Symphony - terrible / no shows / Covid ?

[Iamcruzin]

1 minute ago, ReneeFLL said:

👍🏼 Even before covid I would never use someone else’s snorkel. They say they disinfect them, but how well do they really do it? If people don’t want to drag snorkel equipment with them at the very least bring just a snorkel. 

 I have been bringing snorkel and mask for years. I'm not a germaphobe but I don't trust the  sterilization process. I certainly wouldn't be booking a snorkel excursion these days.  

[fenton04]

8 hours ago, NCMtnBoys said:

Did they say why? Did they have a valve on them? Their website doesn't specifically say you can't use an N95, just that you can't use a mask with a valve. I was planning on using N95s on my upcoming cruise and they don't have a valve, so I don't know another reason why they would not be acceptable.

We went in September so since the health mandates are so fluid you might seek guidance from the cruise line.  No reason given just on a list of unacceptable face masks.

Edited December 26, 2021 by fenton04
add word

[Iamcruzin]

7 hours ago, flyguyjake said:

There definitely doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who covid infects or how severely their personal outcome. It's very individualized. 

We had to cancel Christmas because my son has been home since Tuesday with covid. We are all vaxxed to the max including booster. They had to close the bank branch that he works at because several employees have covid.  I imagine that this is what's happening with the staff on Royal. My wife had symptoms but tested negative and I have no symptoms at all so I didn't test.  CVS and Walgreens are booking covid test 2 weeks out and I'm not waiting in a long line on the street with people who have symptoms.  

[Jj343434jj]

19 hours ago, DevonfromAcme said:

With all due respect, what did you expect?

 

You booked a gigantic ship AT CHRISTMAS (literally THE premium week of the entire year), during a pandemic.

 

I'm really not sure what you're asking, here. . .

 

I don't get the point of your post. Does he not deserve to complain about their being no shows? I would definitely complain since that is my favorite part about cruising. 

[steevee]

10 hours ago, NCMtnBoys said:

Did they say why? Did they have a valve on them? Their website doesn't specifically say you can't use an N95, just that you can't use a mask with a valve. I was planning on using N95s on my upcoming cruise and they don't have a valve, so I don't know another reason why they would not be acceptable.

I was on Adventure of the Seas in August and we wore N95 and KN95 masks the whole time. There were no issues with wearing them on board or in any inside areas. 

[ReneeFLL]

3 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I'm close to pulling the plug on January, too.

We are beginning to think the same thing but will wait it out for now.

 

13 minutes ago, steevee said:

I was on Adventure of the Seas in August and we wore N95 and KN95 masks the whole time. There were no issues with wearing them on board or in any inside areas. 

We also wore them and didn’t have any problems or get a paper saying not to. It must be ship specific but someone left their head somewhere (as in not on) when they were writing that paper. I hope it was corrected by the next cruise.

[Biker19]

8 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

. I’m sure fellow CC members can help me out.

I think you mean @chengkp75  

[danielwje1]

Went to watch the juggler last night (who seems to have been the act every night). The Cruise Director comes on and acts like everything is normal, explaining how he manages over 200 entertainment staff (where are they all?), he’s CD on the largest ship in the world and each cruise they’re adding more and more back. Talked about other ships adding the hairy chest competition back. 

 

the issue I have is they’re still maintaining / pretending everything is normal and trying to cover it up. More transparency and a little bit of humbleness would go a long way in my opinion. 
 

 

[mek]

7 hours ago, Jj343434jj said:

I don't get the point of your post. Does he not deserve to complain about their being no shows? I would definitely complain since that is my favorite part about cruising. 

Well, he can complain all he wants, but anyone who cruises right now and expects more than a room, some meals, and a view of the ocean is being totally unrealistic.  

Blame it on the cruise lines if you want, but when does common sense kick in?

[mek]

5 minutes ago, danielwje1 said:

Went to watch the juggler last night (who seems to have been the act every night). The Cruise Director comes on and acts like everything is normal, explaining how he manages over 200 entertainment staff (where are they all?), he’s CD on the largest ship in the world and each cruise they’re adding more and more back. Talked about other ships adding the hairy chest competition back. 

 

the issue I have is they’re still maintaining / pretending everything is normal and trying to cover it up. More transparency and a little bit of humbleness would go a long way in my opinion. 
 

 

Not exactly sure what you expect them to do as far as transparency?  My question is not intended as snarky - you're on board - what could they do that isn't being done?

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, mek said:

what could they do that isn't being done?

Some seem to want a daily, perhaps hourly, update play by play of everything, including COVID numbers.

[mek]

Just now, Biker19 said:

Some seem to want a daily, perhaps hourly, update play by play of everything, including COVID numbers.

LOL - wouldn't that be jolly!  (And what benefit would that really have, except create more anxiety?)

[Jasukkie]

I've cruised on Royal with N95 masks without an issue. I would really love to see evidence they aren't allowing them now as it makes absolutely no sense. I understand not allowing the valve masks but that's a different beast.

[danielwje1]

21 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Some seem to want a daily, perhaps hourly, update play by play of everything, including COVID numbers.

Not really. I completely understand people can test positive for Covid. Nothing I do can change that. I’m not expecting people to work while positive and it’s right to be testing and isolating those who are positive. It’s the right call to try and keep everyone safe than not test and have people working with Covid. Most of the deck 3 cabins near the dining room appear to be sealed off. I truly hope all those who tested positive are recovering and are well. 
 

