Mask protocols updated to Feb 14th

[bucfan2]

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

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. 

Not sure which we would choose, as we haven't really experimented w/ either of them (other than 3 for doctor's appts and onboard back when it was 'partial').  Do agree on the potential positive that could come from all this...X was an amazing casino experience for that reason.

[davekathy]

We were really hoping the mask mandate would be lifted for our March B2B Caribbean cruises. Bummer! 

[spooky981]

It is true. Wearing a mask is a bummer, but sailing at half capacity more than makes up for it. We will look back fondly on these times.

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, spooky981 said:

It is true. Wearing a mask is a bummer, but sailing at half capacity more than makes up for it. We will look back fondly on these times.

All the more reason not to have to wear a mask. But since we are willing to cruise we except the current requirements. 😷

[Hutcha]

55 minutes ago, davekathy said:

We were really hoping the mask mandate would be lifted for our March B2B Caribbean cruises. Bummer! 

Still time. NCL just lifted their mandate starting 3/1

[bucfan2]

17 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Is covid under control? Do the Caribbean ports have a say in the matter? 😷

Other than whether or not a ship visits and contributes to their economy?....no, they don't.  And we don't have a say in how they govern either...as it should be.

[bucky0926]

Bummed protocols going on till April, we cruise March 12.  I would cancel but hubby wants to go.  They won't be getting my money in the casino either since I can't smoke.  Last cruise for us until all this covid stuff is over.

[CruisingHogFan]

6 minutes ago, bucky0926 said:

Bummed protocols going on till April, we cruise March 12.  I would cancel but hubby wants to go.  They won't be getting my money in the casino either since I can't smoke.  Last cruise for us until all this covid stuff is over.

They will get more money from me in the casino because you can’t smoke! 😂

[crewsweeper]

For children, masks in schools are running into resistance.  Several states are removing their rules for masks in schools.  European countries don't require them for children.   More and more studies worldwide are indicating that lockdowns and masks aren't preventing Omicron from spreading.  If the CDC moves to reduce situations where masks are required, the cruise lines will probably follow.  But it will be up to the CDC to make the first move.   If NCL has a couple of months with few COVID infections, that might be an impetus to change.

[bucfan2]

2 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Is it not enough that they turn ships away? Are these forums not full of news of 'changed' itineraries? Nothing will change until covid is under control on the ships!🙄

Changed itineraries is not something we fear, but understand those that book for specific locations.  Best to hold off on cruising if someone isn't willing to 'go w/ the flow', as protocols are changing all the time...and hopefully for the better very soon.

Edited February 8, 2022 by bucfan2

[Jasukkie]

On 2/8/2022 at 10:37 AM, harry0 said:

yes-according to the rules

Exactly. You followed the protocols which permitted you to sit side by side unmasked to eat, which put you at risk. Your mask wasn't the problem, taking it off indoors near other people over a period of time was. Ships have no way of feeding a couple of thousand people otherwise so it is an inherent risk of cruising. I'm unlikely to eat in the main dining room for now, but that's not a big deal to me. I love being at sea, very happy to eat outside personally, but people should use common sense with masking. Just because Royal lets you take it off doesn't mean you should. This is particularly important for high risk individuals, especially diabetics and those over 80 years old. 

[UNCFanatik]

5 minutes ago, Jasukkie said:

Exactly. You followed the protocols which permitted you to sit side by side unmasked to eat, which put you at risk. Your mask wasn't the problem, taking it off indoors near other people over a period of time was. Ships have no way of feeding a couple of thousand people otherwise so it is an inherent risk of cruising. I'm unlikely to eat in the main dining room for now, but that's not a big deal to me. I love being at sea, very happy to eat outside personally, but people should use common sense with masking. Just because Royal lets you take it off doesn't mean you should. This is particularly important for high risk individuals, especially diabetics and those over 80 years old. 

 

 

NO, Royal should use common sense and logic about masking and as long as there is indoor dining, there will be 100s of unmasked ppl. Wearing a mask for the 1 minute walk to the table is strictly for show. If you believe that a mask is effective for you, then by all means wear one

[Jasukkie]

Just now, UNCFanatik said:

 

 

NO, Royal should use common sense and logic about masking and as long as there is indoor dining, there will be 100s of unmasked ppl. Wearing a mask for the 1 minute walk to the table is strictly for show. If you believe that a mask is effective for you, then by all means wear one

I advocate a common sense middle ground. I would like masking to continue in dense, unavoidable situations such as the embarkation process and excursion transportation, perhaps some other scenarios like that. I see no need to mask outside and really fail to see merit in requiring in on the promenade when people are sitting there unmasked because they have a drink on the table. I can also see that policies may need to change based on case trends and new variants, etc. I have happily cruised under a variety of protocols now. I have never seen Royal crew even encourage unmasked passengers to mask up so a lot of this discussion is much ado about nothing.

