Beginning Feb 15 no more masks in Vax venues and smoking permitted in the Casino

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, Toby said:

Is RC going to opt in to the new "voluntary" CDC Cruising guidelines released yesterday February 9.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/management/technical-instructions-for-cruise-ships.html

 

 

I hope not. CLIA loses all the leverage they have in saying how disappointed they are with the CDC when cruise lines voluntarily opt into continued extortion by the CDC.

 

Some of those new rules are no less ridiculous than the ones from the original CSO. Cruise lines cannot get back to full ships if they opt into the new CSO.

If you're a close contact on a ship how long you quarantine isn't dictated by science, but by whether or not there are 95%+ boosted on that cruise.  I'd doubt you'll see too many 95% boosted cruises. If any.

Specifically, if you're a close contact and there are less than 95% boosted on your cruise (even if you are) you have to quarantine 10 days (if the cruise lasts that long).  If there are 95% boosted, you only have to quarantine 5 days.  That's just downright stupid and doesn't make any medical sense with the current state of vaccines.

[smokeybandit]

More...

 

If you are symptomatic and seek out testing, only if the ship is 95% boosted can the cruise line give you a antigen test. Otherwise it has to be a PCR test.

[Jorge Salvans Sr]

Sorry for those that want a smoke free casino. Do you realize you guys have the rest of the ship non smoking? Why penalize we smokers and gamblers? Because you wat to cross from one side to the other on deck 4? REALLY?

[SpeedNoodles]

11 hours ago, Jorge Salvans Sr said:

Sorry for those that want a smoke free casino. Do you realize you guys have the rest of the ship non smoking? Why penalize we smokers and gamblers? Because you wat to cross from one side to the other on deck 4? REALLY?

We enjoyed being able to gamble in the casino two weeks ago on our cruise, for the first time ever, due to no smoking.  But we were fully aware that it wouldn't last, so we enjoyed it while we could (we never use it to "cross from one side to the other".

[Fox Forlenza]

I feel bad for those leaving on longer trips before the 15th as they will have to follow the old protocols throughout the entire voyage.  But I am glad to see we are moving in this direction.  Looking forward to maybe a mask-free trip in May.  That would be amazing!

[Cindy ruggiero]

When are they going to lift the vaxxed only in the casino. Vaxxed non vaxxed everyone is in dining room no masks,what is the purpose 

[BowTieBrigade]

On 2/10/2022 at 9:31 AM, Cindy ruggiero said:

Iam sorry,but, smoking in such a confined area, anyplace, is not a good idea, and when you exhale smoke do you not think viral particles are carried in it.  And as far as masks or no masks, vaccinated or not vaccinated.  What’s the point of any if it, on board ship, realy?  Sit to dinner no masks, people go to their cabins, with their unvaxxed children with no masks, then make everyone cover up while you walk around. But they go to casino, no masks let’s smoke. Let’s all sit packed in theatre, no masks. But in balcony make people wear masks while there is so much room between folks. I mean it ReAly makes no sense. Any if it.  I mean if there smoking in casino I believe I’d wear a mask anyway but make kids wear their mask here when they probably aren’t wearing them anyplace else, including school now, ok rules are rules but I’d like to know who got to who to have a rule that was implemented 6-7 weeks ago changed back  

Lol, you really need to learn your science. The reason it’s ok to be massless and smoke in the casino is the smoke prevents the virus particles from breathing and chokes them to death. Dead virus particles are basically a booster shot. To paraphrase one of the greatest medical minds from Scotland, there is no science that can bring back the dead, Harry. 
 

J/K, I agree with you, a lot of the protocols seem more appearance over substance. 

[Cindy ruggiero]

[recogneyes]

13 hours ago, Jorge Salvans Sr said:

Sorry for those that want a smoke free casino. Do you realize you guys have the rest of the ship non smoking? Why penalize we smokers and gamblers? Because you wat to cross from one side to the other on deck 4? REALLY?

Would never just use the casino to cross through.  We so enjoyed being able to sit at a table game or play slots for extended periods of time without being in a haze.  On our last cruise we spoke to lots of young people who are perhaps the future of the cruise lines who indicated they only played because there was no smoke.  Also, in thinking about the casino crew, it would be a much healthier environment for them to be in.

