Princess Mask Rules For Now

[SargassoPirate]

While doing my daily check to ensure I hadn't received an unwanted "upgrade" for an upcoming cruise I noticed a header on the page about revised health protocols, which were dated December 1, 2021.  Here are the current masking requirements for Princess.  They seem fairly reasonable to me, a fully vaxed and boosted cruiser who only wears a mask when required.

 

Looks to me like masks won't be required in corridors or the stairs.

 

 

We strongly encourage guests to wear face masks when in public spaces indoors. To protect our guests and crew while on board, new requirements are being implemented. ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in the following areas/situations:

• Elevators
• Designated indoor entertainment areas
• Retail shops
• The casino, except when eating or drinking
• Prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area
• Occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate
• During embarkation and disembarkation in the terminal
• During the disembarkation process on board

We always recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality, ideally medical grade, standard mask. Please note that visors and face shields will not be accepted as substitutes for a face mask.

Note: Unvaccinated guests will be required to wear a face mask at all times while indoors, in accordance with health authority requirements.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

From the FAQs dated December 1 for US sailings. I am just finishing a b2b on the Ruby: a 5 day and a 10 day. Even though technically only the 10 leg required masks in hallways and stairs, with rare exception over all 14 days, people were masked at all times indoors except when at a bar or when dancing. 

UPDATED: Will I have to wear a face mask or physically distance?

Mask policy varies depending on voyage length.

Voyages less than 10 days:

First, we strongly encourage guests wear face masks when in public spaces indoors. 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. As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board.

Voyages 10 days or longer:

All guests must wear face masks covering their nose and mouth while indoors at all times. Exceptions are made while they are eating or drinking, receiving spa treatments relating to the face, during high-intensity exercise, in pools, whirlpools or sauna, as well as in their stateroom.

General Mask Guidance:

We recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality double-layer cloth or medical-grade mask. Please note that visors and face shields will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask. Unvaccinated guests will be required to wear a face mask at all times while indoors, in accordance with health authority requirements.

Additionally, when going ashore, guests must be prepared to follow all local guidance regarding masks and physical distancing. The status of local guidelines will be shared with guests prior to debarkation at the destination.

These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and crew while onboard. Several destinations have implemented their own requirements and all guests will be required to follow the protocols in each destination we visit. We expect these requirements will be temporary and we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Edited December 6, 2021 by HaveDogWillTravel

[lx200gps]

We disembarked off the Sky on the 27th. Probably 90% of the passengers and 100% of the crew obeyed the masking "requirements" as well as the "recommendations", but there clearly were a few who appeared to simply ignore all rules. They would not wear masks in elevators, in the theater, even in the buffet line, etc and were immune to the stares and comments from fellow passengers. We never saw a single instance of a crew member enforcing their policy. Fortunately, these people were few and far between. Corridors, stairways, etc are grey areas and common sense prevails. I would find myself dropping my mask down when nobody was in sight while climbing the stairs (we never use elevators anyway), but if I encountered someone, I'd pull my mask back up, as would they.

[john watson]

48 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

 

 

Looks to me like masks won't be required in corridors or the stairs.

 

 

We strongly encourage guests to wear face masks when in public spaces indoors. To protect our guests and crew while on board, new requirements are being implemented. 

I think that wearing masks in corridors and stairs come under the strongly encouraged indoor areas except with open deck stairs.  Logically when walking from venue to venue you might encounter a huge range of other people.  In my experience walking about it is a better idea to wear a mask to protect yourself and also to follow the keep left signs and floor markings to achieve separation. 

 

Regards John

[Kmkub]

I'm concerned there are rules pertaining to unvaccinated guests. It has been my understanding that if you don't have a valid vaccine card to show at the port, you don't get on the boat.

 

The policy indicates otherwise, though. It's been my experience that those who are unvaccinated are also the most likely to ignore any mask policy.

 

Can anyone clarify?

[1965]

2 minutes ago, Kmkub said:

I'm concerned there are rules pertaining to unvaccinated guests. It has been my understanding that if you don't have a valid vaccine card to show at the port, you don't get on the boat.

