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

[harkinmr]

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

No one said it is the CDC that is making this requirement.    The protocol for the Harmony sailings to begin in August out of Spain are about the same or maybe slightly stricter and the CDC has no say in Europe.   

 

It could be the cruise lines making their own decision.    They may also be making their protocols companywide to prevent any confusion with staff.

 

Right now there is too much confusion.....if I leave from the bahamas on adventure or if leave out of Florida on Freedom or if I leave out of Alaska on the Serenade, or if I leave on Jewel out of Cypress, etc etc.   it's getting too difficult to keep track of the different protocols and would make sense for them to have companywide policy on their health protocols to prevent any confusion with staff, etc.   

Actually, that is exactly what RCI is saying in its published protocols.  It’s the CDC that is making us do this. That excuse is not going to last beyond July 18. RCI is going to have to own it. 😉

[harkinmr]

4 minutes ago, Jtd724 said:

There are many here who have said directly or indirectly that once the CDC is out of the way, its back to normal for cruises out of the U.S.

Apparently, they’re wrong.  

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, GTO-Girl said:

We sail in October and I sure hope it is changed by then…

Ditto!

[ONECRUISER]

6 minutes ago, Jtd724 said:

There are many here who have said directly or indirectly that once the CDC is out of the way, its back to normal for cruises out of the U.S.

Not there yet. Besides still have Mask required Travel Executive Order. That's gone, Masking will be also

[harkinmr]

5 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Not there yet. Besides still have Mask required Travel Executive Order. That's gone, Masking will be also

Stop moving the goal posts. When the CSO is gone then no masks, no vaccine requirement, no nothing. 

[jrapps]

30 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

Wait. I don’t get it.  The CSO is set to become “guidance only” in Florida 8 days from now.  There will be no legal authority behind whatever mask requirements RCI sets out. They can do what they want. Right?  Why are they going to require masks when they are not made to by the CDC?  That doesn’t make any sense. They don’t have to do vaccines or masks or any health protocols. Come on!  Why are they making it so hard on everyone?!  

Because they aren't 100% yet that it will be "guidance only". I think they are planning for the worst (the appeal winning)

[harkinmr]

1 minute ago, jrapps said:

Because they aren't 100% yet that it will be "guidance only". I think they are planning for the worst (the appeal winning)

Or maybe they’re just going to do the right thing on their own. Who would have thunk it? 😉

[zpdw484]

I just don't get it.. They could very easily turn away a small percentage of unvaccinated, set a 95% vaxxed standard for ALL US departures, basically come up with one set of onboard protocols for all ships out of US (with a few slight tweaks to get around Florida law), not piss off the majority of their loyal paying customers with the unwanted masking, distancing thing, and most of all sail at a higher capacity, therefore more revenue..... Let's face it there is no way royal can make everyone happy but they seem to be making this waaay more difficult than it needs to be...  Maybe there is some expected loosening of the CDC 95% guidelines on the way soon and royal is just riding it out the best they can till that happens?? 

[Thenagers]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

I'm holding out hope for a reduction in vaccination % to 75% requirement to change the protocols for vaccinated passengers that was hinted at by Michael Bailey last week.

 

At this point Freedom, that doesnt require vaccination, has more vaccinated only (meaning maskless) space than Serenade that does require vaccine status.  This makes no sense at all!

I honestly think they can easily meet the 85 -94 percent. They have been a 92 percent on all the Florida and Bahamas sailings so far. Plus they have already accomplished scaring off all the unvaccinated adults. A lot of schools are going back early August therefore it should get easier to get the vaccinated adults as long as they don’t go on another cruiseline. 

[MommaBear55]

I'm happy to be going out of Nassau, no masks except on the airplane and maybe on ground transportation. 

[bajathree]

What a contrast Royal is to our June 26th Celebrity Edge sailing where no masks were required anywhere and every venue was open with no restrictions....no social distancing...no restricted areas for vaccinated/unvaccinated passengers...no closed seats in the theater or casino...buffet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner....no stupid signs on the floor to distance us. It was pretty much a pre-pandemic cruising experience except for less than half the occupancy. If this is going to be the future of Royal for the rest of 2021 we will be cancelling our Symphony sailing and sticking with Celebrity till things are back to normal.

[The sea calls my name]

2 hours ago, jacobtsf said:

Wondering if Central Park is considered open-air?

Well I am considering it that . Both it and the Boardwalk

[DaKahuna]

We are fully vaccinated and have been since March.  
 

We still wear our mask in situations where we are in close proximity to groups of unknown people even though our state has no mask requirements for fully vaccinated people. 
 

You may ask why and I will honestly tell you it is because the virus is real and the mask policy is based on the honor system and I have family members who refuse to be vaccinated but do not wear mask.  We also feel safer following the safety protocols.
 

Being  vaccinated do not prevent you from becoming infected.  It reduces the chance and also reduces the severity of the impact should you become infected. 
 

We will continue to wear our mask until we feel there is no longer a need to do so.

 

[Cruise Gopher]

Wow I’m really surprised they are offering full refunds and not just FCC. Makes me feel a bit better about paying my final payment for my Christmas cruise knowing I can cancel and get refund to my credit card if masks would still be required. 

