PPPJJ-GCVAB

"Water activities do not require face masks while riding, but need to be worn while waiting in line." 
As a staunch mask advocate and a water slide lover, WHERE am I going to put it once I get up there? Adding ziplocs to my packing list now so I can stuff it in one for the ride down I guess. haha 

This is not what was in the Healthy Sail document. It said masks were not necessary outdoors unless distancing was not possible. And to be clear, you don’t need a mask outside pretty much anywhere in the US.
 
From pages 25-26:
Recommendation 16: To prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, cruise operators should require guests

Specifically, guests should wear face coverings in any indoor, congregate setting regardless of physical distancing measures, but should not be required to wear face coverings in their own cabins. A notable exception is indoor dining. Seating in restaurants and bars/lounges should allow for physical distancing, so guests can eat and drink without needing face coverings while seated.

Face coverings are not required in outdoor settings as long as physical distancing is feasible. However, if physical distancing is not feasible in certain outdoor settings, masks/face coverings among guests should be required in those locations.

For crew members, masks should be worn any time they are engaging with other crew members or guests (i.e., in all public settings, both indoors and outdoors).

I pray by May things will be different. 

I'm just imagining the suntan lines. ?
 

I just can’t see being in the hot Caribbean wearing a mask in the sun. If the chairs are spaced it’s no different than sitting in the dining room or a bar. Especially on sea days when it’s quite windy. Just seems excessive. 

Disappointed that masks are required on the pool deck. Hopefully that’ll change for US cruises to the Caribbean. I don’t mind wearing one walking around, elevators etc. but sitting in the sun on the pool deck is pretty much a deal breaker. 
 
Face Masks
Face masks are required in all areas of the pool deck unless you’re in the water, where you should continue to observe physical distancing

Yes there is a cost...currently on my cruise planner (I am on the Navigator in April 2021) it costs $65.99/adult and $38.99/child.  I got it on sale a few weeks ago for $43.99/adult and $25.99/child.   I believe it is about 30-40 minutes.

Oh...now I understand!!  Yes, that does make it worse!!  So sorry you had to go through that.  And yes, I agree....PLEASE LET US CRUISE SOON!!!!!

Thanks....didn't see it so wanted to share...No Biggie.

Still have my fingers crossed that April 2021 sailings will happen!!  ?

Still have my fingers crossed that April 2021 sailings will happen!!  ?

Olives with green saw dust?
 

I'm getting my second shot as part of the Pfizer trial tomorrow! Trying to talk myself out of going in for an antibody test the week after to see if I actually got it or not... But the curiosity is killing me. All of the anecdotal stories I've read say that people report worse side effects after the second shot. Maybe then it will be more definitive (I feel all of my "symptoms" after the first shot could easily have been psychosomatic).
One bad part about being a trial participant: I'm supposed to delay my flu shot by a few weeks after the last trial shot. Normally I'd have my flu vaccine by now (always early in Oct). Masks should help me dodge the bullet a little better I til I can get the flu shot.
Thanks for posting such sound and reasonable advice here. 

A few questions answered by a TUI passenger: 
 
