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Masking enforcement?


CCI

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I spoke to my TA yesterday in regards to RCCLs masking protocols which seems to be dictated by the CDC.  From the RCCL website "When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 and older to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking."  I have to make my final payment on my Oct. 24th cruise by Monday and am hoping someone who is/ has been on a cruise in the last 3 weeks could tell me if the crew is enforcing the wearing of masks.  Ive seen a few videos on Youtube that were a bit inconclusive, although I did see the CEO taking photos on a recent cruise with guests and none were wearing masks.  If masks are required and enforced, Ill cancel for my full refund.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

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Just off Freedom.

There was enforcement but I would say it was gentle and not super strict.

I would describe it as "we all know this is theatre but we have to do it, so as long as you aren't too obvious in your violation we wont go out of our way to yell at you".

Strictest on the promenade area, no mask requirement outdoors, got lax real fast in the corridor/elevator area around our room.

We only had 800 passengers onboard though so it was very easy to get from room to promenade without seeing a human (of the ten cabins in our "corridor" ours were the only two occupied, same thing on the floor below us).

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32 minutes ago, CCI said:

I spoke to my TA yesterday in regards to RCCLs masking protocols which seems to be dictated by the CDC.  From the RCCL website "When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 and older to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking."  I have to make my final payment on my Oct. 24th cruise by Monday and am hoping someone who is/ has been on a cruise in the last 3 weeks could tell me if the crew is enforcing the wearing of masks.  Ive seen a few videos on Youtube that were a bit inconclusive, although I did see the CEO taking photos on a recent cruise with guests and none were wearing masks.  If masks are required and enforced, Ill cancel for my full refund.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

If this is your concern, then you should probably cancel and take the refund and book for a time later that may or may not have these rules.  The rules are the rules even if people don't like the rules.  No point in going if you already know you don't like the rules listed.

 

Of course, October is months away, so who knows what the rules will be then.  Could be more restrictive, could be less.  

 

Stay Safe.

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I completely understand where you are coming from so no judgement.  I cancelled an August cruise due to the requirement to wear masks indoors for vaccinated.  Once Royal announced protocols they gave me 30 days to request a refund in full.  That refund posted to my credit card yesterday.  

Protocols for September and October haven't been posted yet because there is hope the CDC will ease back on masks requirements for vaccinated.  Now with more news of delta surging I'm thinking they won't ease off mask requirements for vaccinated, not yet, not soon.

If the CDC perceives that any protocols are being ignored you have to know they will come down on the cruise lines and the cruise lines will adjust.  

Everything is changing so quickly what someone on a ship experienced last week is already becoming stale.  No disrespect meant to them, they observed and experienced what they observed and experienced, but you can't project that experience forward and apply it for a cruise two months away.  

I am paid in full for more cruises while I eagerly wait to understand the protocols.  I really want to cruise so I'll make another judgement once all the facts are in.  I'm not going to cancel prematurely based on projections, fears and assumptions.  

If you use CWC now you'll get FCC for your deposit unless it was a refundable deposit.   If you pay in full and wait for protocols to be announced you can hope the refund policy I was able to use will still be offered in the future but that isn't a certainty either.  At the end of the day follow your gut and do what you feel is right for you. 

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Thank you all for your input.  Twangster, I tend to believe you are right in regards to the recent spike and they will tighten things up again, so that may be my answer.  I will not get a refund after my final payment, but will get a FCC.  I hate that I must make this decision, as I have never sailed on RCCL and sailing on an Oasis class ship is at the very top of my bucket list and has been for a couple of years.  So close....

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I'm on Allure for October 24th and I made the final payment 2 weeks ago.  I don't know yet whether I'll actually go.  Whether I have to wear a mask or not won't be the deciding factor.  I plan to show up for the cruise no matter what.  I'm vaccinated but I'm not sure what restrictions will be in place for the "vaccinated".  I feel sorry for the "unvaccinated" and if that were me--I wouldn't go. 

