CDC New Guidlines

[herbanrenewal]

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

"... but only because they had nowhere to go since when this all started people thought covid was a lot more severe than it is."

 

To those of us who have had family and friends who have died of covid or had mild cases with life altering long-hauler aftereffects it actually hurts to have someone say when this all started people thought it was more severe than it is. With a half million Americans gone I pray you never have to find out the error of this statement as you deal with this" less severe" pandemic

[coldflame]

On 5/7/2021 at 4:20 PM, tmann478 said:

I just read the new CDC guidelines on mask wearing on cruise ships.  This is ridiculous.  There is what they say:
The CDC makes clear that it expects guests and crew, as well as port personnel, to wear masks in indoor and outdoor areas except for brief periods while eating and drinking and says that "removal of the mask for extended meal service or beverage consumption would constitute a violation of this Order."
The mask order includes while guests are seated in outdoor pool areas.  If you are swimming you can remove your mask as long as you maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet --with the number of bathers restricted. Cruisers will not have to wear masks in their own cabins.
The CDC also suggests as a best practice that face-to-face interactions between crew and passengers be reduced "to the extent possible."

 

From what I understand it makes no difference if the ship is 95% vaccinated.  Seriously.  What is it going to take to not wear a mask outside?  I am fine wearing one inside.  However, this does not make sense and goes against their own guidelines where they say people don't have to wear a mask outdoors any longer.  

 

Beyond mask wearing which one could potentially rationalize as "the price for finally be able to cruise right after a global pandemic", the other measures that curtail more or less everything pleasurable in a cruise: dining venues, bars, theaters, casinos, pool decks, etc absolutely kill the deal. As it stands it's paying thousands to "enjoy" a weeklong floating hospital. I insist, as I said in another thread, this is CDC's attempt to keep, in effect, a no-sail-order while at the same time legally hedging which they will likely use defending against AK and FL lawsuits with "this law suit is moot we've moved on to conditional sailing your honor".

[Captain Billy Bob]

If this is how cruising is going to be I think we are done with cruising.

We just returned from a seven night all inclusive Caribbean vacation that had none of the ridiculous CDC guidelines.  It was so enjoyable that we booked  another stay at the same resort. We have four cruises booked and if/when they are canceled we will continue to vacation in the Caribbean but not on a cruise ship. At least not until cruising returns to something resembling normal.

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Captain Billy Bob

[cruisegus]

On 5/8/2021 at 12:12 PM, Sunshine3601 said:

Nothing is official yet.    Patiently await royals announcement this coming week for the sailings out of bahamas and what the protocol will be masks, etc.    

 

As for sailings out of the US, a lot can change from now till the time they actually start sailing so no need to react to their updated CSO.     I personally will not wear a mask while sunbathing, now way do I want those tan lines.   I hope my balcony is on the sunny sun of the ship at least for half of the trip.    😀

Just a little insight on all the mask requirement stuff that we hear, and it's actual enforcement. 

 

Here in the USA masks are required by TSA in all airports, except when eating and drinking.  I am fully vaccinated and have been for months so, personally I have no concerns.  No Judgement here just observations.

 

To set the scene I returned home yesterday from DFW to Iowa and left out of terminal B.  While we waited to board for 2 hours we walked the terminal and sat and read.  Of note, NO one siting in any restaurant or eating area had on a mask, whether they were actively engaged in eating or drinking, all were mask-less in those area.  Dozens of people were improperly wearing masks even while walking the corridors.  Again multiple dozens of people were sitting in normal seats or at the counters with USB/power without masks, most had a drink close at hand but not all. 

 

I sat somewhat away from others and set a bottle of water in front of me and read without a mask for an hour, no one commentated to me, or ask me to put it on.  I did wear my mask onto the airplane, but as soon as the plane started its takeoff roll, I pulled it down, on the rare occasion the stewardess came down the isle I pulled it back up, though I missed it one time and nothing was said.  Now if someone would have said anything to me at any time I would have gladly said sorry and put it back on, but my point is no one did.

 

Just to be clear I am fully a supporter of vaccination and of the recent reports that that those fully vaccinated are not only 96+% not going to catch, but that they are also proven to be non-asymptomatic carriers.  Up until about 4 weeks ago I wore a mask every where just like I was asked, but now that the vaccine can even be obtained in walk up clinics, at least in my area, I no longer feel I need to give up my freedoms because of those that are not willing to get vaccinated.

