Is SIP and COVER the rule for Princess?

[MissP22]

7 hours ago, sandsunsurf said:

This is how it is in most casinos in Nevada right now (shows = sip and cover, seated at bar/restaurant = take off mask until finished),

I'd say this protocol increased alcohol sales by at least 50%. 😁

[coo359a2]

15 hours ago, smbt1 said:

It changed in the middle of December when Omicron cases started showing up on ships.

We were notified on  the Enchanted Princess  on 19 Dec of the change to sip and cover and wearing masks outside if you couldn’t social distance 

[sassycruiser]

Currently on Sky Princess. Sip and cover is the sign posted at the entrance to all lounges, dining rooms, etc.   We wear our mask until we sit down and then take it off.  Have had no issues whatsoever.   I have been asked twice in a week to put a mask on (asked nicely) and it was completely my fault.   Got up from dinner and totally forgot to put my mask back on.  

[Dock B]

2 hours ago, sassycruiser said:

Currently on Sky Princess. Sip and cover is the sign posted at the entrance to all lounges, dining rooms, etc.   We wear our mask until we sit down and then take it off.  Have had no issues whatsoever.   I have been asked twice in a week to put a mask on (asked nicely) and it was completely my fault.   Got up from dinner and totally forgot to put my mask back on.  

Thank you for this update; we’ll be aboard on 2/5 so it’s good to know what to expect.

 

If you don’t mind answering an off-topic question please: which deck did you board the ship at embarkation? Thank you so much for your time!! Enjoy the rest of your cruise!!

[caribill]

5 hours ago, rj59 said:

 It's really difficult for them to have something like Princess Plus and to require lots of drink sales in order to be profitable, so if they enforce something like sip and cover (except in very crowded, enclosed venues), they would drive people away and people like me would simply stop ordering drinks if I couldn't take off my mask to drink.

 

Actually, with PrincessPlus you have already pre-paid for drinks whether you order them or not.

 

So if wearing masks make people not order as many drinks, then Princess saves money by not having to deliver already paid for beverages.

[MissP22]

8 hours ago, rj59 said:

It's really difficult for them to have something like Princess Plus and to require lots of drink sales in order to be profitable, so if they enforce something like sip and cover (except in very crowded, enclosed venues), they would drive people away and people like me would simply stop ordering drinks if I couldn't take off my mask to drink.

I think that might be true if people were paying for each individual drink but when they've already been paid for (in a sense) it might make people order even more of their allowance in order just to have a drink in their hand & not have a mask on.

I know I'll be sipping my drinks throughout the show in the theater & might even bring something to eat. 😄 

[coo359a2]

7 minutes ago, RNRcruisers said:

 

Earlier this month on the Regal most were wearing masks in the theater and Princess Live, I would guess 90%. They also blocked off the front few rows in the theater, I'm sure for just the reason you gave above.

 

I really don't get all this angst over masks. It wasn't difficult at all and there were plenty of places where you didn't have to wear them.

 

Agree with you. Glad front rows were blocked in theater. With no masks at front no wonder production shows might have problems. Sure sneezing and coughing goes on there the same as throughout the theater

[awhcruiser]

1 hour ago, RNRcruisers said:

 

 

I really don't get all this angst over masks. It wasn't difficult at all and there were plenty of places where you didn't have to wear them.

 

I would much rather wear a mask then sit at home.  

[suzyed]

2 minutes ago, awhcruiser said:

I would much rather wear a mask then sit at home.  

Which is why we sailed on the Sky for New Years!

[awhcruiser]

Just now, suzyed said:

Which is why we sailed on the Sky for New Years!

Good on you!

[HaveDogWillTravel]

Masking ( and all covid protocols) can change so fast that unless you are currently sailing any information about what happened is already old news & out of date. 

 

With that understanding I’ll share what happened on the Ruby Jan 6 -16, 2022. As history can be interesting. The crew and entertainers were cycling in and out of isolation constantly either due to a positive test or by being a close contact of a positive case (they are tested, isolated for 24 hours, tested and released if negative). It makes scheduling and staffing challenging to say the least. 

