Holland America experience with masks

[pianomanorlando]

Just got off Scarlett Lady where masks were not required at all on board (all passengers vaccinated and tested), but we were told that at any point the crew could enforce a mask policy

.  

I'm seeing some conflicting info about HA.

 

If anyone has been on a ship recently, I would love to know your experience.  Were masks required while moving around the ship?  Was it limited to crowded spaces?  Any help would be most appreciated.

[luvteaching]

We did two HAL cruises -  one in August and the other 3 weeks later in early September. Both were to Alaska. Masks were required when we were out of the cabin. At dinner we wore them into the dining room then removed them. At places like the Lincoln Center, the theater, etc. masks were required. In Alaska  the local government required mask wearing indoors and on public transportation. 

HAL provided us with masks that we found to be very comfortable. Most everyone was in compliance and we felt very safe. 

Karen

[sambamama]

I just came off the Nieuw Amsterdam 7 day Caribbean cruise. Masks were required inside except when dining. They were also required in some ports, sometimes almost the whole time. Most compliance was excellent. Some were non-compliant. Some wore them below their nose continually. Some wore them sometimes but not always. Crew and staff were excellent in compliance. 

[Brentt_M]

30 minutes ago, sambamama said:

I just came off the Nieuw Amsterdam 7 day Caribbean cruise. Masks were required inside except when dining. They were also required in some ports, sometimes almost the whole time. Most compliance was excellent. Some were non-compliant. Some wore them below their nose continually. Some wore them sometimes but not always. Crew and staff were excellent in compliance. 

Not my experience 4 weeks ago. At that time masks were only required in certain areas where signage was posted (in elevators, music venues, dinning room line, casino and a few other places and stongly recommended, but not "required" in all other inside areas.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by Brentt_M

[llgator]

10 minutes ago, Brentt_M said:

Not my experience 4 weeks ago. At that time masks we only required in certain areas where signage was posted (in elevators, music venues, dinning room line, casino and a few other places and stongly recommended, but not "required" in all other inside areas.

 

 

 

 

I wonder if it matters where you're sailing out of? No mask mandate in Florida so I wonder if that will have any effect?

[aliaschief]

Just cruised for 21 days on the MS Nieuw Amsterdam. The majority of fellow cruisers complied and wore mask while moving around the ship. Mask were removed when folks were seated having cocktails or dining. 
 

All in all the vast majority of folks complied with the ships protocols. There were a few who did not comply with protocols. We were also given three Covid Antigen test during the cruise.  The crew was very diligent on wearing mask.

 

Wearing a mask did not deter us from having a wonderful cruise experience.

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

28 minutes ago, llgator said:

I wonder if it matters where you're sailing out of? No mask mandate in Florida so I wonder if that will have any effect?

HAL wasn't sailing out of Florida 4 weeks ago. They just arrived in Florida two days ago.

[llgator]

50 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

HAL wasn't sailing out of Florida 4 weeks ago. They just arrived in Florida two days ago.

Yes. That's why I was wondering.  Because we are sailing out of Florida on the 10th 

[MisterBill99]

4 hours ago, pianomanorlando said:

Just got off Scarlett Lady where masks were not required at all on board (all passengers vaccinated and tested), but we were told that at any point the crew could enforce a mask policy

 

Did they test you prior to boarding? I was on Crystal out of Nassau a couple of weeks ago, and we did not have to mask on the ship, but we were tested immediately before boarding. We were also tested a day before we disembarked, but that was so we could fly back to the US. Passengers who boarded in Miami did not have to test before leaving, but they did have to test before boarding.

 

I have a mixed opinion on masking on cruises. We were on Royal in September and had to mask in most places, unless it was a fully vaccinated area like a bar, and didn't really mind it. But I really enjoyed not having to mask on Crystal. Maybe HAL is requiring it because they are not testing immediately prior to boarding, even though you do need to two days before? And for the record, I still wear a mask when I go into stores at home.

Edited October 31, 2021 by MisterBill99

[aliaschief]

Hal was requiring a negative Covid antigen  test 48 hours prior to embarkation and like I mentioned before we had three other Covid test on-board during our 21 day cruise.

[Cruising-along]

17 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

Maybe HAL is requiring it because they are not testing immediately prior to boarding, even though you do need to two days before?

But in Europe they are testing immediately prior to boarding, and masks are required as on all their sailings. 

[MisterBill99]

5 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

But in Europe they are testing immediately prior to boarding, and masks are required as on all their sailings. 

 

There goes that theory :).

[MisterBill99]

7 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

Hal was requiring a negative Covid antigen  test 48 hours prior to embarkation and like I mentioned before we had three other Covid test on-board during our 21 day cruise.

