Mask protocols updated to Feb 14th

[A&L_Ont]

On 2/3/2022 at 9:08 AM, bucfan2 said:

It  will if the cruise lines ever want to see 50% again....heck, they may not see close to that (except, of course, the 'super-spreader' events like the Atlantis/Oasis cruise....oh, wait - still waiting for the news on that one).

Agreed. I think the only person who promoted it to be one was the new CC member who’s angle was to post damning photos here, to the islands, the press etc to get a FCC refund on their non-cancellation cruise.  

There certainly didn’t seem to be an influx of cases that some predicted.  NCL just wrapped up their Atlantis cruise last week and I didn’t see anything on the news about it either.
 

 

[bucfan2]

57 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Agreed. I think the only person who promoted it to be one was the new CC member who’s angle was to post damning photos here, to the islands, the press etc to get a FCC refund on their non-cancellation cruise.  

There certainly didn’t seem to be an influx of cases that some predicted.  NCL just wrapped up their Atlantis cruise last week and I didn’t see anything on the news about it either.
 

 

It's certainly difficult figuring out the next step in the plandemic.  Perhaps Feb 14 will bring some good news, although not sure how hopeful we are.

[not-enough-cruising]

30 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

It's certainly difficult figuring out the next step in the plandemic.  Perhaps Feb 14 will bring some good news, although not sure how hopeful we are.

The current protocols have already been extended to April 14

[msuspartabigten]

12 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The current protocols have already been extended to April 14

 

Is this official? Their website still shows Feb 14th. 

[harry0]

IMO Masks do not work to prevent the spread-My wife and I are vaxed and did not wear masks before our 1/29 cruise-During the cruise we wore masks and washed our hands and we got Covid day 6 and day 7 of the 8 day cruise. Royal treated us great during the quarantine process on and off the ship.

[UNCFanatik]

Masks are just Covid theater, plain and simple. Where is the "SCIENCE" behind wearing a mask to your table in the MDR or Windjammer and then unmask for up to 2 hours while dining with people all around you? Its been 2 years now. Follow the data, not what the politically driven TV "experts" say. 

 

There is a pivot happening in the US now because of the upcoming mid term elections and you will see more and more calls to remove masks especially children in schools. 

 

Royal should follow suit. Drop the masks requirements. If people still want to wear a mask on a ship, then they are free to do so. Wear a full Hazmat suit for all I care. Just drop the nonsense with masks requirements which have done nothing to stop the outbreak of Covid we have seen on cruise ships. 

[Big_G]

We did a 5 day on Celebrity Summit back in November. Had to be vaxed and no mask required. It was an awesome cruise with capacity at about 20 - 25 percent. There's no way Royal would be able to pull that off for a while.

[Jasukkie]

59 minutes ago, harry0 said:

IMO Masks do not work to prevent the spread-My wife and I are vaxed and did not wear masks before our 1/29 cruise-During the cruise we wore masks and washed our hands and we got Covid day 6 and day 7 of the 8 day cruise. Royal treated us great during the quarantine process on and off the ship.

Did you take your mask off to eat or drink in an inside space in the presence of other people? 

[bucfan2]

2 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The current protocols have already been extended to April 14

And can be dropped/relaxed at any point if desired....and therein lies the problem - some people actually desire the extent of the protocols (the 30%'ers onboard).  The race between survival (30-50% if lucky) vs. bankruptcy is still being run...let's all hope it's a marathon regarding the latter.

Edited February 8, 2022 by bucfan2

[qdog123]

NCL just updated their Mask policy to make them optional starting 3/1/22. I very much enjoyed my NCL sailing in November when they had the no masks required policy in place compared to my December RCCL sailing that required masks. 

[bucfan2]

1 hour ago, UNCFanatik said:

Masks are just Covid theater, plain and simple. Where is the "SCIENCE" behind wearing a mask to your table in the MDR or Windjammer and then unmask for up to 2 hours while dining with people all around you? Its been 2 years now. Follow the data, not what the politically driven TV "experts" say. 

 

There is a pivot happening in the US now because of the upcoming mid term elections and you will see more and more calls to remove masks especially children in schools. 

 

Royal should follow suit. Drop the masks requirements. If people still want to wear a mask on a ship, then they are free to do so. Wear a full Hazmat suit for all I care. Just drop the nonsense with masks requirements which have done nothing to stop the outbreak of Covid we have seen on cruise ships. 

