US Fed travel Mask Order ..announced today

[hcat]

As per  local newsfeed:

 

"The U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Travelers from abroad must furnish a negative COVID-19 test before departing for the U.S. and quarantine upon arrival. Biden has already mandated masks on federal property.

 

Although airlines, Amtrak and other transport providers now require masks, Biden’s order makes it a federal mandate, leaving little wiggle room for passengers tempted to argue about their rights. ....."

 

Guess we'll be  cruising with our masks from US Ports..until lifted or revised????

[pumpkin 11]

I guess so. I know a lot of people waiting to cruise until masks aren't required. Again, if masks work why don't they work? 

Edited January 21, 2021 by pumpkin 11

[gisnered]

As I understand it, the requirement for masks is limited to the first 100 days of the new president's term. That takes us to the end of April (the 30th to be exact).

 

I seriously doubt that that any of the major lines will be ready to operate their currently published itineraries by May 1.  Not to worry, at this point.

[EvoUSA]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

As per  local newsfeed:

 

"The U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Travelers from abroad must furnish a negative COVID-19 test before departing for the U.S. and quarantine upon arrival. Biden has already mandated masks on federal property.

 

Although airlines, Amtrak and other transport providers now require masks, Biden’s order makes it a federal mandate, leaving little wiggle room for passengers tempted to argue about their rights. ....."

 

Guess we'll be  cruising with our masks from US Ports..until lifted or revised????

 

While I appreciate the newsfeed writer's optimism, I'm sure this isn't going to stop people who want to argue about their "rights" to not wear a mask.

[ipeeinthepool]

I'm not sure Biden's mask mandate applies outside of US territorial waters.  When the casino opens, take off your mask.

[davekathy]

28 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

I'm not sure Biden's mask mandate applies outside of US territorial waters.  When the casino opens, take off your mask.

I'm not sure Celebrity will agree with you. 😷😉

Edited January 21, 2021 by davekathy

[paulh84]

It's not on the White House website yet but the NYT posted a draft of the National Strategy here which mentions the pending EO. I didn't search hard, but the EO itself (Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel) has not been released yet. 

[upwarduk]

Well, no one who is not a resident in the US, will be cruising from a US port, as we won’t be able to fly in and quarantine before a cruise.

If and when cruising starts again I think it will be resident only cruises.

[jagoffee]

13 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Well, no one who is not a resident in the US, will be cruising from a US port, as we won’t be able to fly in and quarantine before a cruise.

If and when cruising starts again I think it will be resident only cruises.

I seriously doubt whether any cruise company will be operating from the US or visiting the US while any universal mandatory 14 day quarantine is in affect.  Perhaps if there are only a few select countries on the list, but not all countries.  

[WonderMan3]

Even if the government has no federal mask mandate that does not preclude a private business like a cruise line from requiring masks. Cruising not starting again in the next several months so not really relevant at this point anyway.

[paulh84]

Full text of the Executive Order is here via the White House. 

 

In addition to the mask mandate, it gives the appropriate oversight entities, including sea ports, 14 days to provide their plan. 

 

(d)  Sea Travel.  The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the Coast Guard and in consultation with the Secretary of HHS and the Director of CDC, shall, within 14 days of the date of this order, submit to the President a plan to implement appropriate public health measures at sea ports.  The plan should implement CDC guidelines, consistent with applicable law, and take into account operational considerations.

Edited January 21, 2021 by paulh84

[Oceangoer2]

5 hours ago, hcat said:

As per  local newsfeed:

 

"The U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Travelers from abroad must furnish a negative COVID-19 test before departing for the U.S. and quarantine upon arrival. Biden has already mandated masks on federal property.

 

Although airlines, Amtrak and other transport providers now require masks, Biden’s order makes it a federal mandate, leaving little wiggle room for passengers tempted to argue about their rights. ....."

 

Guess we'll be  cruising with our masks from US Ports..until lifted or revised????

A good step forward.  We have the same requirements for incoming travel and have for a while now.  Increased lock down again.  Christmas party sharing, I suppose, kicked in with covid numbers swelling.  In our small city, the university kids travelling home from different areas in Canada brought some cases back with them.  We were relatively low in number until recently;  now our morgue has had to use refrigerated trucks to handle.  Very sad and I'll do whatever is required to try to tamp down this virus - or avoid getting it myself.  A mask won't kill me...Covid could.

Edited January 21, 2021 by Oceangoer2

[SelectSys]

I expect more lines to look for ways of attracting US passengers to cruises departing outside of the US to avoid regulations in the near term - maybe long term too depending on what happens.  Really depends on if the new US administration wants to help or punish Florida.

 

It's unfortunate that Cancun doesn't have a cruise terminal.  Cancun's airport has the capacity and flights from both the US and Europe to be a cruise homeport powerhouse for all the Caribbean.

 

 

[chengkp75]

As I suspected, the order makes no mention of mask wearing on any form of international travel, only testing and quarantining.  Further, the requirements for international travel only mention "entry into the US", and make no mention of actions needed to be taken during that international travel.  This is consistent with US jurisdiction.

