Face Masks and Cruising

[Big_G]

Oh darn it all. If they require masks at the pool I'll have to relegate more time to the pub. 

 

[Xkontour98]

On 4/13/2021 at 8:49 AM, BeachyBrowns said:

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118

 

Dr. Fauci does not need to waste his time saying repeatedly, yes, the science says that masks work.

I think part of what the anti-mask crowd struggles with is the concept of viral load and how covid is transmitted. If the primary mode of transportation is droplets, why is it so hard to comprehend that anything covering your mouth/nose is going to reduce droplets, be it coming into your body or more importantly leaving from someone infected. The more virus you are exposed to the more likely it is to overwhelm the immune system resulting in disease transmission, and in the event that it transmits, the extent to which hospitalization is likely to occur.  If covid was transmitted like measles mask effectiveness would be greatly reduced and we would all be in major trouble. I hate how politicalized its become. 

 

We took the family to SeaWorld in FL and had no issues wearing our masks and did not feel policed and had a blast. No it wasn't the same as in non-covid times, but for us the results of reduced crowds was a benefit. 

 

I can see the cruise lines requiring masks even after vaccination and negative results for quite some time, due to liability reasons. Which is understandable, once they get the green light for the US, they won't be able to risk getting shut down again.  

[TYMAN]

I've been wearing a mask 10-12 hours a day for over a year at the hospital I work at. I would gladly wear one if they would allow me to cruise again. Yes, been vaccinated, second shot in Jan. So, wear one, don't wear one, your call.....I just want to cruise. 

[Tatka]

On 4/13/2021 at 3:04 AM, chrisness said:

So my warning is this, if cruising starts again and RCL maintains its current mask policy then you should consider canceling. I love cruises, in fact i'm managing a RCL cruise group hoping to sail this September. We each have suites reserved, packages booked and everyone is excited. We will all be canceling however if that mask requirement stays. We simply won't pay a company to tell us sip mask, sip mask on a boat with fully vaccinated people.    

 

-Cheers!

 

 I understand everything except for this part. I believe everyone should be able to decide for himself.  We had 2 vacations in Mexico in the last 5 months. We had to wear masks in some places, take tests on the way back. It was a trade off which we were willing to take.

 

 We will cruise even if we need to use masks in certain places.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Tatka

[Tatka]

30 minutes ago, TYMAN said:

I've been wearing a mask 10-12 hours a day for over a year at the hospital I work at. I would gladly wear one if they would allow me to cruise again. Yes, been vaccinated, second shot in Jan. So, wear one, don't wear one, your call.....I just want to cruise. 

 

 We are working from home full time... have all so-called freedom, but we would do the same!

We LOVE cruising. Had to take A/I vacation again, which was wonderful... but it is not cruising!

[LadyBerard]

On 4/13/2021 at 8:44 AM, Goodtime Cruizin said:

I seriously doubt that you'll have any problems on your Sept 2021 cruise w/ face covering, i.e. masks. It'll be very difficult for Royal to enforce this type of rule when the cruise will be cancelled. Yes. I'm one that believes there will NOT be any cruises out of US ports for another large portion of time. 

I totally agree that I do not believe there will be any cruises departing the US in Sept.  So nothing to worry about.

[LadyBerard]

We went to Fort Myers Beach this year.  At our resort, we  had to wear a mask walking around, but not sitting at the bar or once inside the restaurant or lying by the pool.  We still had a nice time, but of course, we would much prefer to cruise.

[TYMAN]

2 minutes ago, Tatka said:

 

 We are working from home full time... have all so-called freedom, but we would do the same!

We LOVE cruising. Had to take A/I vacation again, which was wonderful... but it is not cruising!

Been to Disney a few times, followed the protocols, no biggie. Went to casino up the road too, wore masks the whole time as requested. No big deal. Would love to do an A/I, but have a ton invested in cruises, so I'll be patient. 

[Iamcruzin]

On 4/13/2021 at 3:04 AM, chrisness said:

 

So my warning is this, if cruising starts again and RCL maintains its current mask policy then you should consider canceling. I love cruises, in fact i'm managing a RCL cruise group hoping to sail this September. We each have suites reserved, packages booked and everyone is excited. We will all be canceling however if that mask requirement stays. We simply won't pay a company to tell us sip mask, sip mask on a boat with fully vaccinated people.    

 

-Cheers!

