Requesting information

[dan722]

Being fully aware of cruise critics recent decision to prevent people from posting opinionated comments regarding Covid 19, I would like to ask the following questions.

1. What is the current status as you know it on any celebrity cruise ship that you have or are sailing regarding coronavirus?

2. Can you describe what the cruise ambience is like regarding distancing and mask wearing?

3. Do you have any hesitation about doing usual cruise activities?

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated. Please do not criticize anyone or give any information that is less than factual.
In March we are hoping to take a cruise to the ABCs that was originally scheduled March 2020. I really want to take this cruise but also have an idea of
the possible risks or lack thereof.

Thanks in advance.

[cruisestitch]

8 minutes ago, dan722 said:

Being fully aware of cruise critics recent decision to prevent people from posting opinionated comments regarding Covid 19, I would like to ask the following questions.

1. What is the current status as you know it on any celebrity cruise ship that you have or are sailing regarding coronavirus?

Reflection—one positive case this cruise

2. Can you describe what the cruise ambience is like regarding distancing and mask wearing?

 

With 1/3 the normal number of passengers  it’s very easy to stay far apart from each other. Mask wearing will go away outside of casino and theater  as of tomorrow so that part is mostly moot

3. Do you have any hesitation about doing usual cruise activities?

 

no

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated. Please do not criticize anyone or give any information that is less than factual.
In March we are hoping to take a cruise to the ABCs that was originally scheduled March 2020. I really want to take this cruise but also have an idea of
the possible risks or lack thereof.

Thanks in advance.

 

Edited February 11, 2022 by cruisestitch

[JamieLogical]

16 minutes ago, dan722 said:

Being fully aware of cruise critics recent decision to prevent people from posting opinionated comments regarding Covid 19, I would like to ask the following questions.

1. What is the current status as you know it on any celebrity cruise ship that you have or are sailing regarding coronavirus?

2. Can you describe what the cruise ambience is like regarding distancing and mask wearing?

3. Do you have any hesitation about doing usual cruise activities?

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated. Please do not criticize anyone or give any information that is less than factual.
In March we are hoping to take a cruise to the ABCs that was originally scheduled March 2020. I really want to take this cruise but also have an idea of
the possible risks or lack thereof.

Thanks in advance.

 

I am not onboard right now, but was onboard the Equinox from 1/21 to 1/30 to the ABCs. We were initially told that Celebrity booked excursions would be required to get off the ship at all three islands, but it ended up only being required for Bonaire. It is my understanding that it is no longer required for any of the islands.

 

We also had a mask requirement onboard. Passengers adhered to it pretty well and we found it to be no big deal to adhere to it ourselves, but masks will no longer be required on Celebrity as of February 12.

 

The passenger count on our sailing was extremely low. We sailed with 1019 passengers onboard, which means there were actually more crew than passengers! So social distancing was very easy to maintain the vast majority of the time.

 

On our 9-day sailing we had one passenger test positive fairly early on in the cruise and their spouse tested positive a couple of days later. On the last day of the sailing, those who were doing B2Bs got tested and one more passenger tested positive at that time. We were also informed that all crew were tested on the last day and several of them tested positive, putting the total positivity rate for the ship over 1%.

 

We genuinely felt safe the whole time. It was easy to be careful when we wanted to be. I am sailing again on March 19 and I am slightly apprehensive about the mask requirement being dropped, but I will just wear my KN95 in situations where I feel it may be required for me to feel safe/comfortable.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that staff are still serving the food in the buffet. It is not self-service.

[dan722]

Thanks for that information. Hoping fora similar cruise.

 

More responses

[canderson]

@dan722

We have had and continue to have several 'live' threads here that describe what you want to know in detail.  Recommended reading.

 

[graphicguy]

OP....

 

1.  This was taken from Celebrity's WEB site...

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/health-and-safety

 

2.  Sailed in July, at the start up.  So, the requirements were quite new and they were seeing how it all worked out.  Most self serve areas (i.e. Buffet) are no longer self serve.  Crew is serving.  Personally, I liked that change.  Other than that, our sailing(s) embarked about 40% capacity.  That number has fluctuated probably 5% up or down, generally speaking. So, distancing really wasn't a "thing".  Plenty of room for everyone to spread out.  The "Silent Disco" was probably the exception, but was fun and no one that I am aware of contracted anything.  Thinking the curtailed capacity is going to end sooner than later.  So, enjoy the limited capacity sailings while you can.  

