Freedom Venues Vaccinated/Unvaccinated Rules Spelled Out

[erinsmom03]

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/are-there-any-experiences-that-are-closed?

[erinsmom03]

[kearney]

Pretty close to my suggestions on one of the many threads now closed. "What will be off limits onboard to unvaccinated"

 

"I was thinking that perhaps late shows for vaccinated..since most non vaccinated likely to be children. Perhaps late dining for vaccinated... for the same reason. Bars, spa, gym, casino for vaccinated (again focusing on adults)... solarium pools...  perhaps bars on the promenade open for all... but Schooner and what used to be Viking lounge, champagne for vaccinated... more easily contained areas... just a thought..."  

[Evilgrin72]

Woof.  WAY too many venues accessible to un-vaccinated passengers, I'd be forced to wear a mask for at least half the cruise.  0% chance I book under these auspices. The rules and regs are in such flux right now that I haven't lost hope, but they've got about 2-3 months to get something better than this together or I'm cashing in my FCC for $$.

[erinsmom03]

Our Freedom cruise isn't until January, who knows what the rules will look like then. 

[A&L_Ont]

22 minutes ago, Evilgrin72 said:

I'm cashing in my FCC for $$.

If this is possible let us know how to do it. I’m sure many around here, from either side of the mask discussion, would love to do that.

Edited June 28, 2021 by A&L_Ont

[Brucemcdou]

Thanks for posting Erinsmom - interesting list and as Kearny noted, very logical.  Good for Royal Caribbean being thoughtful about how to protect passengers and crew and still allow a good experience for all!  We're not cruising till October (Harmony OTS TA) but our cruise will be 100% vaccinated so no limitations.  

[Jasukkie]

There's no way I would sail under those conditions. I underestimated how wonderful being mask free would be. Go to Nassau, sail on Adventure. Hopefully they keep those as requiring adults to be vaccinated.

[orville99]

Depending on how well these protocols work out on Freedom's July sailings, we may see them adopted across the fleet as new ships come on line. The more they get publicized, the less likely non-vaccinated passengers will be on board.

[Evilgrin72]

26 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

If this is possible let us know how to do it. I’m sure many around here, from either side of the mask discussion, would love to do that.

 

I have a FCC on file from a cruise originally booked for April 2020 that I either have to use by 12/31 or redeem for the original paid amount.

[Evilgrin72]

I'm just having a hard time seeing how anyone is happy with this.  Vaccinated cruisers probably aren't going to sail knowing they have to wear a mask on 70% of the ship.  They'll probably hop over to a line that is sailing at 95% or that doesn't require a mask.  Unvaccinated cruisers aren't likely to book knowing they're going to have to wear a mask any time they're not outside and aren't going to be able to access the casino, the solarium, several bars and multiple events.  Kind of a "no-one wins" situation they've created.

[OSUZorba]

I'd prefer they just require everyone over 12 to be vaxxed, but understand why they aren't out of FL.

 

I don't like that kids are being forced to dine and watch shows with unvaxxed adults, though. Hoping there aren't that many unvaxxed adults and they have distancing.

 

Really I wish they'd just demand proof of vax once they hit international waters, and if you don't have it and are over 12 you get locked in your stateroom.

[harkinmr]

9 minutes ago, OSUZorba said:

I'd prefer they just require everyone over 12 to be vaxxed, but understand why they aren't out of FL.

 

I don't like that kids are being forced to dine and watch shows with unvaxxed adults, though. Hoping there aren't that many unvaxxed adults and they have distancing.

 

Really I wish they'd just demand proof of vax once they hit international waters, and if you don't have it and are over 12 you get locked in your stateroom.

RCI does not need to jump through the hoops that it is in Florida. Celebrity just set sail from FLL with 99% vaccinated passengers and voluntary submission of vaccination proof. No problem with Florida government. Carnival will be proceeding with a similar plan. No less than 95% vaccinated.  RCI made a choice to welcome a larger percentage of unvaccinated passengers, including adults, thereby creating discomfort for both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers.  Their call, and not the right one given the overall reaction. 

[sunshinetricia]

I'm probably very cynical after the last year, but what are the chances they actually enforce all of this? I've been to Disney a handful of times in the last year and although they are one of the best at enforcement, we still saw SO MANY instances where people didn't follow the rules. Plus look at all of the videos online of people freaking out because someone tried to enforce the rules on them. I'm a MAJOR rule follower, so I always get agitated when I see people breaking rules--especially during covid because the stakes are so high. I don't think I could handle being on a ship like this with so many rules and then watching people break them the whole time. It would completely ruin the vacation for me because I would just be irritated the whole time over the lack of rule enforcement (which is why I am sailing on Adventure where there aren't as many rules. lol) 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

I hope they offer some credit or refund for unvaccinated children. There is no vaccine for under 12s and to restrict the families from stuff is wrong and discrimination. 

Also daft that when with children who will be in same room you have limited access however if you go out without children and are vaccinated you can go anywhere.

 

And why should children be forced to dine with unvaccinated adults. So wrong RCL so Wrong

[Evilgrin72]

10 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I hope they offer some credit or refund for unvaccinated children. There is no vaccine for under 12s and to restrict the families from stuff is wrong and discrimination. 

Also daft that when with children who will be in same room you have limited access however if you go out without children and are vaccinated you can go anywhere.

 

And why should children be forced to dine with unvaccinated adults. So wrong RCL so Wrong

 

I think they set this up to make the "vax only" venues mainly places children wouldn't visit anyway.  How many kids under 12 are going to be frequenting Chef's Table, Izumi, R Bar, Schooner Bar, The Pub, the Viking Crown Nightclub and the solarium and casino?  Aside from a few late-night adult events, these are the only places designated for vaccinated passengers only, many of these don't permit children under 12 anyway.  The real losers are their parents and the rest of the vaccinated adults who either have to choose to wear a mask or not visit every other location on the ship besides those.