 

  I also found that being retired and only having to wear a mask for short time in stores as opposed to having to wear one all day at work, wearing one for a prolonged period was a big pain in my A55, therefore in view of being fully vaccinated I elected to wear one only when absolutely necessary to no cause trouble.

 

All this goes along with the fact that most stores in my area have signs that say "masks required" but I am increasingly witnessing more and more customers without masks and no one says anything.

 

So my personal take on this is there will be stated rules and then there will be what actually takes place.  As for myself wearing a mask while seated in the dining room, I won't, if the crew says something I will put it up for a short time.  Same applies to a sun lounger on deck, I will take it off, if one of the crew says something I will comply, applies at the bar also.  My experience is the crew is hesitant to confront any customer, unless it is a very major incident.  I don't expect this to change when we start sailing again.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by cruisegus
spelling

[harkinmr]

7 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

A replay?  Never were there thousands of passengers quarantined.  A couple ships were quarantined, but only because they had nowhere to go since when this all started people thought covid was a lot more severe than it is.

 

Only 3 ships ever had more than 100 cases of covid among passengers.  And one of those was a small luxury ship.  That's damn impressive considering no one knew what was going on at the time, and that the CDC still uses those examples as to why cruising needs to be shut down.

Wrong.  Worldwide approximately 2600 people were infected with COVID onboard a cruise ship and 65 died either during or directly after the cruise. More than 3700 passengers alone were quarantined to their cabins on the Diamond Princess, with 800 cases and about 10 deaths from that one ship alone.  There was nothing "impressive" about it.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/10-dead-over-800-test-positive-coronavirus-outbreaks-princess-cruises-n1167716

 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912e3.htm

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article241640166.html

[Ocean Boy]

34 minutes ago, cruisegus said:

My experience is the crew is hesitant to confront any customer, unless it is a very major incident.  I don't expect this to change when we start sailing again.

 

Crew may be reluctant to engage though I wouldn't count on it. However, what are your thoughts about passenger confrontations?

 

Personally, I don't want to board hoping that a rule I dislike is not going to be enforced. I don't want the rule to exist in the first place or there will always be the stress level that it might be enforced.

[Sunshine3601]

57 minutes ago, cruisegus said:

So my personal take on this is there will be stated rules and then there will be what actually takes place.  As for myself wearing a mask while seated in the dining room, I won't, if the crew says something I will put it up for a short time.  Same applies to a sun lounger on deck, I will take it off, if one of the crew says something I will comply, applies at the bar also.  My experience is the crew is hesitant to confront any customer, unless it is a very major incident.  I don't expect this to change when we start sailing again.

 

 

Other ships currently sailing have "covid" ambassadors.  Their job is to make sure all crew and passengers are following protocol.    I am sure the sailings out of the US they will be closely monitoring everyone, there is no way they want to be shut down again.

Remember not all vaccines in the world are as effective as pfizer and moderna that is being administered in the US.  Not all crew and passengers will be from the US.

 

[Biker19]

4 hours ago, harkinmr said:

Worldwide approximately 2600 people were infected with COVID onboard a cruise ship and 65 died either during or directly after the cruise. More than 3700 passengers alone were quarantined to their cabins on the Diamond Princess, with 800 cases and about 10 deaths from that one ship alone.  There was nothing "impressive" about it.

How many of those were in the last six months?

 

BTW, Diamond Princess capacity is about 2700.

[harkinmr]

6 hours ago, Biker19 said:

How many of those were in the last six months?

 

BTW, Diamond Princess capacity is about 2700.

Passenger and crew capacity on the Diamond Princess is just over 3700. Non-essential crew were quarantined as well.  
 

You do realize I was responding to a poster that made a claim drastically minimizing the impact of COVID on cruise ships and that there were never thousands of passengers quarantined.  That poster was wrong.
 

 

[harkinmr]

11 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Other ships currently sailing have "covid" ambassadors.  Their job is to make sure all crew and passengers are following protocol.    I am sure the sailings out of the US they will be closely monitoring everyone, there is no way they want to be shut down again.

Remember not all vaccines in the world are as effective as pfizer and moderna that is being administered in the US.  Not all crew and passengers will be from the US.

 

I love it when folks actually brag about disregarding the rules. I guess it’s a good thing we all don’t do that. 
 

This restart should prove to be a real trip.  🤨

[Biker19]

27 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

That poster was wrong.

They were not wrong if they were talking about the recent past.

 

You said "3700 passengers were quarantined" - I was pointing out a simple correction.

[harkinmr]

Just now, Biker19 said:

They were not wrong if they were talking about the recent past.

 

You said "3700 passengers were quarantined" - I was pointing out a simple correction.

