Will you still wear a mask?

[D C]

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.

Yes to all of those.  I have absolutely zero concern about getting covid.  

 

I've had 3 jabs, and according to a Nucleocapsid antibody test, I presumably had covid in late December when I had a mild cold for a few days.  With the risk of covid being miniscule in the broad scheme of things, I see no cause for any level of personal concern. 

[zitsky]

29 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

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

My husband says the same thing but he still wants to go on a cruise.  I hope neither of us gets sick!

[davekathy]

Glad Celebrity is now giving us the choice. 

[Dolebludger]

I would do what I do onshore. If the place isn’t crowded and distancing is possible. I don’t wear a mask. If the place is somewhat crowded, I do. If the place is very crowded, I don’t go there!  With cruise ship occupancy being far from capacity, I suspect there would be few places where I would wear a mask. On the other hand, I would avoid the theater and casino.

[jerseygirl3]

36 minutes ago, zitsky said:

My husband says the same thing but he still wants to go on a cruise.  I hope neither of us gets sick!

Guess what.  If you contract influenza on a cruise, you also have to quarantine.  Happened to my husband on day 8 of our 12 day sailing in February 2020.  80 other pax were also quarantined.  There were probably many more, but they didn't report to the Medical Center to be tested for fear of being quarantined.  

 

I would have no problem wearing a mask when I'm around others in large group settings.  I've worked the entire pandemic and haven't gotten Covid (as a nurse).  I toss that up to following appropriate protocols.  

[RetroSister]

15 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

I would do what I do onshore. If the place isn’t crowded and distancing is possible. I don’t wear a mask. If the place is somewhat crowded, I do. If the place is very crowded, I don’t go there!  With cruise ship occupancy being far from capacity, I suspect there would be few places where I would wear a mask. On the other hand, I would avoid the theater and casino.

Same for us. I always wear a mask when I go to the grocery store or other place where employees are required to wear one, even though the local mask mandate has expired. If they can wear one all day, I can suck it up and wear it for 30 minutes - it's not that big a deal, and just feels more respectful of the people who work there. I would definitely wear one in an elevator or other crowded place with zero air filtration and circulation, although we tend more towards stairs anyway, and will need to bun off those cruise calories somehow!

[Torfamm]

17 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

Guess what.  If you contract influenza on a cruise, you also have to quarantine.  Happened to my husband on day 8 of our 12 day sailing in February 2020.  80 other pax were also quarantined.  There were probably many more, but they didn't report to the Medical Center to be tested for fear of being quarantined.  

 

I would have no problem wearing a mask when I'm around others in large group settings.  I've worked the entire pandemic and haven't gotten Covid (as a nurse).  I toss that up to following appropriate protocols.  

As I understand it though, flu doesn’t require leaving a ship in port mid-cruise and quarantining there as can be required with Covid. That’s a huge difference.

[Homosassa]

My husband and I were on the Constellation sailing that left on 2/14 and returned on 2/25.

 

We are both triple vaccinated (Moderna) and have been strictly mask wearing and social distancing for the last two years as we live in an area that still has high transmission rates and increasing hospitalizations (as does most of the state).

 

We were looking forward to the cruise as it would be a welcome change to be in an environment where everyone would be vaccinated, Covid test negative and masks were required.

 

Of course, the mask requirement was changed to only in the theater and casino for our cruise.

 

We still strictly masked because we knew that there would still be the fools on board who either live in our state or were from out of state that would blithely ignore the conditions that exist in Tampa. We removed our masks only when eating , drinking or in our cabin.

 

Sure enough, about two days into the cruise we started hearing the dry cough, cough, cough from unmasked passengers.

 

I know there was Covid on board, but I do not know the numbers. The Constellation is code yellow.

 

So now the irony: After avoiding the virus for two years here in Floriduh, my throat became scratchy on late Thursday afternoon, 2/24 and I developed the dry cough Thursday night. We debarked at 8AM the next day.

 

At that point, I did not contact medical as it seems to be a worthless gesture. I just masked and distanced myself as much as I could.

 

It was an hour drive home. Upon arriving home, I did a home test. It took about thirty seconds for the positive test bar to show up.

 

Luckily, my symptoms have been very mild. While I had a runny nose and occasional cough, I didn't need any type of OTC medicine.

 

I started to feel better on Friday afternoon and the symptoms resolved within two days.

 

My husband tested negative  when we came home. He developed symptoms last night and his are also very mild. He has not yet tested but we expect the test to be positive.

 

Do I feel our strict masking on board was for naught?