‼️Hi again! Today I read through your questions about our recent cruise onboard TUI Cruises - Mein Schiff 6! I will start to provide answers to 9 questions:‼️
What did we have to do before the cruise?
- informed about travel cancellation and health insurance with corona protection
- reserved excursion
- reserved seats on the plane
- reserved on-board entertainment
- completed the Greece entry form for the QR code
- filled out the Helios Hospital data protection 
form and made an appointment for the test
- filled out the TUI Cruises health questionnaires before driving to Munich Airport
Did you have to do a COVID-19 test? ??
TUI Cruises is requiring that all passengers test negative for COVID-19 before boarding. The test could be taken at one of 86 Helios Hospital locations in Germany. The test's cost was included in the cruise fare. We had to drive 1,5 hours to the next Helios Hospital. They did a nose and throat swab test. Our results were sent directly to TUI Cruises. 
How was the flight?✈️?
To get to the cruise ship was only possible with a chartered flight by TUIfly from 6 German airports (Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Dusseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt). No individual arrivals. No public flights! Only access to the plane with negative COVID-19 Test.
How was the boarding procedure??
At the check-in counter of TUIfly we had to show the TUI Cruises health questionnaires and the valid QR Code for entry to Greece (received at 11pm the day before). After arriving at Crete we had to show the QR Code to the Greek authorities at the airport. Randomly other flight passengers were chosen for another nose and throat swab test - but not us. We got our bags and were then shown to the TUI Cruises Bus and driven to the cruise ship. To decrease the amount of people inside the cruise terminal we had to wait for ~30minutes inside the bus, until we were allowed to proceed to the cruise terminal. First we had to present our health questionnaires form, then we got our temperature measured with a digital thermal imaging camera. After the security check we went directly to one of the check-in counters, which were fitted with plexiglass screens. We had to show our set sail pass and passports through the plexiglass screen. The employee made a picture of our passports, then we were allowed to take shortly off our mask for our „ship picture“. Afterwards we could walk straight to the ships gangway, where we had to show our set sail pass for entry and for a short moment our face without mask. 
How was the Muster Drill?
Onboard we went straight to our stateroom, where our sea pass cards were in a sealed envelope at the door. We put our hand luggage inside the stateroom and walked straight to Deck 5, where the muster drill took place. We were shown to our designated area. By that time we were the only ones there. So the two employees made a „private muster drill“ just for us. We could ask questions and were finished within 5 minutes.
How many people were onboard?
TUI Cruises operates their ships at just 60% of their regular capacity. Mein Schiff 6 regular capacity is 2534 passengers - on our cruise we were in total 922 passengers. TUI cruises canceled all their cruises until end of October - the Greek Isles cruise was released on August 13 with the new regulations. TUI is only selling balcony staterooms and suites at the moment! No inside or window cabins are sold! 
Did you have to wear masks??
Yes! All guests and crew members are required to practice social distance of at least 1.5 meters in the public areas of the ship. Wherever this distance cannot be maintained without hesitation, wearing a proper mouth and nose mask (masks NOT allowed you will find on the picture) was compulsory. This applied to elevators, stairwells and cabin corridors, for example. Whenever we were talking to crew (guest services, bars, towel station) - we wore masks. Also on the Pool Deck, when we couldn’t keep the social distance - we wore masks. As soon as we sat on our sun lounger/chair -  we didn’t have to wear a mask. At the restaurants we wore a mask until we sat down at the table. When we stood up to get more food - we wore a mask! By arrival at our stateroom we found 5 masks per person on the bed - in a sealed package. You could get more from housekeeping.
How many people were inside the elevators?
Inside the elevators were allowed 4 people!
On the floor of the elevator were marked spaces, where one was allowed to stand. If the elevator was full, we had to wait for another one. Thankfully everyone respected these rules! Before the elevators were placed hand sanitizer - so after touching buttons, we could easily sanitize our hands before and after our elevator ride.
Did you get a temperature check???
Everyone had to have their temperature measured with a digital thermal imaging camera. This was repeated every morning between 9-12 inside the disco (which was closed anyways). We had to sanitize our hands and then walk in front of the camera. It took less than 2 minutes. 
I am aware that there are many many more questions, which I will happily answer tomorrow!????
https://youtu.be/3lIxj6iFH68

Hello Folks,
I have not been very active due to many crazy things going on in my life (all good stuff) and our country (not so much).  I really had some slight hope that our cruises that were to start on 11/19 were gonna happen.  This will be our 1st year not on a RCCL ship for thanksgiving in Seven years!!!  ?I
Now it's onto December!   I hope that our B2B on Oasis that leaves 12/20 happens.  
I don't know how these cruise companies are gonna survive!!

Better be!! That’s my RLS sailing. Going to hit a whole new low if I lose that one! ?

@Matt blogged about this earlier today. 
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/10/06/spotted-navigator-of-the-seas-listed-portmiami-schedule-possible-test-sailings

Thanks....didn't see it so wanted to share...No Biggie.

Thanks....didn't see it so wanted to share...No Biggie.

Just saw the news. ? I’m not sailing until May but I feel for all of you with Holiday cruises. 

Personally I believe November sailings were a “no go” in September based on logistics alone. 2020 goes up in smoke. Hopefully by Summer 2021 we will be sailing again. 

Guess we will have to "Stay Tuned"...just a matter of time for RCG to join in with their own cancellations ?.   Heartbreaking!!!!

The National Hockey League is posting about cruise ships?  Slow off season I guess...

There's another post in the News and Rumors section with this same info.  So sad....because seems when one cruise line makes changes...the others follow suit.  Just a matter of time! ?