Shorewalk Holmes

30 minutes ago, BND said:

Also, you just have a theory in your mind that pre-cruise testing cuts down on cases.    That is a theory that has never been proven.  Not to mention, for every person that tests positive, how many don't that would a day or two later?  Too many variables to state that pre-cruise testing makes any difference at all.

It's not a 'theory' at all. It's true by definition.

As long as the test can correctly detect positive cases, and positive testers are refused boarding, testing cuts down on the total number of positive cases aboard the ship.

By the way, I'm amazed at how many people fall for the argument that 'if there's still covid cases after X, that proves X doesn't work' -- whether it's vaccines, masks, or testing. These precautions work to reduce the probability of spread, they don't eliminate it.

Yes, some people will have covid but not test positive until after they board.  Some people will get covid ashore.  None of that means that precruise testing doesn't work to reduce the number of cases aboard.

As I said earlier, the key question is how many people are denied boarding due to positive tests.  I'm hoping that one of the TAs here knows (and is willing to say) roughly how many boarding refusals there are.

At least The Bahamas gave us time to get the tourist visa approved, as opposed to Bermuda, for which the testing/approval timetable was way too tight IMHO.

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

So forcing the testing of hundreds of thousands of healthy vaccinated people days before the cruise  to find the few that are postive

This is an important point. What's a typical number of precruise positives per 5000 passengers, including both the people who test positive at home and those at the port?  1? 100? 300? The cruise lines probably know this, at least approximately.  Maybe someone here also knows.

6 minutes ago, wayne_trisha said:

Active covid is on the ships. Testing clearly has not stopped it.

No, but it helps.

I guess we don't know how bad things would have been all this time without testing. Unless maybe someone knows of a real case of a line with large ships and no testing.

2 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

It does? Apparently it does not .......

The key word is 'helps'.  He didn't say it keeps all Covid off.  

6 minutes ago, BND said:

Pretty sure you missed my point.

 

Get ready because pre-cruise testing will be going away.  

Can you elaborate?  What was your point then? 

It appears you were suggesting that because people go ashore there's little point in precruise testing. Clearly this isn't a logical position.  Precruise testing reduces the infection stream coming aboard, as @BirdTravels said.  It's beneficial whether people go ashore or not.

That said, I hope you're right that someday testing will go away when the chance of illness disrupting people's cruises  is much smaller.

1 minute ago, BND said:

I can't tell if you're being serious or facetious.  Cause you know, no one goes ashore when on a cruise.

People go ashore whether you test or not.  Precruise testing cuts down on another stream of possible infection.

7 hours ago, BND said:

I know this will probably get moved to the ports of call board, but I hadn't seen it posted.  I could have missed it, but...

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericawertheimzohar/2022/06/17/its-better-in-the-bahamas-bahamas-removes-travel-health-visa-requirements/?sh=87c4ec92d6d4

 

Thanks for the information. Our problem with Bermuda cruises wasn't the testing per se, but the extremely short timeline after reporting the results for the Tourism Office to get approval back to the passenger to allow boarding. 

36 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Testing helps keep active COVID off the ships. 

Hard to argue with this.

11 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Many who want to wear masks everywhere but dining, expect everyone else to do the same. 

What we expect is that people will follow the ship's rules regarding health precautions.  In a removed post, someone earlier said they won't obey mask rules unless forced to. We should expect better of people.   

9 hours ago, twangster said:

The complimentary test for consecutive cruisers remains listed in the latest FAQ.

 

That should not be confused with testing to re-enter the US when flying home after the cruise which is not included.

 

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2021_2022/RTS_FAQs.pdf

 

Updated April 22, 2022 Valid through June 30, 2022

 

• 6. Can I book back-to-back cruises at this time? Yep! We welcome guests to cruise on as many back-to-back cruises as they wish, including kids of any vaccination status. The travel requirements and health protocols are the same as a single cruise, and back-to back cruisers will need to meet all those requirements. For subsequent cruises, the "pre-cruise test" requirement is fulfilled by a test between cruises. All guests 2 years of age and older, regardless of vaccination status, are required to take a COVID-19 test producing negative results between each sailing. This test will be arranged by Royal Caribbean at no expense to the guest, as long as your consecutive cruises are less than 3 days apart. Visit Guest Services while onboard to arrange this test ahead of your next cruise. We will continue to evaluate this policy as public health guidance evolves.

Thanks for posting the link to this useful FAQ.

