Previous masking requirements

[cruisegirl1]

We’ve been on several cruises since the return to sailing beginning in September and as recently as last week. 
 

On every cruise we were required to wear a mask indoors most everywhere. We were allowed to remove it once seated in the theater. We were required to wear it during the ice show. We wore it  walking through the dining room but removed it at the table. Same with the windjammer.  We were required  to wear one in hallways and promenade. 
 

I don’t get the uproar and immediate cancellations regarding the recent masking letter. Honestly, I don’t see much difference than what was already in place.   What am I missing? 
 

Thanks. 
m

[Biker19]

14 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

  What am I missing? 

Headline overreacting and subjective feelings about mask wearing. 

[Mapleleafforever]

Not everyone will accept wearing a mask on a cruise. 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2021 by Mapleleafforever
Being nice.

[CruisingSince1982]

19 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

We’ve been on several cruises since the return to sailing beginning in September and as recently as last week. 
 

On every cruise we were required to wear a mask indoors most everywhere. We were allowed to remove it once seated in the theater. We were required to wear it during the ice show. We wore it  walking through the dining room but removed it at the table. Same with the windjammer.  We were required  to wear one in hallways and promenade. 
 

I don’t get the uproar and immediate cancellations regarding the recent masking letter. Honestly, I don’t see much difference than what was already in place.   What am I missing? 
 

Thanks. 
m

 

A lot. There are tons of vaccinated only areas within the ship that one did not have to wear a mask. That is gone. You can no longer remove it once seated in the theater. You cannot sit at a bar - you have to get your drink and sit at a table. You cannot dance without a mask now, and they want everyone 6-feet apart. It is beyond absurd. 

[CruisingSince1982]

Just now, Biker19 said:

What the policy says and what happens in real life on the ship can be very different. 

Policy went into effect on Friday. On Friday there were already posts of people being told to mask up. I spoke directly with my BDM at Royal. This week and next week will be exactly as outlined above. 

[tserface]

31 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

We’ve been on several cruises since the return to sailing beginning in September and as recently as last week. 
 

On every cruise we were required to wear a mask indoors most everywhere. We were allowed to remove it once seated in the theater. We were required to wear it during the ice show. We wore it  walking through the dining room but removed it at the table. Same with the windjammer.  We were required  to wear one in hallways and promenade. 
 

I don’t get the uproar and immediate cancellations regarding the recent masking letter. Honestly, I don’t see much difference than what was already in place.   What am I missing? 
 

Thanks. 
m

Agreed. I think some of it is political, some people have medical issues (although I’d guess a low percent) and some just don’t want to for whatever reason.  To be fair, no one probably wants to 🙂

 

I figure cruising is not a life or death requirement and there are other types of vacations so people have choices. If they don’t like the rules… they can always do something else.

 

Like you, we haven’t been annoyed enough by masking to cancel. In fact, we appreciate the cruise lines trying to keep us safe and keep cruising available. We like cruising enough to put up with the minor inconveniences.

Edited December 19, 2021 by tserface

[PhillyFan33579]

3 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

We’ve been on several cruises since the return to sailing beginning in September and as recently as last week. 
 

On every cruise we were required to wear a mask indoors most everywhere. We were allowed to remove it once seated in the theater. We were required to wear it during the ice show. We wore it  walking through the dining room but removed it at the table. Same with the windjammer.  We were required  to wear one in hallways and promenade. 
 

I don’t get the uproar and immediate cancellations regarding the recent masking letter. Honestly, I don’t see much difference than what was already in place.   What am I missing? 
 

Thanks. 
m

Have you really cruised recently? We have been on 5 cruises over the past few months. The majority of bars and theaters were vaccinated only and you were not required to wear a mask in these areas. Now they are requiring masks to be worn in all inside areas. That is a HUGE policy change. 

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Have you really cruised recently? We have been on 5 cruises over the past few months. The majority of bars and theaters were vaccinated only and you were not required to wear a mask in these areas. Now they are requiring masks to be worn in all inside areas. That is a HUGE policy change. 