 

No, as I did not become ill until the late afternoon of the day before we debarked. Without a mask, we probably would have been ill earlier in the cruise and quarantined for  a portion of the trip (those cough, cough, cough people did seem to disappear and were not seen again - they were in the MDR at the same time as us with the same waiter). 

 

So - think carefully about your decision to mas or not mask. It may be the difference between being quarantined or delaying the onset to so late in the cruise that quarantine becomes a moot point.

[sgmn]

4 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

My husband and I were on the Constellation sailing that left on 2/14 and returned on 2/25.

 

We are both triple vaccinated (Moderna) and have been strictly mask wearing and social distancing for the last two years as we live in an area that still has high transmission rates and increasing hospitalizations (as does most of the state).

 

We were looking forward to the cruise as it would be a welcome change to be in an environment where everyone would be vaccinated, Covid test negative and masks were required.

 

Of course, the mask requirement was changed to only in the theater and casino for our cruise.

 

We still strictly masked because we knew that there would still be the fools on board who either live in our state or were from out of state that would blithely ignore the conditions that exist in Tampa. We removed our masks only when eating , drinking or in our cabin.

 

Sure enough, about two days into the cruise we started hearing the dry cough, cough, cough from unmasked passengers.

 

I know there was Covid on board, but I do not know the numbers. The Constellation is code yellow.

 

So now the irony: After avoiding the virus for two years here in Floriduh, my throat became scratchy on late Thursday afternoon, 2/24 and I developed the dry cough Thursday night. We debarked at 8AM the next day.

 

At that point, I did not contact medical as it seems to be a worthless gesture. I just masked and distanced myself as much as I could.

 

It was an hour drive home. Upon arriving home, I did a home test. It took about thirty seconds for the positive test bar to show up.

 

Luckily, my symptoms have been very mild. While I had a runny nose and occasional cough, I didn't need any type of OTC medicine.

 

I started to feel better on Friday afternoon and the symptoms resolved within two days.

 

My husband tested negative  when we came home. He developed symptoms last night and his are also very mild. He has not yet tested but we expect the test to be positive.

 

Do I feel our strict masking on board was for naught?

 

No, as I did not become ill until the late afternoon of the day before we debarked. Without a mask, we probably would have been ill earlier in the cruise and quarantined for  a portion of the trip (those cough, cough, cough people did seem to disappear and were not seen again - they were in the MDR at the same time as us with the same waiter). 

 

So - think carefully about your decision to mas or not mask. It may be the difference between being quarantined or delaying the onset to so late in the cruise that quarantine becomes a moot point.

Glad your symptoms are mild and you only had to drive home.   For travellers from abroad who have to show a negative test to fly home it would be a whole different story 

 

[PTC DAWG]

I personally think that anyone who has been strictly wearing masks for 2 plus years has a very weakened immunity system..my personal Dr. Feels this way also. Some of these posts seem to bear this out..

 

Me, last time I had on a mask was disembarking a cruise last September. 
 

Cruising on Apex in March..don’t plan to wear a mask where it is not required. I probably won’t get off the ship if islands are requiring masks. 
 

That said, govern yourself accordingly. 

[PTC DAWG]

13 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

My husband and I were on the Constellation sailing that left on 2/14 and returned on 2/25.

 

We are both triple vaccinated (Moderna) and have been strictly mask wearing and social distancing for the last two years as we live in an area that still has high transmission rates and increasing hospitalizations (as does most of the state).

 

We were looking forward to the cruise as it would be a welcome change to be in an environment where everyone would be vaccinated, Covid test negative and masks were required.

 

Of course, the mask requirement was changed to only in the theater and casino for our cruise.

 

We still strictly masked because we knew that there would still be the fools on board who either live in our state or were from out of state that would blithely ignore the conditions that exist in Tampa. We removed our masks only when eating , drinking or in our cabin.

 

Sure enough, about two days into the cruise we started hearing the dry cough, cough, cough from unmasked passengers.

 

I know there was Covid on board, but I do not know the numbers. The Constellation is code yellow.

 

So now the irony: After avoiding the virus for two years here in Floriduh, my throat became scratchy on late Thursday afternoon, 2/24 and I developed the dry cough Thursday night. We debarked at 8AM the next day.

 

At that point, I did not contact medical as it seems to be a worthless gesture. I just masked and distanced myself as much as I could.

 

It was an hour drive home. Upon arriving home, I did a home test. It took about thirty seconds for the positive test bar to show up.

