cruiserccl

Exactly how we feel!

Exactly how we feel!

Thanks for the feedback.  Will definitely keep our eyes and ears open and know our surroundings.  Can imagine it feeling strange all of a sudden being around many others.  I know even at the drugstore, I'll only go down an isle if no one else is there or it is easy to pass someone.  Such a strange world.
That's very scary with the lady coughing at the theatre...and annoying with the mom and child coming in last minute and sitting where they shouldn't.  Frustrating when others don't follow things or think they can skip the rules. 
Have heard various stories about the PCR test and no one seems to know about them on Royal, which is strange.
Yeah, I did hear of some cases or others being quarantined. Guess with the timing it was right when the variant was picking up.
Glad you all had a great , and hopefully you'll get on some cruises at a later time.

I'm so glad you're planning on more cruises. I remembered how disappointed you were that you had to cancel. And I really appreciated all the help you and the others provided. This was only our second RCCL so it was a little overwhelming with all the pandemic preparations.
As far as the ship's protocols. I do feel that most people were following the restrictions. It did feel a little strange since there is always this "cloud" (for lack of a better word) around us which made people a little more on edge. But I think most, eventually, became relaxed and learned to live with the rules. 
There were only a few times that I thought the crew could have done better and that's ensuring that those areas for vaccinated are only for vaccinated. The issue was usually at the music hall which really had no one checking the vaccinated deck. So, it was very important that we kept our masks between drinking.
I felt the staterooms were very clean and I was confident our stateroom host was alway sanitizing. 
The theatres had every other row saved for social distancing and generally people were trying not to sit right beside each other. The floor seats (section closest to the stage) weren't separated by rows. So we chose not to sit there. We had two issues sitting at the theatre. One was an older woman who sat beside my son and coughed towards him for a long time until the show started...we were thinking she was seriously ill, but when the show started, not one cough. And the other issue was a mother and daughter waited until the lights were off and sat in the saved for social distancing seats and left before the lights went back on. 
The elevators were generally keeping to a comfortable number of people except for when disembarking. We waited several elevators before we entered. Some people were very patient while others were not, which is very typical. 
I found the customs very quick and smooth. I wish they would do that in all ports. 
The PCR testing for return to home country went very smoothly. However, getting the correct protocol from any crew member was a challenge. We asked 9 crew and they gave us 9 different answers. In the end, we chose to follow the one that made the most sense.
Otherwise, it was nice to be able to relax in the Solarium and CocoCay. Everyone had a great time...but there were rumours between the teens that there were at least 100 people who had to quarantine...but I don't know if that's true. We didn't hear any announcements or warning or anything.

I cancelled a cruise in August 2021 using CWC.  I still have yet to receive the FCCs from that one!  My TA has called so many times but still nothing.

I did it both myself and through a TA.
You just give them the reservation number of the canceled cruise that gave you the FCC and they go from there.

You should be able to book a new cruise without putting any money additional down knowing you have FCC coming.
 
I did this twice. They put a long term hold on the cruise until the expected FCC issue date, then once you get the FCC, call them up and they apply it.

It was a cruise I booked online thru Royal’s website ……. No explanation for why it took so long …… I can’t believe I forgot about it!
 

Wow, that's a long time. Did they give you a reason why it took so long? Was this through a TA?
Thank you for the advice and I will contact them after 2 wks. I hope it's not going to be months.

I cancelled a thanksgiving week cruise way back in July  ……. Totally forgot about it ……. The FCC’s just came this past week and it took me a while to figure out what they were for since I totally forgot I cancelled a cruise after all this time.
I’d call and ask about them if you don’t get them in 2 weeks.
 

When ours got cancelled when Covid hit, it took a couple weeks. I’m sure they were very busy as all cruises were getting cancelled. Since you did the cancellation, so less work for them, it may come sooner.