Yes. We were on board  as recently as the week of December 5 (Harmony).  We were required to mask up in the hallways, the promenade, the ice rink, walking to and from our tables, walking into the theater etc. We were allowed to take our masks off in the theater, in the casino and in bars.   We kept our masks on in the casino, even though it was not required. 
 

We’ve had 5 other cruises since the return. 

 

Everyone is different, but I don’t find the new masking policy to be any big deal. 
m

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Yes. We were on board  as recently as the week of December 5 (Harmony).  We were required to mask up in the hallways, the promenade, the ice rink, walking to and from our tables, walking into the theater etc. We were allowed to take our masks off in the theater, in the casino and in bars.   We kept our masks on in the casino, even though it was not required. 
 

We’ve had 5 other cruises since the return. 

 

Everyone is different, but I don’t find the new masking policy to be any big deal. 
m

I agree everyone is different, but to me going from a policy where you wore your mask for maybe 30 minutes a day to a policy where you will be required to wear your mask all day with the exception of 60 minutes or so is a big change to me. Of course these times will vary from person to person based on what you like to do during a cruise. 

[Travelling2Some]

11 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I agree everyone is different, but to me going from a policy where you wore your mask for maybe 30 minutes a day to a policy where you will be required to wear your mask all day with the exception of 60 minutes or so is a big change to me. Of course these times will vary from person to person based on what you like to do during a cruise. 

You make an excellent point that I have not seen taken into account in other posts.  People do indeed have different cruise habits.  My husband loves the sun and spends most of his time up on the lido outdoors.  I spend most of my time indoors so the increased masking protocols impact me much more.  We were supposed to sail out of New York in January so winter weather is another factor leading to more time spent indoors.  We talked it over today and will cancel and take a land vacation instead.

[little britain]

Have been on 4 cruises this summer where the policy was wear the mask indoors whilst walking around, take it off when seated eating or drinking.  Most removed theirs in the theatre too although you weren’t meant to. 
 

Of more concern to me is the ports (esp Caribbean islands) where you are now expected to wear a mask outside when walking around. That is a deal breaker. 
 

 

[cruisegirl1]

2 hours ago, little britain said:

Have been on 4 cruises this summer where the policy was wear the mask indoors whilst walking around, take it off when seated eating or drinking.  Most removed theirs in the theatre too although you weren’t meant to. 
 

Of more concern to me is the ports (esp Caribbean islands) where you are now expected to wear a mask outside when walking around. That is a deal breaker. 
 

 

We were required to wear a mask outdoors in the port area in St Thomas previously. Nothing changed. Seemed strange to me but …. Their city/their rules. 

[cruisegirl1]

7 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I agree everyone is different, but to me going from a policy where you wore your mask for maybe 30 minutes a day to a policy where you will be required to wear your mask all day with the exception of 60 minutes or so is a big change to me. Of course these times will vary from person to person based on what you like to do during a cruise. 

 

7 hours ago, Travelling2Some said:

You make an excellent point that I have not seen taken into account in other posts.  People do indeed have different cruise habits.  My husband loves the sun and spends most of his time up on the lido outdoors.  I spend most of my time indoors so the increased masking protocols impact me much more.  We were supposed to sail out of New York in January so winter weather is another factor leading to more time spent indoors.  We talked it over today and will cancel and take a land vacation instead.

Luckily the cruise line is making provisions for those who want to cancel. 

[dagadget]

We just returned from Harmony of the Seas Cruise and wearing the masks was not a big deal. I work in a hospital, and I am used to it anyway.  The mask policy was rather well complied with and on Friday everyone was talking about the change in the policy to increase mask usage.  When outside in Central Park with hardly a soul in sight we took our masks off just like we did when seated dining. Mask policy can help but the big hole in all of this is you're not able to eat while masked. Harmony was about at 60% capacity for the 12-19th cruise and while different, the changes were not a cruise stopping event for us. In fact, Windjammer Marketplace food wastage has to be way down now.

[Travelling2Some]

9 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 

Luckily the cruise line is making provisions for those who want to cancel. 

Nice but I actually made my own "provisions" by booking with a refundable deposit and only taking cash refunds rather than FCC on our (many) previously cancelled cruises.  I'm not very trusting when it comes to a big corporation looking out for my best interests;)