 

Luckily, my symptoms have been very mild. While I had a runny nose and occasional cough, I didn't need any type of OTC medicine.

 

I started to feel better on Friday afternoon and the symptoms resolved within two days.

 

My husband tested negative  when we came home. He developed symptoms last night and his are also very mild. He has not yet tested but we expect the test to be positive.

 

Do I feel our strict masking on board was for naught?

 

No, as I did not become ill until the late afternoon of the day before we debarked. Without a mask, we probably would have been ill earlier in the cruise and quarantined for  a portion of the trip (those cough, cough, cough people did seem to disappear and were not seen again - they were in the MDR at the same time as us with the same waiter). 

 

So - think carefully about your decision to mas or not mask. It may be the difference between being quarantined or delaying the onset to so late in the cruise that quarantine becomes a moot point.

Glad you feel better, that said, Florida cases are continuing to drop. 
 

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/02/28/florida-covid-19-hospitalizations-continue-to-drop-now-below-3000/

[Homosassa]

5 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Glad your symptoms are mild and you only had to drive home.   For travellers from abroad who have to show a negative test to fly home it would be a whole different story 

 

Absolutely.

 

Some of the other passengers on board that were also rigorously masking were either those that did have to fly home or had back to backs booked and wanted to make the second leg.

[Homosassa]

1 minute ago, PTC DAWG said:

Glad you feel better, that said, Florida cases are continuing to drop. 
 

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/02/28/florida-covid-19-hospitalizations-continue-to-drop-now-below-3000/

Please check the numbers for other parts of Florida where the counties are yellow or orange. Transmission  and hospitalizations are still high.

 

My county has just been changed from yellow to orange which means rates are increasing.

[Homosassa]

7 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I personally think that anyone who has been strictly wearing masks for 2 plus years has a very weakened immunity system..my personal Dr. Feels this way also. Some of these posts seem to bear this out..

 

 

Faulty reasoning.

 

I know that both my husband and I have strong immune systems. 

 

The fact that my symptoms were almost non existent and fast disappearing bears that out. I only tested because I was on the cruise.  Otherwise, I would have put down the scratchy throat and mild cough to the high tree pollen levels.

[LadySpoilt]

35 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

We still strictly masked because we knew that there would still be the fools on board who either live in our state or were from out of state that would blithely ignore the conditions that exist in Tampa. We removed our masks only when eating , drinking or in our cabin.

 

Sure enough, about two days into the cruise we started hearing the dry cough, cough, cough from unmasked passengers.

 

(those cough, cough, cough people did seem to disappear and were not seen again - they were in the MDR at the same time as us with the same waiter). 

 

I think we need to step back a little bit here Homosassa.  The "fools on board" comment was a bit harsh. I will be cruising this month and I do not live in Florida and I will not be wearing a mask and I do not consider those that are/will be unmasked fools..

 

Now for the real reason for my post. I am/will be one of those "cough, cough, cough unmasked people" that you seem to disdain when we cruise later this month.  Its a bit judgmental to assume that I must have covid since I am both coughing and unmasked. Covid is NOT the only reason one coughs.  I should know since I have been diagnosed with a throat condition that causes coughing spells.  Daily several times a day.  I don't judge or even consider it any of my business if someone chooses to wear a mask (I don't know their reasoning or the circumstances as to why they choose to) ....now if those same people would treat the unmasked the same as they dont know the unmasked reasoning or circumstances either..

[mfs2k]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

 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)

China was hit hard by SARS and many people started wearing masks and never stopped.

There will be many people in 3, 5 or 10 years from now who will always remember Covid and will feel safer wearing masks to protect themselves or others.

They shouldn’t be judged for their personal choices. 

 

As many people have pointed out, cruise ships (and airplanes) have always been transmission sources for influenza, colds and Norovirus. I’m sure there will be people who will feel safer wearing masks to prevent getting these illnesses also.

[jerseygirl3]

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

As I understand it though, flu doesn’t require leaving a ship in port mid-cruise and quarantining there as can be required with Covid. That’s a huge difference.

I dont believe people are made to leave the ship. I have seen numerous posts from people who said they were quarantined 

[zitsky]

23 minutes ago, mfs2k said:

China was hit hard by SARS and many people started wearing masks and never stopped.

There will be many people in 3, 5 or 10 years from now who will always remember Covid and will feel safer wearing masks to protect themselves or others.

They shouldn’t be judged for their personal choices. 

 

As many people have pointed out, cruise ships (and airplanes) have always been transmission sources for influenza, colds and Norovirus. I’m sure there will be people who will feel safer wearing masks to prevent getting these illnesses also.