[sdrocks]

On 2/8/2022 at 9:23 AM, davekathy said:

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

100 % agree.

[harry0]

The most I saw enforcement of masks was in the gym. The gym crew was just doing their job -I get it-they were constantly telling people to pull mask over their noses. I got Covid

Ive been in Florida for a month going to the gym maskless every day and no distancing of machines-no covid. 

Remove the mandates and let the chips fall. If people dont feel comfortable cruising without mandates let them cancel.

Edited February 9, 2022 by harry0

[exm]

26 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

Thanks for your valuable opinions. However, the reality is that most operational cruise ships serving the USA are in yellow status. Have been since late December when the CDC issued a no-cruise advisory.

 

Personally, I would rather listen to the CDC who is monitoring the number of ship infections. Naturally, the health authorities in the ports are also monitoring the situation.

 

FYI, the CDC is now advocating a voluntary program for boosters because of WANING immunity. The industry has until Feb 18 to opt in. So far, the number is 20 to zero.

 

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/boost-cruise-cdc-pushes-covid-001430802.html

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Ftravelers%2Fcrew-disembarkations-commercial-travel.html

 

IMO, there's a possibility of being maskless on a ship if there's a 3-dose mandate. I've 3-doses. What about you?

I don’t even know where to begin. First of all, the CDC has lost a ton of credibility throughout the pandemic under both Trump and Biden (so non-partisan). Their color coding and treatment of the cruise industry is questionable at best.

 

States all over the country, even in blue areas, are dropping mask mandates but the CDC is still sticking to masking, even for children. Where’s the science?

 

About the vaccine: I believe it in a targeted purpose. I got boosted, but still got COVID last month. Felt like a cold. My wife had the 2 shot vaccine, also got COVID, same symptoms. My 3 kids aren’t vaccinated and also got COVID (yes, we all got it at the same time) and only had a mild fever.

 

So why is a 3-dose mandate required according to you? With Omicron everything changed: it’s nowhere near as deadly as before. Let older and people with immune system issues get boosters but see are beyond mandating this for everyone. My wife had 2 shots and natural immunity. Why is that less effective than a booster. My kids got natural immunity: why do they need to get vaccinated? 
 

The CDC and scientists are lagging behind real-life data and are driving by politics and some sort of power-trip (hello, Dr Fauci). If you want 3,4,5+ jabs/boosters: go for it. But that’s a personal decision, and shouldn’t be some sort of a mandate.

Edited February 10, 2022 by exm

[ReneeFLL]

10 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

...I have never seen Royal crew even encourage unmasked passengers to mask up so a lot of this discussion is much ado about nothing.

We were in the Schooner Bar at trivia several days ago and the trivia person announced that everyone needed to wear their masks. You were supposed to put it on after each sip. They haven't announced this in the last 4 weeks when we were in there. Not sure if someone complained or it just came down from their supervisors.

[chengkp75]

7 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

IMO, there's a possibility of being maskless on a ship if there's a 3-dose mandate. I've 3-doses. What about you?

As the CDC has told cruise line executives in the last couple of days, is that if the cruise line opts out of the voluntary CSO program, such as eliminating mask mandates, then they will fall back into the category of the Executive Order for all transportation, which requires masks at nearly all times when indoors on a ship, even a foreign flag ship, when indoors.  This Order has been in place since last February, and applies to foreign flag ships wishing to enter US waters, and is a USCG requirement for obtaining clearance to enter US waters.  It has applied to all ships, of every type, and was not talked about for cruise ships since they went into first the CSO and then the voluntary CSO programs, which are more stringent in other areas.  However, this general transportation mask mandate does not allow for variance due to vaccination status.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html#:~:text=All people%2C including workers and,in the United States and

 

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/Inspections-Compliance-CG-5PC-/Commercial-Vessel-Compliance/CDC-Mask-Order-Frequently-Asked-Questions/

[Lady Hudson]

On a ship right now — casino manager (or asst) says the only change on the 14th will be to allow smoking in the casino.  We shall see.

[Rusty_lock]

6 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

On a ship right now — casino manager (or asst) says the only change on the 14th will be to allow smoking in the casino.  We shall see.

What ship

[bucfan2]

16 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

On a ship right now — casino manager (or asst) says the only change on the 14th will be to allow smoking in the casino.  We shall see.

Guess it's time to take up smoking till they get that protocol fixed...

[Lady Hudson]

1 hour ago, Rusty_lock said:

What ship

Enchantment 

[Virginia100]

I go on Celebrity and they announced 2 days ago no masks inside as of 2/12 except in theater and casino. RCL is not following this??

[Ourusualbeach]

3 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

That's weird.

 

Virginia100 (post 112) just mentioned that Celebrity was easing mask requirements. NCL just eased mask mandate after adding it during the festive season fiasco.

 

That must be a lot of mask flexibility if the ship operates at >95% vax?

Both Celebrity and NCL made that announcement prior to the CDC releasing their new guidelines