Costa Safety Protocol ... A View To RCG's Future ?

[princevaliantus]

And your thoughts???

https://www.costacruises.com/cruising-soon-again/safety-above-all.html?fbclid=IwAR1QltEoW4e7JlbtYG-rQdtZXX9fOWpRQyQ5s0J5wQ_i3d0SN7ODg8tasRE

[CruisinForABruisin]

I can't wait to see the average cruiser age to drop like 40 years with mask mandates and menus only accessible by smart phones.  Bring it on!

[twangster]

All steps in the right direction and nothing surprising.  With more and more European lines leading the way hopefully everyone will get on board with the changes required to allow cruising to restart.   

I always have my phone with me on board so QR codes work.  I can see some eye rolls and complaints from those that dislike having to carry a phone on vacation.  

[CruisinForABruisin]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

All steps in the right direction and nothing surprising.  With more and more European lines leading the way hopefully everyone will get on board with the changes required to allow cruising to restart.   

I always have my phone with me on board so QR codes work.  I can see some eye rolls and complaints from those that dislike having to carry a phone on vacation.  

I love the QR menus that have been implemented. I dont usually have my phone on me during cruises, but i won't mind having it for just the meal. More likely than not, ill just know what I want before I go to the restaurant 

[twangster]

2 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

I love the QR menus that have been implemented. I dont usually have my phone on me during cruises, but i won't mind having it for just the meal. More likely than not, ill just know what I want before I go to the restaurant 

Maybe they add a "QR" channel to the cabin TVs.  Scan menus in your cabin and know what you want before getting to the restaurant.  

[Dad2Cue]

It all sounds doable.  I think that I will still be polite and let someone else go ahead of me.

[joshgates]

The more lines I see releasing their protocols/guidelines the more optimistic I get that cruising will return sooner rather than later.

One thing that did stand out for me was that they're asking you to only eat with people in the same booking, which makes sense.  Since I mostly travel solo sometimes I find it fun to request a larger table to see who I meet, looks like those days are gone for awhile  

QR codes and reduced occupancy I'm looking forward to though.

[twangster]

30 minutes ago, Dad2Cue said:

It all sounds doable.  I think that I will still let someone else go ahead of me.

A side benefit of Europe cruises starting earlier than American cruises.  We can learn from their success but also from their mistakes.    

[Andy & Sheryl Unwin]

Sheryl and I used QR menus at a restuarant recently, and I have to say it was childs play.  We dont have issues with that in any way and it is a small price to pay to be at sea

[WAAAYTOOO]

We never carry our phones around on the ship but carrying a phone around would be a small price to pay if that's what it takes.

I also agree that having brave souls go before us is very helpful...and from what I can see/hear, it seems to be going well.

I was very VERY happy to read that they were only requiring masks on land. That is a HUGE deal, if you ask me !

[CruisinForABruisin]

26 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We never carry our phones around on the ship but carrying a phone around would be a small price to pay if that's what it takes.

I also agree that having brave souls go before us is very helpful...and from what I can see/hear, it seems to be going well.

I was very VERY happy to read that they were only requiring masks on land. That is a HUGE deal, if you ask me !

They said, "just as on land", when in public areas while on board, protective masks must be worn.  Luckily, masks will be required at all times except for dining and in your room.

[FionaMG]

I have never used a QR code but I'm pretty sure I can learn. Not sure about my technologically-challenged DH though! 

[jaredhamburg]

11 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

They said, "just as on land", when in public areas while on board, protective masks must be worn.  Luckily, masks will be required at all times except for dining and in your room.

I hope this is clarified by Royal Caribbean if they require masks.  Costa's site seems to be vague about the Lido deck and being in a gym in relations to mask usage (places where masks would inhibit oxygen consumption when needed by your body).  I really hope it is not that inclusive.

This is a deal breaker for many people (both ways) for many vacationers, so I hope there is good clarity no matter which way it falls (fingers crossed for the least masking possible).

