Royal Carib rolls back some mask requirements…..hope for the future of Celebrity’s requirements also loosening

[Maggie North]

Cruising in MN....https://www.celebritycruises.com/health-and-safety then look in FAQs.

 

[shipmate13]

This is such great news, being vaccinated and booster shots I am thrilled to see this news prior to our cruise February 25th. I retired today after 30 years of policing and I am so ready to celebrate.  I was willing to do whatever they asked but having this little bit of good news, makes it so much sweeter.  Now as long as the virus continues to spiral down, we should have no issues. This is the best retirement present I could ask for.   

 

[davekathy]

1 minute ago, shipmate13 said:

This is such great news, being vaccinated and booster shots I am thrilled to see this news prior to our cruise February 25th. I retired today after 30 years of policing and I am so ready to celebrate.  I was willing to do whatever they asked but having this little bit of good news, makes it so much sweeter.  Now as long as the virus continues to spiral down, we should have no issues. This is the best retirement present I could ask for.   

 

Congratulations...🍻

[HBDave]

24 minutes ago, shipmate13 said:

This is such great news, being vaccinated and booster shots I am thrilled to see this news prior to our cruise February 25th. I retired today after 30 years of policing and I am so ready to celebrate.  I was willing to do whatever they asked but having this little bit of good news, makes it so much sweeter.  Now as long as the virus continues to spiral down, we should have no issues. This is the best retirement present I could ask for.   

 

Thank you for your service!

[pumpkin 11]

I'm fine with them relaxing measures, but there are no requirements for boosters, so that muddies the water if your vaccine was taken a year ago now. 

 

[RichYak]

56 minutes ago, shipmate13 said:

I retired today after 30 years of policing

Congratulations!

[davekathy]

I'd like to see the airlines and air ports do away with the mask mandates. 

[TeeRick]

On 2/9/2022 at 10:01 PM, pumpkin 11 said:

I'm fine with them relaxing measures, but there are no requirements for boosters, so that muddies the water if your vaccine was taken a year ago now. 

 

Yes the rules of "fully vaccinated" are kind of a misnomer and confusing for those of us cruising now.  The CDC now uses that term "Up To Date" for people who had the primary vaccine series and a recommended booster.  It will be interesting to see how the cruise lines adapt to this going forward.

 

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-01-21/cdc-stands-by-up-to-date-vaccine-language-shift-as-new-data-shows-importance-of-covid-19-booster-shots

[abovethedrink]

Just attended the B2B meeting on Apex for 2/12 cruise. They announced no mask requirements in public areas. IE hallways, no enclosed areas. Still required in theater, casino, etc. Not a big difference but at least they are reviewing it often. Ann and Dennis Appel on Apex 

[cruisestitch]

No “etc.” about it.  Casino and theater and nowhere else

[kenb]

I'm guessing we still have to wear them in the terminal before embarking and disembarking?

Edited February 11, 2022 by kenb

[TeeRick]

6 minutes ago, kenb said:

I'm guessing we still have to wear them in the terminal before embarking and disembarking?

The Federal mask mandate for transportation centers (airports, bus terminals, etc.) was extended in Dec 2021 to March 18, 2022.  It is not clear (to me) how this applies to states (like FL) or to private cruise terminals, but people are acting like it does.  I would wear a mask in a terminal with a lot of people around regardless if required or not.

[kenb]

1 minute ago, TeeRick said:

The Federal mask mandate for transportation centers (airports, bus terminals, etc.) was extended in Dec 2021 to March 18, 2022.  It is not clear (to me) how this applies to states (like FL) or to private cruise terminals, but people are acting like it does.  I would wear a mask in a terminal with a lot of people around regardless if required or not.

I planned to but was just curious.

Thanks

[bEwAbG]

Until they change the quarantine requirements, I would keep a mask on when around people for a while longer.  Omicron is still more contagious than previous strains.  Mask mandates off-ship are being relaxed because politicians have decided that as long as vaccinated people are not dying of COVID anymore, it's ok to start opening things back up (I tend to agree).  But that is not the same situation as a closed ship environment where if you end up catching it for whatever reason, it's quarantine time for you.

[Jacob Cavalier]

 BeWab G

This is exactly it. It’s not so much the fear of becoming very ill with omicron on the ship. It’s now the consequences on board. The risk of being contact traced, quarantined maybe in an inside cabin, being separated from your family or the numbers getting to a level where the ship is denied entry at ports. In other words your expensive cruise being ruined. Plus the quarantine on the ship lasts the entire journey, not 5 days as on land. It’s not the same as having cold symptoms in your own house. So I will be wearing my mask to try to avoid all of the above and I’m hoping a lot of other people will too.

[lexmiller]

We are onboard the Equinox, ready to sail away from Fort Lauderdale in a few minutes, and Captain Matt just announced effective IMMEDIATELY, masks onboard are no longer mandatory EXCEPT in the casino or the theater when not actively drinking. He also announced that the crew will, after 7 weeks of not being able to get off the ship AT ALL, be able to go ashore on crew excursions. Crew has not been able to get off, none of them, at all. So this is great news for them. 
 

We are back to back-the 12 night cruise on Equinox which just ended had ZERO cases, passenger or crew, the entire cruise. And yesterday, the back to back passengers were all tested-well over 100 people and NO ONE tested positive. 

Edited February 11, 2022 by lexmiller

[deliver42]

All great news. Thanks for the info, and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[cruiseb4udie]

Just received this email from Celebrity regarding our upcoming cruise on Celebrity Apex:

 

• MASKS

Effective for all sailings departing February 12, 2022 forward, masks will not be required onboard for vaccinated guests unless attending activities in the Theatre or Casino. Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated guests, under 12 years old, at all times indoors except while eating or drinking.

• EXCURSIONS AND GOING ASHORE

As destination conditions change, you may be required to go ashore on a shore excursion provided by Celebrity Cruises. This will help to keep you safe and healthy for the rest of your vacation. Families touring with unvaccinated children may only go ashore if participating in a shore excursion with Celebrity Cruises. SEE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS BY PORT

[LGW59]

22 hours ago, Jacob Cavalier said:

 BeWab G

This is exactly it. It’s not so much the fear of becoming very ill with omicron on the ship. It’s now the consequences on board. The risk of being contact traced, quarantined maybe in an inside cabin, being separated from your family or the numbers getting to a level where the ship is denied entry at ports. In other words your expensive cruise being ruined. Plus the quarantine on the ship lasts the entire journey, not 5 days as on land. It’s not the same as having cold symptoms in your own house. So I will be wearing my mask to try to avoid all of the above and I’m hoping a lot of other people will too.

My town just a few days ago dropped the mandatory indoor mask requirement, ridiculous is the mandatory part, voluntarily, go for it.  I'm going out to meet friends for dinner locally tonight and it will feel weird to walk in and not be wearing a mask and then take it off when I sit at the bar with 20-30 of my nearest and dearest.  Horry for normal!!!!