I get your point and think it strange that there would be pressure to NOT wear a mask.  
 

I think some people are skipping through the hallway.  “Look at me!  Lalalala.  I’m not wearing a mask!” And they seem so proud of themselves.

 

Like a previous poster I also have a cough which only happens sometimes.  And I get allergies.  I don’t want people to think I have Covid either.

 

If you don’t want to mask and rules say you don’t have to, then don’t.  But don’t be boorish and cough or breathe in someone’s face just to make some kind of point.

[Virginia100]

49 minutes ago, LadySpoilt said:

I think we need to step back a little bit here Homosassa.  The "fools on board" comment was a bit harsh. I will be cruising this month and I do not live in Florida and I will not be wearing a mask and I do not consider those that are/will be unmasked fools..

 

Now for the real reason for my post. I am/will be one of those "cough, cough, cough unmasked people" that you seem to disdain when we cruise later this month.  Its a bit judgmental to assume that I must have covid since I am both coughing and unmasked. Covid is NOT the only reason one coughs.  I should know since I have been diagnosed with a throat condition that causes coughing spells.  Daily several times a day.  I don't judge or even consider it any of my business if someone chooses to wear a mask (I don't know their reasoning or the circumstances as to why they choose to) ....now if those same people would treat the unmasked the same as they dont know the unmasked reasoning or circumstances either..

I agree to think people coughing have Covid is a foolish statement. I have sinus issues all the time and very stuffy nose. I cough all the time. I went for a Covid test last week just as a dry run for my 3/26 cruise to see the documentation during one of my really stuffy days. Was negative.

[Homosassa]

50 minutes ago, LadySpoilt said:

I think we need to step back a little bit here Homosassa.  The "fools on board" comment was a bit harsh. I will be cruising this month and I do not live in Florida and I will not be wearing a mask and I do not consider those that are/will be unmasked fools

Until you have lived in Florida with the in your face attitude of many locals  and visitors who flaunt not taking any precautions in a pandemic as their personal stand for individual liberty, you may not understand the view of many of us that we are surrounded by fools.

 

And yes, I have allergies that make my nose run, eyes itch and give me a cough. However, as I have just experienced, the dry cough of a case of covid is different than my allergy cough.

 

Enjoy your unmasked cruise.

[LGW59]

6 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

Until you have lived in Florida with the in your face attitude of many locals  and visitors who flaunt not taking any precautions in a pandemic as their personal stand for individual liberty, you may not understand the view of many of us that we are surrounded by fools.

 

And yes, I have allergies that make my nose run, eyes itch and give me a cough. However, as I have just experienced, the dry cough of a case of covid is different than my allergy cough.

 

Enjoy your unmasked cruise.

Thanks Meryl Streep

[zitsky]

3 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Thanks Meryl Streep

I’m going to trip you the next time I see you skipping down the hall with your mask off.  🤣

Edited March 1, 2022 by zitsky

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I personally think that anyone who has been strictly wearing masks for 2 plus years has a very weakened immunity system..my personal Dr. Feels this way also. Some of these posts seem to bear this out..

A doctor friend of mine who is a local immunologist agrees with your doctor. He also says mask wearing only should be done by people who have Covid or other viruses to stop the spread, wearing one when you are not sick, unless it is a total respirator is very ineffective. He also says cloth masks are the worse because people seldom wash them and viruses can stay in them for days. The only masks that provide some marginal protections are the KN95 or K95 masks that fit tightly around your mouth and nose and should be discarded once used. I will use his judgement and advice and not wear a mask on any of our upcoming cruises. BTW the only local place I have worn a mask in the last 12 months is in my local CVS drug store because there is more likely to be sick people in them. Our Mask mandates in Texas went away on March 10, 2021.

Edited March 1, 2022 by terrydtx

[Tyler414]

If you want to wear a mask, wear one.  I am not judging anyone wearing a mask, unless in your car by yourself 🙂   I'm probably wearing one on planes for the rest of my life.   If your judging someone for NOT wearing a mask when not required, your a jerk, plain and simple.  

[Torfamm]

35 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

I dont believe people are made to leave the ship. I have seen numerous posts from people who said they were quarantined 

There was a long thread on the Royal Caribbean board about an American family disembarked and stuck in land-based quarantine in Italy after one of them tested positive during a cruise. I believe Italian regulations about ships with COVID positive passengers played a part in the protocols. I’ve never heard of anything similar with influenza or Norovirus