Mask enforcement on current cruises

[ontheweb]

4 hours ago, English-Greg said:

I am on the Vista right now. I have not seen anyone enforcing mask mandates in elevators, lido or lounges. The cruise director makes announcements but the ignorance of some people prevail.

No problem @BlerkOne will explain why this is a good thing.

[LHP]

 Currently on the Mardi Gras…. There are masks required in the elevators, waiting to be seated at dinner  and in “sip and cover” areas like the casino, piano bar, comedy club etc.  

 

The attached sign is in front of “sip and cover” areas which means the mask remains on 100% ( even while seated ) unless you are literally sipping your drink .

remove mask .. sip .. put mask back on

 

Security was at the door ….

 

sorry the picture is upside down 

 

Mardi Gras is under code yellow which is why this was added

[joy4ron]

2 minutes ago, LHP said:

 Currently on the Mardi Gras…. There are masks required in the elevators, waiting to be seated at dinner  and in “sip and cover” areas like the casino, piano bar, comedy club etc.  

 

The attached sign is in front of “sip and cover” areas which means the mask remains on 100% ( even while seated ) unless you are literally sipping your drink .

remove mask .. sip .. put mask back on

 

Security was at the door ….

 

sorry the picture is upside down 

 

Mardi Gras is under code yellow which is why this was added

Is it "Sip and Cover" everywhere inside on the ship?

[TNcruising02]

24 minutes ago, LHP said:

 Currently on the Mardi Gras…. There are masks required in the elevators, waiting to be seated at dinner  and in “sip and cover” areas like the casino, piano bar, comedy club etc.  

 

The attached sign is in front of “sip and cover” areas which means the mask remains on 100% ( even while seated ) unless you are literally sipping your drink .

remove mask .. sip .. put mask back on

 

Security was at the door ….

 

sorry the picture is upside down 

 

Mardi Gras is under code yellow which is why this was added

I know Carnival has no choice, but this makes me very glad that I rescheduled my August cruise to next year.

[ninjacat123]

39 minutes ago, LHP said:

 Currently on the Mardi Gras…. There are masks required in the elevators, waiting to be seated at dinner  and in “sip and cover” areas like the casino, piano bar, comedy club etc.  

 

The attached sign is in front of “sip and cover” areas which means the mask remains on 100% ( even while seated ) unless you are literally sipping your drink .

remove mask .. sip .. put mask back on

 

Security was at the door ….

 

sorry the picture is upside down 

 

Mardi Gras is under code yellow which is why this was added

I just received a response from KmomChicago who is on the MG currently and says there is no "sip and cover" monitoring.  What bar were you in?  Thx!

[Brew12]

12 hours ago, LHP said:

 Currently on the Mardi Gras…. There are masks required in the elevators, waiting to be seated at dinner  and in “sip and cover” areas like the casino, piano bar, comedy club etc.  

 

The attached sign is in front of “sip and cover” areas which means the mask remains on 100% ( even while seated ) unless you are literally sipping your drink .

remove mask .. sip .. put mask back on

 

Security was at the door ….

 

sorry the picture is upside down 

 

Mardi Gras is under code yellow which is why this was added

I still have a little time to decide, but I don't think I can handle sip and cover. I don't mind wearing it indoors in lines but, if I'm sitting at a bar trying to do a piano sing along, sip and cover might be a deal breaker.

[Brew12]

12 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

I just received a response from KmomChicago who is on the MG currently and says there is no "sip and cover" monitoring.  What bar were you in?  Thx!

Can you clarify this? Are you saying that it isn't what people are being told to do? Or is it that they aren't enforcing it in the event you plan on not following their requirements? 

[LouChamp]

13 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

I know Carnival has no choice, but this makes me very glad that I rescheduled my August cruise to next year.

it is so not worth it to risk my wife sailing right now.  we will wait

[ninjacat123]

5 hours ago, Brew12 said:

Can you clarify this? Are you saying that it isn't what people are being told to do? Or is it that they aren't enforcing it in the event you plan on not following their requirements? 

@KmomChicago responded to my question about mask enforcement on MG where she currently is.  She stated that the "sip and cover" is not being enforced.  She has posted pics of people at the theatre not masked up.  I am trying to find out how Carnival is currently dealing with this issue as I have a cruise coming up in a couple of weeks. I know things can change but I would like to know what's happening currently.

