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Disappointing new mask requirement


Kim Amato

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We are booked to sail on Brilliance of the Seas Jan 17th with our 85 year old mom (this could be her last cruise).  I just read that there is a new requirement to wear a mask EVERYWHERE - even in all vaccinated areas - casino, shows, concierge club, etc.....  

We were on Jewel of the Sea July 5th sailing and were required to wear a mask in public areas but did not need to in the public vaccinated areas.  This was somewhat acceptable but we would have preferred no masks.  We decided to book again because we enjoyed the 50% capacity and were offered a great deal through the casino.  

BACK to Brilliance...I don't know if anyone from Royal Carribean reads this, but we are going to cancel our upcoming Jan 17th cruise due to the burdomsome requirements of masks.  Isn't being vaccinated enough?  Is having personal responsibility of how much risk one is willing to take enough?  Personally I am tired of the CDC recommendations shutting down entire industries.  I am fully vaccinated, including a booster. I have also had covid.  I am willing to take the risk. Why is everyone being burdened to adhere to these recommendations?  RC is a private company.  Please consider changing the mask requirement back - It just won't be enjoyable wearing a mask everywhere. 

We live in Florida and live my daily life without wearing a mask everywhere I go except Dr. offices.  We have no desire to adhere to rules much stricter than we have in daily life.  

How about offering a cruise that no-one has to wear masks and people can decide if that works for them?  

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Well there are a lot of things you can thank for the problems but all I can say is go read this.

 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/28/why-you-need-be-flexible-if-you-want-go-cruise-right-now 

 

On top of that this site has nothing to do with RCCL policies.  This is a discussion board and as such we can do nothing.  If you really want to tell the CDC where to stick it get your friends together, register to vote, and do so in the elections so that you can have a say in policies.

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The reality is that presently covid is on cruise ships more then it ever has been since the restart. 

They seem to be doing whatever they can to slow it down and AVOID another shut down. 

If you aren't comfortable by all means cancel. But I truly believe this is better then the alternatives which could be no cruises. 

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I recently sailed on Navigator when these new rules were in effect.

I shared my thoughts here: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/26/navigator-of-the-seas-live-blog-day-2-sea-day

In reality, it wasn't that much of a change since these places are when you're also likely drinking/eating.

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8 hours ago, Kim Amato said:

We are booked to sail on Brilliance of the Seas Jan 17th with our 85 year old mom (this could be her last cruise).  I just read that there is a new requirement to wear a mask EVERYWHERE - even in all vaccinated areas - casino, shows, concierge club, etc.....  

We were on Jewel of the Sea July 5th sailing and were required to wear a mask in public areas but did not need to in the public vaccinated areas.  This was somewhat acceptable but we would have preferred no masks.  We decided to book again because we enjoyed the 50% capacity and were offered a great deal through the casino.  

BACK to Brilliance...I don't know if anyone from Royal Carribean reads this, but we are going to cancel our upcoming Jan 17th cruise due to the burdomsome requirements of masks.  Isn't being vaccinated enough?  Is having personal responsibility of how much risk one is willing to take enough?  Personally I am tired of the CDC recommendations shutting down entire industries.  I am fully vaccinated, including a booster. I have also had covid.  I am willing to take the risk. Why is everyone being burdened to adhere to these recommendations?  RC is a private company.  Please consider changing the mask requirement back - It just won't be enjoyable wearing a mask everywhere. 

We live in Florida and live my daily life without wearing a mask everywhere I go except Dr. offices.  We have no desire to adhere to rules much stricter than we have in daily life.  

How about offering a cruise that no-one has to wear masks and people can decide if that works for them?  

I’m guessing you haven’t been paying attention, both because you didn’t notice this policy going into effect in mid December and because you don’t seem to realize that with the Omicron virus, being vaccinated is only helpful for preventing severe disease for most people, not for preventing transmission.  I would think it would be more “burdensome” for your 85 yo mother to go on a cruise and catch covid, potentially assuring it would be her last cruise.  Deciding what works just for you is not really a thing with an incredibly contagious, potentially life threatening disease.  I think a land based vacation in your rule-free Florida bubble would be more fun for you.

 

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I understand where you are coming from.  I don't enjoy wearing masks myself. 

Early on I cancelled cruises and booked another cruise line only to have that cruise line adopt the same mask guidance i thought I was escaping.

As I started cruising from Florida I realized it wasn't that bad.  All the mask worries I projected proved to be unfounded.  I learned it wasn't as bad as I feared. 

Each of us has our own level of tolerance for the requirements to cruise during a pandemic.  Right or wrong, agree or disagree, is subjective.  The requirements to cruise right now are not subjective.

The protocols are well known and they are not available for us to debate.  They are established by the CDC and cruise lines.  We, as cruisers don't get to pick them.  We have a choice.  The choice is to accept them or don't sail.  

Personal opinions aside, and I have many thoughts and opinions on the protocols, the requirements to sail during this pandemic are well established and well known.

It's as simple as...  if you don't like them, don't sail.  

 Your choice.  It's isn't up for a vote.  To cruise means we must all agree to the protocols, or don't go.  

The cruise lines don't have the choice to offer a cruise you seek right now.  Sorry.  

