GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-extends-protocols-through-february-2022/57511 Will be interesting to see if Royal and Norwegian follow suit, or if they choose to keep evaluating and updating more frequently as the year draws to a close. Neesa, jticarruthers and WAAAYTOOO 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 Which probably means the CSO gets extended through Feb 2022 jticarruthers and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 There's no way the CDC is ready to let go like the virus isn't still with us. WAAAYTOOO, sammy79, Dlove707 and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, twangster said: There's no way the CDC is ready to let go like the virus isn't still with us. Agreed. I fully expect more CDC guidance, and I'm perfectly fine with it, as long as cruising can continue safely. Small price to pay to be back on board. WAAAYTOOO and jticarruthers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonOasis Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 24 minutes ago, twangster said: There's no way the CDC is ready to let go like the virus isn't still with us. As long as the CDC does not attempt to once again over step their authority and do something drastic I think the industry will be okay. The cruise lines have demonstrated they can operate safely during a pandemic. They were scapegoated early on in this pandemic, shut down, held to a higher standard than any form of land based vacation yet this industry has risen to meet the challenge. At this point the CDC needs to just leave the cruise industry alone and let people enjoy their cruise vacation. WAAAYTOOO, GKMCruising, Scooter6251 and 6 others 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 4 minutes ago, JasonOasis said: As long as the CDC does not attempt to once again over step their authority and do something drastic I think the industry will be okay. The cruise lines have demonstrated they can operate safely during a pandemic. They were scapegoated early on in this pandemic, shut down, held to a higher standard than any form of land based vacation yet this industry has risen to meet the challenge. At this point the CDC needs to just leave the cruise industry alone and let people enjoy their cruise vacation. I think the shutdown was needed at the very beginning, maybe a couple of months, simply to allow time for cruise lines to figure out protocols. However, it should have been the cruise lines working *with* the CDC to restart as soon as possible, not having to work *against* the CDC. jticarruthers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisellama Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 I think the industry is in the "cooperate & graduate" mode. Volunteer to be a "good citizen" and maybe the conditional restrictions are eased. jticarruthers, nhilding10 and mnshortie21 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 55 minutes ago, GKMCruising said: Agreed. I fully expect more CDC guidance, and I'm perfectly fine with it, as long as cruising can continue safely. Small price to pay to be back on board. 12 minutes ago, cruisellama said: I think the industry is in the "cooperate & graduate" mode. Volunteer to be a "good citizen" and maybe the conditional restrictions are eased. I agree with both of these statements DJsMrs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 If the CSO disappeared today the majority of the protocols would stay. But there are plenty that are obsolete and useless that would go away pretty fast (and would have to in order to get capacities back up to near normal) cruisellama, jticarruthers, GKMCruising and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireclan Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 7 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: If the CSO disappeared today the majority of the protocols would stay. But there are plenty that are obsolete and useless that would go away pretty fast (and would have to in order to get capacities back up to near normal) Any ideas about which protocols would be changed or cancelled? And I'm curious about the capacity limits - I've read posts on here where the passenger count seemed to be as low as 17% yet others at 30-40% - how is that determined I wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 IMO the biggest rules to go would be in the areas of food service and physical distancing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 23 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: If the CSO disappeared today the majority of the protocols would stay. But there are plenty that are obsolete and useless that would go away pretty fast (and would have to in order to get capacities back up to near normal) I agree, like the single piece of plastic in front of the pub singer/schooner bar player. jticarruthers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 If the CDC wasn't so slow to react and lethargic the protocols could be more dynamic. While we are in a period of low transmission take down the plastic shields or face masks for vaccinated. If a new variant comes along and actually begins to show impact, reintroduce protocols as required. But I digress. sammy79, MichelleB1234, Dlove707 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 I think RCG will keep protocols as is until at least the spring break sailings. Don't think they will do away with testing for a while, I believe the mask will go first. I can see the CSO extended until Jan 31st. jticarruthers and Neesa 