Will you still wear a mask?

[RichYak]

45 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I drink scotch all day and never get sick.  Therefore alcohol keeps you healthy.  Sounds as good as everybody else’s idea.

Yes, It's like hand sanitizer for your insides. I read it on the internet, it must be true.

[fsdorado]

1 hour ago, Dreamcruise27 said:

 

Thank you everyone for your answers/reasons! It gives me an idea of what to expect on the cruise. 

 

For me, I will choose to still wear a mask because of the following reasons:

1. Travelling with an unvaccinated child: My DD is a COVID baby who has grown up in a world wear she thinks putting on a mask is the same as putting on a jacket. At age 1 (almost 2), one of her first words was "ma mask". If she has to continue wearing a mask, then we will too, because she probably won't want to keep it on if we aren't wearing ours. Until there is a vaccination for 5 and under, I don't think we will have a choice wherever we choose to travel. 

 

2. Risk of not being able to fly back home: Canada requires a negative test to enter and won't let us enter if we test positive for 10 days. In my opinion, wearing a mask (not all the time but whenever necessary) and social distancing is a tradeoff to make sure I can get home.

 

Growing up in Asia, masks were common things we put on when pollution was bad or when there were colds/flus going around. As a parent with a child at school, this is the first year he has not caught ANYTHING (knock on wood) and I believe it is 100% due to the fact he has to wear a mask and kids have to stay home when they are sick.

 

I remember catching a cold on an Alaska cruise. It was TERRIBLE!! I'm sure many cruisers will agree that lots of people do catch colds and other illnesses on-board and it definitely can ruin your much deserved vacation. If masking while sick becomes the "norm", think about how many more happy days at sea you can enjoy 🙂 

 

I truly hope that people will respect everyone's decision on whether or not they chose to wear a mask. 

 

You have additional considerations for sure.  I 100% support your personal choices.  I think most of the people who have responded to this thread do not have the same considerations.  Many years ago, before Covid, my father was diagnosed with Leukemia.  During the course of his illness, there were many times that he became neutropenic (where he basically had no immune system). We got accustomed to wearing masks whenever we were anywhere near him and to constantly wash our hands.  (It was definitely good training for the Covid years!)  I knew that if I had so much as a cold and I exposed him to it, it could kill him.  We were on the last Edge cruise that required masks.  We personally were not concerned with getting infected as our travelling party was all triple vaxed and had we had all gotten infected at the beginning of January (despite our best efforts to avoid people).  You having a child who cannot be vaccinated and the additional burden of needing to test negative to get back home to Canada certainly warrants extra caution on your part.  I hope you have a fantastic cruise and that the people you encounter will respect your choice to wear masks.

 

 

Frederick

 

[jerseygirl3]

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I know it is a personal choice and everybody has a comfort and risk level.  But a related question for those still choosing to wear a mask on cruise ships.  Not judging but just very interested.  What will change your mind if anything?  What sign are you looking for?  And when?  If COVID becomes truly an endemic or circulating virus (like influenza, other cold viruses, etc) never to be gone completely, for perhaps decades or forever, will you always wear masks on your cruises?  Even if COVID vaccines and boosters protect you from serious illness?  My questions assume that COVID is here to stay but becomes entirely manageable.

Im not sure when we'll feel comfortable not wearing a mask. As i said in a previous post, my husband contracted Influenza A on our last cruise march 2020. Apparently so did 80 other pax (that we know of, who kniws how many others didnt report to Medical Center because if being quarantined). My husband has pulmonary and cardiac Sarcoidosis, so if we oot to continue to cruise, we will be extra careful.  

[asnaleah]

We plan to keep wearing them when in crowded places. I have really liked not getting a cold or influenza the past two years.

[drarill]

9 hours ago, terri1020 said:

We'll be wearing ours anywhere where there are potential groups of people close together. Personal preference.

 

Whatever you decide, happy, healthy cruising!

I'm with you!!  

[PTC DAWG]

4 hours ago, Oville said:

Don’t be so sure.  We drive to ports and I can’t think of any cruise we’ve been on where one or both of us didn’t came back sick.

Eat more dirt…an old Southern saying…it helps. 

[zitsky]

24 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Eat more dirt…an old Southern saying…it helps. 