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, Evilgrin72 said:

 

I have a FCC on file from a cruise originally booked for April 2020 that I either have to use by 12/31 or redeem for the original paid amount.

Is this different because it was fully paid and ready to sail right after the shutdown?  Was it a refundable deposit from the initial booking when you made it?

 

I have only been offered FCCs for non refundable deposits on suites we have booked. We cancelled before final payments as well. 
 

I’m just trying to see if I am missing something here.  Thanks for any further input. 

Edited June 28, 2021 by A&L_Ont

[Evilgrin72]

17 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Is this different because it was fully paid and ready to sail right after the shutdown?  Was it a refundable deposit from the initial booking when you made it?

 

I have only been offered FCCs for non refundable deposits on suites we have booked. We cancelled before final payments as well. 
 

I’m just trying to see if I am missing something here.  Thanks for any further input. 

 

Yes, it was fully paid and canceled a couple of weeks before sailing.  They gave us the option of our money back or 125% of the fare as a FCC.  The rest of my family all cashed out, I was the only one to take the FCC.  I have to book passage by 12/31 for sailings by April 2022 or I lose it, so I only have 6 months left to book something (less actually, but that's because of other things unrelated to RCL) or cash out the original fare paid.  I had fully intended to sail as soon as it was possible to do so, but if I'm either going to have to wear a mask all week despite being both recovered from COVID and fully vaccinated or fly to another departure port in order to sail mask-free, I'm out.  I could theoretically walk to Port Canaveral, it's a little frustrating to be faced with hundreds (if not over a thousand) in R/T airfare to get to Seattle or Nassau to sail from there instead.  That's not worth the 25% bump from the FCC - I'll just cash out and go to Vegas instead.

[harkinmr]

35 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I hope they offer some credit or refund for unvaccinated children. There is no vaccine for under 12s and to restrict the families from stuff is wrong and discrimination. 

Also daft that when with children who will be in same room you have limited access however if you go out without children and are vaccinated you can go anywhere.

 

And why should children be forced to dine with unvaccinated adults. So wrong RCL so Wrong

It is not discrimination and parents are making a choice bringing unvaccinated children on board.  They can be infected and transmit the virus, as evidenced by the two unvaccinated children on Adventure. The risk is even higher with a sizable number of unvaccinated adults on board. Unvaccinated children can become infected by exposure on the ship well outside the dining room.  Parents need to decide if that is a risk they are willing to accept. It is not up to the cruise line to prevent their exposure or reduce their risk by foisting them upon the fully vaccinated.  

[A&L_Ont]

2 minutes ago, Evilgrin72 said:

I only have 6 months left to book something (less actually, but that's because of other things unrelated to RCL) or cash out the original fare paid.

 

Now I got it. I like you would be taking the $ and return back to cruising at a later time. I fully understand why you do not want to step foot on a ship. Kinda jealous, as I wish I had this option.  Currently I have more than four thousand in FCC because of non refundable suite bookings. 

 

[Beagle Rancher]

25 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Is this different because it was fully paid and ready to sail right after the shutdown?  Was it a refundable deposit from the initial booking when you made it?

 

I have only been offered FCCs for non refundable deposits on suites we have booked. We cancelled before final payments as well. 
 

I’m just trying to see if I am missing something here.  Thanks for any further input. 

If Royal cancelled the cruise, you can get a refund or fcc.  If the guest canceled it under the CWC, the FCC is the only option without penalty. 

[A&L_Ont]

1 minute ago, Beagle Rancher said:

If Royal cancelled the cruise, you can get a refund or fcc.  If the guest canceled it under the CWC, the FCC is the only option without penalty. 

Thanks as well.🙂

[Evilgrin72]

3 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

Now I got it. I like you would be taking the $ and return back to cruising at a later time. I fully understand why you do not want to step foot on a ship. Kinda jealous, as I wish I had this option.  Currently I have more than four thousand in FCC because of non refundable suite bookings. 

 

I really want to support the industry and help them get back to business, but the way RCL has chosen to do this in FL is somewhat bewildering to me. Doesn't feel like anyone is going to be happy with this, but maybe I'm wrong. 

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I hope they offer some credit or refund for unvaccinated children. There is no vaccine for under 12s and to restrict the families from stuff is wrong and discrimination. 

Also daft that when with children who will be in same room you have limited access however if you go out without children and are vaccinated you can go anywhere.

 

And why should children be forced to dine with unvaccinated adults. So wrong RCL so Wrong

You may want to look up the definition of "discrimination", because this is not it.

[3kidsncats]

2 hours ago, sunshinetricia said:

I'm probably very cynical after the last year, but what are the chances they actually enforce all of this? I've been to Disney a handful of times in the last year and although they are one of the best at enforcement, we still saw SO MANY instances where people didn't follow the rules. Plus look at all of the videos online of people freaking out because someone tried to enforce the rules on them. I'm a MAJOR rule follower, so I always get agitated when I see people breaking rules--especially during covid because the stakes are so high. I don't think I could handle being on a ship like this with so many rules and then watching people break them the whole time. It would completely ruin the vacation for me because I would just be irritated the whole time over the lack of rule enforcement (which is why I am sailing on Adventure where there aren't as many rules. lol) 

I so identify with your perspective— I follow the rules.  If I don’t like them, I go elsewhere, but if I choose to go to a business or public space, I follow the rules.  It makes me nuts when I see people who think the rules don’t apply to them.  And I have a hard time not saying something.  Which is why I’m also happy to be sailing on Adventure soon 🙂