The way I look at this---it will be a new experience and I will learn what it might be like to cruise in the new world we live in. If I don't enjoy the new cruising experience, that may alter my decision about cruises planned for 2022.

I still wear my mask even when I go into places where is isn't required anymore.  I'm basically a conformist so now I feel out of place when I wear my mask --- it is my choice though.  I really don't care that much about what other people choose to do.  I will second what @twangster says --- "At the end of the day follow your gut and do what you feel is right for you."

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@CCIIf you make final payment and they release protocols you are not comfortable with then you can get a 100% refund based on what is happening with July/Aug sailings. So I would say if you can afford to and want an actual refund, then make the payment.

I made final payment on my Oct 31st Allure today. I was always under the impression that even though I am vaxxed, as long as unvaxxed are aboard there will be mask. I currently don't have to wear a mask anywhere but when using transportation. I don't want to wear mask but I really want to cruise and vacation. I decided that based on evidence it may be even more years before we get away from these restrictions, so I might as well enjoy this new cruising experience while I can.

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‘As much as I HATE masks, I’m willing to go along with the “theater” for vaccinated people ONLY because of getting 4 points per night for suites which will make us hit Diamond Plus by the end of our December cruise …….. before that became an option, we had ZERO plans to go on any cruises until at least summer of 2022.

 

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As a Vaxed, I do not like the mask requirement. However, if I have to wear a mask so the Unvaxed can cruise if they want, then I am more than happy to do it.
I find it silly, but I will play the game for their sake.

To be-or not to be-that is the question.

Sorry, excuse me.
Just practicing my lines for the theater of acting like I really care about not allowing the unvaxed & unmasked sitting next to me.

All the cruise ship is a stage,
and all the men and women merely players:
they have their MDR, Casinos, and Theater exits and entrances;
and one man in his time plays many parts...

(Below is the CDC demanding I kiss their-- uh -- hand)
 

 

image.jpeg

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I would say to expect to wear a mask anywhere indoors.  If not required, then that is a bonus.  I prefer to not wear a mask, but if it is required I will wear one.  I do not like to break any rules, whether I agree with it or not.   Rules change constantly and I feel they might get more strict with the Delta variant.  I have 10 cruises booked and will pay final payment on any that become due.  Hoping it will sail.  If a cruise gets cancelled I will book another.  I can definitely enjoy a cruise whether masked or not.

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I'm on Anthem OTS this Sunday, out of the UK, on a British Isles cruise and wondering about mask wearing.  This is due to masks no longer being required to be worn in the UK as of Monday (dubbed Freedom Day over here).  If RCCL is following CDC rules in US and has been following UK rules for UK sailings then do you think they will ditch mask wearing over here?

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On 7/22/2021 at 5:38 PM, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

I'm on Anthem OTS this Sunday, out of the UK, on a British Isles cruise and wondering about mask wearing.  This is due to masks no longer being required to be worn in the UK as of Monday (dubbed Freedom Day over here).  If RCCL is following CDC rules in US and has been following UK rules for UK sailings then do you think they will ditch mask wearing over here?

RCCL is requiring everyone wear masks indoors only on ships carrying unvaccinated adults.  Adventure is sailing out of the Bahamas and will be a vaxed cruise for everyone 12 and over (as of 8/1) and is only requiring masks on the unmasked children.  
 

Wondering now what the UK regulations are regarding vaccines/cruising.  

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RCCL wanted to allow only vaccinated people on board and I understand why. All crew members will be vaccinated.  Having unvaccinated people on board presents a huge risk to them.  If cruising is shut down again because of an outbreak on any ship, it could be months or more before they can start up again.  I hope mask restrictions are strictly enforced for the unvaccinated on every cruise.  If you enjoy cruising, it's crucial that outbreaks are prevented. 

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On 7/22/2021 at 10:38 PM, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

This is due to masks no longer being required to be worn in the UK as of Monday (dubbed Freedom Day over here).  

