Posted on 07/06/2021 11:20:22 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
I just disembarked Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, the line’s first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in more than 15 months.
When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, now was the time to do so. I showed mine and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear.
Passengers who didn’t voluntarily show proof of vaccination, were directed to a testing area. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards.
All cruisers — regardless of vaccination status — had to wear masks in indoor spaces unless the space was explicitly designated for vaccinated cruisers.
Those with the vaccine were able to go anywhere onboard. And areas specially allotted for passengers who had their shots had no mask-wearing rules. When I learned that the line would be creating some separate spaces and mandating masks, I wondered if the rules would be enforced and, if so, how strictly. Long story short: They were, very strictly. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). As part of the requirements for unvaccinated passengers, they must undergo two more tests after embarkation:
This three-day voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, in the Bahamas.
In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship.
On CocoCay, everyone was allowed to go ashore on their own and no masks were required.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
To me, obviously cruising is not going to be the same as it was before all these covid regulations were implemented on cruise ships.
If I was right now, contemplating on going on a cruise I would wait until late 2021 or into 2022 or until these regulations are greatly reduced, or eliminated. And I realize some of us can't wait. -Tom
Why would anyone pay to be subjected to this harassment?
Thanks again Capt Tom!
Some cruisers are running out of time (age) and health reasons, and will enjoy a cruise under any conditions. -Tom
are there separate lines for those with and those without the norovirus?
These foreign cruise lines should treat all passengers equally, else be barred from US ports and advisory issued to avoid them for discriminatory practices. As foreign-owned and flagged, they deserve no special accommodation by the US.
“Now everything is sanitized so it’s actually better.”
Wearing masks and being forced to have fascist identifiers is better? I’ve taken my chances on ships with noro many times — as a free person — and I prefer that. Freedom is good. Fascism is bad.
Capt. Tom, thanks for the updates you’ve posted throughout this ordeal. I’m waiting until second half of 2022 before I even book a cruise.
That is the same plan my daughter and her husband have.
2022 is less than 6 months away.- Tom
This weekend The Carnival Vista left Galveston and the Horizon left Miami for their 1st cruises... passengers said they werent asked for a vax card...
I doubt if the CDC would approve of their sailing unless 95% of the passengers were vaccinated.-Tom
I’ve spent 103 days on cruises since I retired, all on Celebrity. It appears my cruising days are over.
I am now in that same position as the cruise shutdown has lasted long enough for my own health issues to become a major factor. -Tom
You only need to cover your nose if you cough and sneeze with your nose.
They are “sanitizing” now? I’d be willing to be not as well as you imagine.
Humans are lazy, things will get passed by if a sani-nazi isn’t standing over each cleaning person.
Where do you find these BS stories? My first cruise was in June 1988. My 37th cruise is coming up in September.
Not once in my previous cruises, neither me or my wife, or my 2 kids ever had norovirus attack. My kids did 16 cruises with us before going on to college. We got slightly sea-sick only on one cruise which was the smallest ship we ever sailed on. The sea-sickness lasted barely 24 hours. The other 6 days on cruise were very enjoyable as usual. Now we stick to ships bigger than aircraft carriers, which is most of them now-a-days.
Not only I never got any gastro-intestinal problems ever, but I always came back feeling stronger with the amazingly high nutrition cuisine aboard the ship plus opportunity to exercise much more than in my home life. A recent cruise on Oasis of The Seas, it was 1/2 mile walk from our cabin to our dining room and back. Since we prefer dining room over buffet for all 3 meals during the day, it was 1.5 miles walk everyday just to go eat. And the ship is so huge, I easily walked 3-4 miles in addition. That ship actually has a living forest on board and birds are living there permanently.
My cruising schedule will have to switch into overdrive going forward. I am already 81, and goal is to to at least 100 cruises by age 100. My vaccinations docs are in good order, for the next 37th cruise in September this year.
SO I have 19 years to do 64 more cruises. I intend to do 6 every year so long as my legs hold up.
My wife and I have never been on a cruise and now never will. We have more fun flying to various destinations, renting a car and go exploring. I have been salmon fishing in Lake Michigan and walleye fishing in Lake Erie. To hell with cruising in the ocean.
Been on six cruises, NEVER AGAIN!
Flown on airplanes to get there, NEVER AGAIN.
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