New CDC Guidance for vaccinated travelers (CSO)

[Saint Greg]

5 hours ago, jsglow said:

I'll predict the next big shoe to drop. The CDC will only require those Americans without proof of vaccination to present a negative Covid test upon entering the country from certain 'authorized' locations.  (Think Caribbean cruise ship versus a flight from a hot spot such as India.) 

 

I expect that to be required for everyone just like it is for flying.

[Ellusionz]

5 hours ago, Cowboys4ever said:

How about you just stay out of the all the areas that are deemed smoking areas.. if you do that, what is the problem?  There isn't one.  Just an excuse to ban something you don't like in the name of safety.  Im a non smoker by the way but give it a rest.. don't like the smell or scared of the droplets.. stay home.  

I don't mind either way but one issue I see with that suggestion is the casino. It's a heavily trafficked middle inside area. Only way to avoid is to go outside on some cruises (might be issue for some people due to weather and such). Maybe if they made the smoking area further away from the main walkway deeper into the casino? But I know a lot use the bar to smoke that everyone has to walk by there.

 

Never actually thought of smokers spreading further with them exhaling smoke out tho. Maybe if they exhale downward or into a napkin? Dunno what would be proper edicate or manners for that step lol

[slavens_09]

30 minutes ago, Ellusionz said:

I don't mind either way but one issue I see with that suggestion is the casino. It's a heavily trafficked middle inside area. Only way to avoid is to go outside on some cruises (might be issue for some people due to weather and such). Maybe if they made the smoking area further away from the main walkway deeper into the casino? But I know a lot use the bar to smoke that everyone has to walk by there.

 

Never actually thought of smokers spreading further with them exhaling smoke out tho. Maybe if they exhale downward or into a napkin? Dunno what would be proper edicate or manners for that step lol

I frequent the casinos around where I live and while the restriction has been lifted now. While COVID restrictions were in full swing you were only allowed to smoke while seated at a slot machine. (Still not able to smoke at table games).

 

I think it would be reasonable for them to have a rule that you needed to be seated at a slot to smoke in the casino. There are still the outside smoking areas for everyone else that doesn’t want to sit at a slot.

[Bgcruising]

9 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

But that's what we do here!

 

I am glad to see it finally getting sorted to some level of sensibility, though.

 

I disagree. We dont argue here. DOH!

[SNJCruisers]

So the CDC comes out with new guidelines specifically for vaccinated cruisers, after coming out with the loophole that only 95% of cruisers need to be vaccinated.   The only way that the 5% would work in conjunction with the new mask guidelines is that if the 5% was wholly made up with the under 11 set.  Otherwise,  how could the cruise line know if an adult was part of the 95% vaccinated that the new mask guidelines pertain to or the 5% that the substantially more restrictive guidelines apply to.

[hurricane0226]

38 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

So the CDC comes out with new guidelines specifically for vaccinated cruisers, after coming out with the loophole that only 95% of cruisers need to be vaccinated.   The only way that the 5% would work in conjunction with the new mask guidelines is that if the 5% was wholly made up with the under 11 set.  Otherwise,  how could the cruise line know if an adult was part of the 95% vaccinated that the new mask guidelines pertain to or the 5% that the substantially more restrictive guidelines apply to.

probably need the vaccine cards at check in 

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, hurricane0226 said:

probably need the vaccine cards at check in 

That would not matter.   The CDC said 95% vaccinated,  the 5% unvaccinated would have to be all kids, because you could not have one set of mask guidelines for 95% vaccinated adults and another set for 5% unvaccinated adults on the same cruise, since you could not tell who was vaccinated and who wasn't,  so Carnival would not know which adults were being compliant or not.  If the 5% were all unvaccinated kids, then all of the vaccinated adults would be compliant under the new guidelines. 

[bdever]

3 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

That would not matter.   The CDC said 95% vaccinated,  the 5% unvaccinated would have to be all kids, because you could not have one set of mask guidelines for 95% vaccinated adults and another set for 5% unvaccinated adults on the same cruise, since you could not tell who was vaccinated and who wasn't,  so Carnival would not know which adults were being compliant or not.  If the 5% were all unvaccinated kids, then all of the vaccinated adults would be compliant under the new guidelines. 

Good point, so now how does Carnival make the kids wear their masks at all times except for when actively eating/drinking or in the water? 
So kids not allowed to freely explore ports meaning families with Children 11 & under need Cruise sponsored excursions.