 

The policy indicates otherwise, though. It's been my experience that those who are unvaccinated are also the most likely to ignore any mask policy.

 

Can anyone clarify?

I am also curious about the notation regarding the unvaxxed. 

[john watson]

9 minutes ago, 1965 said:

I am also curious about the notation regarding the unvaxxed. 

 

 I am pretty certain the current requirement to board is minimum double vaccination at least 14 days ahead of boarding.  In the UK there was an exception for under 18 year old passengers who could board under special circumstances however these people had their bookings cancelled at short notice about a fortnight prior to sailing.  I am not sure if US law prevents discrimination against those who cannot be vaccinated and they list this for that reason.  In general in my experience the unvaxxed are not permitted to board.

 

Regards John

[emerald777]

Apparently, NCL does not require a mask indoors.  The Breakaway had 17 cases of covid yesterday.  I'm glad Princess is much stricter in their requirement.  

[chamima]

5 minutes ago, emerald777 said:

Apparently, NCL does not require a mask indoors.  The Breakaway had 17 cases of covid yesterday.  I'm glad Princess is much stricter in their requirement.  

 

I know it's not popular but we also are grateful for Princess stricter policy.

It's currently the only cruiseline we feel confident to sail on.

 

[Level six]

We were on the Grand for 15 in November.  Most people followed the mask rules, but there were always some that didn't.  The cruise staff would announce that it was a sip and cover venue and some people would just ignore them.  Even in the theater, (where I think I always end up catching something on a cruise) people just took off their masks, like sitting in a seat for an hour with people surrounding you was not risky.  I don't know. 

For people who love cruising so much and wanting to get back to normal, it seems they would follow the rules and have some consideration for the staff and crew. 

We had a great cruise (very few passengers, 300 on 5 day 600 on 10 day).  I don't know how it would be with a full cruise. 

Having said that, I am thankful that Princess is trying to keep cruising going and the passengers and crew healthy.  This is the very first cruise(out of 40+) we have not gotten sick!!  We wore a mask everywhere, even in all the ports.  Safe sailing. 

[dfields1814]

Good rules on mask wearing.  Now if only Princess would enforce them.  One night on the Majestic in the  casino I counted 34 people, 14 were not wearing a mask. That is not counting the people who were wearing masks improperly. I asked a crew member about it. He said "people will be people."  Mask wearing was ok at the beginning of the cruise. But got worse and worse as the cruise continued.  Toward the end of the cruise there was a group of about 10 people in the atrium. None wore masks. The mask rules are worthless as long as they are not enforced. 

[Ride-The-Waves]

1 hour ago, emerald777 said:

Apparently, NCL does not require a mask indoors.  The Breakaway had 17 cases of covid yesterday.  I'm glad Princess is much stricter in their requirement.  

Worst aspect of NCL was NOT informing passengers that there was COVID on the ship and letting people disembark in New Orleans.  That is criminal!

[ontheweb]

4 hours ago, Kmkub said:

I'm concerned there are rules pertaining to unvaccinated guests. It has been my understanding that if you don't have a valid vaccine card to show at the port, you don't get on the boat.

 

The policy indicates otherwise, though. It's been my experience that those who are unvaccinated are also the most likely to ignore any mask policy.

 

Can anyone clarify?

I also wondered about that. And if there are unvaccinated guests, how are they identified so that if they are actually serious about enforcing the rules, it will be known who they are?

[Ride-The-Waves]

33 minutes ago, dfields1814 said:

Good rules on mask wearing.  Now if only Princess would enforce them.  One night on the Majestic in the  casino I counted 34 people, 14 were not wearing a mask. That is not counting the people who were wearing masks improperly. I asked a crew member about it. He said "people will be people."  Mask wearing was ok at the beginning of the cruise. But got worse and worse as the cruise continued.  Toward the end of the cruise there was a group of about 10 people in the atrium. None wore masks. The mask rules are worthless as long as they are not enforced. 

It is going to be up to us passengers to confront those who flaunt health protocols.  I personally have no problem reminding people of health rules.  

[Level six]

3 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

It is going to be up to us passengers to confront those who flaunt health protocols.  I personally have no problem reminding people of health rules.  

