Masks required for August sailings from Florida even if vaccinated while walking around

[harkinmr]

23 minutes ago, atricks said:

Willing to bet if the CSO goes to recommendations on the 18th, the mask thing inside is the first thing to go (With the remaining stuff kept).  It's easier on everyone (Crew and passengers) to lighten the restrictions with a last minute change than to go the other direction.   Adventure of the Seas mode is probably the target.

 

I wouldn't bet on that.  My guess is they will keep all of the restrictions.  The biggest issue is that RCI is allowing unvaccinated adults on board for Florida cruises.  With Adventure, masks are only required for kids under eligible age and that's easier to monitor.  Anyone 16 and over (12 and over as of August 1) has to be vaccinated.  RCI would have a bear of a time trying to moderate mask wearing with a large adult unvaccinated cohort.  And I don't believe they would drop a mask requirement for unvaccinated folks inside.  

[harkinmr]

15 minutes ago, BND said:

My issue with masking is that there is no proof that it made any real difference and there won't be because there was no real control group.  Every single person I know who caught it wore a mask.   And, yes, I know that is anecdotal, but it is my reality.

 

We haven't worn masks anywhere except medical settings for weeks now.  What really irritates me is the news keeps talking about how the Delta variant is spreading like crazy, but leave out the little tidbit that it's spreading among non-vaccinated people, not vaccinated ones.

 

We're not cruising until Nov 28 out of PC so by then we'll be past the CSO and hope to be back to normal.  Carnival is not requiring masks onboard out of FL so I don't get the blaming the CDC by RCI.

EVERY news report that I see or read clearly highlights the spread of the variant amongst unvaccinated people and the continuing problems that is causing in low vaccination rate states.  They have not left out the reference at all, and every time I see a news item on it it just makes me more annoyed at those that are perfectly capable of getting vaccinated and are choosing not too.  Yes, it is a personal choice, but THEY are the reason this whole fiasco will last longer than it needs to.  And this fact may impact protocols on cruise ships for some time to come.

[rajacks]

Has anyone sailing out of Galveston in August received protocol information?  Curious to hear if it's the same as what's happening in Florida.  

[zpdw484]

5 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

I wouldn't bet on that.  My guess is they will keep all of the restrictions.  The biggest issue is that RCI is allowing unvaccinated adults on board for Florida cruises.  With Adventure, masks are only required for kids under eligible age and that's easier to monitor.  Anyone 16 and over (12 and over as of August 1) has to be vaccinated.  RCI would have a bear of a time trying to moderate mask wearing with a large adult unvaccinated cohort.  And I don't believe they would drop a mask requirement for unvaccinated folks inside.  

Easy fix... Stop allowing unvaxxed adults.. obviously royal doesn't really want them onboard anyways.. celebrity can do it, carnival can even do it.. let the kiddos make up the 5% max unvaxxed, drop the mask protocol and roll with it... This would keep the largest percentage of paying customers happy, this would keep the odds of an outbreak the lowest, and this would make royal the most money. This really doesn't have to be as big of a cluster as royal is turning it into.

[orville99]

35 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Your opinion is  duly noted.

BTW, masks are not required in the casino.

[jerseygirl3]

18 hours ago, soremekun said:

What's the reason stated as to why masks are required for the vaccinated?

Because of the unvaccinated allowed onboard. They can’t expect the crew to walk around all day checking who is and who is not vaccinated and make people who are unvaccinated put on a mask. Even if bracelets identify the vaccinated, that’s a lot to put on the staff. So because of that, everyone has to mask. 

[zpdw484]

14 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

I wouldn't bet on that.  My guess is they will keep all of the restrictions.  The biggest issue is that RCI is allowing unvaccinated adults on board for Florida cruises.  With Adventure, masks are only required for kids under eligible age and that's easier to monitor.  Anyone 16 and over (12 and over as of August 1) has to be vaccinated.  RCI would have a bear of a time trying to moderate mask wearing with a large adult unvaccinated cohort.  And I don't believe they would drop a mask requirement for unvaccinated folks inside.  

I think royal is requiring all adults vaccinated on the Alaska sailings and they still have the same overbearing protocols.

[harkinmr]

9 minutes ago, zpdw484 said:

I think royal is requiring all adults vaccinated on the Alaska sailings and they still have the same overbearing protocols.

That's on them then.  They are making a decision company wide obviously so that there is no confusion from one ship to the next.  So, as you and others have said, the many are penalized for the pleasure of the few.  Not a great business model if you ask me.

