New Mask Protocols

[sandebeach]

Just now, Rosy Season said:

Nothing for us yet.  Still pending.

Congrats!!  Which ship?

Allure!

[Rosy Season]

Just now, sandebeach said:

Allure!

Nice!!!!

[CruisingSince1982]

Just cancelled our NYE cruise. 

[Ocean Boy]

14 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

Allure!

That is my January ship.

[dsvd79]

7 minutes ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

Just cancelled our NYE cruise. 

The mask protocol doesn't start until sailings after Jan 5.  You will be fine...

[CruisingSince1982]

Just now, dsvd79 said:

The mask protocol doesn't start until sailings after Jan 5.  You will be fine...

 

It is effective immediately and will be reevaluated on January 5th. 

[CruisingSince1982]

Effective immediately. You should see the facebook posts from a person currently on the Freedom. They are making them pull their mask down when they sip their beverage, then put it right back up. Ridiculous. 

[time4u2go]

4 hours ago, sandebeach said:

I am not happy. 

Updated mask protocols for departures through January 5, 2022

With the recent uptick of COVID-19 in the world and added Omicron variant concerns, we feel it prudent to temporarily tighten our onboard health protocols to require masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking. This new update also applies to vaccinated areas and venues.

We're sorry for any disappointment that this may cause, but hope you understand that health and safety come first. Despite the new requirement, we know you will still have a great time onboard.

For full protocol details, please click here. As always, health and safety protocols are subject to change.

If you have questions about these protocols, please reference our FAQs for details or contact us at 1 (866) 562-7625 or 541-285-9150 for assistance. If you prefer to not sail as a result of this change or would like to reschedule your cruise, we are glad to assist. Looking forward to seeing you onboard!

Doesn't bother me at all.  I've gotten used to wearing a mask.

[Presbycruiser67]

I think this is really dumb, but since I am traveling with my still unvaccinated 11 year old daughter, it does not really impact my experience much.  We are traveling.on Mariner of the Seas on Jan 6.

 

I am glad the cruise lines are still operating, but I am.heartily sick of the panic and control freak behavior of the government.

[Fredric22]

57 minutes ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

Effective immediately. You should see the facebook posts from a person currently on the Freedom. They are making them pull their mask down when they sip their beverage, then put it right back up. Ridiculous. 

 

Putting the mask on in between bites and sips is absolutely where I draw the line.  If I cannot go into a lounge, sit down at a table with a drink and remove my mask, I am NOT interested.  This isn't an airplane! I truly hope RCL is not enforcing their mas rule like this. What's next, wearing the mask while seated at dinner too?  This has to stop... 

[Slidell_Cruiser]

34 minutes ago, Rosy Season said:

This thread isn't about if you agree with it or not. It's about complying with it or not.  Either wear the mask or don't cruise...laugh at home if you like.

You can OBEY, no problem, your free will…..my money is going-toward another MASKLESS, FLA…vacation….the panhandle this time….while I laugh at people with masks dropping them down quickly to eat or drink then have to immediately  put them back….very sanitary……..being enforced now on the Freedom of the Seas….

Stay Safe

[disneyfan1313]

Not even remotely a big deal to wear your mask in a few more venues than you were before.  It’s bizarre to me that this would upset someone or disrupt their plans.  You still get to cruise during a pandemic - you may have to make a few adjustments as things change in the world - just like we all have been doing since the beginning of all of this.  

Edited December 18, 2021 by disneyfan1313

[Rosy Season]

11 minutes ago, Slidell_Cruiser said:

You can OBEY, no problem, your free will…..my money is going-toward another MASKLESS, FLA…vacation….the panhandle this time….while I laugh at people with masks dropping them down quickly to eat or drink then have to immediately  put them back….very sanitary……..being enforced now on the Freedom of the Seas….

Stay Safe

And that's your prerogative.  We'll have fun on RCCL!  Toodles 🙂

[ONECRUISER]

30 minutes ago, Fredric22 said:

 

Putting the mask on in between bites and sips is absolutely where I draw the line.  If I cannot go into a lounge, sit down at a table with a drink and remove my mask, I am NOT interested.  This isn't an airplane! I truly hope RCL is not enforcing their mas rule like this. What's next, wearing the mask while seated at dinner too?  This has to stop... 

Yeah, Agree. Been on Airplanes couple dozen times since March2020. At first was no masking on Flights through July then had to wear one in August no issue when one Airline last Fall was trying to require that take a bite and chew with Mask on. Nope! Hard enough and get food/smells on the Mask. 

Edited December 18, 2021 by ONECRUISER

[disneyfan1313]

3 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Yeah, Agree. Been on Airplanes couple dozen times since March2020. At first was no masking on Flights through July then had to wear one in August no issue when one Airline last Fall was trying to require that take a bite and chew with Mask on. Nope! Hard enough and get food/smells on the Mask. 