 

3.  No issues  or hesitations doing anything on board or on shore.

[dan722]

yes, I have seen several, mostly a while ago.  Hoping for some more recent information, but anything is helpful.

[dan722]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

OP....

 

1.  This was taken from Celebrity's WEB site...

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/health-and-safety

 

2.  Sailed in July, at the start up.  So, the requirements were quite new and they were seeing how it all worked out.  Most self serve areas (i.e. Buffet) are no longer self serve.  Crew is serving.  Personally, I liked that change.  Other than that, our sailing(s) embarked about 40% capacity.  That number has fluctuated probably 5% up or down, generally speaking. So, distancing really wasn't a "thing".  Plenty of room for everyone to spread out.  The "Silent Disco" was probably the exception, but was fun and no one that I am aware of contracted anything.  Thinking the curtailed capacity is going to end sooner than later.  So, enjoy the limited capacity sailings while you can.  

 

3.  No issues  or hesitations doing anything on board or on shore.

Thanks for that information! I'm hoping for a small crowd in our sailing also.

[canderson]

@dan722

I noticed that you asked the following in another post:

 

"Have you been able to get off the ship and wander around the city?

We will be sailing in March and wondering what to expect."

 

Under current circumstances, and although March seems very soon to you, it's a long way off in terms of what may or may not be happening then with regard to specific ports.  All here are advised to stay tuned to the following Celebrity web page which is updated frequently with specifics for many ports:

 

Scroll down to "While Ashore".   You'll find each of the ABCs mentioned there with current status.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/us-travel-requirements

 

 

[dan722]

7 minutes ago, canderson said:

@dan722

I noticed that you asked the following in another post:

 

"Have you been able to get off the ship and wander around the city?

We will be sailing in March and wondering what to expect."

 

Under current circumstances, and although March seems very soon to you, it's a long way off in terms of what may or may not be happening then with regard to specific ports.  All here are advised to stay tuned to the following Celebrity web page which is updated frequently with specifics for many ports:

 

Scroll down to "While Ashore".   You'll find each of the ABCs mentioned there with current status.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/us-travel-requirements

 

 

Great idea, will do.

[jalves]

1 - 

On 2/11/2022 at 3:02 PM, dan722 said:

1. What is the current status as you know it on any celebrity cruise ship that you have or are sailing regarding coronavirus?

2. Can you describe what the cruise ambience is like regarding distancing and mask wearing?

3. Do you have any hesitation about doing usual cruise activities?

We sailed on the Reflection 1/29/22 sailing:

1.  Not quite sure what you are asking.  When we boarded the ship we heard that they had gone 10 sailings without a reported case.  Unfortunately on this sailing there were 2 cases reported.  It didn't affect our attitude towards the ship at all.

 

2  I didn't notice any distancing special situations.  It may be that the ship being only ~1/3 full didn't result in overcrowding.  Everybody wore masks when in interior spaces of the ship other than when you were eating/drinking.

 

3.  Non whatsoever.  

[DaKahuna]

On 2/11/2022 at 3:02 PM, dan722 said:

1. What is the current status as you know it on any celebrity cruise ship that you have or are sailing regarding coronavirus?

2. Can you describe what the cruise ambience is like regarding distancing and mask wearing?

3. Do you have any hesitation about doing usual cruise activities?
 

 

 We are scheduled on an ABC islands cruise departing March 28th on Silhouette. 

 

 1. Right now Celebrity's policy is on their website as was linked earlier.  Mask are required in the terminal ashore, in the casino, in the theater, and maybe other areas where social distancing may not be possible.  We will comply with whatever the rules may be and may even go above and beyond by wearing our mast in public places and we will also do social distancing unless it is impossible. 

 

We sailed on a B2B on Reflection in December.  Mask were not required onboard but we wore ours frequently.  The only time I felt uncomfortable was when we were in the casino at the roulette table so the mask rule in the casino is a precaution that I believe is justified. 

