Are they going to start limiting kids?

[jrapps]

1 minute ago, SRF said:

 

The post I was replying to said, "By a long shot the majority of cruisers are 11+ and therefore vax."

 

No, I read that as saying that "by a long shot the majority" are vaxxed since they are over 11.  And that is NOT the case.

 

Unless the cruise market preferentially attracts vaxxed people, the numbers are such that RCI will have to take some action to ensure that 95% of the passengers over 5 are vaccinated.

I interpreted the post as 1) "the majority of cruisers are 11+" which I would agree with and 2) everyone in that age group is vaccinated on a cruise ship (well 12+, I think the poster was off by one year)

 

Yes, the cruise industry preferentially attracts vaxxed people, just by nature, since they require everyone 12+ to be vaccinated. 

 

We are probably just arguing semantics here. The question is what percentage of the people on the ship are 5-11, and then what percentage of THOSE people are unvaccinated. If the overall # of 5-11 on the ship are less than 5% of the total guest count, then their vaccination status is irrelevant.

[KayRaeRae]

23 hours ago, exm said:

I also support vaccines, but as a personal choice. My 11 year old daughter “brought” Omicron in our house. I am boosted, got it. My wife has 2 doses, got it. My 8 and 6 year olds also got it. My wife and I had the exact same cold systems, my kids a low grade fewer. So I am a bit skeptical that the booster did anything preventing for me getting COVID. Obviously I am happy with the mild symptoms.

 

It could be possible that you were asymptomatic, or had an asymptomatic COVID infection earlier. Anyway, glad everyone is doing okay and that we can have a civil conversation here.

My husband and I tested negative multiple times, via both rapid and PCR.  I’m confident we didn’t have it.  Thanks.  

[SRF]

I can see that interpretation. 🙂

 

 

[DukeASUGirl]

Just now, SRF said:

 

OK, I see your point with that explanation.

 

So, 11+ are ALL vaccinated on the cruise, not a majority. 😄

 

Since 5 - 11 are only 24% vaccinated in the US, if on a ship sailing with 3000 passengers,  if there are more than 600 in that age group, they could be over the limit, which is unlikely.

 

Exactly. 100% of the 12+ passengers, plus some percentage of vaccinated 5-11-yr-olds. We're literally only talking about the 5-11-yr-olds as possibly being that 5%, and we're saying that while it's possible that group could end up being more than 5% of the ship's total, my guess is Royal's stats show that statistically it's unlikely.

[jrapps]

2 minutes ago, DukeASUGirl said:

 

Exactly. 100% of the 12+ passengers, plus some percentage of vaccinated 5-11-yr-olds. We're literally only talking about the 5-11-yr-olds as possibly being that 5%, and we're saying that while it's possible that group could end up being more than 5% of the ship's total, my guess is Royal's stats show that statistically it's unlikely.

That is the million $ question, especially during busy Spring Break/Summer cruises. Is it possible for the un-vax in the 5-11 age group to be be more than 5% of the overall guest population? It might be. Could you have more than 150 unvax 5-11 year olds on a cruise of 3,000 passengers. I can see that happening.

[landerslp]

We just got an email to update vaccination status due to highly vaccinated policy.  They already have our info so guessing it is generic email to pick up kids. My two grandkids are not vaccinated- can they be kicked off their cruise scheduled to leave in three weeks? How would they decide?

 

Joyce

[Mrcar09]

24 minutes ago, landerslp said:

We just got an email to update vaccination status due to highly vaccinated policy.  They already have our info so guessing it is generic email to pick up kids. My two grandkids are not vaccinated- can they be kicked off their cruise scheduled to leave in three weeks? How would they decide?

 

Joyce

I just want to get clarification that your email is in reference to a sailing 3 weeks out? I've seen some letters/emails on the Harmony Facebook page but we are about 50 days out and have received nothing.

 

Based on those letters it sounded as though they would make booking unavailable for unvaccinated  kids once they met the 95% mark but my question has been, how do they know since they don't have that information at booking currently. Sounds like vax status will be needed at booking moving forward.

 

Personally, while it is possible, I think the risk of them being booted is quite low since the only group counted toward the 5% unvaxxed is the 5-11 age group. Also, Biker posted some CDC dashboard information yesterday about the ships current color rating and most if not all RCCL ships were listed as "Highly Vaccinated" currently. If they start allowing exceptions for 12+ then I see there being a lot more risk of being turned away.

[SRF]

On 2/22/2022 at 11:28 AM, jrapps said:

On 2/22/2022 at 11:28 AM, jrapps said:

That is the million $ question, especially during busy Spring Break/Summer cruises. Is it possible for the un-vax in the 5-11 age group to be be more than 5% of the overall guest population? It might be. Could you have more than 150 unvax 5-11 year olds on a cruise of 3,000 passengers. I can see that happening.