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We live in Missouri and we wear masks all the time. At work, at the grocery store, everywhere... I cannot believe that we are still doing this "I can't bear to wear a mask" thing. This is a highly transmissible, deadly virus... I do not think that wearing a mask is too much to ask to try to keep people safe. If that courtesy is too much than cancel your cruise. Have you not flown the past year? We flew earlier today and they were very clear, if you don't want to wear a mask then don't fly, period. End of discussion. The same could be said for cruises...

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Entitlement aside.  I'm not burdened, and don't feel it a burden to protect not only myself, but those around me.  Those being other passengers, and definitely the crew at large.  So, maybe take a step back and understand that this isn't just about you and your desires, this is about every one as a whole.

Your decision not to go on the cruise is yours.  I don't feel that anyone is going to be burdened by your choice not to go.

On the flip side of that, I'm definitely going on my two cruises coming up, mask and all.  I'm going to enjoy them, and have great food, drinks, and conversations.  I'm going to go down water slides, swim in pools, and relax.  I'm going to go on amazing excursions.  Then I'm going to go to the future cruise place and setup my third cruise to Alaska.  If I'm required to wear a mask then, I'll still be elated to go, and I won't feel burdened.

I'm glad to hear that you are vaccinated.  Maybe just give this cruise a try and see how it goes.  If you don't like it, you don't have to go again, but go with an open mind as to what it can be, not what your perception of it is based off a mask.

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I'm on the Anthem now. This is my 9th cruise since my personal restart in September. If the protocols change and require me to ride a unicycle while onboard...well...I'll start practicing now. Point is...Royal is a business and gives me a choice. Purchase their product or not. I'm sure they don't like the effect these protocols are having on their bottom line...but, it is what it is. Do whatever makes you happy.. and comfortable. Or not. It's your choice. Best wishes to you and your mom.

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20 hours ago, Kim Amato said:

We are booked to sail on Brilliance of the Seas Jan 17th with our 85 year old mom (this could be her last cruise).  I just read that there is a new requirement to wear a mask EVERYWHERE - even in all vaccinated areas - casino, shows, concierge club, etc.....  

We were on Jewel of the Sea July 5th sailing and were required to wear a mask in public areas but did not need to in the public vaccinated areas.  This was somewhat acceptable but we would have preferred no masks.  We decided to book again because we enjoyed the 50% capacity and were offered a great deal through the casino.  

BACK to Brilliance...I don't know if anyone from Royal Carribean reads this, but we are going to cancel our upcoming Jan 17th cruise due to the burdomsome requirements of masks.  Isn't being vaccinated enough?  Is having personal responsibility of how much risk one is willing to take enough?  Personally I am tired of the CDC recommendations shutting down entire industries.  I am fully vaccinated, including a booster. I have also had covid.  I am willing to take the risk. Why is everyone being burdened to adhere to these recommendations?  RC is a private company.  Please consider changing the mask requirement back - It just won't be enjoyable wearing a mask everywhere. 

We live in Florida and live my daily life without wearing a mask everywhere I go except Dr. offices.  We have no desire to adhere to rules much stricter than we have in daily life.  

How about offering a cruise that no-one has to wear masks and people can decide if that works for them?  

With the explosion of COVID cases in Florida, I can see why masks would be required on cruise ships and elsewhere.  Things will get better, but we need to take note of our current situation.

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@Kim Amato we also reside in Florida & were not happy when they advised us the evening before our sailing that the mask requirements were going to be even tighter then when we booked the sailing. I was not happy as we also only wear masks IF inside a Doctors Office. We decided that night in the hotel as a family we wanted to be at sea for Christmas & we also agreed that Royal is a business and like it or not, agree with it or not we signed up to sail during these weird times and knew things evolved and changed all the time.  Some ones sailing had to be the first one with last minute notification & it was ours.

We decided not only would we sail we wouldn't engage in speaking or complaining in any active conversations about it once we were on the ship, alas taking away from our joy we had anticipated. It was tough at first because in the terminal there were some really heated discussions but we promised each other we spent a lot of money to celebrate the blessings we were experiencing and the crazy year we had just gone through. 

Honestly after the first night I promise you, we didn't even flinch;  the idea of wearing it everywhere was worse then actually wearing it everywhere. I personally was more perturbed at how Royal packed the ship, relaxing to soon being a bit cavalier with so many people on board, we sailed twice since the "come back" & that was a bit much coupled with the limited capacity protocols everywhere else. 

You know your own comfort levels, the masks that @SpeedNoodlesmentioned were all over the ship, people really seem to like them, comfortable I was told especially with glasses, (mine always fogged up) 

Some actively desire this industry to fail, I am not one of them. We enjoy sailing and hated it when they were shut down. Whatever you decide have a very Happy & Healthy New Year! Denise

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22 hours ago, atseau said:

Another Covid/ Mask/ whatever. Cruise Dont cruise. Most of us dont care.

We want to hear about the food the service the ports if any.

Am I wrong? 

Then don’t read the posts about Covid and masks.  But for you.. the food is average, but since you’re on a cruise everyone thinks it’s superb.

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What I really cannot figure out is why we continue to see posts like this everywhere.  It's not like the poster doesn’t know about the purpose and various opnions on masks.  Some people agree with you, while others (like me) do not, although those words are not nearly strong enough to express the depth of the disagreement.  No one on these boards is going to change anyone's mind.  I am willing to argue about it much more than most, and even I am tired of it and realize the futility.  In my opnion your opnion on masks is wrong at every level,  but you do you.  Just not on a cruise ship until the rules change.

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