jticarruthers

Okay, so right now the unvaccinated do still need a PCR test, but do not any longer have to test at the port or on board at the five day mark.
 

I read it that they are going in that direction but havent figured out the mechanics of how, so they are announcing the change without really announcing the change.

No "calling out" of those wearing masks but definitely in the minority. If you are more comfortable that's what matters.

I read it that they are going in that direction but havent figured out the mechanics of how, so they are announcing the change without really announcing the change.

Big step in the right direction !  Now….testing needs to go, too !

I've gotten confirmation and it's official: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/07/29/royal-caribbean-will-allow-unvaccinated-passengers-cruise-ships-early-august

I read it that they are going in that direction but havent figured out the mechanics of how, so they are announcing the change without really announcing the change.

Since I'm dying to cruise again I went ahead and booked a cruise for January in the hopes that all the mandates will be gone (but since it's out of Galveston I am willing to take a test). I think my dozen FCCs will be ready to use again by September and I can apply those to the cruise. I did specifically ask her about my September cruise (which is currently pending an exemption request). She said that I will no longer need the exemption request in September, but that I would have to take a test (either PCR or antigen) before the cruise. She said kids under 12 would need to take a PCR, but since we are all 12+ then we can pick.
I'm not hanging my hat on this, but she sounded like she'd been given this information, so hopefully we'll be cruising next month. I'll let you know!

Okay...promise not type anything that will get me censored. 😉  Let me repeat, I    love this blog and interaction and would enjoy sharing a beverage with any of you....AND I    hope to.  Wouldn't it be great to share a bunch of in person laughs together??!!  Even ones that have different perspectives.  We would be on a cruise ship!  Nobody is in a bad mood on a cruise ship!
From the article:
"One of the calculations that we have is about 40% of all of the folks that are sitting on the byline. So people who've been waiting for the protocols to change."
I bet a huge part of the 40% they calculated are actually waiting for VAX requirements and Testing to drop. They are turning the valve a bit to see how much of it flows before taking the next step.  You can't continue to treat vax and unvax different for long.  I    think there is a HUGE contingent like WAAAYTOOO that won't bite until it is all dropped.  

IF any cruise line starts allowing a bunch of unvaccinated Floridians onboard, I wil NOT cruise on that cruise or cruise line.  I know a whole lot of other people who would stay away as well.
I want to cruise on ships that MINIMIZE the chances of an onboard Covid outbreak.  I do NOT want my cruise ruined by having most of the ports on the itinerary deny access because of Covid status or Covid numbers. I have been on five cruises so far during the pandemic era and all five cruises required all passengers to be vaccinated (or close to it--allowing very rare and unavoidable exceptions at best on one or two of them)...and none have been stricken by Covid outbreaks.
But, were the Florida authorities to get their ignorant way with this thing, we'd likely have OUR cruise ruined.
If your unvaccinated friends really want to cruise, it is EASY:  GET VACCINATED.  It is SAFE.  It is the right thing to do.
Yes, they have the "right" to not be vaccinated.  But they don't have the right to force that risk on others.  Just like they have the right to get drunkk...but they don't have the right to get drunk AND get behind the wheel of a car and impose the risks they've elected to take on others.
They might, for some strange reason, want to take the risks of being without vaccination...but they don't have the right to force some of those risks on everyone else on their cruise.

No "calling out" of those wearing masks but definitely in the minority. If you are more comfortable that's what matters.

It has gotten better but my first couple of times out of Canaveral were easily 10+ times. Felt like you had to keep showing your results just to stay in the line.

It has gotten better but my first couple of times out of Canaveral were easily 10+ times. Felt like you had to keep showing your results just to stay in the line.

🎉🎊🤗

Its a start, one less thing to have to deal with pre-cruise and should really speed up the check-in process since we wont have to show and check the results over and over ...

No "calling out" of those wearing masks but definitely in the minority. If you are more comfortable that's what matters.

Its a start, one less thing to have to deal with pre-cruise and should really speed up the check-in process since we wont have to show and check the results over and over ...

As indicated by Frank, its about an hour each way in good conditions, likely to be a bit longer trying to get back "in the evening".
Up to you to decide if spending +/- 4 hours at some combination of the destinations you listed is worth it

If I am feeling healthy, not really.
I never used to test myself for any other diseases/illnesses just to see if I had them, not sure why I would want to with this one going forward.

I don't really count as "Loyal to Royal" anymore but I would probably jump in a heartbeat since I have a decent pool of people that want to cruise but cant ... the group on Carnival wins over "Loyal to Royal" without a doubt.

Multiple answers that would get the thread locked deleted.
Suffice it to say we disagree on the value/purpose of testing.

Note I said "If feeling healthy" ...

I would not feel guilty if I went on a cruise feeling perfectly healthy.

I hear ya but inevitably people would test when they got home and then bellyache on message boards about how they contracted rona aboard the thoughtless cruise ship. Wait, that’s already happening. 😜