Spot on (w/ the exception of the typo...it's 'séance').

[davekathy]

47 minutes ago, Big_G said:

We did a 5 day on Celebrity Summit back in November. Had to be vaxed and no mask required. It was an awesome cruise with capacity at about 20 - 25 percent. There's no way Royal would be able to pull that off for a while.

That's all changed. Celebrity requires you wear a mask while inside unless drinking and or eating. Celebrity doesn't require everyone to be vaccinated either. 

[Jasukkie]

4 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

And can be dropped/relaxed at any point if desired....and therein lies the problem - some people actually desire the extent of the protocols (the 30%'ers onboard).  The race between survival (30-50% if lucky) vs. bankruptcy is still being run...let's all hope it's a marathon regarding the latter.

It is an interesting dynamic. Some people want masking, some do not. I agree with others who have pointed out the public health theater of requiring masks to walk around but not while eating or drinking. But I would like to see masking in crowded situations such as boarding or excursion transportation. It seems people are so dug in politically that they can't find a middle ground where masks could be helpful while also recognizing that there are times they aren't necessary. 

 

I do believe masks work. I'm masked 12 hours at a time at work. I fly frequently and always maintain my N95 throughout the airport and in flight (save sneaking a straw under it for hydration). I've avoided Covid so far (knock on wood) and have greatly enjoyed being cold/flu free during that time as well. 

[Ourusualbeach]

14 minutes ago, qdog123 said:

NCL just updated their Mask policy to make them optional starting 3/1/22. I very much enjoyed my NCL sailing in November when they had the no masks required policy in place compared to my December RCCL sailing that required masks. 

They also require all guests 5 and up to be fully vaccinated

[qdog123]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

They also require all guests 5 and up to be fully vaccinated

Well duh… who’s going to go on a cruise without being vaccinated? That’s just asking to be put on a ventilator…

[davekathy]

I (we) wish the pre cruise testing requirement would go away along with the mask requirement. Off my soapbox now. 

[Big_G]

16 minutes ago, davekathy said:

That's all changed. Celebrity requires you wear a mask while inside unless drinking and or eating. Celebrity doesn't require everyone to be vaccinated either. 

 

So I heard. Given the demographics of cruisers they'll probably be back to almost normal before Royal. We have 2 Royals and 1 Celebrity booked before the end of the year because of prior cancellations.

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, Big_G said:

 

So I heard. Given the demographics of cruisers they'll probably be back to almost normal before Royal. We have 2 Royals and 1 Celebrity booked before the end of the year because of prior cancellations.

Same here. A B2B on the Explorer in March and the Summit in September. We would like to see that happen before our September Summit cruise. 

[harry0]

40 minutes ago, Jasukkie said:

Did you take your mask off to eat or drink in an inside space in the presence of other people? 

yes-according to the rules

[davekathy]

All I know is I'll be doing a lot more drinking and snacking on our cruises as longs as masks are required inside the ship. 😉

[Ourusualbeach]

7 minutes ago, qdog123 said:

I thought Royal also allowed unvaccinated people of any age to request to sail as long as the total number of unvaccinated people onboard was held under a certain level. Did that change?

Only in very limited situations.  It's not wide open.

[sellwingri]

To all those who say they won’t cruise until masks are no longer required, great!  More room in the elevators, ability to choose our theater seats, more available seats at casino tables and slots is great for me!  

[bucfan2]

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

All I know is I'll be doing a lot more drinking and snacking on our cruises as longs as masks are required inside the ship. 😉

We considered taking up smoking in the casino (before the no-smoking gig).  Drinking/snacking are healthier anyway.

[bucfan2]

2 minutes ago, sellwingri said:

To all those who say they won’t cruise until masks are no longer required, great!  More room in the elevators, ability to choose our theater seats, more available seats at casino tables and slots is great for me!  

Indeed a great time to cruise....until it isn't.  Hope for all of us they continue to survive (no, they are not 'too big to fail').

Edited February 8, 2022 by bucfan2

[davekathy]

5 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

We considered taking up smoking in the casino (before the no-smoking gig).  Drinking/snacking are healthier anyway.

I quit smoking in 1991. I'd rather wear a mask than start that smelly, unhealthy expensive habit again. Hopefully RC continues with the no inside smoking policy. Maybe something positive came from the mask policy.