MrMarc

You mean they kept you with the people you had already been sailing with until you got into the port, where you were supposed to go directly to your tour? The "bubble" doesn't start until you are with your tour group, and they assume grown ups will act like grown ups and follow the rule. Just because you can't seem to follow very simple instructions, don't tell other people they can or should act like you do.

Can you tell us a little more of the story so we can understand? Did you book an excursion through RCCL, not the cruise itself? And if you did, was it a "bubble" tour? I ask these questions because as far as I know, they have been very clear that the only way any unvaccinated passenger can leave the ship is on a "bubble" tour booked through RCCL. I always am sad when I hear children are in situations like this, but I am not sure where the misunderstanding came in. However, if you spent 5 hours on the phone regarding this issue, I think it's possible that someone decided to just tell you what you wanted to hear. I'm not saying that is right, or that it actually happened, simply that it is a possible explination.

Remember, that people on these, or other boards, are stating their opinions, not facts. The cruise lines will do what their own research tells them is the best balance between safety (even if it is just people feeling safer) and revenue. The politically driven agendas may be fun to argue about, but I doubt they have any impact on the cruise line policies. However that in itself is simply an opinion.

Be careful about being an early adopter in this area: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/ellume-recalls-covid-19-home-test-potential-false-positive-sars-cov-2-test-results

Thank you!

I just looked at the app and instead of saying chck-in unavailable it now says check-in closed. Has anyone else seen this?

I am going to make a prediction that has no basis in fact. I predict the February protocols will require children to be vaccinated and that the mask requirements/recommendations will be relaxed inside, unless there is a new increase in cases. If there is, I would expect the mask rules to remain the same, they are not going to change something that is working. And like it or not, agree with it or not, it is working. They would be kind of silly to say "this is working, but let's change it and see if people get sick or die."

I just called them and they took care of it. Thanks again.

Thanks. Maybe they don't want a single.

I made a reservation at Maya Chan on 10/14 for 12/17 (I will be there on Adventure of the Seas). I got the automated response saying I would get another email confirming my reservation with payment information and I have not heard back. I emailed them today, but I was wondering what other people's experiences have been. Do they wait until closer to the cruise time?

Just realize, it seems that most people are assuming that all of these protocols stem from the CDC order. None of us have any idea what any cruise line would do even if there were absolutely no recommendations or requirements. Most people are assuming that they would do what they think is correct. Unless you are the CEO of a cruise line, that is not a logical assumption.

In reading the order, it sounds like the CDC is actually trying to work with the cruise lines. They also sound committed to moving to a totally voluntary system in January. I am sure there will be many skeptics, but I don't think there was any need to say it if that wasn't their intent. And I think that 3 months is a reasonable amount of time to work towards such a system. It also keeps the current protocols in force over the holiday cruises. However I will admit that I have been a supporter of the CDC, so I am probably trying to put a positive spin on it. I have no doubt that others may not see it this way. But this seems more of a compromise than I expected.

And I and my customer's opinion is different. That's why I don't think we can assume anything about what the crew would want. I don't know that they would be honest if asked. I'm just a little embarrassed that I had never thought about it until this thread.

None of us know, unless there is some crew following this. If I were on the ship, those issues would bother me, because of coming into contact with so many different people increases their chance of getting it greatly. So anything that would reduce those odds would be better. They have more risk and exposure than the passengers do. I don't think a lot of us, me included, had thought of the crew, and have been imposing our own views on them. I wonder if they have a union or other group looking out for their interests, rather than having their situation be dictated by the comfort or discomfort and/or political views of the passengers.

You know, I had not even considered this. Since very few are American, they don't have the political overlay that we do. I wonder how they would feel about no masks for themselves and/or passengers. I know they have done it on one ship, but it may be different fleetwide.

I think there is a 100% chance it is extended. But my guess is that it won't change except for requiring children to be vaccinated since that should be approved next week for Pfitzer. It seems to be working, so I do not think they will change it. It would be interesting to see them remove the penalties and word it as a recommendation, which would end the Florida lawsuit as moot without a decision that could permanently affect them.

But will I have to wear a mask?

The response to that is so obvious, but please, let's just stop it. We, and a lot of other people, disagree with each other.

I am not going to argue with you, but you need to understand that things you are stating as facts are not.

I am not sure that I follow them all, but in general I do. My view of the situation is the exact opposite of yours. I too have looked at the data, and I have been able to confirm that every single argument against the CDC that claims to be based on "science" actually is not. Literally every one. I have been able to confirm everything that supports masks, distancing and vaccines as either settled scientific fact, or at worst uncertainty that then errs on the side of caution. I know we are turning this into a political argument and we should stop. From my experience though, there is a vast silent majority that disagrees with you. That doesn't mean you are wrong, just that a lot of people think you are. And there is no question that majorities have been wrong.

This is an assumption that a lot of people are making based on their views of the situation. I have never seen any actual evidence that this is the case. Can't you accept that there is a chance that the CDC and others are correct, and perhaps the cruise industry actually knows what it's doing without the political overlay?

Your entire premise is based on the fact that you determine what the science and data says, and the vast majority of experts that does not agree with you are wrong. Are you going to say that you have no political agenda behind your opnion? I agree 100% that you have the right to think and say that, just realize that a whole lot of people do not.

Or maybe because there is still an emergency going on as defined by actual experts, even if the internet experts disagree. Just because you haven't felt the effects of it, millions of others have, and still are. It's not like Yurtle the Turtle, you don't have to see it yourself for it to be real. I also wonder if anyone who thinks this is wrong has considered that they are not seeing the cases because of the precautions that are in place, in other words maybe it is working, and we should not stop it yet.

I think the value of the key varies on how many people are in your room. I always cruise solo, and the price of the key has been near, ore even lower, than the price voom by itself or the cost of voom when added to a drink package. On my upcoming cruise Voom has been as high as $23, but right now it's $15.99 or adds $14 to the drink package. The Key was only !9.99, so I got it. But if you have more than one person in the cabin, the Voom multi device packages start effectively increasing the daily cost of the Key. If I am flying to the cruise, just a place to drop off my carry on is worth a lot to me. So as a solo cruiser, and as long as the key is $19.99 or less, it has had enough value to me in the past, and still will with the new changes. I will miss the lunch, but if I wake up at 3 am and want something to eat, I won't have to worry about the additional $7.50 over the tip. But I think the value goes down as you have more people in your cabin.

You are using your own definitions and ideas, assuming the entire CDC doesn't know what it is doing. Many other people are doing the same. The cruise lines are following the people they recognize as experts in the field, without any political agenda. Nothing personal, but while I would certainly follow your advice on actual cruising issues, I would not on health issues. I believe the cruise lines are doing the same thing. Their own experts recommended the same basic protocols, in general, as the CDC. I think the cruise lines are following the advice of people who actually are experts in this area and staying away from any political agenda. They really cannot afford to go too far, too fast. If people who cruise do not feel safe on the ships, they will not go. I am fairly sure that the cruise lines are doing their own research into what their potential customers want.