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Royal Caribbean opts into CDC highly vax program


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40 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

They technically did. It's now 3 if you're up to date on vaccines.

I can’t find that anywhere?  Did I miss it?

oops sorry, didn’t read the whole thread!

ok now I did & have another question.  That is from the CDC.  Has it been confirmed by Royal as the new rules?

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12 minutes ago, sammy79 said:

It looks like unvaccinated kids can get antigen test, instead of pcr. That would make things easier for us since we have a 3 year old. 

The embarkation testing is the factor. Royal has opted to provide antigen for the embarkation test. Policy states that at least one of the tests has to be a NAAT type.

On the screenshot provided this is what the "[*]" says: [*] Either the pre-embarkation day test or the embarkation day test must be NAAT.

 

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13 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am so torn. Like @Vancity Cruiser I am so excited for a mask free cruise but that darn need for a negative return test to Canada is hanging over my head. 

Same.  I know I am minority, but was a bit disappointed when I saw the email this morning....only for the fact that we need a negative test to return home.  

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Our almost 2 years in the making cruise is looking much better!  I really didn’t have a problem with masking as we still wear ours in stores and other indoor settings but I am no longer worried it won’t happen!  An extra day to get testing done would be helpful as all of us are vaxxed & boosted.

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49 minutes ago, danv3 said:

  

Does the CDC actually require pre-cruise testing of all passengers? Admittedly, their program is about as clear as you'd expect from a government agency, but as far as I can tell, the new CDC voluntary program only requires embarkation tests for crew, with pax only required to test in the case of close contact or when experiencing symptoms.

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

I assumed screening passengers was the same thing as testing passengers perhaps that is my mistake.  

How else can you screen for COVID-19 except by have the person take a test? 

Either way I don't think the CDC would look to favorably on cruise lines dropping the pre-test requirement any time soon whether it is mandatory or voluntary. I think as long as the CDC classifies COVID-19 a pandemic cruise lines have to continue to walk a tight rope because the CDC and Fauci would like nothing more than for the industry to give them a reason to shut them down again.  Most Americans might be ready to classify COVID-19 as endemic but so far there has been no indication that the CDC is even willing to entertain the idea of moving from pandemic to endemic.

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I admit that I did not read this thread from the beginning.  I picked up with yesterday’s posts about opting in to Highly Vaccinated (95% +).  

 At the time, I was happy to read masks not required  for vaccinated!
Then the happiness subsided when I saw all youth (vaccinated or not) would still be required to wear masks in Adventure Ocean.

After some thought, I realize this is not the news I expected from CDC and the cruise lines.  I honestly felt there would be a point this year (2022) where all protocols were listed as optional - including vaccines.  My family is vaccinated, but this does effect others who may not be. 

@Matt, I am trying to keep to the “No arguments of masks or vaccine rule” with my statement above.  

I truly felt most protocols would end soon.   With the new CDC opt-in categories, I see that is not going to happen.   Guess I did not have realistic expectations ?

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It's still early though. By mid-summer it's entirely possible more and more protocols get removed. The new CSO seems to be a bridge to that, especially with how drastically the new CSO changed in the past week. The draft format would have been a disaster. The format cruise lines opted into is definitely a step in the right direction.

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When we cruised end of nov and mask mandates were for everyone inside I did not see one child be told to wear a mask when running around the promenade etc. I dont have faith that if 5-12 don't have a vaccine mandate they will enforce masks for the unvaxxed as they state. ( and this is not an anti kids rant as I am the mother of an almost 7 year old. Just that I never saw mask enforcement for children)

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So regarding kids having to wear masks in Adventure Ocean, my kids actually don't mind having to wear a mask. But was extremely disappointed on our last cruise that they only let them spent 8 hours in AO for the entire cruise. I'm hoping they took away that limitation or is that still in place? Does anyone know?

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2 hours ago, BowTieBrigade said:

This very much upsets me. I can only imagine walking around unmasked with my kids in tow asking why they have to wear theirs. I really hope this changes before my next (July) sailing…

The vaccinated kids don't have to wear them unless they're in AO. That's what makes it more maddening.

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4 hours ago, twangster said:

Updated protocols for sailings departing the U.S. and Puerto Rico on or after February 25, 2022

Royal Caribbean International will participate in the U.S. CDC's voluntary COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. waters, beginning with sailings departing on or after February 25th, 2022 from the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). We will be operating under the Highly Vaccinated category defined by the CDC.

To be considered Highly Vaccinated, requirements include sailing with 95% of crew members fully vaccinated, which we already meet with 100% of our crew. And, 95% of guests eligible for the vaccine must be fully vaccinated as well.

The updated protocols will include face masks being optional for all fully vaccinated guests and expected for unvaccinated children. All kids will be required to wear face masks during Adventure Ocean youth program activities.

