BrianAlt

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.  

so you wear a mask a tad longer...

Please keep the discussion on cruise line policy, not Covid in general. Thank you

YOU think YOURSELF too importantly, I don’t think YOU can represent all cruise lovers, at least not my family. We support this mask mandate as we just disembarked yesterday from Symphony, which has at least 44 confirmed case. Like the other said, the cruise industry supports hundreds of thousands jobs and families. Their jobs and their families and more important than what you feel comfortable or not wearing a mask.

On the Anthem...day 8 of a 12 day cruise...
Although the Cruise Compass for today still has the original mask policy...'Vaccinated may remove masks in vaccinated-only venues'...today the pre-show announcements have changed. Now all guests are to remain masked during the shows. Also, as we pulled out of St. Lucia, the captain told us that we must remember to wear our masks whenever we are indoors. I'll check the casino...after the show!
Also, I haven't noticed passengers going around unmasked. If there are, then they're few and far between. I appreciate when people follow the rules that they agreed to follow. But then again, on this cruise, I noticed quite a few people who remained masked even when they didn't have to. Most seem to just take it in stride and are enjoying their cruise. Me too!
Update; Still optional mask wearing in the Casino…and other venues. So far it seems only Two70 changed. I guess they’re doing it slowly…or just waiting until after this cruise.
 

Just an FYI but it’s been reported that Symphony has 50 cases from the sailing that docked this morning. Embarkation has been delayed by 2 1/2 hours for today’s sailing. This is why the masking has changed. 
 
50 cases is something to worry Royal. We’ve got Delta surging up north with Omicron on its heels. 
 
I don’t blame Royal for changing policy immediately. They can’t afford to shut down again. 
 
I do think though that increased capacity happened too soon. Especially with it being winter. 

I received an email directly from Royal announcing the mask protocol change for my New Years Eve cruise. It wasn't hidden and I didn't have to go looking for it. I never had any concern about transparency because I know change (good and bad) during these difficult times is inevitable and may be effective immediately. I expect it, look for it, and am ready to deal with it. If I wasn't, I would find something else to do until things settle...but everything seems to be affected right now. Why should I expect cruising to be different...
I'm on the Anthem now in the middle of a 12 night cruise...6 nights to go. There has been no change to the current masking policy. I'm hoping it stays that way. If it changes...I change. Whatever I have to do to keep cruising!

I think this is all a bit overblown. All they are doing is adding a few extra rooms where you have to wear your mask INDOORS. One is in a dark theatre, the other is in a smoky casino.  So avoid the casino and sneak a few deep breaths with your mask down while people are watching the show. 
When your job changes the rules, do you also throw a fit? Probably not if you want to keep your job. This is no different. 
I think Royal has been the most understanding and accommodating organization in regards to their customers needs and wants...giving back money, giving you incentives to stay. I mean come on. 
Change is going to happen!! (it's always Last Minute to someone)
And if there is a medical reason you or your loved one can't wear a mask all the time, then get a medical exception. 
Much ado about nothing. 🙄

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.

Please keep this thread directly related to cruising. This is not the place to debate covid/vaccines/effectiveness of masking etc. And yes, mods are biased, to cruising. 🙂

They had this policy when I last sailed in October in Europe. It honestly isn’t that bad. If you were at your table with intension to order you could take your mask off. It says actively eating or drinking but they aren’t mandating after every bite or sip. They’re basically doing away with the vaccinated areas where they exist.  We had no vaccinated areas onboard our cruise. If you got up to walk somewhere you put it on. I didn’t feel it impacted my holiday. I’m sure you’ll still have a great time!

Not sure why people are so mad with this. Very little is being changed in comparison with what they already had. 
The only difference is that you can't take your mask off once seated for an indoor entertainment. Not a big deal. Everything regarding outdoors is still the same. 
I'd prefer cruise companies to keep sailing rather than have an enormous amounts of omicron outbreaks and CDC shut them down again. 

I totally understand why everyone here is upset, but I wish you would just step back and understand why they're doing this. They're fully aware there are people out there like you who would be upset about this. They have plenty of people calling them right now complaining. When they made this decision I'm sure they had a pretty accurate approximation in mind of the revenue they'd lose over the next few weeks by instilling this policy. They know they will lose bookings over this. They've baked that into this decision.
However, their (very) educated decision -- as the people who lead this industry and know more about it than we ever could -- is that this policy will do more to keep cruising (and the public's perception of cruising) safe than the negative effect of people cancelling right now. I understand also that some people here think masks do not work. Unfortunately for those people, RCI listens to their full-time medical staff, who are medically trained doctors whose full-time job is to evaluate the efficacy of masks and other safety measures on cruising. It's a pretty specific job that they dedicate their life to. And those educated individuals (along with other business executives more concerned with finances and long-term viabilty of the company and industry) have determined this policy will help them continue to cruise safety. 
The executives at RCI don't give a crap about politics. They care about what's going to allow them to succeed now and years and decades into the future. That's why these decisions are made. 
That said, I think anyone with a cruise between now and Jan. 5 should absolutely be provided the opportunity to make changes to their itinerary if they don't wish to cruise under this policy. 

They will definitely extend it beyond that. Just the initial announcement. 

Just remember: This isn't about you or your vacation. This industry cannot stomach a huge outbreak right now. It could kill them if they can't continue to prove that cruising is safe. We should understand that they know more about this than we do (these cruise execs have spent their lives focused on this for the past 22 months), and if they think it'll help they're probably right. At least more so than we can claim to know.
They are FULLY aware that people don't like wearing masks and that it drives down demand to make people wear masks any more than they have to. They know this will cause people to cancel. So obviously they feel this is necessary or they wouldn't do it. 

Great summaries!

Thank you for posting that excellent review!

This is a bit dated by now, but I still like it...
The Almost Complete Food Lovers Guide to the Oasis of the Seas
Edit:
We were on Oasis in October.  Portside BBQ was very good!  Worth the small upcharge.

This is a bit dated by now, but I still like it...
The Almost Complete Food Lovers Guide to the Oasis of the Seas
Edit:
We were on Oasis in October.  Portside BBQ was very good!  Worth the small upcharge.

Sorry! 😓I feel silly now.. I thought you were talking about health insurance.. Sigh.
No, we are on Independence for 4 day cruise.

I always park in the lot.  It's not cheap, but also not ridiculous.  The biggest factor is that the convenience is absolutely worth it.
Our last names perhaps?  Part of mine at least.
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@Ampurp85& @JLMoran - another big D&D player from back in the day.

I always park in the lot.  It's not cheap, but also not ridiculous.  The biggest factor is that the convenience is absolutely worth it.
Our last names perhaps?  Part of mine at least.
____________________________________________
@Ampurp85& @JLMoran - another big D&D player from back in the day.

I work in LIC.  I am going here for my test: https://www.clearmdhealth.com/astoria  I also thought about going here: https://www.citymd.com/urgent-care-locations/ny/queens/long-island-city/252, but I hear the lines can be very long.  There are also several CVSes in the area where you can schedule a test.
Plus the at-home option is a good one as @Mattsaid.

We have Chef's Table booked for Christmas Day.  Price was normal.

Plan my next cruise(s)!