Google is not helping…… at all.  😳

[schittenden]

We likely will, at least in crowded situations. We were on the Millie last August and were some of the few people on the ship wearing masks. On that cruise, our son, who was with us, was too young to be vaccinated. Since then, we’ve been boosted and he’s been vaxed. We’re on the Apex in April. I’m a little more comfortable than my wife (although probably actually at greater risk). We still wear masks into stores and restaurants (even though we obviously take them off to eat). Last June we went to Vegas and didn’t wear masks there. Perhaps if the trend continues the next few weeks, we’ll be more comfortable wearing the mask less. I do recall getting terribly ill on a cruise a number of years ago. Coughed and passed out at dinner the last night. I went to the cabin. When we got off, my wife drove us home because I didn’t have the energy. Turned out to be a nasty case of bronchitis.  

[Jim_Iain]

We will be wearing masks for sure inside and will be avoiding elevators.    We will be sailing on a B3B and if we contact trace or are infected it isn't just the cruise we are on but the subsequent one or ones depending on timing.

 

It's a small price to pay to make sure we aren't kicked off the ship.

[wrk2cruise]

I do what Jim does for the same B2B reasons.   Also wear KN95 in the casino just because of the number of people and no social distancing.

[OnTheJourney]

12 hours ago, terri1020 said:

We'll be wearing ours anywhere where there are potential groups of people close together. Personal preference.

Same here. Sure increases the chances of either not winding up in quarantine and/or being booted off the ship following a positive test. 

Edited March 1, 2022 by AnyWayIsGood

[OnTheJourney]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

It's a small price to pay to make sure we aren't kicked off the ship.

 You beat me to it.....😉

[canderson]

8 hours ago, zitsky said:

I drink scotch all day and never get sick.  Therefore alcohol keeps you healthy.  Sounds as good as everybody else’s idea.

That ONLY works if you're drinking good scotch, otherwise you'll have to explain your budget to your liver! 😜

[canderson]

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

I do what Jim does for the same B2B reasons.   Also wear KN95 in the casino just because of the number of people and no social distancing.

Won't help you with a contact trace.  Ship's medical doesn't care if you ever test positive or not.  It's off at the home port.  Lousy policy, but there you have it.

[journeymore]

13 hours ago, plimouth pilgrims said:

Where we are they recently lifted mask mandates and I went to the local big box store without a mask I was there for about an hour. The only place I went without a mask. Three days later I'm sick as can be with a runny nose, sore throat aches and chills. It took me two days before I felt I could go to the doctors. We both are vaccinated and boosted but you never know. I tested negative for covid the flu and strep. They said because I have been wearing a mask since covid started, my immunity to seasonal infections is low. I have is an upper respiratory infection. Rember those?  First time I've been sick in two years.

Same thing happened to my sister. 

[Torfamm]

14 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I know it is a personal choice and everybody has a comfort and risk level.  But a related question for those still choosing to wear a mask on cruise ships.  Not judging but just very interested.  What will change your mind if anything?  What sign are you looking for?  And when?  If COVID becomes truly an endemic or circulating virus (like influenza, other cold viruses, etc) never to be gone completely, for perhaps decades or forever, will you always wear masks on your cruises?  Even if COVID vaccines and boosters protect you from serious illness?  My questions assume that COVID is here to stay but becomes entirely manageable.

While I have a mild concern about the risk of illness, I very much want to avoid spending my cruise in quarantine or not being able to continue with my next trip. That is a big incentive under current protocols for cruises or international travel 

[sgmn]

13 hours ago, Dreamcruise27 said:

 

Growing up in Asia, masks were common things we put on when pollution was bad or when there were colds/flus going around. As a parent with a child at school, this is the first year he has not caught ANYTHING (knock on wood) and I believe it is 100% due to the fact he has to wear a mask and kids have to stay home when they are sick.

 

I truly hope that people will respect everyone's decision on whether or not they chose to wear a mask. 

Working at a major international airport pre covid there were always a lot of Asians wearing masks in the terminal. I didn't get it then, but I do now. 

It's easy to catch bugs and colds on a long haul flight and waiting hours in queues inside terminals. I hope people with colds or worse will continue to stop spreading their germs in public places or transport by wearing masks. 

