RCCL Explorer cruises into Covid zones. Ridiculous rules. Spoiler Alert!

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, JMKreno said:

At the end of the day the rules regarding restrictions for unvaxxed have been around for months. If you don't like the protocols DO NOT CRUISE. Simple as that. Royal has been giving refunds to people who get notified of their sailing requirements so this will be the avenue to pursue. People need to take personal responsibility for knowing as much as possible about their investments. I get a bit snippy about this thing as I see daily how little people bother researching or keeping up on things directly affecing their bottom line. Buying a house? LEARN THE BASICS OF THE DISCLOSURE. Buying a card? UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF FINANCE/LEASING/INTEREST. Going on a cruise? Constantly check on protocols, I did this even before the pandemic! Yes, people outlay a lot of money. I just got back from the Oasis in early October. Had it booked for 2 years, $5k total invested between airfare, cruise, etc. I checked as often as I could on requirements, statuses of ships, airlines. I checked my passports EVERY WEEK! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have a problem. Am I a bit neurotic? Sure, but for every person like me there appears to be 10 who don't even bother. 

 

Those arguing that this was not in the cruise contract to "require" vaccinations or any other of these testing requirements don't bother really knowing their cruise contract (which goes up to my previous point). It does, and always has, state that the terms of the contract can change pretty much on a whim and there isn't much you can do about it. Used to happen all the time with ports (no guarantee of a port, but you'd be hard pressed to NOT find a million posts complaining about "contracts" and "full cruise refunds" for port changes). 

 

Yes, a bit harsh but the rules now seem pretty consistent regarding the requirements to sail. And personally, I WON'T cruise if they remove the vaccine mandate in the next 12 months. I am sure I am among a larger majority who think the same thing (based on vaccination rates now exceeding 80% first dose of 12+ in the US). We had an incredible cruise experience (with a 6yr old unvaxxed) and are really hoping to get another in fairly soon if we can swing the time off. Added bonus is that likely our youngest will be vaccinated by the time we go again, so the experience may be even better!

Not harsh at all, IMO!  People like to pass the blame for things they could and should have known/done/researched in advance.  Stop whining or just stay home.

[nelblu]

19 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Not harsh at all, IMO!  People like to pass the blame for things they could and should have known/done/researched in advance.  Stop whining or just stay home.

Harsh/blame.  I hope you were referring to the OP and not  my post.

 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, JMKreno said:

And personally, I WON'T cruise if they remove the vaccine mandate in the next 12 months.

Oh, I haven't even thought about the possibility of the vaccines not being required in the next year, but - yes, I completely agree. 
Gosh, our elementary school is cancelling the mask mandate on Monday - 100% of kids are unvaxxed,  and I am horrified. Right in time for our cruise, dang it.

[mauimary]

Itchy…Regarding unvaxed  kids in school and no masks your kids can still protect themselves with wearing masks and hopefully this will not ostracize them.  Maybe consider buying some N95 for them.  You want to definitely look out for your own kids and Not just because they are cruising.  This horrifies me too!

[cruiselvr04]

Our daughter has continued to have her grade school kids wear masks despite the school district decision.  The kids comply.  

[Itchy&Scratchy]

23 minutes ago, mauimary said:

Itchy…Regarding unvaxed  kids in school and no masks your kids can still protect themselves with wearing masks and hopefully this will not ostracize them.  Maybe consider buying some N95 for them.  You want to definitely look out for your own kids and Not just because they are cruising.  This horrifies me too!

mine asked me to double mask him for the next three weeks! Hopefully, he can get vaxxed soon, but he'll still wear a mask. I still do, and I am fully vaxxed and getting my booster next week. And for me it's not just about cruising. 🙂

[mauimary]

4 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

mine asked me to double mask him for the next three weeks! Hopefully, he can get vaxxed soon, but he'll still wear a mask. I still do, and I am fully vaxxed and getting my booster next week. And for me it's not just about cruising. 🙂

Wow. Power to your son for his wise decision.
 

We too continue to wear masks and just got our boosters yesterday.  We have been wearing N-95 on airplanes.  We too are hoping our grandchildren can get vaccinated next week.  Their schools continue to wear masks.  

[JMKreno]

1 hour ago, nelblu said:

Harsh/blame.  I hope you were referring to the OP and not  my post.

 

I was referring to the OP and also a more general statement to those who complain about rules they "didn't know about" because they didn't bother to check (they have been pretty consistent now for a few months) for an investment costing thousands upon thousands of dollars. It's also a statement to those who "don't like the rules". I have no real issue with the "COVID rules" and I had an incredible cruise. I have a feeling the people that have "issue with the COVID rules" are people that have had a tendency in the general public to also have issues with the rules outlined by states/governments. But, that is a generalization, of course, but I have more anecdotal evidence to support that claim than I know what to do with

Edited October 29, 2021 by JMKreno

[Joseph2017China]

I read it, but what is the complaint?  Rules have been around, and this discussion has been beaten down for months and months.  Every trip I took in the last 18 months, I reviewed the covid rules before going, and before paying for it.  Some rules I did not like, but I still went, why? Because, I will not waste a year, over a virus that I have no concerns about. 

