MrMarc

I think the CDC warning will prevent that from happening by lowering passanger counts and increasing the cruise lines vigilance.  It may also make people's expectations more reasonable.

Or the CDC is worried about a worst case scenario, that probably won't happen, but could.  They have to act proactively, not reactively.  I think that the warning will itself help by lowering capacities, which I think it is fairly clear were increased too fast, and get the cruise lines to start taking their own protocols more seriously, since I don't think they were and were becoming more complacent.  Flame me if you want, but at least consider how such a warning could prevent things escalating to a shutdown or effective shutdown due to lack of ports.

What I really cannot figure out is why we continue to see posts like this everywhere.  It's not like the poster doesn’t know about the purpose and various opnions on masks.  Some people agree with you, while others (like me) do not, although those words are not nearly strong enough to express the depth of the disagreement.  No one on these boards is going to change anyone's mind.  I am willing to argue about it much more than most, and even I am tired of it and realize the futility.  In my opnion your opnion on masks is wrong at every level,  but you do you.  Just not on a cruise ship until the rules change.

You can't use any of these figures without realizing that this virus is infecting vastly more people at the same time.  So however acceptable you feel these figures are, when you realize these percentages apply to tens or hundreds of millions of people is when you realize the scope of the problem and the stress this puts on whatever medical resources are available anywhere in the world.  It also does not factor in the number of oeople suffering or dying while ignoring other issues out of fear, issues not taken care of do to lack of resources and the unpredictablity of the short or long term consequences of COVID.  It's so much more complicated then simple percentages.

What I really cannot figure out is why we continue to see posts like this everywhere.  It's not like the poster doesn’t know about the purpose and various opnions on masks.  Some people agree with you, while others (like me) do not, although those words are not nearly strong enough to express the depth of the disagreement.  No one on these boards is going to change anyone's mind.  I am willing to argue about it much more than most, and even I am tired of it and realize the futility.  In my opnion your opnion on masks is wrong at every level,  but you do you.  Just not on a cruise ship until the rules change.

Or the CDC is worried about a worst case scenario, that probably won't happen, but could.  They have to act proactively, not reactively.  I think that the warning will itself help by lowering capacities, which I think it is fairly clear were increased too fast, and get the cruise lines to start taking their own protocols more seriously, since I don't think they were and were becoming more complacent.  Flame me if you want, but at least consider how such a warning could prevent things escalating to a shutdown or effective shutdown due to lack of ports.

You can't use any of these figures without realizing that this virus is infecting vastly more people at the same time.  So however acceptable you feel these figures are, when you realize these percentages apply to tens or hundreds of millions of people is when you realize the scope of the problem and the stress this puts on whatever medical resources are available anywhere in the world.  It also does not factor in the number of oeople suffering or dying while ignoring other issues out of fear, issues not taken care of do to lack of resources and the unpredictablity of the short or long term consequences of COVID.  It's so much more complicated then simple percentages.

Or the CDC is worried about a worst case scenario, that probably won't happen, but could.  They have to act proactively, not reactively.  I think that the warning will itself help by lowering capacities, which I think it is fairly clear were increased too fast, and get the cruise lines to start taking their own protocols more seriously, since I don't think they were and were becoming more complacent.  Flame me if you want, but at least consider how such a warning could prevent things escalating to a shutdown or effective shutdown due to lack of ports.

What I really cannot figure out is why we continue to see posts like this everywhere.  It's not like the poster doesn’t know about the purpose and various opnions on masks.  Some people agree with you, while others (like me) do not, although those words are not nearly strong enough to express the depth of the disagreement.  No one on these boards is going to change anyone's mind.  I am willing to argue about it much more than most, and even I am tired of it and realize the futility.  In my opnion your opnion on masks is wrong at every level,  but you do you.  Just not on a cruise ship until the rules change.

We live in Missouri and we wear masks all the time. At work, at the grocery store, everywhere... I cannot believe that we are still doing this "I can't bear to wear a mask" thing. This is a highly transmissible, deadly virus... I do not think that wearing a mask is too much to ask to try to keep people safe. If that courtesy is too much than cancel your cruise. Have you not flown the past year? We flew earlier today and they were very clear, if you don't want to wear a mask then don't fly, period. End of discussion. The same could be said for cruises...

The policy to provide PCR tests for international guests worked fine until Omicron arrived on the scene.  With Omicron there is more potential for vaccinated to become infected even though the infection appears to be less than flu like impact - if vaccinated.  
The problem is that the rest of society and our governments haven't updated policies for something that impacts vaccinated people with less than flu like symptoms.  For governments it's binary.  You either have Covid or you don't.   Full nuclear if you do, even if you are vaccinated and have less than flu like symptoms.
At some level you can understand that approach because a vaccinated person with super mild symptoms could infect the unvaccinated and then the symptoms for the unvax may not be very mild.  
Like in all other aspects of our lives, the unvax are impacting life for the vaccinated.  The approach and reaction to Omicron is living proof. 

I agree with everyone that it is too early to know how things will be in March. 
That said, I just returned from a cruise to cozumel,  roatan and Costa maya. Everything was open and the excursions went off as normal.  The masking rules weren't always clear, but the ports were otherwise normal. 

Welcome to the message boards.
Are you flying to cruise or driving?
If driving there is little reason to make a decision this far away.
If flying that does make it a little more complicated.  If flying you may want to look into Air2Sea to see if provides more flexibility.

March is a lifetime away at this point

I think it's too early to make this call. If you go back 3 weeks, there really were no issues. Everything that is going on is really the perfect storm of a much more contagious variant and increased capacity due to the holidays. 
However if you are unable to be flexible and want a guarantee that these things won't affect your sailing, cruising is probably not a good choice at this time. 

Honestly, you don't really need that t-shirt or cute shell animal that badly.

Actually I have found that many times I have to enter it twice to get the offer.  So like so many other things at RCCL.  If you don't like the first answer, ask again.

Actually I have found that many times I have to enter it twice to get the offer.  So like so many other things at RCCL.  If you don't like the first answer, ask again.

I am trying to keep this focused on the crew.  

I am, regardless of how others act.  I  have honestly always approached this subject based on my opnion.  This crew has taught me neither my or anyone else's opnion are the real issue on the ship.  It's not even about other passange4s feeling comfortable,  it's about their jobs.

I am sure Matt will delete this if it turns into an argument about masks, and that is not what this is about.  I am currently on Adventure and the crew I have spoken with are very frustrated.   If you choose not to wear a mask, all you can do is hurt the crew.  And I am not talking about giving anyone COVID.  If you compliment the crew for not enforcing the rules, that is not a good thing in RCCL's eyes.  If, as they are, other people complain that the crew is not enforcing the mask rules, that hurts them too.  Their job is to enforce it, no matter what you or they think.  Many that I have spoken with, especially officers, are very frustrated.   They can't win.  They see you when you put on the mask, walk ten steps and take it off, thinking you ate so smart and they ate so stupid.  They are not.  They are frustrated and simply trying to do and keep their jobs.  Please, it's not polotical or even science, it's their jobs.

I am trying to keep this focused on the crew.  

Yes we are on board Odyssey right now. We have been denied entry into Curacao because of 54 positive cases on board. Captain announcement came up 20 minutes ago. They will keep us informed when they hear from RCI headquarters what’s going to happen next. In the meantime we are docked at Curacao and awaiting further instruction. We will not be going ashore

Still just sitting...

Yes because lots of things on ship are closed while in port