The good news is that the cruise lines I travel on never seem to enforce any rules whether it's dress code for the evening, chair hogging, or washing your hands when entering the buffet. It will be interesting to see how this will play out.  I am on the same page as you as far as wearing a mask. I have no issue if I have to wear it indoors at shows or casino. However, I am not willing to pay good money and be required to wear a mask during the day on deck while sitting at a table or in a lounge chair. Sitting in my room on my balcony maskless is not an option. My cruise fare includes use of the entire ship. I can drive to the beach at home and listen to the waves breaking and not have to wear a mask. This year I am eligible for free parking since I turned 60 in Dec so there is even more incentive to go.

Thank you for the feedback.  

Edited April 16, 2021 by Iamcruzin

[Tatka]

16 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

The good news is that the cruise lines I travel on never seem to enforce any rules whether it's dress code for the evening, chair hogging, or washing your hands when entering the buffet. It will be interesting to see how this will play out.  I am on the same page as you as far as wearing a mask. I have no issue if I have to wear it indoors at shows or casino. However, I am not willing to pay good money and be required to wear a mask during the day on deck while sitting at a table or in a lounge chair. Sitting in my room on my balcony maskless is not an option. My cruise fare includes use of the entire ship. I can drive to the beach at home and listen to the waves breaking and not have to wear a mask. This year I am eligible for free parking since I turned 60 in Dec so there is even more incentive to go.

Thank you for the feedback.  

 

 In Mexican resort we needed to wear masks in restaurants, but not at the beach or near pools. Resort workers wore them everywhere. Even beach vendors.

[crewsweeper]

We all grouse about mask wearing and social distancing.  Does it work or not?  Actual data and studies are inconclusive. Well the Good Dr said they do and, thus until the Good Dr changes his mind or stops pulling non-answers out of the air, we're stuck in the wear mask/social distance mode.  Albeit washing hands and face frequently are probably the way to go.   I'm getting used to masks.  Just change them frequently.  2-3 always in the laundry basket.  So on board a ship, as long as there are areas to take a mask off for a while, I'll be fine.  

[easyqueasy]

26 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

We all grouse about mask wearing and social distancing.  Does it work or not?  Actual data and studies are inconclusive. Well the Good Dr said they do and, thus until the Good Dr changes his mind or stops pulling non-answers out of the air, we're stuck in the wear mask/social distance mode.  Albeit washing hands and face frequently are probably the way to go.   I'm getting used to masks.  Just change them frequently.  2-3 always in the laundry basket.  So on board a ship, as long as there are areas to take a mask off for a while, I'll be fine.  

In the beginning the doctor said masks don’t work, or at least fully the way people think and save it for the medical professionals. Then it’s the introduction of I’m wearing this mask for you so I don’t spread it to you, not for my benefit to stop you spreading it to me. So were they putting it on the patients (even those with breathing problems) to stop the spread to the medics or are the medics wearing it to not get it?  

[crewsweeper]

43 minutes ago, easyqueasy said:

In the beginning the doctor said masks don’t work, or at least fully the way people think and save it for the medical professionals. Then it’s the introduction of I’m wearing this mask for you so I don’t spread it to you, not for my benefit to stop you spreading it to me. So were they putting it on the patients (even those with breathing problems) to stop the spread to the medics or are the medics wearing it to not get it?  

Masks have been a hospital go-to for years/decades as a means of preventing the spread of respiratory viruses and bacteria.  However, they subsequently determined COVID 19 was not similar to flu or even SARS, for which masks worked well.  Rather it is an aerosol and the spray is finer, travels further and gets through the holes in most masks.  But they don't have a better idea or means of protection from the airborne transmittal.  Once every grandmother and sewing machine in the country started churning out masks from web designs, they went along  with wear masks.  So basically, they're still pulling things "out of the air"🙄 in treating COVID, but failing to timely update or reduce previously mandated restrictions that don't work as well. 

[Candleonwater]

On 4/13/2021 at 8:30 AM, poocher said:

Went to Disney for a week in November and was not policed in any way.  Why?  Because we all wore our masks appropriately.  Yup I am a rules follower and I don’t get to decide how/when to follow them.  I didn’t expect the trip to be a “normal “ one and it wasn’t but we had a fantastic time.

I completely agree!  We went to Disney in December and while it wasn't the same kind of trip as we've had in the past, but we still had a great time.  My advice to everyone - don't book a trip right now unless you're prepared to wear a mask at all times.  That way, no matter what happens, you won't be disappointed.  I leave for NOLA in 3 days, can't wait to stroll Bourbon in a mask!

 

One question - is it too much to hope for, that my November cruise (out of Baltimore) will be cancelled?

