 the CDC says any of the regulations are optional so Princess may relax some of these regulations. It will be interesting to see what happens. 
 

Tom😀

Edited November 18, 2021 by trbarton