Edited August 11, 2021 by ninjacat123

[LHP]

7 hours ago, Brew12 said:

Can you clarify this? Are you saying that it isn't what people are being told to do? Or is it that they aren't enforcing it in the event you plan on not following their requirements? 

The past 2 nights it has definitely been sip and cover in the piano bar.

 

Everyone was complying except for 2 less than intelligent ( entitled )  Americans even though Patrick kept reminding them .

 

Tonight Patrick is off.  Tomorrow they are adding a 25% reduction in capacity .

 

Patrick did stress that they can and will shut the piano bar down IF people refuse to comply .

However simply having security escort idiots that failed first grade out of the bar instead of ruining it for all of us is a better solution.

Edited August 11, 2021 by LHP

[LHP]

2 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

@KmomChicago responded to my question about mask enforcement on MG where she currently is.  She stated that the "sip and cover" is not being enforced.  She has posted pics of people at the theatre not masked up.  I am trying to find out how Carnival is currently dealing with this issue as I have a cruise coming up in a couple of weeks. I know things can change but I would like to know what's happening currently.

 

I will add that as someone with mild COPD , masks are not my friend .

 

However , we had no masks at all on the first Horizon sailing .  And this first MG cruise of a B2B with the mask restrictions really has not been bad.

 

I will be bringing a KN-95 for our Sept B2B on the Vista and the Oct B2B back here on the MG since I find them easier to breathe in than the surgical masks.

[Fredric22]

1 hour ago, LHP said:

The past 2 nights it has definitely been sip and cover in the piano bar.

 

Everyone was complying except for 2 less than intelligent ( entitled )  Americans even though Patrick kept reminding them .

 

Tonight Patrick is off.  Tomorrow they are adding a 25% reduction in capacity .

 

Patrick did stress that they can and will shut the piano bar down IF people refuse to comply .

However simply having security escort idiots that failed first grade out of the bar instead of ruining it for all of us is a better solution.

So glad I haven't visited the piano bar on this trip yet!  I have 0 interest in doing that and it's absolutely ridiculous that they are making people "sip and cover" in a venue designed for singing along. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ 

[Jamesatgsu]

Sip & Cover at crowded areas makes sense, but I don't like anybody being within a few feet of me even when there is no COVID.

[RoperDK]

Okay, so I was fine with masking in crowded areas such as elevators, lines at restaurant entrances, customer service, etc.  We have a Halloween cruise on Mardi Gras booked and would like clarification on current onboard policies.  We don't cheat, so give me the hard truth.  Outside, no masks at all?  Sitting at a bar such as Brass Magnolia or Fortune Teller? Casino (non-smoker), but enjoy DOU?  Central Atrium during a show, when not close to others? I get the main theater, comedy show, maybe piano bar, but what about listening to a band off to the side, not near others?  I realize that in October things could be much different, but just want to know what is happening now.   

[chefchick]

Can someone clarify if gaiters are an allowed form of mask?  I saw this official looking sign on JH Facebook page but then saw a video he posted saying they were not allowed….I just want as many options as possible but it is getting hard to keep up with all the changes.

[MrMarc]

1 minute ago, chefchick said:

Can someone clarify if gaiters are an allowed form of mask?  I saw this official looking sign on JH Facebook page but then saw a video he posted saying they were not allowed….I just want as many options as possible but it is getting hard to keep up with all the changes.

I think the important point is the minimum of two layers for gaiters.  I have a feeling that wearing one might get you more attention than you would like.

[LHP]

3 hours ago, Fredric22 said:

So glad I haven't visited the piano bar on this trip yet!  I have 0 interest in doing that and it's absolutely ridiculous that they are making people "sip and cover" in a venue designed for singing along. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ 

It is probably because this ship  is currently code  yellow.

 

Our first Horizon cruise was green and clear and we did not even have to wear masks inside . 

 

I felt very safe on the Horizon cruise… not so much on this one .

 

Their protocol is flawed.  Even requiring people to test 3 days before sailing will not stop an infection.

 

if they test negative at home and then spend a couple of days in Covid infested Florida or Texas;   unvaccinated will still test negative at boarding  because it takes 48 - 72 hours to produce enough virus to register on a test .  That means they board the ship infected and start to shed  halfway through a 7 day  cruise .

