Covid and Masks on Equinox currently

[bookitdanno]

• •  

From the "will you still wear a mask" thread.

REDNECK BOB

Posted 2 hours ago

Currently on Equinox. Captain announced yesterday at 5:30 pm that masks would be required in all areas of the ship since we passed 1% threshold of Covid cases with 33 passengers testing positive.

[phoenix_dream]

1 hour ago, bookitdanno said:

• •  

From the "will you still wear a mask" thread.

REDNECK BOB

Posted 2 hours ago

Currently on Equinox. Captain announced yesterday at 5:30 pm that masks would be required in all areas of the ship since we passed 1% threshold of Covid cases with 33 passengers testing positive.

And interestingly enough, I've sailed on another Celebrity ship of equal size with more cases than that, but masks were never required.  It must be up to the Captain and/or there must be a lot of crew positive as well that maybe he is not announcing.   Boarding Friday so not happy at all to hear this.

[cbfb]

Another issue is that they still have 5 more days on the ship. I’m sure that is a concern. 

[Lastdance]

It certainly isn't what any of us want to hear, but I would be happy just being on a cruise ship, not allowing the mask policy to muddy the waters....glass half full.

[TeeRick]

If there is a sudden revision to the no-mask policy on a ship- that should really be wake up call.  COVID on board.  Take more precautions.

[phoenix_dream]

2 hours ago, Lastdance said:

It certainly isn't what any of us want to hear, but I would be happy just being on a cruise ship, not allowing the mask policy to muddy the waters....glass half full.

I prefer not to have to mask but my real concern,  boarding soon, is the number of cases that would necessitate this change.

[NutsAboutGolf]

4 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

And interestingly enough, I've sailed on another Celebrity ship of equal size with more cases than that, but masks were never required.  It must be up to the Captain and/or there must be a lot of crew positive as well that maybe he is not announcing.   Boarding Friday so not happy at all to hear this.

 

It's usually the port requirements, came out during the omicron outbreak that many Caribbean ports had an 1% infection threshold

[Missymo]

The problem exists that the ports may not allow docking if a lot of covid cases onboard.

[wrk2cruise]

We were on Constellation last week.   There were some crew testing positive about mid way through the sailing and no announcements.  A few days later after the routine testing it was announced 9 crew were positive and one close contact crew also positive, no mention of passengers but there was someone posting on FB reporting they were positive and in isolation.  They aren't being completely transparent.  I suspect they aren't required to announce now unless they exceed 1%.

 

Also on that sailing someone said Equinox had 2200 passengers last week so I suspect that is probably having some lasting impact like the increased numbers over the holidays did in January.

 

 

[peanutter]

Thank you very much for reposting this and thanks to Redneck Bob for sharing this info during his cruise.  Was supposed to board the Equinox this Friday but this was the last "sign" we shouldn't go (along with some other health issues both me and my DH have been experiencing).

[Vagabond Knight]

6 hours ago, bookitdanno said:

• •  From the "will you still wear a mask" thread.

REDNECK BOB

Posted 2 hours ago

Currently on Equinox. Captain announced yesterday at 5:30 pm that masks would be required in all areas of the ship since we passed 1% threshold of Covid cases with 33 passengers testing positive.

 

Oh, so sorry to hear that!  ☹️ We were on Equinox March 25-April 3 and there was no mask requirement, fortunately.  We saw an VERY occasional mask wearer among the guests onboard, but it was a rarity.  The staff almost always had masks on.  If I remember correctly, we had 1341 guests onboard (capacity is 2850) and they announced six Covid cases.  My hands are still dry from all the hand washing and sanitizer, but we were all over the ship, ate in every restaurant except Le Petit Chef and Luminae, drank at every bar, visited the spa and casino and shops and entertainment venues, participated in numerous onboard activities...  and didn't get sick.  Yay!

We received printouts as to what the mask requirements were in the various ports, and it said that both Jamaica and Nassau were mask-required locations, both inside AND outside.  Because of that, I didn't get off the ship in Jamaica and my husband just went to the shops right by the ship and bought some coffee and then came back onboard.  Others in our group cancelled their Jamaica excursion and did the same, and then another guest told us afterwards that Jamaica had dropped the mandate to wear masks outside two weeks ago.  😮 Don't know if that was accurate or not, but it really didn't matter after the fact.  Didn't do excursions in Nassau either, just walked to Pirate Republic Brewing (the walk was extremely oppressive in the heat with a mask on) and spent some time there (we are both brewers and we recommend the brewery... very clean and beer was quite good) and then returned to the ship.

[wrk2cruise]

We did ABC islands on Connie last week.  The Celebrity Today listed masks as required indoors and outdoors at all 3 ABC ports.  When I asked port security at each port outdoor was not required (and they weren't wearing them either).    I wish Celebrity would post accurate information.   I realize things change frequently but they are in communication with the ports prior to arrival and certainly could give an update over the PA if something changes.

[downsmead]

Redneck Bob said in a later report - 31 passengers and 2 crew.