[Shorewalk Holmes]

1 hour ago, crewsweeper said:

Masks have been a hospital go-to for years/decades as a means of preventing the spread of respiratory viruses and bacteria.  However, they subsequently determined COVID 19 was not similar to flu or even SARS, for which masks worked well.  Rather it is an aerosol and the spray is finer, travels further and gets through the holes in most masks.  But they don't have a better idea or means of protection from the airborne transmittal.

 

You may know this already, but in case someone doesn't, the FDA tests and certifies many N95 and KN95 masks for covid protection.  Their electrostatic layer captures aerosols the size of Covid virus particles, so they work very well.

 

These masks are widely available and relatively inexpensive.  There is a New York Times-recommended nonprofit called The N95 Project that sells them from vetted suppliers.

 

[ONECRUISER]

On 4/13/2021 at 4:43 AM, B Midged said:

Because some have to ruin it for everyone. There is a poster on this forum that brags about pretending to eat and drink constantly to skirt the rules. 

Just on a Plane last week.  Rules are take a bite and chew with Mask on. Wasn't like this 3,6,8 &10 Months ago when flew on same Plane/Airline. Reason for change I'm sure is because of people like that Poster.

[BecciBoo]

2 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Just on a Plane last week.  Rules are take a bite and chew with Mask on. Wasn't like this 3,6,8 &10 Months ago when flew on same Plane/Airline. Reason for change I'm sure is because of people like that Poster.

Pretty preposterous. I never eat on planes, don't care for any of their "snacks" and rarely drink anything...just water.  If they have "Paper" straws, LOL, I can put that up inside my mask, perfectly willing to just sit quietly with mask on and nap.  Whatever they decide.

[rbell]

7 hours ago, Xkontour98 said:

I think part of what the anti-mask crowd struggles with is the concept of viral load and how covid is transmitted. If the primary mode of transportation is droplets, why is it so hard to comprehend that anything covering your mouth/nose is going to reduce droplets, be it coming into your body or more importantly leaving from someone infected. The more virus you are exposed to the more likely it is to overwhelm the immune system resulting in disease transmission, and in the event that it transmits, the extent to which hospitalization is likely to occur.  If covid was transmitted like measles mask effectiveness would be greatly reduced and we would all be in major trouble. I hate how politicalized its become. 

 

We took the family to SeaWorld in FL and had no issues wearing our masks and did not feel policed and had a blast. No it wasn't the same as in non-covid times, but for us the results of reduced crowds was a benefit. 

 

I can see the cruise lines requiring masks even after vaccination and negative results for quite some time, due to liability reasons. Which is understandable, once they get the green light for the US, they won't be able to risk getting shut down again.  

They will never understand,Very said.

 

[coffeebean]

On 4/16/2021 at 4:19 PM, ONECRUISER said:

Just on a Plane last week.  Rules are take a bite and chew with Mask on. Wasn't like this 3,6,8 &10 Months ago when flew on same Plane/Airline. Reason for change I'm sure is because of people like that Poster.

Please name the airline. I am a huge proponent of universal masking but, that mandate is absurd. Same with the poster up thread that said they had to sip, mask, sip, mask, sip, mask. That is also absurd. I'll stay home, thank you.

[ONECRUISER]

Just now, coffeebean said:

Please name the airline. I am a huge proponent of universal masking but, that mandate is absurd. Same with the poster up thread that said they had to sip, mask, sip, mask, sip, mask. That is also absurd. I'll stay home, thank you.

Allegiant, though think others are also

 

[billf0401]

We love cruising and have been on dozens of them....however, we will not cruise again until the mask mandate is lifted.  We are making alternate holiday plans that do not require a mask.  It is sad but we are beginning to think we may never cruise again.  We have 2 booked for Oct, 21 and Jan, 22.  Quite unlikely we will be going on either of them.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

Allegiant, though think others are also

 

Southwest has the same policy. 

[jonbgd]

On 4/13/2021 at 7:52 AM, sjg1973 said:

Anything you do that requires a mask is hell on earth. 

All those years, that those of us worked saving lives, while wearing a mask????

So any those that chose to save anothers life is hell on earth???? WTH????? 

 

Something I learned from some good people in the south
Bless His Heart   

Edited April 18, 2021 by jonbgd

[Bailey & Sophie]

On 4/16/2021 at 9:55 AM, Iamcruzin said:

This year I am eligible for free parking since I turned 60 in Dec so there is even more incentive to go.

Thank you for the feedback.  

 

Please expand on this. How do you get free parking? Where?

Thanks!

[ace2542]

10 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Allegiant, though think others are also

 

Great candour their buddy 🤣