How would a vaccine AND mask mandate affect your decision to cruise?

[Matt]

A reminder this thread is about going on a cruise

[Flopper]

7 minutes ago, Matt said:

A reminder this thread is about going on a cruise

Are masks not an issue that has to do with cruising, Matt?

 

I think now multiple states lifting their mask mandate is newsworthy for the thread and cruising as a whole. I’m confused on why there would need to be a reminder here. 

[twangster]

[jticarruthers]

Originally I was heavy on the side of team "I don't care as long as I am on a cruise" but as I actually sat and thought it through I am drifting towards the no side of the fence.

My original logic formed before the vaccine rollout and at that point wearing the mask seemed like a reasonable extension of what we see every day (side note the level of mask wearing proposed on board exceeds that required by State of Florida, but still reasonable so ok).

Throwing in the 100% vaccination requirement, although it doesn't change what the impact of wearing a mask on my daily activities/cruise enjoyment would be, does the change the "why". The whole point of 100% vaccination in my mind would be so that you wouldn't have to have heavy mask/distancing requirements.

At this point I would probably pass on the cruise under those conditions and hit a Florida hotel/resort where I can enjoy the pool without a mask, head to the restaurant/bar without a mask (while seated at table or bar) and do a Disney/Universal day (with mask), rather than a cruise ship where I have to mask pool side, mask everywhere else, only take masked ship provided excursions, etc. all while being around a reduced capacity group of people that have all had to prove they are vaccinated already.

One restriction or the other sure, but both just seems like overkill.

 

 

[DD474]

18 hours ago, Flopper said:

Are masks not an issue that has to do with cruising, Matt?

 

I think now multiple states lifting their mask mandate is newsworthy for the thread and cruising as a whole. I’m confused on why there would need to be a reminder here. 

108 migrants released by Border Patrol in Texas test positive for coronavirus, officials say

Texas city says it doesn't have authority to prevent migrants who test positive from traveling elsewhere

[DD474]

6 minutes ago, DD474 said:

108 migrants released by Border Patrol in Texas test positive for coronavirus, officials say

Texas city says it doesn't have authority to prevent migrants who test positive from traveling elsewhere

Guess which port my family and I will not be sailing out of. 

[Zurc]

37 minutes ago, DD474 said:

108 migrants released by Border Patrol in Texas test positive for coronavirus, officials say

Texas city says it doesn't have authority to prevent migrants who test positive from traveling elsewhere

Can you please provide a link to the source article?  Thanks!

[Zurc]

On 3/1/2021 at 1:13 PM, Flopper said:

Just being curious, if and when the no sail order is lifted, how would a vaccine and a mask mandate onboard affect your decision to cruise again? I'm very interested in seeing how things play out in Israel, I think their protocols will almost mirror the protocols for the U.S. 

if vaccine required, fully vaccinated ship, I would  not expect to see mandatory mask use.  This assumes all adults and crew vaccinated.  
 

IMO, only use for masks onboard under those conditions, would be if kids are not vaccinated.  The kids should be required to wear masks to prevent themselves from being exposed by another unvaccinated youth . 

[Matt]

19 hours ago, Flopper said:

Are masks not an issue that has to do with cruising, Matt?

This thread is about wearing a mask and getting a vaccine to cruise, not a discussion of what the state of Texas (or any state) is doing about masks for its residents.

[DD474]

1 hour ago, Zurc said:

Can you please provide a link to the source article?  Thanks!

The New York Post.

FOX NEWS

Yahoo/News 

NBCnews.com

Felipe Romero, a spokesperson for Brownsville, said Wednesday that the 108 positives represent 6.3% of the number of total migrants who have been rapid-tested at the city’s main bus station, where they are being released by the Border Patrol. Rapid testing of the individuals began there on Jan. 25. 

He added that Brownsville does not have the authority to prevent those who test positive from traveling elsewhere in the U.S. -- and are advising them to quarantine, follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and socially distance

[Zurc]

Matt,

Sorry I asked for the link of DD474 above.  You are right - it has nothing to do with cruising.  You can delete that post if you like.

Thanks!

[DD474]

15 minutes ago, Zurc said:

Matt,

Sorry I asked for the link of DD474 above.  You are right - it has nothing to do with cruising.  You can delete that post if you like.

Thanks!

The Port of Galveston TX would not be a safe port to board or exit a cruise ship at the moment.  (Wear a Mask). 

 

[Matt]

20 hours ago, Flopper said:

I think now multiple states lifting their mask mandate is newsworthy for the thread and cruising as a whole. I’m confused on why there would need to be a reminder here. 

First, that news relates to the residents of those states.

Second, and more importantly, these sort of "discussions" always end up with anti-mask/wear a mask debates. It's a third rail of message board discussions. Every time.

[DD474]

1 hour ago, Matt said:

First, that news relates to the residents of those states.