This rule only applies to England! 

As i have mentioned previously UK has different governments and different Covid rules and regulations. Cant comment about onboard but If you are able to dock in Scotland masks must still be worn while indoors in shops, bars etc 

 

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Either make the rule and enforce it, or get rid of the rule.  I am a rule follower, but far too many people are not.  I get really tired of rules only to those of us who are willing to follow it.  It should not matter what anyone thinks about masks.  If the rule is you have to wear them, then make everyone wear them.  From my experience, I know if I took mine off for five seconds someone would appear to make me put it back on, that's just the way things work for me and possibly why I'm a rule follower.

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I've been thinking about the exception for a while. All my life, I have been a problem solver, systems analyst, even been on Model Development Team for Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas.

So what happens if I have a lollipop/sucker in my mouth walking the halls, until I get outside? Isn't that active eating?
Think I will ask my daughter who is a flight attendant what she would do if a passenger was working on a sucker their entire flight. 

To my Royal Genie-

Please keep a fully stock jar of suckers in my room.
Also, a bag of popsicle sticks.

After all, would you stop Kojak and tell him that was not actively eating?

main-qimg-7fbd6853fcb2a7b7b97da91a34c00d5d.jpeg.92ad71c5b0fc46d0e7aeeb8d7f9a3c9a.jpeg

blog-fruit-pops-jar.jpg

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1 hour ago, LifesEz said:

I've been thinking about the exception for a while. All my life, I have been a problem solver, systems analyst, even been on Model Development Team for Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas.

So what happens if I have a lollipop/sucker in my mouth walking the halls, until I get outside? Isn't that active eating?
Think I will ask my daughter who is a flight attendant what she would do if a passenger was working on a sucker their entire flight. 

To my Royal Genie-

Please keep a fully stock jar of suckers in my room.
Also, a bag of popsicle sticks.

After all, would you stop Kojak and tell him that was not actively eating?

main-qimg-7fbd6853fcb2a7b7b97da91a34c00d5d.jpeg.92ad71c5b0fc46d0e7aeeb8d7f9a3c9a.jpeg

blog-fruit-pops-jar.jpg

No moving while eating/drinking, we got nailed on turning away from the soda machine and drinking while walking away. 

Stand still while you eat/drink or mask up and walk seemed to be the rule.

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We were on Freedom and my husband dropped his accidently off the ship when we were outside.  On the way to Guest services to get another one we were stopped 3 times, politley asked.  We told them we were on the way to GS to get another one.  Also can not be walking and eating, drinking etc inside.

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On 7/22/2021 at 8:38 AM, jticarruthers said:

Just off Freedom.

There was enforcement but I would say it was gentle and not super strict.

I would describe it as "we all know this is theatre but we have to do it, so as long as you aren't too obvious in your violation we wont go out of our way to yell at you".

Strictest on the promenade area, no mask requirement outdoors, got lax real fast in the corridor/elevator area around our room.

We only had 800 passengers onboard though so it was very easy to get from room to promenade without seeing a human (of the ten cabins in our "corridor" ours were the only two occupied, same thing on the floor below us).

Did they say how much longer Freedom would be sailing at reduced capacity?

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17 minutes ago, CruiseRoyalDad said:

Did they say how much longer Freedom would be sailing at reduced capacity?

No they didnt mention it at all.

I know they froze all the July sailings very early so they were all "unbookable" for a long time but i think the August ones are listed for sale so my guess is the capacity is going to rise fast in August.

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9 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

No moving while eating/drinking, we got nailed on turning away from the soda machine and drinking while walking away. 

Stand still while you eat/drink or mask up and walk seemed to be the rule.

Does it say that in the CDC?

I know former Sec of HHS Mike Leavitt personally. Next time I see him, I will ask him if the HSP or CDC require I stand still.

Also, what about during entertainment. If they are providing drinks, I don't have to put a lollipop down.

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