So sorry you had to cancel your Christmas cruise. I hope you can go ahead with your March break cruise. I really do believe the cruise ships are much safer with regards to protocols/sanitation than a grocery store or restaurant. If there was a cruise from Canada right now, we'd go without hesitation. Three of us have our boosters and just waiting for the age to lower for under 18 for my other child.
As for what we did for our March break cruise, we cancelled it. Two main reasons, first is that it was in Florida - DCL Fantasy cruise. We're not comfortable with the Florida protocols at this point. 
And second, which became more important is the fine that may be charged if entering with a positive case. On our Christmas cruise, luckily, our PCR test on the Anthem was all negative. However, if someone was positive, our plan was driving directly home and quarantining knowing that the border would allow us in and be told to take 2 tests and quarantine, which we were all ready to do. 
At this point, we are not prepared to pay the fine or stay in the US for 11 days. 
We do have more cruises this year, so I'm hopeful the Canadian government will eventually remove the testing and threats of fines and we can go on with our vacations.
Our next cruise is in July, so I'm very hopeful.
I think it's important to evaluate what you're willing to accept. I think we were willing to take the risk in Dec when it seemed we had our contingency plans in place. 
Good Luck!
 

Thanks! That’s what we will do… 🤞🏼

That's exactly what we did for our Dec 24th Anthem cruise from Cape Liberty.
We took the antigen test at Shoppers on Wednesday (Dec 22nd) morning and received the results in 30 mins...went home, made copies of it.
We packed up our luggage and drove to the land border, showed our vaccination records, crossed, stayed at a hotel for 2 nights in Jersey city.
Woke up in the morning of Dec 24th, drove to Cape Liberty for our 11:30am check in.
Unfortunately, they were not checking for check in times and people who were in front of us in the line had 12:30pm check in. In the end, it wasn't as long as it looked even though we had to wait outside for awhile.
They checked our Antigen test results for date and name (and of course that it was negative). No issue at all with the the Shoppers results.
 

Reminds me of when my family and I were sitting in the theatre waiting for the show (Anthem Dec 24th cruise). A woman sat down two seats from my son and asked if anyone was sitting there. My son said no. She then proceeded to cough for at least 2 minutes facing my son without even covering her face or turning the other way. After awhile, I looked over since there could have been something seriously wrong with her. But no one came over and she finally stopped when the lights went down. 
It almost seemed like she was just coughing to make us move. She didn't make one coughing noise throughout the 1.5 hr show. 
Needless to say, my son didn't drink the beverage he had set on the side of the coughing woman and just tossed it after the show.
That was the first and only time we heard anyone cough that noticeably. I don't think people notice one or two coughs or sneeze since that could happen for any reason.
I just thought it was strange for someone to sit beside us and start coughing for that long and not seem in distress. I'm glad we had to wear a mask...otherwise, she'd be coughing in our faces.🙄
 
 

Reminds me of when my family and I were sitting in the theatre waiting for the show (Anthem Dec 24th cruise). A woman sat down two seats from my son and asked if anyone was sitting there. My son said no. She then proceeded to cough for at least 2 minutes facing my son without even covering her face or turning the other way. After awhile, I looked over since there could have been something seriously wrong with her. But no one came over and she finally stopped when the lights went down. 
It almost seemed like she was just coughing to make us move. She didn't make one coughing noise throughout the 1.5 hr show. 
Needless to say, my son didn't drink the beverage he had set on the side of the coughing woman and just tossed it after the show.
That was the first and only time we heard anyone cough that noticeably. I don't think people notice one or two coughs or sneeze since that could happen for any reason.
I just thought it was strange for someone to sit beside us and start coughing for that long and not seem in distress. I'm glad we had to wear a mask...otherwise, she'd be coughing in our faces.🙄
 
 

Given all the alerts that have been popping up on my phone over the the last few weeks and days it's pretty clear this one is different.
From sporting events cancelled, games being played with no live audience, state after province after country reporting dramatic increases it seems very reasonable for a minor policy update for an already very safe mode of vacationing - cruising.
Holiday sailings are projected to be very busy, much more busy than we've seen since the restart.  The timing of this variant is pretty lousy with the peak of restart cruising upon us next week.  It stands to reason, all things considered, that something had to change.  Do they start calling people and canceling their cruises to get numbers down?  That wouldn't go over very well.  They can't catch a break.  Something has to change given what we do know and don't know about Omicron.  
A minor mask policy change seems like a pretty reasonable response.
I've sailed other lines during the peak of Delta and some of those lines didn't have the concept of vaccinated venues.  It never occurred to me at the time that those cruises were intolerable because of the mask policy indoors and lack of vaccinated venues.
Like it or not the pandemic isn't over, we are not done with unpopular protocols and the potential for changes down the road.
It could be a lot worse.  The industry could be shut down again if there are major cases on board.  A minor mask policy change is the least we can all do to keep the industry going.  