We are thoughtfully working through the details and other changes to our health and safety measures to share with our guests and travel advisors before February 25, 2022. 

As a reminder, our health and safety protocols are subject to change.

i received this email from RCCL for my cruise next week. 

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31 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The vaccinated kids don't have to wear them unless they're in AO. That's what makes it more maddening.

IMHO and IMHO ONLY, AO is much more likely to have unvaxxed kids in an indoor space, hence the mask mandate.  Not arguing right or wrong, just suggesting that as the reason.

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59 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The vaccinated kids don't have to wear them unless they're in AO. That's what makes it more maddening.

For months prior to Omi all vaccinated adults had to wear masks because of unvax kids.  It has long been the only reason Royal was below 95% was because of unvax kids.  Those were the policies and we all accepted it and masked up.  

The new mask policy is a step in the right direction but not the end game.  The nature of AO and the confined indoor spaces can lead to higher exposure opportunities.   If vaccinated kids need to wear masks in AO for a few months so be it.  Once the numbers trend low for kids on board they can revisit and revise the mask policy.   

AO is not required to cruise.  Don’t put your kids in AO if they can’t mask up like we all had to for several months just to cruise.  

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42 minutes ago, Pooch said:

IMHO and IMHO ONLY, AO is much more likely to have unvaxxed kids in an indoor space, hence the mask mandate.  Not arguing right or wrong, just suggesting that as the reason.

Oh I'm sure that's what they're using as justification. But it still doesn't make sense in such a controlled environment as a cruise ship

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10 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

RC sent another email clarifying that the under 5s don't count towards the 95% and that they are not adding a 5-11 vaccine mandate.

So my reading is that the under 5 set, who are NOT ELIGIBLE for a vax, do not count toward the 95%.  Kids 5-11, who are ELIGIBLE, are not required to be vaxxed but then WILL count against the 95%. 

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5 minutes ago, Pooch said:

So my reading is that the under 5 set, who are NOT ELIGIBLE for a vax, do not count toward the 95%.  Kids 5-11, who are ELIGIBLE, are not required to be vaxxed but then WILL count against the 95%. 

That's how I read it.

 

9 minutes ago, Marlena said:

Anyone think they will function like carnival? I believe they treat it as a lottery style for all unvaxxed kids to make sure enough people are in the vaxxed category. Because I’m sure some weeks may have a higher then 5% unvaxxed rate .

I think there will be unofficial "allowances" for cruises that end up under 95% but if the CDC is going to be strict about the very arbitrary 95% number, then it will be interesting to see what RC has to do.

 

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14 minutes ago, Marlena said:

Anyone think they will function like carnival? I believe they treat it as a lottery style for all unvaxxed kids to make sure enough people are in the vaxxed category. Because I’m sure some weeks may have a higher then 5% unvaxxed rate .

Royal knows the numbers of vax/unvax now and through March with a high degree of accuracy.  They wouldn’t have done this if it meant adopting the Carnival lottery system.  

It’s possible a very small number would be potentially impacted and I’m sure they have plans to deal with it.  

They could even send out targeted casino or CAS offers for guests they know are vax to increase the ratio.  If they are short 50 guests to get to 95% just invite known vax guests or travel agents or land based employees to pad the numbers.  

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2 hours ago, twangster said:

Royal knows the numbers of vax/unvax now and through March with a high degree of accuracy.  They wouldn’t have done this if it meant adopting the Carnival lottery system.  

It’s possible a very small number would be potentially impacted and I’m sure they have plans to deal with it.  

They could even send out targeted casino or CAS offers for guests they know are vax to increase the ratio.  If they are short 50 guests to get to 95% just invite known vax guests or travel agents or land based employees to pad the numbers.  

Do you happen to know what is the highest capacity any Royal Caribbean ship is currently sailing at?  I know my Symphony Cruise sailed somewhere near 60% and that was before Omicron and our Anthem cruise set sail at 34% capacity according to the cruise director. 

Are there any ships sailing now higher than 60% capacity? The reason I'm asking is heading into spring and summer as Royal increases capacity could that increase capacity result in them employing a Carnival style lottery system to insure they hit 95% vaccination rate

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28 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

Do you happen to know what is the highest capacity any Royal Caribbean ship is currently sailing at?  I know my Symphony Cruise sailed somewhere near 60% and that was before Omicron and our Anthem cruise set sail at 34% capacity according to the cruise director. 

Are there any ships sailing now higher than 60% capacity? The reason I'm asking is heading into spring and summer as Royal increases capacity could that increase capacity result in them employing a Carnival style lottery system to insure they hit 95% vaccination rate

I think that ever since vaccines were approved for 5-17 year olds Carnival has not had to employ the ‘lottery ststem’.

Under this new program where children under 5 are not included in the 95% I don’t know how Royal could fall under the threshold of 95%. They require all eligible passengers to provide proof of vaccination so where would the 5% unvaxxed even come from?

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