 

 

Based on the numbers (about 24% 5 - 11 vaccinated), it would take at least 600 5 -11 year old children, out of 3000 total passengers to reach that 5% unvaxed.

 

[landerslp]

12 minutes ago, Mrcar09 said:

I just want to get clarification that your email is in reference to a sailing 3 weeks out? I've seen some letters/emails on the Harmony Facebook page but we are about 50 days out and have received nothing.

Yes, cruise leaving March 17. We decided to go to help with the grandkids- stay on board with them in Cozumel, etc. It was kinda last minute booking or I would have pressed my daughter about vaccinating her two boys. Her 12 yr old is vaccinated and 4 yr old ineligible.  She is already sweating all the testing. 9 tests, including three at the port. They will lose their flight money if RCI cancels them or someone tests positive. For 6 people. We would debate whether to cancel as well. Would lose flight and portion of shuttle fee. Only have insurance on the cruise as it was a voucher from another cancelled trip. And including the flight would have cost us more than the cheap Spirit flights we got. We have hit the age where private insurance is more costly. 
Joyce

[Jkaczanowski]

 

5 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

 

Based on the numbers (about 24% 5 - 11 vaccinated), it would take at least 600 5 -11 year old children, out of 3000 total passengers to reach that 5% unvaxed.

 

Actually, it would only take about 200 kids age 5-12 on the ship, assuming only 24% are vaccinated

 

3000 x .05 = 150 unvaccinated

150 / .76 (% unvaccinated) = 197 kids total.  (Roughly 50 vaccinated, 150 not)

 

 

 

 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

21 minutes ago, landerslp said:

It was kinda last minute booking or I would have pressed my daughter about vaccinating her two boys. Her 12 yr old is vaccinated and 4 yr old ineligible.  She is already sweating all the testing. 9 tests, including three at the port. My two grandkids are not vaccinated- can they be kicked off their cruise scheduled to leave in three weeks? 

 

 

I am confused - who is vaxxed and who isn't? Under 5 can't be vaxxed. The 12 yo is vaxxed. What exactly is the problem? Who are the 3 kids getting tested at the port?

[nelblu]

On 2/22/2022 at 11:20 AM, DukeASUGirl said:

 

Since anyone 12 or older is required to be vaxxed to be on the cruise ship, if the vast majority of those on a cruise are 12 or older, then the vast majority of cruisers on the ship will be vaxxed. Not sure what is confusing about this statement.

Wonder, how many of 12 & older are not vaxxed for whatever specific reason and impact on the 5-11+ population.

Edited February 24, 2022 by nelblu

[RFerrington]

43 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Wonder, how many of 12 & older are not vaxxed for whatever specific reason and impact on the 5-11+ population.

I don't think there will be any 12+ unvaxxed, will there ?  Aren't they [unfortunately] required to be vaxxed, just like the adults.

[Jkaczanowski]

12 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

I don't think there will be any 12+ unvaxxed, will there ?  Aren't they [unfortunately] required to be vaxxed, just like the adults.

I thought I had heard that they were allowing some medical exemptions.  If that’s true, then that could further reduce the number of unvaccinated 5-11 yo’s allowed. 

[RFerrington]

5 minutes ago, Jkaczanowski said:

I thought I had heard that they were allowing some medical exemptions.  If that’s true, then that could further reduce the number of unvaccinated 5-11 yo’s allowed. 

Ok.  I see what you’re saying.  Yes, there has always been an option for medical exemption for all ages….but they’re difficult to get, from what I understand. 

[nelblu]

3 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

I don't think there will be any 12+ unvaxxed, will there ?  Aren't they [unfortunately] required to be vaxxed, just like the adults.

I believe there are exceptions--clue need to wear the vaxxed wrist band.  

 

When I sailed Oasis in September, all adults had to be vaccinated.  H&S protocols were highly policed.  I was stopped twice when entering the Casino and once at the Adult show as my rubber band was obscured by my shirt.  At the Adult show, I questioned why the policing and was told that not all adults were vaxxed on the ship and one of the reason was "medical exemptions."

[smokeybandit]

I wonder what percentage of 12+ on board any given ship are exempted?  Maybe 0.5%, tops?

[Mrcar09]

2 hours ago, Jkaczanowski said:

 

Actually, it would only take about 200 kids age 5-12 on the ship, assuming only 24% are vaccinated

 

3000 x .05 = 150 unvaccinated

150 / .76 (% unvaccinated) = 197 kids total.  (Roughly 50 vaccinated, 150 not)

 

 

 

 

I agree with your math but I believe the 95% is pax and crew combined so assuming maybe 1500 crew who are supposed to be 100% vaccinated, that number may be more like 225 unvaccinated and 300 total kids. In any case the 600 figure seems way off.