2 hours ago, sandycruzr said:

Lots of people currently in quarantine on the vision of the sea. They will not give an exact count but everyday crew members are missing and I’ve personally seen 12 people removed from their cabins on my floor. 5 days ago we were told by RCL that they had 72 people in quarantine but now they will not tell us.  They are making quite a few announcements looking for passengers that have tested positive to contact medical immediately. Lots of different names.

Thanks for this on-topic information.  We'll be cruising next week.

17 minutes ago, hazeleyes46 said:

I don't think the poster was speaking of a mask for covid or medical reasons lololol

Yep, I missed the little winky.  Too old for social media, I guess 😀

52 minutes ago, rudeney said:

 

I guess it depends on the type of mask.  😏

True.  

For me, some of the over-the-ear KN95's can get uncomfortable, but only after a couple of continuous hours. I can wear the head/neck strap ones with proper fit for many consecutive hours and forget I have them on.

33 minutes ago, MommaBear55 said:

I am able to have fun masked or unmasked. 

Same here.  I've enjoyed the masked cruises so far. 

24 minutes ago, Pizzasteve said:

So, had the person not worn a mask, it is likely you would have been even more sick. 

I'm not the poster who was sick.  Did you mean to respond to @rudeney?

In any case you and I made the same point, but you gave more explanation. @rudeney's initial viral load might have been much higher if the person he was exposed to hadn't been wearing a mask.

35 minutes ago, rudeney said:

I still have the antibodies and am vaxxed and boosted so I don't worry about COVID.

Good! 

My wife and I are old, so maybe we should worry about it a bit more, but not enough to stop cruising 😀. 

We've been lucky and haven't caught it yet. We've been wearing KN-95's since we first found them on the US market in late spring 2020, so perhaps that helped. 

5 minutes ago, rudeney said:

This was November 2020, so pre-vax.  I had a cold for a week, no fever, and then I lost my sense of taste and smell for a few days.  I do have a permanent  loss of "certain" smells.  It's no big deal as I've always had some sinus issues.  

Sorry you got it, but glad to hear it wasn't worse!

10 minutes ago, rudeney said:

obviously her wearing a mask did not help me.  

First, I hope you didn't have Covid too hard, and had no long term effects.  

You can't be sure her mask didn't help you.  Had she not been masked, you might have received a much larger initial loading dose of the virus, which, depending on your vax status, might have resulted in a more severe case.

Masking is a probability issue.  Sure, eating without masks risks exposure.

But suppose you eat/drink for 3 hours of your cruise day, and spend some time outdoors.

On sea days maybe that leaves 6 hours indoors for shopping, trivia, shows, elevators, walking around, etc.  Some of these hours are in crowded rooms for long periods. So wearing an N95 mask properly indoors might cut your risk substantially.

Masking rules are looser now. If someone is so ideologically opposed to masks that they call them 'talismans of the Covidians', they are free to indulge that.

But if you're open to reducing risk, the @pcur strategy may make sense for you.

@Ken the cruiser Thanks for starting this great topic!  I've learned a lot. 

4 hours ago, mandyleighflies said:

They extended the mask mandate another 2 weeks...that means at least 4 more weeks of getting cussed out at work multiple times a day.

Thank you so much for what you do! Here's hoping that masks aren't needed much longer.

As noted earlier, you guys don't get nearly enough appreciation. Especially during bad COVID, it would be hard to stay courteous to passengers demanding the 'freedom' to unmask and risk spewing toxic particles on you and everyone else.

Have a wonderful cruise!

In case there's someone who doesn't already know this by now -- legit, affordable  N95 and KN95 masks are readily available from many sources.  The N95 Project is a good one, but there are plenty of others.  If you're going to wear a mask, you may as well wear one that is certified by the FDA for covid protection.

16 hours ago, WillandTam said:

It's like so much of the culture today, virtue signaling that my rules are more virtuous than yours, utter nonsense. Follow the science as it was said so many times. Or on the other hand, it is CDC pandering...

Yeah, that's what's wrong with our culture.  Virtue signaling.

Cruisers are wearing masks sometimes! They're social distancing. They're getting vaccinated.

They're washing their hands after they go to the bathroom.

The horror!

10 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

I like it because it sews well, has the great filtration rating, can take light ironing and can be washed.

I think it's wonderful that you're making these, and spreading the word about the value of masks with good electrostatic properties!

Not sure about washing them though, unless you recharge the mask afterward.  You may already be doing that, but just in case you aren't, here's a good paper on the effects of recharging electrostatic-based masks with an ordinary hair dryer.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095809920301624