Second, and more importantly, these sort of "discussions" always end up with anti-mask/wear a mask debates. It's a third rail of message board discussions. Every time.

You are correct.  My Mistake.   

Growing up in Boston, seeing the 3rd rail on the Red line... I know what you mean. 

[Zurc]

1 hour ago, Zurc said:

Matt,

Sorry I asked for the link of DD474 above.  You are right - it has nothing to do with cruising.  You can delete that post if you like.

Thanks!

Matt, I meant you can delete my post - not DD474's post  I am sorry for the confusion. If my post is not relevant to cruising, by all means delete it. Thanks for all you do

[smokeybandit]

10 hours ago, Zurc said:

if vaccine required, fully vaccinated ship, I would  not expect to see mandatory mask use.  This assumes all adults and crew vaccinated.  
 

IMO, only use for masks onboard under those conditions, would be if kids are not vaccinated.  The kids should be required to wear masks to prevent themselves from being exposed by another unvaccinated youth . 

Spread by kids is extremely minimal.  The flu is a much more of a threat to kids than covid.

[Jax]

If a vaccine will allow me to cruise, fly on a plane and bypass quarantine upon my return to Canada I will probably do it. I hope the availability of vaccines in Canada will be available for me, hubby and son before our scheduled cruise next spring. With our province recently extending 2nd doses to 4 months I am a bit worried that the 2nd dose may not be given.  Like others, we had to delay a special celebration cruise to next year, so my fingers are crossed it all works out. 

[cruisellama]

On 3/1/2021 at 8:49 PM, cruisellama said:

Mask-Yes

Vaccine - Yes (but have not yet had the opportunity to fill that square yet)

Update:  Got first dose today, second scheduled for 28 Mar.  Surprised that my number was called this soon.  Was expecting to wait a couple more months. 

[MuttMutt]

I am already vaccinated and a mask doesn't bother me. In fact before the vaccine was available I was using a P100 filtered respirator since the findings were that permanent lung damage was possible and would end my ability to dive. 

 

My friend whom is going withme isn't eligible yet for the vaccine but will hopefully be eligible soon and able to get it. She was a nursing aid up until 6 months ago and had to wear a mask all the time so I doubt that will be an issue for her either. 

 

My only issue is being stuck to only cruise line sponsored excursions unless they plan to have someone dedicated to walking around the shops in the port is going to be a pain if you wanted to pick something up. 

[MuttMutt]

On 3/4/2021 at 3:34 PM, Jax said:

If a vaccine will allow me to cruise, fly on a plane and bypass quarantine upon my return to Canada I will probably do it. I hope the availability of vaccines in Canada will be available for me, hubby and son before our scheduled cruise next spring. With our province recently extending 2nd doses to 4 months I am a bit worried that the 2nd dose may not be given.  Like others, we had to delay a special celebration cruise to next year, so my fingers are crossed it all works out. 

 

With a single dose you still have some protection. Probably similar to the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The second dose gets you to the higher percentage of coverage,  honestly i am surprised that the single dose vaccine wasn't tested as a double for the higher efficacy. 

[smokeybandit]

40 minutes ago, MuttMutt said:

honestly i am surprised that the single dose vaccine wasn't tested as a double for the higher efficacy. 

They are doing that now

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/johnson-and-johnson-begins-two-dose-phase-3-trial-of-covid-19-vaccine/ar-BB1b31l2

[MuttMutt]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

They are doing that now

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/johnson-and-johnson-begins-two-dose-phase-3-trial-of-covid-19-vaccine/ar-BB1b31l2

So they pushed it out early because they were behind the rest of the game. 

[JLMoran]

The question of vaccine plus mask may be on the verge of becoming moot. The CDC has publicly stated today that fully vaccinated individuals can engage in indoor and other activity without a mask, as long as they are solely with others who are fully vaccinated or are in the "low-risk" category for transmission (have been isolating, limiting contact to a social bubble, etc.)

Now, this statement is probably written more in the context of, "My children, grandkids, and I are all fully vaccinated. Can I finally see them face-to-face, give them a hug and a kiss, and have a normal visit?" BUT, the cruise lines have a leg to stand if they say, "Well, we're mandating that all passengers be vaccinated. By your own science, if it's safe for everyone in a space to be together as long as they're fully vaccinated, then it's safe for everyone to travel together on the ship as long as they're all vaccinated. QED."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

[JLMoran]

Will follow up my prior post with one caveat. The ability to not wear a mask would likely only apply while on board; when on a shore excursion or other time off-ship, then I imagine that masks will still be mandatory until enough of the population is vaccinated to make global maskless travel a possibility once again.

[Seaturtle10]

We won’t book until the mask mandate is lifted and we won’t be getting the vaccine. Hoping this lifts soon cuz we’re ready for a vacation!