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 19 minutes ago, Matt said: I agree, like the single piece of plastic in front of the pub singer/schooner bar player. Even the CDC has said plexiglass barriers aren't worth it anymore. Scooter6251 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 37 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: IMO the biggest rules to go would be in the areas of food service and physical distancing I know Royal is currently planning to keep Windjammer full-service instead of self-service even after COVID, but I definitely think they'd ditch having the drink dispensers and whatnot being staffed. I also agree with ditching the physical distancing - at higher capacities, there's going to be a major logjam for tables and seating in a lot of venues with the amount of areas currently blocked off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 28 minutes ago, twangster said: If the CDC wasn't so slow to react and lethargic the protocols could be more dynamic. While we are in a period of low transmission take down the plastic shields or face masks for vaccinated. If a new variant comes along and actually begins to show impact, reintroduce protocols as required. But I digress. Exactly. Some of the protocols are obviously more cumbersome to adjust quickly, but the masks/plexiglass/etc are things that could be easily turned on and off, for lack of a better phrase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 29 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: I think RCG will keep protocols as is until at least the spring break sailings. Don't think they will do away with testing for a while, I believe the mask will go first. I can see the CSO extended until Jan 31st. I'd definitely rather see the masks go before the testing. It's way less inconvenience for me to go get a quick nose swab before boarding than to have a mask on in all public spaces for an entire week. Vancity Cruiser 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 6 minutes ago, GKMCruising said: I know Royal is currently planning to keep Windjammer full-service instead of self-service even after COVID, THat'll stay as a cost savings measure (food waste) more so than a covid mitigation measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 26 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: THat'll stay as a cost savings measure (food waste) more so than a covid mitigation measure. I'm okay with that. I've seen way too many guests drop the handle of a serving utensil into the food contaminating the whole tray or reach in with bare hands, touch something then put it back. In some cases the cough shields are so low you have to be double jointed to access the food. Safer all around to have dedicated servers dispense food at a buffet. Even without a pandemic. sammy79, skittermagoo, Dlove707 and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 31 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: THat'll stay as a cost savings measure (food waste) more so than a covid mitigation measure. Definitely a cost savings measure first and a COVID/norovirus prevention measure second. 3 minutes ago, twangster said: I'm okay with that. I've seen way too many guests drop the handle of a serving utensil into the food contaminating the whole tray or reach in with bare hands, touch something then put it back. In some cases the cough shields are so low you have to be double jointed to access the food. Safer all around to have dedicated servers dispense food at a buffet. Even without a pandemic. Yup. Not on Royal, obviously, but I've seen little kids literally sticking their hands into a chocolate fountain at a buffet before. Needless to say, I didn't have much of an appetite for dessert after that. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 2 hours ago, fireclan said: Any ideas about which protocols would be changed or cancelled? And I'm curious about the capacity limits - I've read posts on here where the passenger count seemed to be as low as 17% yet others at 30-40% - how is that determined I wonder? I dont think royal is hitting their capacity limits so the 30-40 is what they are capping at, the 17 is more what they are actually getting. The last 2 cruises i have been on (boarding # 3 in a few minutes) have been "selling" cabins a day or two before sailing still ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said: I can see the CSO extended until Jan 31st. I'm horribly cynical! I don't think the CDC will let go until forced. Here's hoping I'm wrong! Ampurp85, Neesa, woodman1 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKMCruising Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 9 minutes ago, steverk said: I'm horribly cynical! I don't think the CDC will let go until forced. Here's hoping I'm wrong! I think what *should* happen is that the CDC agrees to end their involvement on the condition that cases onboard stay below a certain threshold. If they start seeing high cases numbers, they should reserve the right to intervene again but only on a ship-by-ship basis. No sense in the sins and mistakes of one line or ship ruining it for the rest of the fleets that are trying to do the right things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 8, 2021 Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 The CDC is probably disappointed there have been basically zero cases on cruise ships woodman1, Neesa, sammy79 and 2 others 2 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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