 

Vaccinated ( with Pfizer or Moderna ) will be less likely to shed ( because the vaccine can stop the replication of the virus to the point of transmit ability-but not 100% ).  But 90% of the crew are vaccinated with  J&J, which offers less protection from viral replication.

 

It just breaks my heart to think of the crew losing their only means to properly support their families if our  safety efforts fail.

[BroadwayGirl]

48 minutes ago, LHP said:

It is probably because this ship  is currently code  yellow.

 

Our first Horizon cruise was green and clear and we did not even have to wear masks inside . 

 

I felt very safe on the Horizon cruise… not so much on this one .

 

Their protocol is flawed.  Even requiring people to test 3 days before sailing will not stop an infection.

 

if they test negative at home and then spend a couple of days in Covid infested Florida or Texas;   unvaccinated will still test negative at boarding  because it takes 48 - 72 hours to produce enough virus to register on a test .  That means they board the ship infected and start to shed  halfway through a 7 day  cruise .

 

Vaccinated ( with Pfizer or Moderna ) will be less likely to shed ( because the vaccine can stop the replication of the virus to the point of transmit ability-but not 100% ).  But 90% of the crew are vaccinated with  J&J, which offers less protection from viral replication.

 

It just breaks my heart to think of the crew losing their only means to properly support their families if our  safety efforts fail.

Nothing is 100% risk free, but every small thing helps to keep infections low and build on the next. I’ve heard it referred to as the Swiss cheese method and it makes sense.  No it may not stop all infections, but 95% vaccines, plus testing (72 hrs for all and then boarding day too for unvaxxed), plus masks plus reduced capacity in venues as rumored like the piano bar…think of Swiss cheese and lining up those holey and imperfect slices. As you stack those slices, the holes and gaps start getting smaller and smaller. Yes, things will slip through the holes…but much less than just a single slice.  

[TNcruising02]

1 hour ago, BroadwayGirl said:

Nothing is 100% risk free, but every small thing helps to keep infections low and build on the next. I’ve heard it referred to as the Swiss cheese method and it makes sense.  No it may not stop all infections, but 95% vaccines, plus testing (72 hrs for all and then boarding day too for unvaxxed), plus masks plus reduced capacity in venues as rumored like the piano bar…think of Swiss cheese and lining up those holey and imperfect slices. As you stack those slices, the holes and gaps start getting smaller and smaller. Yes, things will slip through the holes…but much less than just a single slice.  

Exactly.  The cruise lines are doing what they need to do to stay in business.  Testing before cruising makes sense and will weed out some people.  Even if they only weed out one person, that one person could have gone on to infect many on a plane, at the airport, and on the cruise ship.  The tests make sense as part of a larger plan with other protocols.  

For people (like myself) who prefer to wait until later to cruise, they can get their cruises moved with no penalty.  I think the cruise lines are making the right decisions.  I think it is a bit selfish for unvaccinated people to cruise at this time.  The delta variant is raging and the cruise lines can't afford the exposure of mandatory testing before returning to the home port.  Those positive cases lead to a chain reaction. 

 

I am waiting until 2022.  This year is madness and there are other ways to vacation.  Good luck to those who are cruising in the next few months.  I hope all goes well.

[SUSIEK]

13 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

Exactly.  The cruise lines are doing what they need to do to stay in business.  Testing before cruising makes sense and will weed out some people.  Even if they only weed out one person, that one person could have gone on to infect many on a plane, at the airport, and on the cruise ship.  The tests make sense as part of a larger plan with other protocols.  

For people (like myself) who prefer to wait until later to cruise, they can get their cruises moved with no penalty.  I think the cruise lines are making the right decisions.  I think it is a bit selfish for unvaccinated people to cruise at this time.  The delta variant is raging and the cruise lines can't afford the exposure of mandatory testing before returning to the home port.  Those positive cases lead to a chain reaction. 

 

I am waiting until 2022.  This year is madness and there are other ways to vacation.  Good luck to those who are cruising in the next few months.  I hope all goes well.

Let's hope 2022 is better..... I thought 2021 would be.  

[TNcruising02]

10 minutes ago, SUSIEK said:

Let's hope 2022 is better..... I thought 2021 would be.  

