Face masks at sea.

[CHRIS WONG]

As a crew member, I am always intrigued by hearing your opinions on wearing a mask on your next cruise vacation.

 

I honestly thought the majority of people would be fine with this new rule now. Personally, I have no issues wearing a mask and have enjoyed ways to make them fashionable.

 

Will you wear a mask, now that we know for sure, we will most definitely be required to wear one on your next cruise vacation?

 

 

[HeWhoWaits]

More relevant - will people schedule cruises while a mask is required of them.

My wife - yes.

Me - not a chance.

[Matt]

Yes.

Like many topics, people who disagree tend to be more vocal online than those that agree, which is why I think you see some strong opinions on the matter.

[Snotarni]

Yes indeed

[bhageerah]

At this point I really do not want to wear one while on a cruise, but if it meant that I would be able to relax on a cruise ship again, I would wear one.  I will say that the requirement would make having a balcony room far more important than before! Being able to grab some food and go back to the room (or have room service deliver it) and just sit out there and relax would be good enough for me.  I would spend some time around the ship and would wear a mask but I would also truly appreciate the time away from the public and on the balcony.  

[teddy]

I wear one every day at work, and it's a physical job.  

At this point, I've become used to wearing a mask.  If I have to wear a mask on vacation, so be it.

 

To be honest, the only thing that really bothers me about wearing a mask is when we get customers in the store who have made wearing a mask the hill they're gonna make their patriotic last stand on......they come up to us and tell us how we're sheep for wearing a mask.   My usual response is "My mask is for your protection not mine.  I'm in close contact with 100s of clueless people each day I'm here....how close do you want to get to me??"
 

[Ian T]

I'm on the fence... masks are required pretty much everywhere except in the cabin and whilst eating/drinking or in the pool. Now I eat as much - OK, likely more!  - as the next person whilst cruising, but I am not a really a water baby and with so much to do on board we are rarely in the cabin. This is leaves a lot of time wearing a mask and I wonder whether it will end up feeling too oppressive.

I should say that I am lucky enough to be able to work from my home office (and have been since March) so have not had to wear a mask for a prolonged period of time - as to whether I want to start doing this on a cruise, the jury is out... but I SOOOO want to cruise again!    

[Frank Brealin]

Do we have to wear them outside?

[Ian T]

4 minutes ago, Frank Brealin said:

Do we have to wear them outside?

Unless you are in the pool, largely yes.

[Jax]

Based on the current mask policy, no.  Having said that though, our bigger issue remains our closed borders and quarantine act. 
 

[Ogilthorpe]

I will treat cruises the same as other places or businesses that require masks: I will avoid them until this passes.

 

[Lovetocruise2002]

I have zero issues wearing a mask in all public areas.  Hubby works in healthcare.  He wears a mask daily.  Kids wear a mask at school.  If wearing a mask in public areas means that we can get sailing again and keep others safe, then we have zero issues with it.  My biggest issue (as I have said from the start) is our closed borders and 14 day quarantine.

[MKMAJ1]

I don't have a problem wearing a mask. I wear one everywhere else- why would it stop me from going on vacation? As Lovetocruise and others have mentioned, the biggest issue remains port closures and quarantines. 

[Zacharius]

I definitely don't mind wearing a mask. I still fly regularly and am used to having them on for many hours at a time. 

But I wouldn't want to wear one on vacation, so I would choose not to take a cruise with a mask mandate/recommendation and would instead stick to what I have been doing this year - more outdoorsy, socially distanced vacations. 

[GregD]

I have no problems wearing a mask.

[melmar02]

I might, but DH would not. I'm not allowed to cruise without him, so I guess I am out.

[mrp4352]

I would rather wear a mask and get to go on vacation than stay at home!  If wearing a mask helps keep others safe, then it's a small price to pay - and it won't change the view of the sunset at sea!

[DandA]

I don't have a problem with wearing the mask.  My concern is will i be able find a seat to enjoy the Schooner Bar and other night clubs.

[cruisellama]

For these early and test cruises sure.. My only concern is mask tan lines.

 

[Joe01]

I admit to really disliking masks as it is and actually feel that they are of negligible benefit at best in day to day life, especially if people are rummaging through their pockets to get one for going into a shop or onto a train etc. 

I am fortunate not to live in a country where it is required to wear face coverings outside. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I don't understand why and it would be a detriment to my cruise enjoyment if I'm being honest. We've had a lot of outdoor gatherings in the UK such as protests and gatherings on beaches and they've made basically no difference to case numbers so it just seems dictatorial to make people wear them outside.

[sk8erguy1978]

In the beginning I was less than thrilled about the idea of mask on vacation. Now, seeing as our next cruise is September, sure I'd wear a mask. I'm past all that and accept it's part of daily life. I just didn't like wearing them, that is it nothing more, again past that.

As others have said it's quarantine and where cases are for us. We cancelled a mini vacation because of quarantine rules and rising cases.

[DunkelBierJay]

I am prepared to cancel or kick the can down the road if masks are going to be required on my next sailing. I have two medical issues that make it difficult to function with one on, so I just isolate myself like anyone who has been deemed persona non grata.

[Floski]

What Bhageerah said.

[KWong]

If I'm being honest I don't like wearing masks. 
 

However it's something I've gotten used to doing. Even when I'm at the gym I wear one unless I'm doing cardio on the elliptical. 
 

So if I need to wear one whilst on vacation, so be it. 