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 think they are just trying to adapt to the changing covid climate. And it definitely is changing for the worse.
They need to do everything in their power to prove cruising is safe and not get shut down again.
But I do agree they should stay with less capacity. 

I just want to make sure everyone is clear that these policies have nothing to do with CDC guidelines or "government bureaucracy."
Nothing is forcing them to do this. No government is mandating these policies. RCI is doing this because their medically trained health experts, who are tasked with evaluating the efficacy of these types of policies, have determined that this policy will help to ensure safe cruising. This is a decision being made by a private business in the best interest of its future and the safety of its customers and employees. No government body is forcing them to do this.

Well said.  I agree with each and everyone of your posts.  
It sucks, but is is what it is, and Royal is doing what is best to keep everyone safe...even if it means cancellations and angering people.
P.S. - For us, the stricter protocol is a plus in helping us decide whether to go or cancel.

Royal has cruises departing basically every day.  There is no way to announce new immediate effect policy without impacting some people close in.  It seems to me that they did a great job getting you set up pretty well for the relatively small policy change. 

@BrianB, I agree completely with your assessment. For some, I think it is this last minute shift, in a situation we are all weary of, no matter what our level of risk tolerance is.  We personally chose to sail under the previous guidelines and had a truly wonderful cruise, despite the “put on/take off/etc” of the masks indoors.  We personally believe masks are theatre for the most part if they aren’t N95s, but the rules are the rules and we chose to sail, which means to us choosing to observe the guidelines. 🙂  I personally have a lack of tolerance for people who know the rules, choose to go, and choose to break those rules, as if they don’t care that the cruise lines will suffer for their childish behavior.
IF the new guidelines require wearing/removing during meals and drinks in addition to theaters, etc, we would be sad and postpone cruising for a bit if we had one coming up soon.  My husband works in food manufacturing, 12.5 hour shifts, in a mask. For him, that wouldn’t be a vacation. So, for us, we would choose to wait. For others, it won’t bother them, and they would choose to sail. As you and I both know, both are personal decisions, and neither is wrong.  So many have no tolerance for choices different from their own, which leads to the bickering on social media. 
I think it’s great that RCI is sailing again, and they allow cancellations for situations like this. 🙂 Not many vacations you can say the same for.
Hopefully the current drama over Omicron will prove to be wrong, and Omicron will be one more step toward exiting a pandemic. Hopefully, THIS will become COVID’s last hurrah. (Wouldn’t that be great?) 

I posted this to another forum but I think I’ll post it here, also. I don’t like masks…I don’t think anyone really does (with the exception of Batman and the Lone Ranger) but it is what it is. The cruise industry is still transitioning from total shut down to taking baby steps…all while under the microscope of unrelenting scrutiny, fair and unfair, of the media and political appointees. I knew this transition would be flexible and fraught with change, for good and bad, and decided I will enjoy my cruises.
 
It’s not only the passenger’s health being protected…but it’s the crew…and with the crew, the business.
Remember, the crew has to wear masks virtually all the time. Especially when near passengers. They are all completely vaccinated with the addition of boosters and they have to remain on the ship. Shore leave is cancelled. Any infection would likely be carried aboard by a passenger or contractor. As the Hotel Director just told me…if one crew member gets infected, then contact tracing results in a whole group or section of the crew being quarantined as a precaution. That’s what happened to the entire entertainment crew on the November 8th cruise…and that spilled over to the November 14th cruise. Doesn’t matter whether they have symptoms, test negative, are asymptomatic or not. If he loses a few to infection, then the amount of crew being quarantined multiplies. With that comes a lack of personnel to operate a cruise. Cancellations would follow.
As masking is supposed to be good at stopping the infection (droplets) from leaving an infected person…it’s makes sense to me that they try this reasonable step to protect the health of the other passengers in general…and the crew…and the business.
Inconvenient but understandable. Just my opinion.

Jesus. This whole thread is ridiculous. When it comes down to it, we are talking about the option of going on a vacation. A lot of people in the world don’t even get the opportunity to do that. I am about to go on my first cruise on Sunday post COVID.  I’ll sleep with a mask on if they want me to at this point.