[SidneyHuff1950]

1 hour ago, zpdw484 said:

I just don't get it.. They could very easily turn away a small percentage of unvaccinated, set a 95% vaxxed standard for ALL US departures, basically come up with one set of onboard protocols for all ships out of US (with a few slight tweaks to get around Florida law), not piss off the majority of their loyal paying customers with the unwanted masking, distancing thing, and most of all sail at a higher capacity, therefore more revenue..... Let's face it there is no way royal can make everyone happy but they seem to be making this waaay more difficult than it needs to be...  Maybe there is some expected loosening of the CDC 95% guidelines on the way soon and royal is just riding it out the best they can till that happens?? 

And put Disney Cruise Line, one of the major members of the CLIA, out of business in the process. Or is their sacrifice worth it to you since you obviously dont use that cruise line?

[vswan]

What I don't understand is the number of people who seem to think that once the CDC "loses" in all of the court battles that all of the cruise lines will automatically be open to allowing anyone who wants to cruise on all ships with no restrictions what so ever. After the bad publicity early with ships and covid and being unable to sail for more than a year, why would any cruise line take chances with more bad publicity, especially with the Delta variant picking up in primarily in unvaccinated areas/people. And, there are many booked passengers who will not sail unless ships are totally, or at least mostly, vaccinated. Eliminating all of the safety procedures/precautions could cause massive cancellations for the vaccinated.

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Thenagers said:

I honestly think they can easily meet the 85 -94 percent. They have been a 92 percent on all the Florida and Bahamas sailings so far. Plus they have already accomplished scaring off all the unvaccinated adults. A lot of schools are going back early August therefore it should get easier to get the vaccinated adults as long as they don’t go on another cruiseline. 

Freedom was sailing at 85% vaccinated passengers and 100% vaccinated crew per the live review done last week, all went fine, but they are only 3 and 4 night cruises on freedom.

 

Edited July 10, 2021 by Sunshine3601

[Sunshine3601]

7 minutes ago, vswan said:

What I don't understand is the number of people who seem to think that once the CDC "loses" in all of the court battles that all of the cruise lines will automatically be open to allowing anyone who wants to cruise on all ships with no restrictions what so ever. After the bad publicity early with ships and covid and being unable to sail for more than a year, why would any cruise line take chances with more bad publicity, especially with the Delta variant picking up in primarily in unvaccinated areas/people. And, there are many booked passengers who will not sail unless ships are totally, or at least mostly, vaccinated. Eliminating all of the safety procedures/precautions could cause massive cancellations for the vaccinated.

Exactly!  Thank you

[c-leg5]

1 hour ago, MommaBear55 said:

I'm happy to be going out of Nassau, no masks except on the airplane and maybe on ground transportation. 

Are you staying on the ship all week?

[Jimbo]

2 hours ago, harkinmr said:

Wait. I don’t get it.  The CSO is set to become “guidance only” in Florida 8 days from now.  There will be no legal authority behind whatever mask requirements RCI sets out. They can do what they want. Right?  Why are they going to require masks when they are not made to by the CDC?  That doesn’t make any sense. They don’t have to do vaccines or masks or any health protocols. Come on!  Why are they making it so hard on everyone?!  

Maybe cause they rather play it as safe as possible to stay in business unlike the last 16 months. I think Royal Caribbean really didn't like sailing their ships around in the ocean without paying customers onboard.

Edited July 10, 2021 by Jimbo

[harkinmr]

Just now, Jimbo said:

Maybe cause they rather play it as safe as possible to stay in business unlike the last 16 months. I think Royal Caribbean really didn't like sailing their ships around in the ocean without paying customers onboard.

It’s called sarcasm. 
 

My point was that the CDC being removed from the picture likely changes nothing. Anyone who thought it would be a free-for-all without regulations is in for disappointment.  My guess is protocols will remain for some time to come, with or without the CDC. But hey, who knows.  

[Jimbo]

1 minute ago, harkinmr said:

It’s called sarcasm. 
 

My point was that the CDC being removed from the picture likely changes nothing. Anyone who thought it would be a free-for-all without regulations is in for disappointment.  My guess is protocols will remain for some time to come, with or without the CDC. But hey, who knows.  

its here to at least 2022....

[ronandcarla]

I'm thinking that all of the cruise lines are holding their breath that no outbreaks take place and are going to try their best to accommodate the believers and non believers.  We are so hoping that more folks get vaccinated and this pandemic disappears and then we'll be ready for our next cruise possibly by Feb-Mar, 2022.

[mavo68]

I am kinda bummed after reading the protocols today. I was really hoping the Windjammer would be open for dinner on the Allure cruise. We ate there for dinner quite a bit over the dining room. We are scheduled for “my time dining” because we don’t like a set time and go when we want.

[bucfan2]

1 hour ago, bajathree said:

What a contrast Royal is to our June 26th Celebrity Edge sailing where no masks were required anywhere and every venue was open with no restrictions....no social distancing...no restricted areas for vaccinated/unvaccinated passengers...no closed seats in the theater or casino...buffet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner....no stupid signs on the floor to distance us. It was pretty much a pre-pandemic cruising experience except for less than half the occupancy. If this is going to be the future of Royal for the rest of 2021 we will be cancelling our Symphony sailing and sticking with Celebrity till things are back to normal.

Ditto