[gordylad]

No

[sgmn]

14 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

March off to NYC, April, England, May, Disneyland. June is our Alaska cruise. My thought are if a cruiseline or a country requires a neg covid test to board or enter. Then yes I'm planning to wear a mask when in elevators or large groups of people.

Agree, it's easy to be dismissive of covid and mask restrictions if you don't have to get a  negative test to get on a flight home. 

I am vaxxed and boostered. Have been generally careful but because of a small birthday supper at home (four people) I am now recovering from covid. Its relatively easy to catch Omicron even if you are vaxxed and I wouldn't want this to happen if I was far from home. 

Happily England has now dropped the requirement to have a negative test to return, so we hope to restart international travel this Spring 

[Ipeeinthepools]

Here's a couple of related questions for everyone that isn't going to wear masks on ships.  Are you really ready to return to a pre-Covid world?  Are you really comfortable sitting elbow to elbow in the theatre, bar or restaurant with a bunch of strangers?   Are you really ready to get packed with 8 or 9 other people in an elevator?  Everyone has been enjoying ships sailing at 50% or less capacity but are you really ready to experience a packed cruise ship?  I don't plan on wearing a mask but I'm still going to be concerned about areas without social distancing.

[mfs2k]

Thoughts in my head:

People who wear their masks as a chin protector or under their nose make me more uneasy than those who don’t wear masks at all. 
 

People who sneeze make me nervous too. “Get away from me!” Is what goes through my head. 
 

When I sneeze it’s different. 

Edited March 1, 2022 by mfs2k

[hrhdhd]

1 hour ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Here's a couple of related questions for everyone that isn't going to wear masks on ships.  Are you really ready to return to a pre-Covid world?  Are you really comfortable sitting elbow to elbow in the theatre, bar or restaurant with a bunch of strangers?   Are you really ready to get packed with 8 or 9 other people in an elevator?  Everyone has been enjoying ships sailing at 50% or less capacity but are you really ready to experience a packed cruise ship?  I don't plan on wearing a mask but I'm still going to be concerned about areas without social distancing.

I've been doing most of those things for more than, say, 18 months in FL. 🤷‍♀️

 

I don't want packed ships, although that has nothing to do with COVID. I know it's coming, however. ☹️

[terrydtx]

3 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

I don't plan on wearing a mask but I'm still going to be concerned about areas without social distancing.

We do the same, last year on the Equinox, before masks were required, we didn't wear one except when shore excursions required them. We have 24 days cruising and 9 days on land in Italy and Greece in August and will not be wearing masks on board the ship but will be diligent and staying away from crowed venues onboard.  We never enter the casino and if the shows are too crowded, we will stay away.

[TeeRick]

5 hours ago, Torfamm said:

While I have a mild concern about the risk of illness, I very much want to avoid spending my cruise in quarantine or not being able to continue with my next trip. That is a big incentive under current protocols for cruises or international travel 

Thank you for answering my questions.  I also would not want to test positive on ship and have to isolate.  

[TeeRick]

4 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Here's a couple of related questions for everyone that isn't going to wear masks on ships.  Are you really ready to return to a pre-Covid world?  Are you really comfortable sitting elbow to elbow in the theatre, bar or restaurant with a bunch of strangers?   Are you really ready to get packed with 8 or 9 other people in an elevator?  Everyone has been enjoying ships sailing at 50% or less capacity but are you really ready to experience a packed cruise ship?  I don't plan on wearing a mask but I'm still going to be concerned about areas without social distancing.

ipee the questions you raise are concerns of mine and many people right now.  Understood.  My previous questions (in post #52) were more about the future.  Like COVID, will masks be with us as a definite permanent change to our culture and cruising?  And social distancing too?  Say 3 or 5 or 10 years from now will some people be wearing masks on cruise ships as a personal safety choice (assuming it is not a requirement)?  Again assuming COVID virus is around forever and circulating like other cold and respiratory viruses and influenza.  But COVID would not be in a pandemic or endemic - but just part of a normal cold and flu season at that time, and with COVID variant and Influenza strain vaccines readily available.  Again I am definitely not judging anybody's choices but I kind of find this really interesting to hear people's thoughts.  Without others judging or being snarky.