Blauelini

In all seriousness, I think even the most patient of cruisers will grow quite annoyed with this.  Elevator capacity will be severely limited resulting in most using the stairs which you guessed it,  these people on every landing controlling how many are on the stairs. It will take you an hour to get back to your cabin.  Standing in front of every shop,  bar and restaurant limiting capacity. Telling you to move along if you stop too close to someone else to look at something or talk to someone. They are setting the stage for what many are going to regret doing,  getting back on a cruise ship to early. The negative reviews and complaints will be off the charts,  mark my words. 

RCCL is hiring people called One Meter Monitors. They will constantly walk around enforcing the mandatory mask and social distancing policy. Saw an add from Royal Caribbean Group for them on social media today. Its a new new job posting at RCCL. So even though all adults will be vaxxed, it does not matter.

Sounds like RCCL mgt is doing everything they can to make sure we have a fun vacation...not.

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The issue is that, as the guidance is written, once the unvaccinated number on the ship reaches 5% then EVERYONE is treated as unvaccinated. Masks, social

distancing, and capacity control for EVERYONE. 

RCCL will be running all their cruise this way.  Celebrity is running their's at the 95% rule. 

17 hours ago, SailorMarg said:

Just signed in for July 24 cruise on AOS out of Nassau.  Section 4, b, (4) of the Cruise Ticket Contract provided during Sign In clearly states “ (4) mandatory use by each Passenger (except where medically contraindicated) of face coverings in most locations outside of the Passenger?s cabin while onboard, during embarkation, disembarkation and shore excursions...”. 

Same thing was in the first Celebrity cruise doc's as well.

30 minutes ago, Empehi said:

I called Celebrity yesterday to look into booking the June 26th cruise and was told that 1. All cruisers had to be vaccinated (although the State of Florida said they will be fined $5000 per person if this is a requirement for this cruise and 2.  All cruiser will have to wear masks except in their room or when eating or drinking.

 

 

Royal Caribbean mgt. is as dumb as a box of rocks. It's almost as if CA Governor Newsom is writing these policies.  Everyone has to be vaxxed but everyone has to wear a mask all the time outside the cabin. And people are paying for this? 

3 hours ago, CruiseBride926 said:

I will hopefully be sailing with my kids in September. My husband and I are fully vaxxed but my kids are still too young. If they’re able to by then we’ll be the first in line to get them but if not we’re still going. It’s been a really rough year for everybody not just child free adults and we all really need this vacation. After almost a year and a half of this they’re well trained on hygiene, distancing, and mask wearing. I’ve watched my daughter’s heart get broken too many times over this pandemic and I’m not going to cancel just because people don’t want her there. I’d probably feel differently if there weren’t other lines doing the 95% vax cruises but kids shouldn’t have to miss out when people who want vaccinated only cruises do have that option with other lines.

Just know most will be shunning you and your kids on board due to everyone knowing they are the only unvaxxed people on board. Not saying it to be negative,  just a dose of reality. 

4 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

No, not fully.  Only for 12 years and older.  If the unvaxed threshold surpasses 5%, this cruise will require a "test cruise" and masks will be required at all times when outside one's cabin.

Expect all RCCL cruises to be like this. Only Celebrity will use the 95% threshold of vaxxed passengers. People that are vaxxed really don't realize how utterly screwed up RCCL management is being. They are so desperate to have unvaxxed kids sail they will punish every adult on board with masks, limited capacity and social distancing. 

1 minute ago, BSocial said:

no reason why they couldn’t take ports with 2 or more RC ships, and make one a 95/98 ship, and the other(s) from same port test cruise ships.  Now THAT would be giving people a real choice, 

Agree  1000%.

Just now, jrapps said:

Wow. If you are so anti-children, why aren't you cruising a line like Celebrity, or Virgin?

Have you seen the Virgin cabins? Awful.  Once Diamond,  planning on heading to Celebrity. Almost there. 

1 minute ago, jrapps said:

Just because his plan is out of touch with what you personally want, I would not assume that it is out of touch with what the majority want.