[Aplmac]

5 hours ago, SelectSys said:

I expect more lines to look for ways of attracting US passengers to cruises departing outside of the US to avoid regulations in the near term - maybe long term too depending on what happens.  Really depends on if the new US administration wants to help or punish Florida.

 

It's unfortunate that Cancun doesn't have a cruise terminal. 

Cancun's airport has the capacity and flights from both the US

and Europe to be a cruise homeport powerhouse for all the Caribbean.

 

Homeport Barbados might be another option? For the South-Eastern Caribbean?

 

[4774Papa]

I don't think this order significantly changes things that much.   Airlines are already requiring wearing masks.  2 year old kids and their parents are kicked of airplanes when the toddler can't handle the mask.

 

Also, same with testing prior to flying, isn't testing already required?

 

I wonder if after this Summer when the majority of Americans have been vaccinated if there will be any changes.  I know even after taking a vaccine a person can still carry the virus.  Still, if everyone on a cruise or air flight has the vaccine, would that change?   Will we still be wearing masks a year from now, five years from now?

[BlueRiband]

21 hours ago, gisnered said:

As I understand it, the requirement for masks is limited to the first 100 days of the new president's term. That takes us to the end of April (the 30th to be exact).

 

I seriously doubt that that any of the major lines will be ready to operate their currently published itineraries by May 1.  Not to worry, at this point.

In another three months the rollout of covid vaccinations should have a noticable impact on the new infection rate.  As for me, I'll not do anything other than necessary travel until all masks mandates are lifted.  

[2wheelin]

37 minutes ago, 4774Papa said:

 I know even after taking a vaccine a person can still carry the virus.

I don’t believe that has been proven yet. It is unknown because there is not enough data to prove otherwise so it is only a possibility at this point.

[jagoffee]

4 minutes ago, 2wheelin said:

I don’t believe that has been proven yet. It is unknown because there is not enough data to prove otherwise so it is only a possibility at this point.

I believe you are correct.  It is really more may than can still carry the virus.  Always good to be cautious.  I suspect it is difficult to test such a theory, so it is best to assume that it might.  I believe the trials have shown that the vaccine reduces the seriousness of an infection, but not necessarily the probability of infection? 

[Joebucks]

55 minutes ago, 4774Papa said:

I don't think this order significantly changes things that much.   Airlines are already requiring wearing masks.  2 year old kids and their parents are kicked of airplanes when the toddler can't handle the mask.

 

You are right. This is just more political theater. It's crazy how many people believe this will result in more masking in any scenario. All of these situations already require masks. In the few scenarios where people do not wear masks: private parties, bars, etc, this isn't something that can be enforced.

[clo]

2 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

In the few scenarios where people do not wear masks: private parties, bars, etc, this isn't something that can be enforced.

The bars around here sure do enforce it. Along with reservations, 25% capacity. And the enforcement would come down on the owner of the bar. So, you bet, they enforce it.

[SelectSys]

5 hours ago, Aplmac said:

Homeport Barbados might be another option? For the South-Eastern Caribbean?

 

I totally agree that Barbados could be a fine option.  If the US becomes unfriendly to cruising for health and/or environmental reasons, other locations most will rise up and fill the void for Caribbean cruises. 

 

To me the necessary criteria for success in creating a cruise port would be:

1. large capacity airport with good connectivity
2. Hotels to deal with passengers before and after cruises
3. Port logistics to replenish ships
4. Good terminals to process passengers

The real sad part for me if the US goes down this road will be that passengers with lower/fixed incomes that currently fill up the cheap cruises out of the US will likely be excluded and/or have their options for cruising greatly reduced in the future.   

 

As a Cruise Critic-trained consultant, I would suggest that Barbados, Cancun and other similar locations investigate developing homeporting options with the cruise lines.  

[Toofarfromthesea]

The next issue is going to be what kind of mask, as Europe starts moving away from the cloth masks we have all been mostly using.  Lufthansa just announced they will be banning cloth masks, and several European countries are urging other alternatives.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cloth+masks&rlz=1CAWOMZ_enUS757US757&sxsrf=ALeKk02LJ-LuYmKyb4xNBH4rMFaHz01ovA:1611335786772&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQpbzJhbDuAhUtJTQIHfrpDDgQ_AUoA3oECCIQBQ&biw=1200&bih=631

 

Edited January 22, 2021 by Toofarfromthesea

[klfrodo]

22 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

The next issue is going to be what kind of mask, as Europe starts moving away from the cloth masks we have all been mostly using.  Lufthansa just announced they will be banning cloth masks, and several European countries are urging other alternatives.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cloth+masks&rlz=1CAWOMZ_enUS757US757&sxsrf=ALeKk02LJ-LuYmKyb4xNBH4rMFaHz01ovA:1611335786772&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQpbzJhbDuAhUtJTQIHfrpDDgQ_AUoA3oECCIQBQ&biw=1200&bih=631

 

Makes sense. This is such a new field of science in regards to general public safety, that new information and changes should be expected.

[NonnaTLC]

On 1/21/2021 at 11:58 AM, pumpkin 11 said:

I guess so. I know a lot of people waiting to cruise until masks aren't required. Again, if masks work why don't they work? 

Because people either are non compliant or they wear them improperly.  Or they wear the wrong type...