 

For examples, my favorite Club Class waiter came out of isolation on the 5th day of my cruise, the band Grace’s secret came out in dribs and drabs….one person…then a few days in 2 more ….and finally after another couple of days all 5 were back. However almost immediately one had to leave Grace’s Secret for the rest of the cruise and cover for someone in the Princess band in the theater so the headliners could have a full band.  Our CD went into isolation mid cruise and the ED took over. It was definitely crazy! 

 

The crew is tested anywhere from every 2-7 days. On the Jan 6 sailing it was every 2 days for many I spoke to.  

 

Can you imagine doing that?  

 

Can you imagine having to wear a 94 mask for a 10 hour shift with only short breaks?  

 

The more selfish you are about not masking translates at a bare minimum to the crew having to get tested more often as cases rise. And could, at the worst, lead to cancellations and/or another pause like RCI, NCL and others with lax masking compliance. The fact that they’ve had to do that and Princess hasn’t does strongly suggest that what Princess is doing works better. 

 

It is especially important to mask up when enjoying live singers and bands who can’t mask. Even while dancing. Yes it can be done. It is simply rude and so incredibly disrespectful to the performers to do otherwise. 

 

What I’ve noticed on each successive sailing I’ve taken since the restart is that more and more people are masking up. More and more are wearing 94’s or 95’s. More and more are even wearing masks outside.  

 

Crew have always worn masks since the restart (however they started in cloth masks & quickly moved to 94’s & 95’s) 

 

But the rules and passenger compliance rate has changed in my experience. I don’t remember how the wording changed over this period for masking so I’m leaving that out.  Remember this is just what I saw while sailing. 

 

July 25th Majestic no masks required almost none worn. We partied like it was 1999 lol. 

 

Oct 27 Grand     masks required, mostly cloth masks, almost no masks outside, no masks while seated, none worn while dancing 

 

Nov 22 Ruby     masks required, still a lot of cloth cloth masks but more 94’s, some masks while dancing but often times none, sip and cover compliance in venues like theater & explorers was spotty-sometimes high sometimes lower

 

Nov 27 Ruby. Very similar to the previous sailing but even higher compliance of wearing masks while moving around indoors everywhere (even hallways on passenger decks) and while in venues watching shows. We still sat at the bars, in the piazza, at vines & good spirits maskless while seated. 

 

Jan 6 Ruby      a very big noticeable increase in the number of surgical masks, 94’s & 95’s.  All but 2 oddballs stayed masked while dancing in front of Graces Secret and in the disco during the times I was dancing. Very respectful as she just came out of isolation.  Much higher compliance with sip and cover in explorers and the theater. Those that broke the rules were by far outnumbered by those who complied. Even while sitting in the piazza, vines, good spirits or crooners (but not at the bar itself) very high compliance with sip and cover. However we could still pull up a bar stool at any of these bars and take off our masks. Even outside I was surprised by how many people chose to stay masked while walking and sitting. Even though it wasn’t required if physically distanced. 

 

When I board on Monday for the Jan 31 sailing on Ruby I’ll expect things to be different again. Maybe no barstools? Maybe sip and cover at the bar? IDK and IDC. 

 

Respect the crew and wear your mask. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by HaveDogWillTravel

[kamelia]

On both Emerald Princess 12/9-12/19/21 and Enchanted Princess 12/20-12/30/21, prior to onboard activities and events, the cruise staff person hosting would start off with a kind reminder that this was a sip-and-cover venue, and it would be greatly appreciated if everyone could remember to replace their masks after sipping or taking a bite.  Before shows in Princess Theatre, same type of message was broadcast about 5 minutes before the houselights went down.  The vast majority of passengers I saw were very good about abiding by the sip-and-cover policy.

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, kamelia said:

On both Emerald Princess 12/9-12/19/21 and Enchanted Princess 12/20-12/30/21, prior to onboard activities and events, the cruise staff person hosting would start off with a kind reminder that this was a sip-and-cover venue, and it would be greatly appreciated if everyone could remember to replace their masks after sipping or taking a bite.  Before shows in Princess Theatre, same type of message was broadcast about 5 minutes before the houselights went down.  The vast majority of passengers I saw were very good about abiding by the sip-and-cover policy.