 

I am not saying it is or isn't what I personally want either, just looking at it from his perspective. They are offering solutions both to those that want to sail vaccinated with no masks or distancing, and solutions to those that want to bring their kids. They are running a business, the last thing they want to do is totally piss off their demographic. Weather you like it or not, RCI plays very heavy  into the family demographic.

 

I don't see him punishing anybody. They are doing they best they can given the limitations from the CDC and state of FL.

This is why as soon as I reach Diamond, our plan is to status match on Celebrity and never look back save for some TA's.

5 minutes ago, exm said:

 

A bunch of kids and their parents. I'm one of those parents. Thanks for your understanding.

My understanding is you should cruise without them or wait until they are vaxxed. Percentage wise,  why should 80%+ of passengers have to mask and social distance for 20% or less that are under 12? And many of the little buggards will be running around, unsupervised and not wearing the mask anyway!

Just now, BSocial said:

I hope you are wrong.  If Royal requires all adults (all12+ Starting October 1) to be Vaccinated, they should be able to, at their discretion, not require 12+ to wear masks, and to go on independent excursions, is this correct interpretation?  
 

if Vaccines are required for all 12+, and RC still requires masks and social distancing for all - that’s when I will cancel.    Require vaccines - no problem.  Treat us all as unvaccinated, strict requirements, big problem.

As it stands TODAY, all passengers on cruises that don't meet the 95% threshold,  which is all RCCL cruises, will be treated the same once on board. Masks and social distancing. Only advantage will be skipping the required covid 19 test. So again, all kids under 12 will be the cause of this.

1 minute ago, 3kidsncats said:

Not sure how I am being “screwed over” — I booked a cruise knowing it was expected we would have to mask up and social distance except for our cabin (which is why I booked a nicer cabin that usual).  If even some of the masking protocols are relaxed for my sailing following the new CDC guidance, it’s an improvement over the terms I booked.  Seems fair to me.
 

 

Missing the point. Fain would rather punish now with the updated CDC guidance all adults that are vaccinated rather than tell a bunch of kids they can't sail (for now). Fain is out of touch with what the majority want, cruising without masks and social distancing. 

Just now, BecciBoo said:

I think this whole supposition is gobbledygook.  I don't read that into what Fain said at all, they will require the vaccinations and those with kids who cross over the percentage will not cruise...that's how I see it.  And like Mauraoel said I don't care either.  Endless speculation is worthless when it finally doesn't materialize.  Either way, we are sailing in September.

You're reading it incorrectly. 

3 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

My understanding is that if you commit to having 98% of crew and 95% of guests vaccinated, you do not have to do test cruises.

 

mac_tlc

You're correct. This is why RCCL is doing test cruises (every ship must do it),  they will not commit 95% passenger vaccine threshold. This is going to bite RCCL in a big way in the months ahead.

So everyone reading this understands, RCCL own Richard Fain has stated Royal will not be able to meet the 95% threshold. The only Royal Caribbean Group line that will is Celebrity. They will require a vaccine for those eligible but due to large amounts of children and families,  they will not meet it. On some cruises ,depending on amount of kids, it could be in the 70 or 80% range. Thus RCCL has elected to do test cruises (every single ship will have to do them) and sail under the CSO's stricter guidelines. Thus the no mask, no social distancing changes from yesterday will not apply to Royal cruises. Strict mask wearing,  no self serve buffets and social distancing, limited capacities for onboard events will be in full effect for a long time. They are really screwing every vaxxed person that cruises without children. I encourage you to reach out to RCCL to tell them your thoughts. 

11 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Sounds like designated vaccinated passengers only areas will operate the same as 95% cruises. So what's most likely is the vast majority of the ship being designated as vaccinated only. So adults needing masks for the kids pools, the kids areas, and one specific restaurant, and getting on and off the ship on port days. But everything else, the theater, the buffet, the rest of the restaurants, the main pools, the casinos, and the bars, being off-limits to kids and unvaccinated passengers; and working the exact same as a 95% cruise for everyone else.