[HeWhoWaits]

14 hours ago, Jorge Salvans Sr said:

Do you realize you guys have the rest of the ship non smoking? Why penalize we smokers and gamblers?

Except for one full side of the pool deck where the smoke is so thick that even being outside forces those of us who have respiratory ailments (e.g. asthma) to always travel on the other side (and sometimes not be able to comfortably access the soft serve machine). Why penalize those who don't opt to pollute their lungs and those of others?

[D Alt]

UGH SMOKERS  

so 2019

[ChrisK2793]

I’ve been on Symphony since Saturday and they  already have not been enforcing masks in any of the vaccinated areas since day one.  So far the casino has still been nice and smoke free though.

 

[smokeybandit]

Liberty is allowing passengers to follow the revised mask mandate today.

[ChrisK2793]

Symphony put all the “Vaccinated Only” signs back up today at all the bars.  They haven’t been out this cruise until now.

 

[smokeybandit]

The CDC is expected to issue new indoor mask guidance soon. It'll be interesting to see if/how that translates to the cruise industry

[EmersonNZ]

It is interesting seeing how many comment they would prefer the casinos to remain smoke free (Add me to that list). I don't go into the casino becuase of smoking.

I am sure RCL has done the math on revenue if they were to ban smoking though I wonder if they might find that afer an inital dip they would see an increae as they attract new players who don't go now and those that do still come anyway after a short period of adjsting. They did a study in NZ after smoking was banned in bars, casinos etc and after a 3 month did casio patrionage and spending actually increased (Simular for bars, restuarnts etc..

[smokeybandit]

I'd love casinos to remain smoke free. But I know they won't and I know why they won't and that makes sense from RC's perspective.

 

All that said I've never found casinos overly smoky. They do a good job ventilating the casinos

[SpeedNoodles]

While we understand that this subject is polarizing, please refrain from personal attacks.

Thank you.

[LCinPDX]

I wonder if RC has considered having two smaller casinos--one smoking and one non-smoking.  The non-smoking one could be more "open concept" and the smoking could be contained.  I can smell the smoke just walking by the outside near the elevators.

[ChrisK2793]

7 minutes ago, LCinPDX said:

I wonder if RC has considered having two smaller casinos--one smoking and one non-smoking.  The non-smoking one could be more "open concept" and the smoking could be contained.  I can smell the smoke just walking by the outside near the elevators.

 

‘We’re on symphony now and even though the casino has been non-smoking since mid-December …… you can still smell the cigarettes when you go into it.

[smokeybandit]

14 minutes ago, LCinPDX said:

I wonder if RC has considered having two smaller casinos--one smoking and one non-smoking.  The non-smoking one could be more "open concept" and the smoking could be contained.  I can smell the smoke just walking by the outside near the elevators.

I would be quite surprised if RC hasn't modeled this for future ships. But I'm also sure all their algorithms come back to smoking casinos being much more profitable than having an extra non-smoking one.

[LCinPDX]

6 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I would be quite surprised if RC hasn't modeled this for future ships. But I'm also sure all their algorithms come back to smoking casinos being much more profitable than having an extra non-smoking one.

Maybe if they added in free drinks and suite upgrades to the package it would attract the Vegas crowd.

[YNOT]

1 hour ago, LCinPDX said:

Maybe if they added in free drinks and suite upgrades to the package it would attract the Vegas crowd.

They do.  My wife and I get free drinks in the casino and haven't paid for 6 of our last 7 cruises.  Just use your Seapass card whenever gambling.  Good luck

[Al Miller]

Well it's not a lot of data, but they now also have a couple of months of data showing them how "no smoking" actually affects the gambling income. I've always wondered if the increased amount of people who would be willing to come to a non-smoking Cruise ship Casino might offset the loss of the smokers. Especially in the old days when lots of smokers would come to the casino just to light up and not actually gamble. Personally, I can put up with the smoke for short spurts, but I'd probably stay longer (ie - spend more) if the air was clear.