Princess mask update 2/18/22. Effective 3/1/22

[Torfamm]

On the Emerald. The Captain just announced that masks are now recommended, not required, in most areas. Exceptions are the theater, casino, medical center,  tenders, embarking and disembarking. Masks are still required in those areas. Letters are in cabins with details

[Sunwanabe]

Sounds like masks are still required in some venues like theatre but not being enforced.  So basically masks optional in any location.

[MissP22]

26 minutes ago, Torfamm said:

On the Emerald. The Captain just announced that masks are now recommended, not required, in most areas. Exceptions are the theater, casino, medical center,  tenders, embarking and disembarking. Masks are still required in those areas. Letters are in cabins with details

Last night on the Enchanted there was only 50% compliance with mask wearing in the Show Lounge. 

It doesn't appear that all the people are that concerned any longer.

[memoak]

8 hours ago, caribill said:

 

There is another thread where the poster said he and at least one other passenger tested positive at the end of his cruise and could not continue on to the next segment unless willing to sail in a quarantine cabin for at least 5 days.

 

The point is that this person who wore a mask on the ship as required and was among other masked passengers/crew contracted Covid. It may have happened on the ship or it may have happened on shore.

 

But because he was wearing a mask and other passengers were appropriately wearing masks, it is unlikely that he (unknowingly) spread the virus to others while on board.

 

But if his cruise had operated under the new rules, it is likely he could have unknowingly infected other passengers not wearing masks.

 

Covid is still around with an unacceptable number of people getting infected every day.  In my opinion, removing the indoor mask mandate on cruise ships is not the wise choice at this time.

As of March 12 the only state with a mask mandate will be Hawaii which has one of the worst levels of vaccination in the US. Sounds like cruise ships are following the rules in action all over the country

[caribill]

3 hours ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

And because they have softened the mask mandate doesn't mean people can't wear one.  If they work, then those people should be fine with others not wearing one!

 

The exact opposite.

 

The primary purpose of wearing masks is to reduce the possibility that infected people will spew the virus into the air. The secondary puirpose is to reduce the possibility the wearer will inhale those virus particles.

 

So I am not fine with unmasked people possibly unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

[USCcruisecrazy]

3 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

The exact opposite.

 

The primary purpose of wearing masks is to reduce the possibility that infected people will spew the virus into the air. The secondary puirpose is to reduce the possibility the wearer will inhale those virus particles.

 

So I am not fine with unmasked people possibly unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

Well, your secondary purpose is exactly what I said...it keeps the wearer from catching the virus...if the mask actually works (depends on the type of mask and the handling of the mask)...personally, I've had 3 shots and COVID...I have to test like everyone else before boarding...I could care less if anyone else wears a mask or not...in fact, I invite them not to...and hope Princess lets the workers go maskless as well...please wear a mask the rest of your life...that's your right...I'll just take my chances.

[chamima]

21 minutes ago, caribill said:

The exact opposite.

The primary purpose of wearing masks is to reduce the possibility that infected people will spew the virus into the air. The secondary (and less effective) purpose is to reduce the possibility the wearer will inhale those virus particles.

 

So I am not fine with unmasked people possibly unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

 

Thank you!

If we could all care at least as much for the effect our actions have on others (who might not be in as favorable position as ourselves) as how things impact us we'd be a better nation and world.

Edited March 1, 2022 by chamima

[Host CJSKIDS]

Came back on board today and this was waiting for us. Masks are now suggested with the exception of a few places 

[Torfamm]

2 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Last night on the Enchanted there was only 50% compliance with mask wearing in the Show Lounge. 

It doesn't appear that all the people are that concerned any longer.

Interesting.  There were still announcements being made to sip and cover last night and the night before in the casino on the Emerald. I did hear a crew member tell someone behind me that they needed to put their mask on between sips at the slot machine. Went to the theater in the afternoon for a presentation yesterday and all were wearing masks but I imagine it might have been very different in the evening 

[dickinson]

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

Interesting.  There were still announcements being made to sip and cover last night and the night before in the casino on the Emerald. I did hear a crew member tell someone behind me that they needed to put their mask on between sips at the slot machine. Went to the theater in the afternoon for a presentation yesterday and all were wearing masks but I imagine it might have been very different in the evening 

I got off the Regal on Saturday.  Was on for two weeks.  Some people ignored the guidelines and no one said anything... even if the CD was talking directly to them.  In the theater there were those announcements about sip and cover.  Some people not wearing masks were not even eating or drinking anything.  Sadly, some people are too self-centered and feel they are above the rules.  Doesn't matter if you agree or. disagree with the rules, they were the rules that you said you would follow.  

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, Torfamm said:

Interesting.  There were still announcements being made to sip and cover last night and the night before in the casino on the Emerald. I did hear a crew member tell someone behind me that they needed to put their mask on between sips at the slot machine. Went to the theater in the afternoon for a presentation yesterday and all were wearing masks but I imagine it might have been very different in the evening 

Different ship, different dats, different rules.

I surprised they were even commenting about the sipping since today it ended but their boss must have been monitoring them so what else could they say. 

 

[caribill]

3 hours ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

Came back on board today and this was waiting for us. Masks are now suggested with the exception of a few places 

 

 

 

That answers one question people have had.

 

With masks still being required in the casino, then the casino is remaining non-smoking.