Edited July 10, 2021 by harkinmr

[Iamcruzin]

6 minutes ago, BND said:

Fortunately, in our county, deaths are almost zero, but then we have a high vaccination rate.    I agree that anyone who chooses to not get the vaccine with all the evidence is playing russian roulette and we shouldn't have to be punished for that.

I agree.  I'm glad your county has such a good success rate. Stay safe.

[zpdw484]

Just now, harkinmr said:

That's on them then.  They are making a decision company wide obviously so that there is no confusion from one ship to the next.  So, as you said, the many are penalized for the pleasure of the few.  Not a great business model if you ask me.

Agree 100%.  

[MommaBear55]

15 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

Are you staying on the ship all week?

I'll go off on Cocoa Cay, haven't decided about Cozumel, but if we do it will be a snorkeling adventure and shopping for vanilla. Masks for shopping, even in hot climates, isn't a big deal to me.

[Jimbo]

42 minutes ago, orville99 said:

BTW, masks are not required in the casino.

I believe they are on cruises out of Florida

[molly361]

5 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I believe they are on cruises out of Florida

No masks in the casino.  Unvaxed not allowed in there

Casino
Given the casino’s physical constraints, there is not enough space to accommodate everyone. Given most of our adult guests are vaccinated, the casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.

Edited July 10, 2021 by molly361

[harkinmr]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I believe they are on cruises out of Florida

I think the casino is one of the areas reserved for vaccinated guests only, so masks aren't required in there.

[Jimbo]

4 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

I think the casino is one of the areas reserved for vaccinated guests only, so masks aren't required in there.

I guess where it's profitable in Royals advantage it scientific  acceptable...no masks...go figure got to make the customers happy. Iol

[harkinmr]

4 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I guess where it's profitable in Royals advantage it scientific  acceptable...no masks...go figure got to make the customers happy. Iol

True.  But closing the casino to unvaccinated passengers is also a good disincentive to them cruising.  Just more ammunition for RCI.

[orville99]

17 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I believe they are on cruises out of Florida

To quote you, You may find that statement to be wrong.

[bucfan2]

1 hour ago, zpdw484 said:

Easy fix... Stop allowing unvaxxed adults.. 

Easier fix....cruise on the lines that have protocols that suit you.

[zpdw484]

22 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

True.  But closing the casino to unvaccinated passengers is also a good disincentive to them cruising.  Just more ammunition for RCI.

Exactly.. like we said above, Royal doesn't want these people on their ships at this point but are more than willing to make the rest of us loyal paying passengers, some of which have been floating them interest free loans for a year and a half, deal with these masking protocols etc because they don't have the nerve to say it and make it policy.

[zpdw484]

1 minute ago, bucfan2 said:

Easier fix....cruise on the lines that have protocols that suit you.

Don't worry, I will if protocols don't change and I am offered a refund. And I believe many others will also if these protocols remain and there are other options. It's good to have choices.

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, rajacks said:

Has anyone sailing out of Galveston in August received protocol information?  Curious to hear if it's the same as what's happening in Florida.  

 

Considering the Alaska cruises have the same protocols as Florida even though they're vax only for those that can, I'd say it's very safe to assume Galveston will be the same. 

[firefly333]

28 minutes ago, zpdw484 said:

Exactly.. like we said above, Royal doesn't want these people on their ships at this point but are more than willing to make the rest of us loyal paying passengers, some of which have been floating them interest free loans for a year and a half, deal with these masking protocols etc because they don't have the nerve to say it and make it policy.

That's its exactly. If rcl choose to do unvaccinated cruises, they knew the cdc required masks. Why are people now surprised unvaccinated cruises require masks. 

 

I hope rcl does vaccinated cruises by dec when I board, but they make the policy and didnt have the gumption to do vaccinated at 95%. 

[Jerseygirl1416]

Anyone know anything about protocols that will be enforced in NY/NJ ports? Have the governor’s put anything extra in place? Has cruising even been approved at these ports?
 

I booked Oasis for September and I am bummed about the mask issue, being vaccinated,  but I’m still so excited to get cruising, even with the stupid mask. We tend to stay out on deck all day unless we’re eating and once we’re at our table we can take it off so it’s not a dealbreaker for me. To each their own….

Edited July 10, 2021 by Jerseygirl1416

[coffeebean]

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

BTW, masks are not required in the casino.

That is because the casino is off limits to the unvaxxed. That is a venue to vaxxed only.

[coffeebean]

2 hours ago, zpdw484 said:

I think royal is requiring all adults vaccinated on the Alaska sailings and they still have the same overbearing protocols.

Seriously? Even on sailings with all adults vaccinated, everyone must mask up indoors? That is just plain silly. Have the kids mask up, not the adults. But that just seems to logical.