Obviously they must have been considerable numbers of people not abiding so they felt it necessary to make announcements. 

[suzyed]

1 hour ago, kamelia said:

On both Emerald Princess 12/9-12/19/21 and Enchanted Princess 12/20-12/30/21, prior to onboard activities and events, the cruise staff person hosting would start off with a kind reminder that this was a sip-and-cover venue, and it would be greatly appreciated if everyone could remember to replace their masks after sipping or taking a bite.  Before shows in Princess Theatre, same type of message was broadcast about 5 minutes before the houselights went down.  The vast majority of passengers I saw were very good about abiding by the sip-and-cover policy.

Same on the Sky 12/28/21

[kamelia]

11 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

Obviously they must have been considerable numbers of people not abiding so they felt it necessary to make announcements. 

Actually, more like speed limit signs being posted at intervals along the highway - just gentle reminders, there's no connection at all to whether people are speeding or not.

[smbt1]

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

Obviously they must have been considerable numbers of people not abiding so they felt it necessary to make announcements. 

Probably not.  On Grand there has been good compliance, and they have made the same announcement at the start of each activity.  In the main theater it is part of the recorded announcement, just like no saving of seats used to be.

[sassycruiser]

22 hours ago, Dock B said:

Thank you for this update; we’ll be aboard on 2/5 so it’s good to know what to expect.

 

If you don’t mind answering an off-topic question please: which deck did you board the ship at embarkation? Thank you so much for your time!! Enjoy the rest of your cruise!!

We think we embarked on Deck 5.   

[Ellaleah]

13 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Masking ( and all covid protocols) can change so fast that unless you are currently sailing any information about what happened is already old news & out of date. 

 

With that understanding I’ll share what happened on the Ruby Jan 6 -16, 2022. As history can be interesting. The crew and entertainers were cycling in and out of isolation constantly either due to a positive test or by being a close contact of a positive case (they are tested, isolated for 24 hours, tested and released if negative). It makes scheduling and staffing challenging to say the least. 

 

For examples, my favorite Club Class waiter came out of isolation on the 5th day of my cruise, the band Grace’s secret came out in dribs and drabs….one person…then a few days in 2 more ….and finally after another couple of days all 5 were back. However almost immediately one had to leave Grace’s Secret for the rest of the cruise and cover for someone in the Princess band in the theater so the headliners could have a full band.  Our CD went into isolation mid cruise and the ED took over. It was definitely crazy! 

 

The crew is tested anywhere from every 2-7 days. On the Jan 6 sailing it was every 2 days for many I spoke to.  

 

Can you imagine doing that?  

 

Can you imagine having to wear a 94 mask for a 10 hour shift with only short breaks?  

 

The more selfish you are about not masking translates at a bare minimum to the crew having to get tested more often as cases rise. And could, at the worst, lead to cancellations and/or another pause like RCI, NCL and others with lax masking compliance. The fact that they’ve had to do that and Princess hasn’t does strongly suggest that what Princess is doing works better. 

 

It is especially important to mask up when enjoying live singers and bands who can’t mask. Even while dancing. Yes it can be done. It is simply rude and so incredibly disrespectful to the performers to do otherwise. 

 

What I’ve noticed on each successive sailing I’ve taken since the restart is that more and more people are masking up. More and more are wearing 94’s or 95’s. More and more are even wearing masks outside.  

 

Crew have always worn masks since the restart (however they started in cloth masks & quickly moved to 94’s & 95’s) 

 

But the rules and passenger compliance rate has changed in my experience. I don’t remember how the wording changed over this period for masking so I’m leaving that out.  Remember this is just what I saw while sailing. 

 

July 25th Majestic no masks required almost none worn. We partied like it was 1999 lol. 