[bjahil47]

51 minutes ago, Vagabond Knight said:

 

Oh, so sorry to hear that!  ☹️ We were on Equinox March 25-April 3 and there was no mask requirement, fortunately.  We saw an VERY occasional mask wearer among the guests onboard, but it was a rarity.  The staff almost always had masks on.  If I remember correctly, we had 1341 guests onboard (capacity is 2850) and they announced six Covid cases.  My hands are still dry from all the hand washing and sanitizer, but we were all over the ship, ate in every restaurant except Le Petit Chef and Luminae, drank at every bar, visited the spa and casino and shops and entertainment venues, participated in numerous onboard activities...  and didn't get sick.  Yay!

We received printouts as to what the mask requirements were in the various ports, and it said that both Jamaica and Nassau were mask-required locations, both inside AND outside.  Because of that, I didn't get off the ship in Jamaica and my husband just went to the shops right by the ship and bought some coffee and then came back onboard.  Others in our group cancelled their Jamaica excursion and did the same, and then another guest told us afterwards that Jamaica had dropped the mandate to wear masks outside two weeks ago.  😮 Don't know if that was accurate or not, but it really didn't matter after the fact.  Didn't do excursions in Nassau either, just walked to Pirate Republic Brewing (the walk was extremely oppressive in the heat with a mask on) and spent some time there (we are both brewers and we recommend the brewery... very clean and beer was quite good) and then returned to the ship.

We were on same cruise!  Went on an excursion in Aruba and everyone except 2 people got on bus with masks on.  By the first stop my husband and I were among the few that kept our masks on in the bus.  In Curaçao and Jamaica very few people were wearing masks indoors.  I hate the mask but did not want COVID on my cruise!  

[phoenix_dream]

3 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

It's usually the port requirements, came out during the omicron outbreak that many Caribbean ports had an 1% infection threshold

But what I meant was that the Captain decided on mask requirements onboard.  The ports make their own requirements and I understand if the numbers get too high they may deny a port call. But the ports do not decide if we need to wear masks onboard. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

3 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

But what I meant was that the Captain decided on mask requirements onboard.  The ports make their own requirements and I understand if the numbers get too high they may deny a port call. But the ports do not decide if we need to wear masks onboard. 

 

I believe the motivation behind wearing masks pushed from corporate are that they are a last resort.  If a bunch of folks test positive the day before disembarkation, it's far more likely the Capt doesn't require them to wear masks.  If a bunch of folks tests positive the day after embarkation, odds are high the capt will require masks.

[RichYak]

10 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

But what I meant was that the Captain decided on mask requirements onboard. 

Or he got a call from the CDC and had no choice.

[NutsAboutGolf]

4 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

We did ABC islands on Connie last week.  The Celebrity Today listed masks as required indoors and outdoors at all 3 ABC ports.  When I asked port security at each port outdoor was not required (and they weren't wearing them either).    I wish Celebrity would post accurate information.   I realize things change frequently but they are in communication with the ports prior to arrival and certainly could give an update over the PA if something changes.

 

X's site says masks are still required in Aruba

[BermudaBound2014]

Equinox isn’t the only ship with an uptick on covid onboard. The Ruby Princess also restated mandatory masks. Anyone who is extremely mask adverse should know that masks can be required at any time and make your vacation choices accordingly. 

[Purplsmurf]

55 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

X's site says masks are still required in Aruba

This is false information. Masks are not required at all on Aruba anymore inside or outside……..as of March 19 they aren’t even requiring testing to enter the island. All protocols have been dropped

[NutsAboutGolf]

18 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

This is false information. Masks are not required at all on Aruba anymore inside or outside……..as of March 19 they aren’t even requiring testing to enter the island. All protocols have been dropped

 

Yes, that was reason I posted it (lol).  Not sure why X hasn't updated it.

[luv4cruises]

🤞less or no Covid cases going forward and no masks!  Cruised in Sept snd Dec - no masks.  I’ve changed this cruise 3 times because of mask policy - 1st Enchsnted Princess, then Silhouette , and finally Equinox hoping that the further away we got from the holiday surge the better off we’d be. We are now quadrupled vaccinated snd hoping the situation improves. My husband hates wearing masks -so we’ll wait for news from the next cruise. We are scheduled to board on 4/24.  🤞🙏🏻

[WonderMan3]

13 hours ago, downsmead said:

Redneck Bob said in a later report - 31 passengers and 2 crew.

And if it’s that many known cases you can bet there’s a whole slew more than that of asymptomatic people with it onboard. I will expect to hear a number of people reporting in here that they have symptoms upon getting home. Seems to be a trend here lately…

[RedneckBob]

16 hours ago, Missymo said:

The problem exists that the ports may not allow docking if a lot of covid cases onboard.

We just docked at St Kitts. No problem!

[RedneckBob]

15 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

We were on Constellation last week.   There were some crew testing positive about mid way through the sailing and no announcements.  A few days later after the routine testing it was announced 9 crew were positive and one close contact crew also positive, no mention of passengers but there was someone posting on FB reporting they were positive and in isolation.  They aren't being completely transparent.  I suspect they aren't required to announce now unless they exceed 1%.

 

Also on that sailing someone said Equinox had 2200 passengers last week so I suspect that is probably having some lasting impact like the increased numbers over the holidays did in January.

 

 

Equinox has 1,824 passengers. Captain announced two days ago of Covid cases before it reached more than 1%;  I believe it was 15 passengers.