However… 

 

All the advertising and messaging suggested to us we would have a relatively normal cruising experience. This isn’t normal but there is 0 recognition of that. I’ve learned in business if you are transparent with customers then they understand and it builds trust long term. It’s way better to be transparent than try to cover the issues up.

 

I don’t want to know how many people are positive or hourly updates as some suggest. It just would have been nice if RC emailed us with a “what to expect” update (they must have known most of the shows were off) instead of having us get on the ship expecting a full service. The only email we got before the cruise was about delayed boarding for 2 hours. 
 

If we had known then we could have taken an informed decision if we wanted to board or not. If we boarded then it’s our choice and we would understand not to expect things. 

 

Perhaps RC shouldn’t be advertising this if they can’t deliver on it. Perhaps we shouldn’t have gone cruising during a pandemic. Perhaps we were naive to trust the messaging and adverting of a brand I have cruised with for over 20 years. Since RC are not communicating, I wanted to post here so people could know what’s going on onboard and take an informed decision themselves. 

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by danielwje1

[Biker19]

9 minutes ago, danielwje1 said:

All the advertising and messaging suggested to us we would have a normal cruising experience.

Marketing seems to be working.

[Iamcruzin]

8 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

So tell us… what’s the magic number for social distancing for an Aerosolized virus in a MDR with hundreds of people? How far is far enough away? 

6ft has been the standard number for 2 yrs now.  The problem is the the cruise line increased capacity and then we got hit with a very contagious covid variant.  

[bouhunter]

8 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

So tell us… what’s the magic number for social distancing for an Aerosolized virus in a MDR with hundreds of people? How far is far enough away? 

But if you wear a mask while walking to your table all is well........

[Iamcruzin]

57 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Some seem to want a daily, perhaps hourly, update play by play of everything, including COVID numbers.

The cruise line is going to do anything they can to keep those covid numbers hidden. The last thing they want is the CDC shutting them down again.

[Jimbo]

8 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

So tell us… what’s the magic number for social distancing for an Aerosolized virus in a MDR with hundreds of people? How far is far enough away? 

Reduce the number of passengers, so 12 to 15 ft in the Dining room would be much safer.

[bouhunter]

55 minutes ago, danielwje1 said:

 

However… 

 

All the advertising and messaging suggested to us we would have a relatively normal cruising experience.

You actually expected that?  We moved all our winter cruises to January/February 2023.  MAYBE cruising will be close to normal then............. but maybe not.

[Ocean Boy]

7 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

We are beginning to think the same thing but will wait it out for now.

 

I am waiting also since RCI already has my money. So at this point I have nothing to gain or loose by taking advantage of CWC and waiting until 2-3 days before the cruise to make the decision. Maybe things will have cooled off and it will be a go or maybe things will be worse and the decision not to go will be an easy one.

[Ride-The-Waves]

The cruise lines themselves are at fault.  RCI, Carnival and HAL ships have had outbreaks because of extremely poor onboard management following their own rules of COVID safety.  Passengers are not being "reminded" to mask up, people are crowding into small spaces, even in the pre-covid days these Oasis class ships were over crowded and difficult to move around with our bumping into others.  They also attract passengers with the proclivity to flaunt rules and protocols.  First thing is to enforce the rules carefully created to manage cover, second is to swiftly control disobedient passengers into selected covid control cabins somewhere below sickbay and get them off the ships at first opportunity and make sure they don't ever sail again.  Its past time to not be strict.  Enforce your own protocols for everyone's safety.

[bouhunter]

3 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

The cruise lines themselves are at fault.  RCI, Carnival and HAL ships have had outbreaks because of extremely poor onboard management following their own rules of COVID safety.  Passengers are not being "reminded" to mask up, people are crowding into small spaces, even in the pre-covid days these Oasis class ships were over crowded and difficult to move around with our bumping into others.  They also attract passengers with the proclivity to flaunt rules and protocols.  First thing is to enforce the rules carefully created to manage cover, second is to swiftly control disobedient passengers into selected covid control cabins somewhere below sickbay and get them off the ships at first opportunity and make sure they don't ever sail again.  Its past time to not be strict.  Enforce your own protocols for everyone's safety.

You've sailed RCCL, HAL and Carnival recently?

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Marketing seems to be working.

So don't fault the people who are presenting the reality of the situation. The balance is appreciated. Without that input all the rest of us can do is believe the marketing or speculate about what is actually happening on the ships.

[bajathree]

The problems I saw on Allure a few weeks ago is that some of the protocols don't make sense or work. While a mask was required while walking around indoors I rarely walked next to anyone closer than 6 feet while walking around like the promenade. Only a very few times did I ride in an elevator over the limited capacity. HOWEVER....places like casino where a mask wasn't even required were packed like sardines. The slots were packed and there was no sanitizing between players as it just wasn't possible. Even though the casino is considered a vaccinated only zone it's also a walkway from forward to aft on deck 4 on Oasis class and there were groups of unvaccinated kids I saw walking through the crowds. It was so crowded in the casino in the evening that there just wasn't anyway to even control it. I said that if anyone on this ship was going to get sick it would be here in the casino. So thats a good example how they go crazy on some protocols and then have holes in them like in the Casino. Going forward I really think that the cruise lines are going to have to figure a way to deal with it as people just aren't  comfortable...or possibly even safe in a packed shoulder to shoulder environment anymore. While they are restricting reservations into the shows for crowding reasons....they aren't restricting anything in the the casino.