 

2.  I do not believe the current mask requirement has any negative impact on our cruise ambiance.  We tend to keep to ourselves for the most part and enjoy a lot of relaxing times on our balcony or at one of the lounges.  Having to wear a mask is a minor inconvenience in our opinion.  

 

3.  Having done two past ABC island cruises we do not anticipate any problem doing what it is we want to do on the cruise.  We may take some shore excursions, either private or through the ship, or we may not.  We typically play it by ear unless there is an activity we really want to do on or off the ship. 

 

[hrhdhd]

On 2/11/2022 at 3:25 PM, JamieLogical said:

We also had a mask requirement onboard. Passengers adhered to it pretty well and we found it to be no big deal to adhere to it ourselves, but masks will no longer be required on Celebrity as of February 12.

 

The bold line is not quite accurate. From Celebrity's website (as of today): 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.

[JamieLogical]

55 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

 

The bold line is not quite accurate. From Celebrity's website (as of today): 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.

 

You are correct. Sorry I was so vague.

[dan722]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 We are scheduled on an ABC islands cruise departing March 28th on Silhouette. 

 

 1. Right now Celebrity's policy is on their website as was linked earlier.  Mask are required in the terminal ashore, in the casino, in the theater, and maybe other areas where social distancing may not be possible.  We will comply with whatever the rules may be and may even go above and beyond by wearing our mast in public places and we will also do social distancing unless it is impossible. 

 

We sailed on a B2B on Reflection in December.  Mask were not required onboard but we wore ours frequently.  The only time I felt uncomfortable was when we were in the casino at the roulette table so the mask rule in the casino is a precaution that I believe is justified. 

 

2.  I do not believe the current mask requirement has any negative impact on our cruise ambiance.  We tend to keep to ourselves for the most part and enjoy a lot of relaxing times on our balcony or at one of the lounges.  Having to wear a mask is a minor inconvenience in our opinion.  

 

3.  Having done two past ABC island cruises we do not anticipate any problem doing what it is we want to do on the cruise.  We may take some shore excursions, either private or through the ship, or we may not.  We typically play it by ear unless there is an activity we really want to do on or off the ship. 

 

Thanks, great to hear this.

[dan722]

3 hours ago, jalves said:

1 - 

We sailed on the Reflection 1/29/22 sailing:

1.  Not quite sure what you are asking.  When we boarded the ship we heard that they had gone 10 sailings without a reported case.  Unfortunately on this sailing there were 2 cases reported.  It didn't affect our attitude towards the ship at all.

 

2  I didn't notice any distancing special situations.  It may be that the ship being only ~1/3 full didn't result in overcrowding.  Everybody wore masks when in interior spaces of the ship other than when you were eating/drinking.

 

3.  Non whatsoever.  

good to know. I just remember reading about double digit cases  in January and lots of quarantining. Want no part of that.

[dan722]

3 hours ago, jalves said:

1 - 

We sailed on the Reflection 1/29/22 sailing:

1.  Not quite sure what you are asking.  When we boarded the ship we heard that they had gone 10 sailings without a reported case.  Unfortunately on this sailing there were 2 cases reported.  It didn't affect our attitude towards the ship at all.

 

2  I didn't notice any distancing special situations.  It may be that the ship being only ~1/3 full didn't result in overcrowding.  Everybody wore masks when in interior spaces of the ship other than when you were eating/drinking.

 

3.  Non whatsoever.  

Thanks,sounds hopeful.

[DaKahuna]

We had one case on the 12/4-12/11 sailing and two or three on the 12/11-12/18.  
Of course there was 1071 passengers and 1070 crew on the first sailing and 982 passengers on the second.   The sailings after that, Christmas and New Years were much more crowded.

 

[dan722]

13 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

We had one case on the 12/4-12/11 sailing and two or three on the 12/11-12/18.  
Of course there was 1071 passengers and 1070 crew on the first sailing and 982 passengers on the second.   The sailings after that, Christmas and New Years were much more crowded.

 

Thanks for that information John. I am very curious how many will be on our early March cruise.
Just by looking at what's still available on this cruise seems pretty full. But there's no way I know of
to find if Celebrity is booking the whole ship or reserving some space for quarantine or to keep
the crowd smaller. With the coronavirus situation seemingly improving drastically in most areas
I am optimistic that we will be cruising in March.

Dan