[cruisellama]

Ever since the on-board app was deployed I've carried my phone because it keeps the activities calendarized and you can use your phone as a key (on some ships).  But its a mixed bag, at the same time I don't like lugging a phone  BUT I do need to lug around a camera so guess its a fair trade.   Some on-board trivia games are also be piped to phones which can also add to their usefulness on-board.

[CruisinForABruisin]

2 minutes ago, jaredhamburg said:

I hope this is clarified by Royal Caribbean if they require masks.  Costa's site seems to be vague about the Lido deck and being in a gym in relations to mask usage (places where masks would inhibit oxygen consumption when needed by your body).  I really hope it is not that inclusive.

This is a deal breaker for many people (both ways) for many vacationers, so I hope there is good clarity no matter which way it falls (fingers crossed for the least masking possible).

Masks don't inhibit oxygen consumption, that has been debunked. Bring on the masks!

[cruisellama]

Ever since the on-board app was deployed I've carried my phone because it keeps the activities calendarized and you can use your phone as a key (on some ships).  But its a mixed bag, at the same time I don't like lugging a phone  BUT I do need to lug around a camera so guess its a fair trade.   Some on-board trivia games are also be piped to phones which can also add to their usefulness on-board.

[jaredhamburg]

22 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

Masks don't inhibit oxygen consumption, that has been debunked. Bring on the masks!

Actually, anyone with a breathing issue / trouble breathing is told not to wear masks (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html#:~:text=CDC recommends all people 2,know that they are infected.).  Why would that be if they do not inhibit breathing?  I know where you are coming from with much of MSM telling us masks are good and all, but they must inhibit breathing to a large enough degree to tell people like that not to wear them.

[CruisinForABruisin]

18 minutes ago, jaredhamburg said:

Actually, anyone with a breathing issue / trouble breathing is told not to wear masks (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html#:~:text=CDC recommends all people 2,know that they are infected.).  Why would that be if they do not inhibit breathing?  I know where you are coming from with much of MSM telling us masks are good and all, but they must inhibit breathing to a large enough degree to tell people like that not to wear them.

Stay home if you have health issues then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

 

or a more comedic example 

 

[jaredhamburg]

4 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

Stay home if you have health issues than ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

 

or a more comedic example 

 

Oh, I agree.  People with health issues should stay home if they feel at risk.  The world should not shut down for a small subset.

[CruisinForABruisin]

3 minutes ago, jaredhamburg said:

Oh, I agree.  People with health issues should stay home if they feel at risk.  The world should not shut down for a small subset.

Yupp, those anti maskers can go pound sand, and find their own cruise line 

[jaredhamburg]

4 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

Yupp, those anti maskers can go pound sand, and find their own cruise line 

I will be curious to see what Royal Caribbean releases.  Neither of us are on the health panel, and I doubt that anyone of the panel could give a care to either of our opinions. 

I am just hoping for some sanity and for this to be over as soon as possible.  That way, people can possibly go back to being somewhat civil (fingers crossed against all odds).

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

They said, "just as on land", when in public areas while on board, protective masks must be worn.  Luckily, masks will be required at all times except for dining and in your room.

Thanks for the correction.  I didn't catch that.

[Floski]

Speaking of health issues - someone get pasty runner dude a samitch!

[Leroyr55]

Well folks I’m totally taken back by some of these comments. My wife is high risk COPD and missing half a lung. And guess what her employer considers her essential and she cannot work from home. She has not missed one day of work. And she wears a mask wherever one is required and including work. And she is looking forward to our May cruise. 

[SpeedNoodles]

I'm don't love wearing a mask, but even with my bronchial issues, I know it's not actually hindering me.  And then I look at athletes who are working and breathing hard while wearing a mask and I never complain again, lol

 

[Andy & Sheryl Unwin]

Like many, Sheryl and I dislike the masks, but accept them as a necessary part of life and dont complain about them. Similarly, we are each always in possession of our cell phones when onboard. The built in cameras are great for still and video captures, we are able to make notes about members of staff for later complimenting and rewarding, and to keep in touch with each other while we are apart. (using a messenger app, not a cell connection with associated roaming fees)

All in all, we are in favour of whatever gets us back to cruising, no matter what hoops we all have to jump through, and we know there will be some, our time onboard is worth it.