[nelblu]

1 hour ago, JMKreno said:

I was referring to the OP and also a more general statement to those who complain about rules they "didn't know about" because they didn't bother to check (they have been pretty consistent now for a few months) for an investment costing thousands upon thousands of dollars. It's also a statement to those who "don't like the rules". I have no real issue with the "COVID rules" and I had an incredible cruise. I have a feeling the people that have "issue with the COVID rules" are people that have had a tendency in the general public to also have issues with the rules outlined by states/governments. But, that is a generalization, of course, but I have more anecdotal evidence to support that claim than I know what to do with

I have no problems with the protocols.  I sailed on the first Oasis sail out of Bayonne and had a great time even with all of the strict H & S protocols.  It did not bother me that my Vaxxed card were reviewed some 5 different times before boarding or the limit of only 9 at any given time in the pools, other than the Solarium.  However, I found it a bit  annoying that since this particular sail was advertised as 100% vaxxed, other than unvaxxed children, I was stopped some 4 times to check my green wrist band.  Because it was Formal night, my long sleeve shirt was obscuring the band.  I was stopped 3 times entering/re-entering the casino and at the Adult Comedy show.  Both of these venues are strictly for adults.  Got some lame excuse.

[LGW59]

1 minute ago, nelblu said:

I have no problems with the protocols.  I sailed on the first Oasis sail out of Bayonne and had a great time even with all of the strict H & S protocols.  It did not bother me that my Vaxxed card were reviewed some 5 different times before boarding or the limit of only 9 at any given time in the pools, other than the Solarium.  However, I found it a bit  annoying that since this particular sail was advertised as 100% vaxxed, other than unvaxxed children, I was stopped some 4 times to check my green wrist band.  Because it was Formal night, my long sleeve shirt was obscuring the band.  I was stopped 3 times entering/re-entering the casino and at the Adult Comedy show.  Both of these venues are strictly for adults.  Got some lame excuse.

Oh my, the suffering...

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, nelblu said:

this particular sail was advertised as 100% vaxxed

Not sure that any sailing is advertised as such - RCI does allow some exceptions and as soon as you have one, they need to distinguish between them.

[nelblu]

7 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Oh my, the suffering...

Your insightful comments are highly welcomed.😜

[trivia addict]

First World problems. Agree with LGW59. Where is the suffering?
 

If you want  insight, I might give some.

I am grateful that myself, my family, and my friends have not been tragically affected by the virus. Even those who did get it, recovered.  
I have over 30 cruises in my past and I have missed my cruising terribly. 
But, If my first cruise in May after 3 years of not cruising, does not happen,  I will book another one and find another land vacation. 

Insight requires that you weigh what is really important in life and how you deal with setbacks.

There is much good advice here on how to get your money back or use a Credit. I hope you can take it and relax.

[cruisegirl1]

OP. I’m not sure why you think your crown and anchor status should matter. The rules are the same for all the passengers, regardless of crown and anchor status

 

m

[smokeybandit]

10 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

Gosh, our elementary school is cancelling the mask mandate on Monday - 100% of kids are unvaxxed,  and I am horrified.

My son's school has been in person full time with no mask mandate since August 2020. No issues. There are several diseases to be far more concerned with with kids like the flu and RSV.

[nelblu]

9 hours ago, trivia addict said:

First World problems. Agree with LGW59. Where is the suffering?
 

If you want  insight, I might give some.

I am grateful that myself, my family, and my friends have not been tragically affected by the virus. Even those who did get it, recovered.  
I have over 30 cruises in my past and I have missed my cruising terribly. 
But, If my first cruise in May after 3 years of not cruising, does not happen,  I will book another one and find another land vacation. 

Insight requires that you weigh what is really important in life and how you deal with setbacks.

There is much good advice here on how to get your money back or use a Credit. I hope you can take it and relax.

Good morning and thank you for your insightful comments.🙏

[deliver42]

I believe the reason for checking for bands is that if traveling with unvaxxed children, the parents are considered non vaxxed.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, deliver42 said:

I believe the reason for checking for bands is that if traveling with unvaxxed children, the parents are considered non vaxxed.

Only when physically with the children, otherwise they are like any other vaxxed customer.

[RedIguana]

8 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

There are several diseases to be far more concerned with with kids like the flu and RSV.

The families of 745,000 dead Americans may disagree with you.

[smokeybandit]

1 minute ago, RedIguana said:

The families of 745,000 dead Americans may disagree with you.

And how many of them were kids? Less than 0.1%

[nelblu]

1 hour ago, deliver42 said:

I believe the reason for checking for bands is that if traveling with unvaxxed children, the parents are considered non vaxxed.

Not if the children are not with them.

 

Sorry Biker, I did not see your response.  Don't know how to delete responses.

Edited October 30, 2021 by nelblu

[RedIguana]

Just now, smokeybandit said:

And how many of them were kids? Less than 0.1%

How many of them were from kids bringing it home? My wife caught it from the kid. The one co-worker who almost died caught it from the grandkid, still have another one out with it who caught it from the grandkids. The only teacher in my small family caught it from kids at school. It is not just about someone having a mild case, it is the overall affect of the spread.

[DMWT Cruiser]

8 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

There are several diseases to be far more concerned with with kids like the flu and RSV.

 

3 minutes ago, RedIguana said:

The families of 745,000 dead Americans may disagree with you.

 

Did you actually read why smokeybandit said?? 

 

Of 73 million children in the US, less than 700 have died from COVID according to the CDC.  Yet since the pandemic began, about 50,000 children have died from other causes.

[cruising sister]

6 minutes ago, RedIguana said:

How many of them were from kids bringing it home? My wife caught it from the kid. The one co-worker who almost died caught it from the grandkid, still have another one out with it who caught it from the grandkids. The only teacher in my small family caught it from kids at school. It is not just about someone having a mild case, it is the overall affect of the spread.

The basics of pandemics is stopping spread in all age groups. You are correct that unless we vaccinate all age groups we won’t contain this madness. That is why we get yearly flu shots. Some strains of flu affect the elderly and strains like H1N1 get the young. Viruses will mutate to find a healthy host to replicate. Viruses are way smarter than us because they don’t pick sides!