 

31 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I wonder what percentage of 12+ on board any given ship are exempted?  Maybe 0.5%, tops?

 

Agreed. Based on what I've heard/seen, the exemptions are hard to come by. Unless they open that up, I don't see it having a big impact. Like I said, according to the CDC, these boats are already operating at that 95% threshold, so unless the number of kids increases or they allow more adult exemptions, I don't see that changing.

[xtremegk]

17 minutes ago, Mrcar09 said:

I agree with your math but I believe the 95% is pax and crew combined so assuming maybe 1500 crew who are supposed to be 100% vaccinated, that number may be more like 225 unvaccinated and 300 total kids. In any case the 600 figure seems way off.

 

What I've read on the program, it clearly separated the crew & passenger statistics. 95% of crew AND 95% of passengers.

[alwaysflyin]

I predict that this is going to be a HUGE issue with mid-March spring break cruises, which are largely compromised of families.  A ship with 3000 passengers can only have 150 unvaccinated kids age 5-11 to conform with the 5% rule, and that's assuming no adult medical exceptions.  I'm just going to estimate that such a ship has at least 400 kids total in that age range.  Given that 75% of children in that age range are unvaccinated, that means approximately 300 unvaccinated kids, or 150 OVER the designated number.  What does RC do in that case?  This cruise is only 2.5 weeks away.  I am sure hoping that RC grandfathers in all unvaccinated kids in that age range who are already booked, since they've been telling us that unvaccinated kids CAN cruise through mid-April.

[landerslp]

5 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

 

 

I am confused - who is vaxxed and who isn't? Under 5 can't be vaxxed. The 12 yo is vaxxed. What exactly is the problem? Who are the 3 kids getting tested at the port?

All three boys have to be tested at the port (7,  5, 4) as well as pcr three days prior. Plus other 3 vaccinated need at least an antigen two days before.  I just feel bad with the logistics for her. Do they all go two days out and hope pcr is back, or half one day, half the next? She works in health care and just wanted to get away. 
Only the two count toward the ships unvaccinated number.

Again she booked late and rooms were going fast(we got last inside), and maybe didn’t think through what testing would entail.  Hearing it is one thing but actually planning is something else.   

[landerslp]

50 minutes ago, alwaysflyin said:

Given that 75% of children in that age range are unvaccinated, that means approximately 300 unvaccinated kids, or 150 OVER the designated number.  What does RC do in that case?  This cruise is only 2.5 weeks away.  I am sure hoping that RC grandfathers in all unvaccinated kids in that age range who are already booked, since they've been telling us that unvaccinated kids CAN cruise through mid-April.

I certainly hope so.  When booking my daughter was told the vaccine and testing requirements—a little late to change it three weeks out. Affects us too as we were only going to help with the kids. Would we be refunded too? Not in same booking. We would feel awful either way, going without them or canceling. 
 

Also: didn’t know about kids spring break-(knew colleges did)— as spring break in our state as well as in my daughter’s district is always around Easter. 
 

Joyce

Edited February 24, 2022 by landerslp

[smokeybandit]

Since RC is already in the 95-98% vax range, I'd be surprised if there would be any need to go as drastic as kicking unvaxxed kids off the ship. There are probably more subtle ways to increase the number of vax than there is decrease the unvax

[sford75]

7 hours ago, landerslp said:

We just got an email to update vaccination status due to highly vaccinated policy.  They already have our info so guessing it is generic email to pick up kids. My two grandkids are not vaccinated- can they be kicked off their cruise scheduled to leave in three weeks? How would they decide?

 

Joyce

I got the same email for our sailing in 3 weeks. From the FB group, it appears only people with kids 5-11 in their stateroom got them email. People with adult only parties did not. 

 

I think this is to ensure that they are under the 5% before the sailing. I, personally, was uneasy that there was no procedure in place to state your child is unvaccinated and needs to be counted towards the 5%. I called twice and was just told, it wasn't a concern, that they were already sailing at 97-98% vaccinated. I know other parents felt the same way.

 

It appears that most, if not all, sailing in March have limited their bookings to 2 adults. I think they are just trying to get a handle on how to count the unvaccinated going forward. Just my guess. But now that I've submitted my son's information, I feel more comfortable that I'm not going to get to the port and be told, oh sorry, we have too many unvaccinated kids, you can't sail. 

[landerslp]

2 minutes ago, sford75 said:

I got the same email for our sailing in 3 weeks. From the FB group, it appears only people with kids 5-11 in their stateroom got them email. People with adult only parties did not. 

 

I think this is to ensure that they are under the 5% before the sailing. 

We do not have kids in our cabin, and my daughter had not gotten the email earlier this morning.  She may have by now but is at work.