 

Oct 27 Grand     masks required, mostly cloth masks, almost no masks outside, no masks while seated, none worn while dancing 

 

Nov 22 Ruby     masks required, still a lot of cloth cloth masks but more 94’s, some masks while dancing but often times none, sip and cover compliance in venues like theater & explorers was spotty-sometimes high sometimes lower

 

Nov 27 Ruby. Very similar to the previous sailing but even higher compliance of wearing masks while moving around indoors everywhere (even hallways on passenger decks) and while in venues watching shows. We still sat at the bars, in the piazza, at vines & good spirits maskless while seated. 

 

Jan 6 Ruby      a very big noticeable increase in the number of surgical masks, 94’s & 95’s.  All but 2 oddballs stayed masked while dancing in front of Graces Secret and in the disco during the times I was dancing. Very respectful as she just came out of isolation.  Much higher compliance with sip and cover in explorers and the theater. Those that broke the rules were by far outnumbered by those who complied. Even while sitting in the piazza, vines, good spirits or crooners (but not at the bar itself) very high compliance with sip and cover. However we could still pull up a bar stool at any of these bars and take off our masks. Even outside I was surprised by how many people chose to stay masked while walking and sitting. Even though it wasn’t required if physically distanced. 

 

When I board on Monday for the Jan 31 sailing on Ruby I’ll expect things to be different again. Maybe no barstools? Maybe sip and cover at the bar? IDK and IDC. 

 

Respect the crew and wear your mask. 

I am on the Ruby now.  I will depart on 1/31 just before you embark.  I agree with pretty much all that you wrote.  It was rare to see a passenger without a mask up until today when we attended a trivia and I saw 4 men sitting maskless.  We were always allowed to sit at bars.  It was sip and over, but it really evolved into “if you were seated in the dining room or a bar and had a drink or food” people left the mask off until they had no rational to unmask.  I felt very safe.  All seemed respectful.  It may have been my best cruise of my 10 as we had great food, entertainment, and customer service.  Hopefully, I will not ever have the opportunity to cruise again with45% occupancy.  It was unique.  The employees were outstanding and all seemed truly happy to be back.

[vjmatty]

11 hours ago, jwattle said:

The proper way to take off any mask, and what makes it safe for sip and cover, is to handle it by the straps.

One strap I think is better so it hangs from one ear and you only have to keep messing with long hair, earrings, glasses or headphones on one side instead of two. Otherwise you have to take it completely off and put it on the table, which is gross. 

[MissP22]

14 hours ago, smbt1 said:

Probably not.  On Grand there has been good compliance, and they have made the same announcement at the start of each activity.  In the main theater it is part of the recorded announcement, just like no saving of seats used to be.

It's just another canned announcement that are only heard by those who want to comply. 

[suzyed]

14 hours ago, Ellaleah said:

I am on the Ruby now.  I will depart on 1/31 just before you embark.  I agree with pretty much all that you wrote.  It was rare to see a passenger without a mask up until today when we attended a trivia and I saw 4 men sitting maskless.  We were always allowed to sit at bars.  It was sip and over, but it really evolved into “if you were seated in the dining room or a bar and had a drink or food” people left the mask off until they had no rational to unmask.  I felt very safe.  All seemed respectful.  It may have been my best cruise of my 10 as we had great food, entertainment, and customer service.  Hopefully, I will not ever have the opportunity to cruise again with45% occupancy.  It was unique.  The employees were outstanding and all seemed truly happy to be back.

Pretty much the same on our last sailing.

[Coral]

9 hours ago, MissP22 said:

It's just another canned announcement that are only heard by those who want to comply. 

It is meant for everyone.

[coo359a2]

13 minutes ago, Coral said:

It is meant for everyone.

It is a shame that some believe “everyone” doesn’t include them

[smbt1]

On Grand Captains Circle party is Sip and Cover. Ships officer announced when some people started to leave masks off.

[Steelers36]

41 minutes ago, smbt1 said:

On Grand Captains Circle party is Sip and Cover. Ships officer announced when some people started to leave masks off.

A bunch of people in the room.  All standing around with a drink - some sitting I suppose.  At any one point, probably half or so in the process of drinking and maybe half covering/uncovering.  And so forth, so still lots of people uncovered.  What's the point? 

 

I'd probably just grab my free drink and leave.  

Edited January 30, 2022 by Steelers36