Masking for Crew?

[handbellplayer]

Does anyone know whether the relaxed masking requirements include crew members?  I felt for them on our January Harmony cruise when they were required to be double-masked while working so hard.  And crew without masks would make interactions so much more pleasant - easier to understand them and would love to see their smiles again!

[Blizzard54]

There was no mention of it in the releases.   I expect they will continue to mask for the time being.

[GTO-Girl]

I am hoping one day soon they can also be unmasked.  We have been desperately looking for our two favorite servers since we lost touch with them because of Covid.  
 

Because they have to wear masks we have no hope of recognizing them if we did see them…..😢😢

[BND]

While there was no mention in the release, that doesn't mean the crew hasn't been told something.  I don't see why they would have to continue to wear them.

[ReneeFLL]

What was the most ridiculous was the outdoor crew. Wearing masks in the heat was crazy.

[Cel_cruise]

I’m sure the crew are heavily motivated to stay out of quarantine and to avoid their performances being canceled…and even if restrictions are lifted - they may still opt to wear them. 
 

If I was Royal - the impact of losing my entertainment crew or my table dealers at the casino would be $$ and I would try to keep them masked when possible for the next few months. 
 

it’s important to actually get the industry back on its feet! 

[SherriZ366]

5 hours ago, GTO-Girl said:

I am hoping one day soon they can also be unmasked.  We have been desperately looking for our two favorite servers since we lost touch with them because of Covid.  
 

Because they have to wear masks we have no hope of recognizing them if we did see them…..😢😢

A lot of the crew wear buttons with their pictures.  

[deliver42]

To the best of my knowledge, there is no timetable to unmask the crew.

[BND]

9 minutes ago, SherriZ366 said:

A lot of the crew wear buttons with their pictures.  

The issue we had is with crew with strong accents were harder to understand when wearing masks.  

[bucfan2]

5 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

To the best of my knowledge, there is no timetable to unmask the crew.

Ridiculous at best….

[Sunshine3601]

Maybe they can use single mask as it can be difficult to understand some with 2 masks on

[taglovestocruise]

1 hour ago, bucfan2 said:

Ridiculous at best….

+1, time to set the crew free

[CPT Trips]

6 hours ago, GTO-Girl said:

I am hoping one day soon they can also be unmasked.  We have been desperately looking for our two favorite servers since we lost touch with them because of Covid.  
 

Because they have to wear masks we have no hope of recognizing them if we did see them…..😢😢

We had no difficulty recognizing several of our favorites even with masks and two years since we last saw them. I think I know why we could and you couldn’t. We’re from a culture that has masked for close to two years so we have practice and know the tricks of facial recognition. Y’all just need more practice. 😉🙄

[jean87510]

20 minutes ago, CPT Trips said:

We had no difficulty recognizing several of our favorites even with masks and two years since we last saw them. I think I know why we could and you couldn’t. We’re from a culture that has masked for close to two years so we have practice and know the tricks of facial recognition. Y’all just need more practice. 😉🙄

That really is impressive.  

[GTO-Girl]

59 minutes ago, CPT Trips said:

We had no difficulty recognizing several of our favorites even with masks and two years since we last saw them. I think I know why we could and you couldn’t. We’re from a culture that has masked for close to two years so we have practice and know the tricks of facial recognition. Y’all just need more practice. 😉🙄

Believe me the last thing I hope for is more practice with masking!!  Two years of all of this is enough….😁😁

[Biker19]

6 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Maybe they can use single mask as it can be difficult to understand some with 2 masks on

I think the two-mask requirement was lifted with other protocol changes last week.

[Ashland]

6 hours ago, SherriZ366 said:

A lot of the crew wear buttons with their pictures.  

All of the crew did on Navigator recently.

[harry0]

I would like to have crew unmasked and let the chips fall where they may. I cruised a few weeks ago-I followed masks mandates and still got covid. I had cold symptoms for 5 days and was back to normal. I also would like to see the crew  be allowed to go to shore again. Its the right thing to do.

[lifes-a-beach]

2 hours ago, harry0 said:

I would like to have crew unmasked and let the chips fall where they may. I cruised a few weeks ago-I followed masks mandates and still got covid. I had cold symptoms for 5 days and was back to normal. I also would like to see the crew  be allowed to go to shore again. Its the right thing to do.

And I’m sure you are willing to pay their salaries if/when they have to quarantine or isolate.  See, that’s the difference here.  These men and women have been without work for a long time.  Most of us did not face that reality.  I know I didn’t.  We can argue all day about whether masks are effective or not.  These workers can’t.  I think quarantine is still 7 days and isolation 14, maybe even longer.  That’s real money to them.  

[lifes-a-beach]

And I don’t mean to pick on you harry.  I just don’t think it’s any of my business how the crew, or the company they work for, try to ensure that there is continuity of service.  My choice is to tip more generously, knowing the crew has been affected for a long time.  

[BND]

12 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Maybe they can use single mask as it can be difficult to understand some with 2 masks on

It was difficult with one mask which is what they were wearing when we cruised Nov 28 -Dec 12.  They didn't go to two masks til after that.  It muffles their voice and if there's other noise, you can't even read their lips.  

Edited February 21, 2022 by BND

[molly361]

A friend onboard the Brilliance as told  that they will still be wearing them for now

Edited February 21, 2022 by molly361

[Retired LEO]

I'm currently on Grandeur and we were notified last night that masks must be worn in all indoor areas of the ship including fully vaccinated areas. 

[DirtyDawg]

43 minutes ago, lifes-a-beach said:

And I don’t mean to pick on you harry.  I just don’t think it’s any of my business how the crew, or the company they work for, try to ensure that there is continuity of service.  My choice is to tip more generously, knowing the crew has been affected for a long time.  

I know it's none of my business how the crew and Royal address this issue. 

[Sunshine3601]

2 hours ago, harry0 said:

I would like to have crew unmasked and let the chips fall where they may. I cruised a few weeks ago-I followed masks mandates and still got covid. I had cold symptoms for 5 days and was back to normal. I also would like to see the crew  be allowed to go to shore again. Its the right thing to do.

As you know it is impossible to know where you got covid.  You may have brought it onboard Odyssey since some people it can take several days before symptoms appear.  Could have been at one of the islands or onboard.  

Really doesnt matter where.  Glad you had just a cold and Royal took good care of.

The crew would probably love to remove masks but the also dont want to be put into quarantine and have to isolate for 7 to 10 days.  I suspect Royal will give them basic pay but loose out of collecting tips, depending on their job.

I read on another website that crew is now allowed to get off at different ports and their homeport for a break.  They are rotating them and only allowing something like 100 or 150 off at a time.  So that's good!