Unfortunately,  it appears they will not being doing this and all passengers on Royal cruises (due to them wanting kids causing them to fall below 95%) will be mandatory mask and social distancing.  Guests on Celebrity and NCL cruises are going to have it so much better. 

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Agreed.  And, I just heard they are dropping the mask mandates for those who are fully vaccinated.  Plus, they’re dropping the age to 12 years old as a requirement for the COVID vaccine.

Mask mandate only goes away if cruiseline agrees to sail with 95% of passengers vaccinated. Royal CEO already stated they will not do this so parents can bring kids under 12 on board.  Thus all RCCL cruises will be mandatory masks and social distancing. That's why they are doing test cruises and Celebrity and NCL don't have to.

3 hours ago, paulh84 said:

 
Seems people are confused by the mask policy guidelines including a popular blogger.  
 

If you are on a ship that requires everyone to be vaccinated (Celebrity), the cruise line can tell you that you don’t need to wear a mask or social distance at all. 
 

If the cruise line does not agree to the 95% vaxxed customer agreement (Royal) and as a result does test cruises, masks are required. Social distancing is required. Modified meal service is required. The updates to these cruises was masks are not required outdoors or during ‘extended’ dining. 
 

On a cruise that does NOT agree to the 95% vaxxed plan, there is no differentiation between vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Everyone is treated the same.
 

So if you want to cruise as close to ‘normal’ as possible, you probably want to head over to the Celebrity or Silversea website and start booking. 

Well said. Royal is screwing every person that travels without kids by making them wear masks for the entire cruise inside the ship and social distance requirements everywhere just so children under 12 can travel. Ironically,  expect to see those same kids running around without masks. If you want to cruise in a civilized manner and actually enjoy yourself,  you best go with Celebrity or NCL who are running all vaxxed cruises only. RCCL will be worse than it currently is around town in Florida. 

2 hours ago, jrapps said:

Royal has already said they won't go the 95% route because families are their bread & butter. No way to limit un-vaccinated kids to just 5%, especially over the summer when they hope to get going.

 

That said, they obviously think they have no issue requiring vaccines in FL, so  hopefully the Royal cruises are vaccines required for all eligible (12+) passengers.

And because of the whining and crying, all passengers on RCCL cruises that do not meet the 95% threshold will not meet the new CDC guidance and will have to wear masks, social distance, etc.... All because they want to let kids run around (who will likely not be wearing any masks). So every adult will have to pay the price of wearing a mask for the whole cruise. 

4 hours ago, lovrccl said:

Good question as I read that RC won't be able to do 95 percent of vaccinated guests because of kids. 

So because of kids all adults will have to wear masks and no buffets? If that's the case, ban kids that are not vaccinated. 

22 minutes ago, Benjo8 said:

Regarding DeSantis' order about barring mandated vaccinations as a prerequisite, Federal Maritime Law may supersede (as we lawyers say) any State laws involving cruise ships that stop at ports outside the departure state. I'm no Maritime lawyer but I think DeSantis may be a loser on this one. And better for those cruising if he is, IMO.

The land the ships docks next to is controlled by the state. 

1 hour ago, cruisingator2 said:

This will backfire on DeSantis and his team. 

No it wont, his voter base is behind him on this and he runs for reelection next year. Votes matter more than cruise ships.

6 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Not saying they are ignoring Florida law rather that the ports of cities have jurisdiction over what happens at the ports.  Can you cite something that says the contrary? 

 Read under Legal Questions Remain. Whether you believe me or not, frankly don't care. I assure you, with the type of employment I hold for the last 20 years, Florida law governs all ports.

https://www.cruisehive.com/will-desantis-vaccine-passport-ban-block-cruises-from-florida/50469

1 hour ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

I could be wrong but as far as I know, it is the County Mayors of the port cities that have the authority. Do you have a source that says otherwise?

County mayors cannot ignore Florida law.