 

I have not seen any notices to puff and cover.

[Host CJSKIDS]

Signs were changed last night by the elevator and masks are not required there. They also removed the mask signs were inside the elevators. 
 

Casino has a sip and cover sign up as you enter. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:13 AM, Torfamm said:

On the Emerald. The Captain just announced that masks are now recommended, not required, in most areas. Exceptions are the theater, casino, medical center,  tenders, embarking and disembarking. Masks are still required in those areas. Letters are in cabins with details

If masks are required in the casino are they going to be allowing smoking again? I really hope not though.

[Torfamm]

10 minutes ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

If masks are required in the casino are they going to be allowing smoking again? I really hope not though.

My understanding is that there is no smoking when masks are required but I hope Princess will make the casinos non-smoking permanently too. It’s the only big negative I see in choosing a cruise with them over Celebrity for example.
 

I was disappointed to hear that Royal Caribbean is allowing smoking again. Many more people want to avoid smoke than want to smoke in the casino. It’s remarkable how times have changed. I’m always a little surprised at how many smokers won’t smoke in their own home or their car. 

[echoshipmate]

In a couple of current "live froms", pax are stating that crew continues to be required to wear masks. If Princess thinks it is in the crews' best interests to not get sick and are still requiring them to wear masks, guess they aren't as concerned with us, their passengers. Hard to understand that reasoning crew yes, passengers no.

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

Signs were changed last night by the elevator and masks are not required there. They also removed the mask signs were inside the elevators. 
 

Casino has a sip and cover sign up as you enter. 

 

Is the Casino sign worded as mandatory because the Elevator sign reads like a recommendation/suggestion?  Also, any word on the ship if the No-Smoking is going to continue in the Casino?  (That would be fabulous).

[Host CJSKIDS]

10 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Is the Casino sign worded as mandatory because the Elevator sign reads like a recommendation/suggestion?  Also, any word on the ship if the No-Smoking is going to continue in the Casino?  (That would be fabulous).

the casino had a mask required and sip and cover at the entry way this morning. I’ll go check it out again when I go to passenger services. 
 

and the signs by the elevator up until this morning said masks required. They also had a sign inside the elevator above the buttons that reiterated masks required. They pulled those off. Now it states what the picture said so it’s no longer required. 
 

a good portion of people are no longer wearing masks, at least what I have seen. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

My understanding is that there is no smoking when masks are required but I hope Princess will make the casinos non-smoking permanently too. It’s the only big negative I see in choosing a cruise with them over Celebrity for example.
 

I was disappointed to hear that Royal Caribbean is allowing smoking again. Many more people want to avoid smoke than want to smoke in the casino. It’s remarkable how times have changed. I’m always a little surprised at how many smokers won’t smoke in their own home or their car. 

It’s not so much the smoke that bothers me; I’m afraid of catching Covid.

[coo359a2]

1 hour ago, echoshipmate said:

In a couple of current "live froms", pax are stating that crew continues to be required to wear masks. If Princess thinks it is in the crews' best interests to not get sick and are still requiring them to wear masks, guess they aren't as concerned with us, their passengers. Hard to understand that reasoning crew yes, passengers no.

Are the crew covered by CDC or maybe Princess/Captain has the final say if they mask or not.  

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

1 hour ago, echoshipmate said:

In a couple of current "live froms", pax are stating that crew continues to be required to wear masks. If Princess thinks it is in the crews' best interests to not get sick and are still requiring them to wear masks, guess they aren't as concerned with us, their passengers. Hard to understand that reasoning crew yes, passengers no.

This is true right now on the Grand.  Most  passengers are still wearing masks indoors, as recommended.  

[cltnccruisers]

2 hours ago, Torfamm said:

My understanding is that there is no smoking when masks are required but I hope Princess will make the casinos non-smoking permanently too. It’s the only big negative I see in choosing a cruise with them over Celebrity for example.
 

I was disappointed to hear that Royal Caribbean is allowing smoking again. Many more people want to avoid smoke than want to smoke in the casino. It’s remarkable how times have changed. I’m always a little surprised at how many smokers won’t smoke in their own home or their car. 

We trashed RCL mainly due to the smoking.  Though we think there are several reasons to take Celebrity over Princess other than that.

[MissP22]

5 hours ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

Signs were changed last night by the elevator and masks are not required there. They also removed the mask signs were inside the elevators. 
 

Casino has a sip and cover sign up as you enter. 

Yea right. LOL😉 I want to see how many people actually follow their suggestions.

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

It’s not so much the smoke that bothers me; I’m afraid of catching Covid.

Then you shouldn't be subjecting yourself to any situation where you're in close contact with others....a ship, a grocery store or church for that matter. 

If you wait long enough they'll be another virus of some sort that'll keep you at home. So what's the alternative?

[MsSoCalCruiser]

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

Then you shouldn't be subjecting yourself to any situation where you're in close contact with others....a ship, a grocery store or church for that matter. 

If you wait long enough they'll be another virus of some sort that'll keep you at home. So what's the alternative?

There is a big difference between walking around or sitting near somebody unmasked versus them exhaling smoke. I know how far that travels.  If there wasn’t a problem with that then they would not have stopped smoking in the casino in the first place.

Edited March 2, 2022 by MsSoCalCruiser