 

Are the in-cruise tests being done on all sailings?

[aliaschief]

5 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

Are the in-cruise tests being done on all sailings?

To early to say. Will have to hear about future cruises.

[highland cruiser]

On the Eurodam in September we were needed proof of vaccine and negative test before boarding plane to Italy.  We were tested before boarding the ship,  once during the cruise, and again before disembarking so we could fly back to the US.  Masks were worn in all areas of the ship except when eating or drinking.  It didn't bother us at all to wear masks and most people complied. Crew was always masked...even crew members doing maintenance on outside decks. If  someone showed up without a mask going into the dining room or Lido they were handed one by the hostess/host standing by the doors.  Random temperatures were also taken outside the Lido.  I actually felt safer on the ship for 24 days than I do when I am out and about here at home.  

Not sure how long mask mandates will last.  Only time will tell.  It was just awesome to be back on a ship.  

[VMax1700]

10 hours ago, highland cruiser said:

On the Eurodam in September we were needed proof of vaccine and negative test before boarding plane to Italy.  We were tested before boarding the ship,  once during the cruise, and again before disembarking so we could fly back to the US.  Masks were worn in all areas of the ship except when eating or drinking.  It didn't bother us at all to wear masks and most people complied. Crew was always masked...even crew members doing maintenance on outside decks. If  someone showed up without a mask going into the dining room or Lido they were handed one by the hostess/host standing by the doors.  Random temperatures were also taken outside the Lido.  I actually felt safer on the ship for 24 days than I do when I am out and about here at home.  

Not sure how long mask mandates will last.  Only time will tell.  It was just awesome to be back on a ship.  

Completely agree with this. We were also on Eurodam from October 6th - 18th.  Compliance was almost 100% but the cruise enjoyment level was 200%.  If we were eating in Lido and moved from our table with masking (accidently) it was quickly pointed out to us that we had forgotten them.  Felt very safe thanks to fellow cruisers who complied with  protocols for the safety of all.

[Vict0riann]

I agree, too.  In fact, I don't know know if I will cruise again unless they continue with the mask and vaccination and testing mandates!

[sambamama]

The Nieuw Amsterdam sailed out of Fort Lauderdale Oct. 23. We were told to wear masks everywhere inside, so yes, you wore it into the Lido or dining room and then removed it. You wore it in the casino unless you were drinking. I'd say 90% complied. Maybe 5% were minor errors of forgetting a mask, but there were people not wearing masks in the casino, in the halls, and in the venues and I never saw anyone on the ship enforce it. Off the ship, in FL and the ports, yes, it was enforced. But I also felt very safe. 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

On the Eurodam right now and masks are being worn everywhere except eating, etc. and near the pool. Wearing them has become so natural I sometimes forget to take mine off when I reach the cabin.

 

[nooligans]

9 hours ago, sambamama said:

The Nieuw Amsterdam sailed out of Fort Lauderdale Oct. 23. We were told to wear masks everywhere inside, so yes, you wore it into the Lido or dining room and then removed it. You wore it in the casino unless you were drinking. I'd say 90% complied. Maybe 5% were minor errors of forgetting a mask, but there were people not wearing masks in the casino, in the halls, and in the venues and I never saw anyone on the ship enforce it. Off the ship, in FL and the ports, yes, it was enforced. But I also felt very safe. 

I’m curious who told you to wear masks everywhere - this goes against HAL’s written policy. Was there new guidelines posted on the ship?

[VMax1700]

55 minutes ago, nooligans said:

this goes against HAL’s written policy.

No it doesn't, it reflects HAL's current policy.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

[sambamama]

Not everywhere- not by the pools or outside. Although one person at Guest Services told me to wear one by the pool, but  I interpreted the rules differently. 

[nooligans]

4 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

No it doesn't, it reflects HAL's current policy.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

I guess it depends on how you interpret “designated indoor areas”. Hallways had no signs about wearing masks and many of the bars had no signs designating masks

[VMax1700]

5 minutes ago, nooligans said:

I guess it depends on how you interpret “designated indoor areas”. Hallways had no signs about wearing masks and many of the bars had no signs designating masks

Wanting to safeguard the health of my fellow cruiser, I interpreted mask requirements as anywhere or anytime I wasn't eating or drinking.

[nooligans]

4 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Wanting to safeguard the health of my fellow cruiser, I interpreted mask requirements as anywhere or anytime I wasn't eating or drinking.

I commend you for your interpretation! But my question referred to the actual wording of the HAL policy, which can lead to interpretations different from yours.