[Traveler]

If that what will allow me to cruise I will not have a problem wearing a mask , same for my spouse. We are leaving in a country were it's require to wear a mask everywhere beside when doing outdoor sport activitys.  I wear it at work (beside when I am seating alone in the office) . The only thing that bother me is the fog  that starts sometimes over my eyeglasses . I also believe in wearing mask as my brother was attending a meeting for one hour in a conference room with many people all wearing masks , a day after the meeting it was found that one of the participants tested positive  with C19 , noon of the other participants were infected and they all been tested twice in a two weeks period. 

[bretts173]

6 hours ago, Joe01 said:

I admit to really disliking masks as it is and actually feel that they are of negligible benefit at best in day to day life, especially if people are rummaging through their pockets to get one for going into a shop or onto a train etc. 

I am fortunate not to live in a country where it is required to wear face coverings outside. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I don't understand why and it would be a detriment to my cruise enjoyment if I'm being honest. We've had a lot of outdoor gatherings in the UK such as protests and gatherings on beaches and they've made basically no difference to case numbers so it just seems dictatorial to make people wear them outside.

Maybe if they did wear masks it would have made a difference. I thought the target was to reduce numbers not keep them the same.

I will wear a mask if that is what is required. I am lucky to live in a country that does not need masks now (not one that doesnt require you to wear one)

[L454S]

Not a chance. I don't wear one here, why would I pay lots of money to wear one? Y'all enjoy yourselves.

[Joe01]

3 hours ago, bretts173 said:

Maybe if they did wear masks it would have made a difference. I thought the target was to reduce numbers not keep them the same.

I don't know if you understand my post - people not wearing masks outside has had no difference on case rates. In fact, cases continued to go down after many of these outdoor protests. And people do wear masks in shops/trains because it's enforced. Again, made no difference and actually I think have made people less hygienic.

The things that have reduced case numbers are measures in hospitals & care homes plus not allowing visits to other homes. 

Mandating masks in places like Spain have done no good. They're useless and I think they're being promoted for political reasons only.

[VACruiser]

I have to wear a mask at work when not sitting at my desk and I have become accustomed to wearing one; but, I don’t think I would be interested on going on a cruise if it were required. I expect my vacation to be a relaxing period of time and wearing a face covering while sitting at the pool just seems the opposite of relaxation.
 

It will be funny when face tans everywhere but the nose down to your lips becomes the new fad.  

[WAAAYTOOO]

5 hours ago, KWong said:

If I'm being honest I don't like wearing masks. 
 

However it's something I've gotten used to doing. Even when I'm at the gym I wear one unless I'm doing cardio on the elliptical. 
 

So if I need to wear one whilst on vacation, so be it. 

I agree. Except for the whole “gym” thing.  

[PaulRC]

NO!

If everyone or most everyone is inoculated then why would we need to keep wearing masks?  Plus if masks are so effective why is the covid number still rising.  Masks do help I understand but not to the point to mandate it everywhere, even after the "shot"

[monctonguy]

Yeah..I wont be travelling anywhere that masks are required. They are annoying, uncomfortable, cant eat, cant drink, cant smoke, hard to talk/hear people and those aren't even any potential medical issues with them.

 

Maybe for the first few cruises while they are still being started up and not everyone is vaccinated yet, but I expect any company that wants my $$ once this pandemic is over, no way in hell I will support your business if you think masks are the "new normal"

 

 

 

[PaulRC]

Remember it is only the "new norm" if the people allow it to be!

[HeWhoWaits]

16 hours ago, bhageerah said:

At this point I really do not want to wear one while on a cruise, but if it meant that I would be able to relax on a cruise ship again, I would wear one.  

There's the rub - I would not be able to relax appropriately to justify the expense of the cruise. My relaxation doesn't come in the form of sitting around in the cabin/on the balcony or hanging out in the casino for hours on end. I am active and outside most of the time. Masks required while on deck is a 100% deal breaker for me.

[Jolly Ogre]

I have said it before and I will say it again.

 

NO!

 

I am in the medical field and I clearly understand all the ramifications and I will not travel on VACATION if masks are required. And I will advise all my patients as to the same.

Until there is a viable approved vaccine and it has been widely distributed to the general public and it all gets back to normal I will not cruise.

[SpeedNoodles]

14 hours ago, Joe01 said:

. I could understand wearing one indoors such as at the buffet or in the promenade but all outdoor areas is taking the michael in my opinion especially if physical distancing is involved. I

Please explain to this stupid American what "taking the michael" means.

[twangster]

Could I wear a mask on a cruise?  I could.  Do I want to wear a mask on a cruise?  No.

The bigger issue for me is not being able to self explore.  If I can fly somewhere and I'm allowed to be a tourist (while wearing a mask) why can't I on a cruise?  

The requirement to only take ship excursions and never leave the ship otherwise makes the mask question irrelevant to me.  That is not how I want to travel on vacation.

  Welcome to the Hotel California.  You can check in any time you like but you can never leave.  

 

[BrianB]

I understand everyone has an opinion on wearing masks...most based on science and metrics...and there is more than enough personal preference and reasoning on either side of the argument...

...but...

To answer your question, Chris...yes. If wearing a mask will allow me to cruise again, I will wear a mask. Whether I agree or disagree with the effectiveness of wearing one doesn’t matter. If that’s the condition to get back to sea...so be it.

[Momof4crazytocruise]

They will greatly interfere with my drink package - but if I have to wear one to get to go on vacation, I will wear one. There are bigger, worthy hills to die on these days. Now get me on a damn boat!

I agree with Twangster that the bigger issue is not being able to leave this ship without a booked excursion. All I can say is, they better start contracting with all the places I want to go! 

[Joe01]

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Please explain to this stupid American what "taking the michael" means.

It's a commonwealth idiom - basically means that they are making a fool out of something. In the context of what I'd said in the earlier post, I feel that they are making a fool out of actual rules to prevent COVID by mandating outdoor mask usage.