It really is interesting the different ways folks have experienced the pandemic and what precautions they have taken.  I’ve flown quite a bit since this all started and I’ve always put my mask back on to chew. The goal of wearing a mask is to reduce risk - why would I keep it off longer than I have to in a higher risk environment ?  Things like this are only a big deal if you make it a big deal.  

[rbell]

49 minutes ago, Slidell_Cruiser said:

You can OBEY, no problem, your free will…..my money is going-toward another MASKLESS, FLA…vacation….the panhandle this time….while I laugh at people with masks dropping them down quickly to eat or drink then have to immediately  put them back….very sanitary……..being enforced now on the Freedom of the Seas….

Stay Safe

Great, one more down.How many can we get to by midnight?

[mek]

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Monday here in NY masks must be worn in any indoor venue that doesn't check vaccine cards. This means supermarkets, drug stores, department stores.  I will be the guy who is wearing the mask in the car while driving because I don't want to keep taking it off only to be putting it back on.  I guess my cruising days are over for a while because I'm not about to wear a mask on vacation. I would rather stay home and breath freely. It's getting harder and harder to wear the mask at work with the forced hot air system. My sinuses are dried out.

I'm so glad that last Monday I rescheduled my 1/23/22 Oasis cruise to October, 2022.  Who knows what cruising will be like by then, but I do know I don't have to deal with everything going on right now.

 

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, disneyfan1313 said:

Not even remotely a big deal to wear your mask in a few more venues than you were before.  It’s bizarre to me that this would upset someone or disrupt their plans.  You still get to cruise during a pandemic - you may have to make a few adjustments as things change in the world - just like we all have been doing since the beginning of all of this.  

I have been on 5 cruises this year and had a great time on every one. However, I don’t see the appeal of keeping a mask on between bites when eating or between sips when drinking. That will keep me from cruising. 

[exm]

Seems the same as when I sailed on the 8/21 Adventure.

[scotty22]

I am ready to mask-up and board Symphony for New Year's.  Been almost 2 years and gotta get back out there.  Maybe this will reduce passenger count to under 4000???

[blueslily]

6 hours ago, scotty22 said:

I am ready to mask-up and board Symphony for New Year's.  Been almost 2 years and gotta get back out there.  Maybe this will reduce passenger count to under 4000???

 

Morning, Interesting thread. Have not read all 6 pages of I'm sure lots of back and forth. Not sure why people argue with strangers on the internet. It's such a waste of time. I'm just stopping by to share that this morning we are departing the Symphony of the Seas. Had a great time on her December 11 sailing. I had no issue wearing a mask based on their protocols which sounds like they will strengthen them for the next sailing. This is my first sailing since the restart. Initially, when I looked into booking a cruise a few weeks ago, I wanted to sail in February for my birthday, but chose to go now when passenger counts were lower since they are rising. I wanted to see what cruising is like with fewer people on board (should have sailed in October).  As I glanced some of the responses on pages 1 and 2, sounds like some folks are not happy with the enhanced mask protocols and mentioned cancelling their cruises. This is actually nice to hear. So, maybe others will follow through and passenger counts will reduce again which is fine with me. We had 4,003 on this sailing. I would gladly sail on Symphony again with even lower counts. Masks didnt mess up my vacation at all. Its nice having fewer people on board. (3,000 would be even better but I was content with 4,099) When I get home, I will book my birthday cruise. Woohoo! 

[niksmom630]

I suspect we will need to hear from those onboard following this change to understand what it really means. I have sailed twice since the restart and found the masking protocols reasonable. There were certainly enough areas where masks were optional for those fully vaccinated. (Solarium, casino, some bars, etc. ) 
 

However, adopting the same protocols as public transportation and airports for all indoor venues does not sound like a vacation I want to take. It’s one thing to wear masks  entering a venue until you seated, vs constant wearing and removal between “sips or bites”. 
 

 

 

 

[bajathree]

I am just off the Allure a week ago today and am honestly not surprised to hear the changes to policy. The masking policy onboard made no sense to me at all. You had to wear a mask while walking around indoors such as the royal promenade where you could easily social distance and stay 6' or more away from anyone passing due to decreased capacity.....BUT in the casino where you are packed in like sardines shoulder to shoulder not being able to walk through without brushing into people you had no mask requirments....it made absolutely no sense at all. I said all week....if you were going to catch something it would be from hanging out in the casino where everyone is touching everything and absolutely no social distancing or masking....not by simply walking through the ship masked.

[Fredric22]

Has anyone actually confirmed that the new policy is "sip and cover" in all lounges/bars?  If so that would be an issue.  Was just on MSC and masks are required in all indoor areas until you are seated and then you were free to remove it to enjoy your beverage without worrying about putting it back on between each individual sip. 

[RedIguana]

2 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

It’s one thing to wear masks  entering a venue until you seated, vs constant wearing and removal between “sips or bites”.

The constant wearing and removing between sips and bites was found out to be completely false the last time this came up x number of months ago. Until I see something from the cruise lines verifying they want you to wear your mask between sips and bites, I will believe the same protocols on sitting down to dinner are in effect now, since the language is exactly the same.