Thanks. 
 

And it does not appear they were talking about the recent past. Poster said “never”. 

[BecciBoo]

16 hours ago, herbanrenewal said:

To those of us who have had family and friends who have died of covid or had mild cases with life altering long-hauler aftereffects it actually hurts to have someone say when this all started people thought it was more severe than it is.

I don't feel that way at all, what he said was just the truth pure and simple.  I lost my eldest brother, a man of only 67 in excellent health.  Covid attacked his lungs in a Pulminary Embolism.  That our relatives succumbed to Covid is just an infetesimal amount of people compared with many other illnesses.  I am heartily sorry for your loss and respect your feelings, but others like myself do not agree.  And it will not keep me off a ship when I know a ship is one of the safest places to be.  I am vaccinated, I cannot get it nor can I spread it.  Otherwise why get it?

Edited May 10, 2021 by BecciBoo

[BecciBoo]

21 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

A couple ships

And he was talking about a couple of ships not the world, you misrepresented what he said.

[BecciBoo]

16 hours ago, mianmike said:

 

And Brazil?  Italy? Mexico?  India?  U.K.?  etc.  Everyone decided to inflate the way they count covid deaths because they wanted to destroy their economies?  

No, just because their figures were incorrect....

[BecciBoo]

14 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Crew may be reluctant to engage though I wouldn't count on it. However, what are your thoughts about passenger confrontations?

 

Personally, I don't want to board hoping that a rule I dislike is not going to be enforced. I don't want the rule to exist in the first place or there will always be the stress level that it might be enforced.

Won't be a problem for us, we will just totally ignore a confrontation, it takes two to tangle...then I would report it to ship security.  The guilty party would not be a happy cruiser, I guarantee.  I have two I've been vaccinated button pins that we will be wearing from now on, what can one say to that.

[BecciBoo]

13 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

 

Remember not all vaccines in the world are as effective as pfizer and moderna that is being administered in the US.  Not all crew and passengers will be from the US.

 

And you know this how?  Allure is in Miami getting crew vaccinated at this very moment, most crew will be vaccinted in the US.

[BecciBoo]

9 hours ago, Biker19 said:

How many of those were in the last six months?

 

BTW, Diamond Princess capacity is about 2700.

 

His figures on Diamond Princess were entirely bogus.  And when he said, world wide, does he understand that the amount of cruisers that includes is hundreds of thousands who were onboard in the early part of last year.  Conveniently left that off didn't he.

 

From Clia: Newly released data shows 32 million passengers are expected to set sail in 2020.   

 

That's how many people cruise every year.  Of course that prediction fell short for 2020, but in any given year your talking tons of people.  so the percentage of folks that got the disease whilst cruising compared to the millions who actually sailed is minimal.  Yep, one can make things look just like they want them to when figures are misquoted or misrepresented.

Edited May 10, 2021 by BecciBoo

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, BecciBoo said:

Won't be a problem for us, we will just totally ignore a confrontation, it takes two to tangle...then I would report it to ship security.  The guilty party would not be a happy cruiser, I guarantee.  I have two I've been vaccinated button pins that we will be wearing from now on, what can one say to that.

Nothing more obnoxious than a blowhard that can’t help spouting off about their vaccination status. 

[mianmike]

5 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

No, just because their figures were incorrect....

 

And you know this how? 

[bucfan2]

4 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Nothing more obnoxious than a blowhard that can’t help spouting off about their vaccination status. 

 

Perhaps a Pinnacle/Vaccine combo-pin can be made available lol.

[Sunshine3601]

5 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

And you know this how?  Allure is in Miami getting crew vaccinated at this very moment, most crew will be vaccinted in the US.

yes, I am aware crew are able to be vaccinated in various ports but crew they will be flying in from other countries may have already been vaccinated with other vaccines available in their countries and no one has said cruises are limited to US passengers only.    

[Sunshine3601]

6 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

And you know this how?  Allure is in Miami getting crew vaccinated at this very moment, most crew will be vaccinted in the US.

And are those skeleton crew members that are currently on allure, etc. getting moderna, pfizer or J & J?     Last I heard J & J has an effectiveness of something like 66%.    

[coffeebean]

6 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Nothing more obnoxious than a blowhard that can’t help spouting off about their vaccination status. 

I don't see it that way at all. I feel more comfortable around people who are vaccinated. That is just one way for a perfect stranger to allow me to feel more comfortable around them. Honestly, I'm proud of my vaccination status and I let workers know that I am vaccinated when they come into my home to do service.