I wanna cruise with you!  In this day and age, I am not going to say anything to anybody! It's crazy out there! 

 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

4 hours ago, john watson said:

I think that wearing masks in corridors and stairs come under the strongly encouraged indoor areas except with open deck stairs.  Logically when walking from venue to venue you might encounter a huge range of other people.  In my experience walking about it is a better idea to wear a mask to protect yourself and also to follow the keep left signs and floor markings to achieve separation. 

 

Regards John

You are correct for US sailings  if the cruise is 9 days or less. But they are required on cruises 10 days or more “while indoors at all times”. See post #2

[Honolulu Blue]

9 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

It is going to be up to us passengers to confront those who flaunt health protocols.  I personally have no problem reminding people of health rules.  

 

5 minutes ago, Level six said:

I wanna cruise with you!  In this day and age, I am not going to say anything to anybody! It's crazy out there! 

 

I had an experience onboard the Regal Princess last week.  In the main theater, a few minutes before the comedian was going to make us laugh, one concerned passenger yelled at another passenger in the audience for not wearing a mask.  Angry words were said, but the argument fizzled out just before the start of the show.  No Princess employees got involved, which was probably just as well.

[chamima]

15 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

It is going to be up to us passengers to confront those who flaunt health protocols.  I personally have no problem reminding people of health rules.  

 

11 minutes ago, Level six said:

I wanna cruise with you!  In this day and age, I am not going to say anything to anybody! It's crazy out there! 

 

 

I want to cruise with you, too!!!!

[Level six]

1 minute ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

 

I had an experience onboard the Regal Princess last week.  In the main theater, a few minutes before the comedian was going to make us laugh, one concerned passenger yelled at another passenger in the audience for not wearing a mask.  Angry words were said, but the argument fizzled out just before the start of the show.  No Princess employees got involved, which was probably just as well.

We actually missed some shows in the theater because of people not wearing masks.  It was not worth it to see the show in some cases.  And a few times, very few, someone got on the elevator without a mask and we just got off and used the stairs.   It is just not worth it. People who believe masks work will never convince people who don't believe they do and vice versa. 

[Sea Hag]

Just saying here. The people I see wearing their masks below their noses make me angrier than people not wearing them at all. I saw some instances of that brain-dead-mask-below-nose behavior on a Princess bus to Universal Studios back in November. 

[GonzoWCS]

Just comply people?  

 

Cheers

[chamima]

9 minutes ago, Level six said:

We actually missed some shows in the theater because of people not wearing masks.  It was not worth it to see the show in some cases.  And a few times, very few, someone got on the elevator without a mask and we just got off and used the stairs.   It is just not worth it. People who believe masks work will never convince people who don't believe they do and vice versa. 

 

 

My fear is that the same people who think masks don't work are the same ones who think vaccines don't work and might have falsified vaccine cards.

 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

1 minute ago, chamima said:

 

 

My fear is that the same people who think masks don't work are the same ones who think vaccines don't work and might have falsified vaccine cards.

 

 

Which is a concern. 

 

The ones who are Unmasked getting on the elevator, force us Masked, to get off.

I'm not riding in a tight space with those (-------) people.

 

I had the "pleasure" of reminding a couple of wearing masks inside, and they

ignored me, per usual. 

 

Crew seems Unable to DO anything about it.

It needs to come from the top.

Like mentioned above, when Princess sets the rules, ENFORCE THEM.

Backup your crew so when they enforce, you have their backs!

 

If you lose a few (--------) guests?   No loss.

Many more passengers will appreciate the mask enforcement for our safety!

 

 

[USCcruisecrazy]

18 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

 

My fear is that the same people who think masks don't work are the same ones who think vaccines don't work and might have falsified vaccine cards.

 

My fear is how many people think the vaccines work but they should still wear a mask...or think the masks work but still need a vaccine.  Personally, I prefer the science and go with the vaccine and no mask...precisely why I won't cruise with a mask mandate...but glad there are some that do...it keeps the lines in business...until then, I'll travel and vacation in mask free zones.

[GonzoWCS]

Well NCL just tightened things up

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/6639/