As more people get covid and more people get vaccinated, I think it will get better.   As long as the high risk protect themselves and deaths decrease, we are moving forward.  I've read that the delta variant isn't as deadly, but I think it's because so many high risk people are vaccinated.

[Brew12]

Just now, TNcruising02 said:

As more people get covid and more people get vaccinated, I think it will get better.   As long as the high risk protect themselves and deaths decrease, we are moving forward.  I've read that the delta variant isn't as deadly, but I think it's because so many high risk people are vaccinated.

Agreed. And also many of the people getting Covid have already had it once before. I know at least 1 person that has gotten it for a 3rd time.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think Covid will ever completely go away. What made it so deadly is that it was a novel virus. Every exposure and/or vaccination makes it less novel and help us become more resistant. The vaccination rate and effectiveness of those vaccines will only significantly impact the speed this happens and how many people are hospitalized or die while we get to that point.

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, SUSIEK said:

Let's hope 2022 is better..... I thought 2021 would be.  

Yes, we all hoped for that for 2021 and even better for 2022. 2021 is better, just not at the moment by as much as we all hoped.

 

I saw a sign earlier this year that said 2020 had a virus. Let's uninstall it.

[LHP]

20 hours ago, RoperDK said:

Okay, so I was fine with masking in crowded areas such as elevators, lines at restaurant entrances, customer service, etc.  We have a Halloween cruise on Mardi Gras booked and would like clarification on current onboard policies.  We don't cheat, so give me the hard truth.  Outside, no masks at all?  Sitting at a bar such as Brass Magnolia or Fortune Teller? Casino (non-smoker), but enjoy DOU?  Central Atrium during a show, when not close to others? I get the main theater, comedy show, maybe piano bar, but what about listening to a band off to the side, not near others?  I realize that in October things could be much different, but just want to know what is happening now.   

We are currently on the MG.

 

90% seem to be using  common sense with the mask in motion method  indoors …

 

no  mask restrictions, that I know of , outdoors..

 

masks are  required in elevators, gift shops or waiting in lines for dinner or talking with crew like at karaoke requesting a song or guest services  , walking on Lido indoors  or Debarkation / Embarkation in ports … again common sense where ever crowds can not socially distance .

 

sip and cover for Comedy, Piano Bar, Casino , shows where social distancing is limited ….so masks on even when sitting … unless sipping .

 

All other areas while seated is generally no masks as long as there are no crowds ….

 

 

For example , Central  Station during the day in port when no one is around while seated … no mask .

At night when there are crowds for the show … sip and cover .

 

I have found that if you just use common sense  and common consideration….you will be fine .

 

We just had the Diamond luncheon and wore masks while standing in line .. removed mask once seated  to eat .

 

mask in motion and you can not go wrong !!

 

btw we will be back for a B2B Halloween as well .

Edited August 12, 2021 by LHP

[RoperDK]

2 hours ago, LHP said:

We are currently on the MG.

 

90% seem to be using  common sense with the mask in motion method  indoors …

 

no  mask restrictions, that I know of , outdoors..

 

masks are  required in elevators, gift shops or waiting in lines for dinner or talking with crew like at karaoke requesting a song or guest services  , walking on Lido indoors  or Debarkation / Embarkation in ports … again common sense where ever crowds can not socially distance .

 

sip and cover for Comedy, Piano Bar, Casino , shows where social distancing is limited ….so masks on even when sitting … unless sipping .

 

All other areas while seated is generally no masks as long as there are no crowds ….

 

 

For example , Central  Station during the day in port when no one is around while seated … no mask .

At night when there are crowds for the show … sip and cover .

 

I have found that if you just use common sense  and common consideration….you will be fine .

 

We just had the Diamond luncheon and wore masks while standing in line .. removed mask once seated  to eat .

 

mask in motion and you can not go wrong !!

 

btw we will be back for a B2B Halloween as well .

Thanks! That is exactly the info I was looking for.  Our Mardi Gras Halloween cruise is our first back since right before the shutdown early last year.  How is the mood onboard?  Do you feel safe?  Do the restrictions put a big damper on your enjoyment?  I really want to go, but am getting a bit of family pressure to cancel.  If the cruise is still enjoyable, then I will go!