My gut tells me Carnivals going to mandate cruise sponsored excursions for everyone so not to upset families with small children. 

[ontheweb]

5 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

That would not matter.   The CDC said 95% vaccinated,  the 5% unvaccinated would have to be all kids, because you could not have one set of mask guidelines for 95% vaccinated adults and another set for 5% unvaccinated adults on the same cruise, since you could not tell who was vaccinated and who wasn't,  so Carnival would not know which adults were being compliant or not.  If the 5% were all unvaccinated kids, then all of the vaccinated adults would be compliant under the new guidelines. 

Add to the problem of knowing who are the non-compliant adults for mask wearing, how do you identify them for leaving the ship for shore excursions.

[logan25]

Might I theorize a colored bracelet issued at check-in for vaccinated.  Not foolproof, but it’s something.  At least it is some visible identifier for fellow passengers and crew.

 

Why is there not more conversation about unvaccinated smoking?  Mask down, take a drag.  Mask up, exhale.

[stellarose]

I actually like the wrist band idea. It's like what you get at water parks or some all inclusive resorts.

[Joebucks]

I guess I don't share the same joy. What an absolute joke that we've come this far to be told that fully vaccinated people can go outside if it's not crowded.

 

I'll take that excursions are starting to allow more wiggle room. Still not enough. Ohio just loosened all restrictions. Where's the science that says a state can let anything go, but people on a boat have to be vaccinated and outside?

[SRQbeachgirl]

14 hours ago, harkinmr said:

Reduced capacity was always the plan.  Cruise lines have been doing it for months on sailings outside the US. 

 

Reduced capacity is not sustainable. We will see greatly reduced fleets across all cruise companies if they can't start sailing with full ships in the near future. They cannot just continue to bleed money and reduced capacity sailings for an extended period of time will not enable the lines to recover from the cash loss they have already endured.

[Host Carolyn]

************ please don't turn this into another thread  re smoking vs not smoking, where to smoke etc.  There were plenty of those debates before

      If and when Carnival comes out with with new or updated smoking policy it can be it's own respectful new.thread... Thanks. *******

[harkinmr]

2 minutes ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

Reduced capacity is not sustainable. We will see greatly reduced fleets across all cruise companies if they can't start sailing with full ships in the near future. They cannot just continue to bleed money and reduced capacity sailings for an extended period of time will not enable the lines to recover from the cash loss they have already endured.

No one said it is for the long term.  When cruise lines begin to sail out of the US, it will be with just a few ships out of a few ports and with limited capacity.  All of the line heads have said this for months. It is the way back. 

[SRQbeachgirl]

2 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

No one said it is for the long term.  When cruise lines begin to sail out of the US, it will be with just a few ships out of a few ports and with limited capacity.  All of the line heads have said this for months. It is the way back. 

 

I completely agree...I'm just worried about the CDC's definition of "short-term."

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 minutes ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

I completely agree...I'm just worried about the CDC's definition of "short-term."

 

As in "geologic" time...

[harkinmr]

12 minutes ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

I completely agree...I'm just worried about the CDC's definition of "short-term."

I think that the cruise lines will have much more control over that than you might expect. They will need to manage the process.  I’ve heard some execs say mid-to-late 2022 for being back 100%, but others like NCL say late 2021.  I guess we will see how things go.  

Edited May 13, 2021 by harkinmr

[Joebucks]

1 hour ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

Reduced capacity is not sustainable. We will see greatly reduced fleets across all cruise companies if they can't start sailing with full ships in the near future. They cannot just continue to bleed money and reduced capacity sailings for an extended period of time will not enable the lines to recover from the cash loss they have already endured.

 

Previously, I would have agreed with you. In this new age, I'm not so sure yet. Less passengers and less ships should in theory raise demand and therefore, prices. We've already seen higher prices with a lot of people still weary of booking. I'm curious to see where they go once cruising is back in full force. Just for the sake of math, if capacity was cut by 25% and prices doubled, they would actually be ahead on fares revenue. It's tough to know exactly how it will all play out. Either way, fares have no where to go but up.

[SRQbeachgirl]

10 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

 

 It's tough to know exactly how it will all play out. Either way, fares have no where to go but up.

 

I'm glad I have my next three cruises locked in at great rates, but I definitely see that upward trend staying with us for a while.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

23 hours ago, lizord said:

I saw this posted to the /r/cruise subreddit today and thought I'd repost here because I hadn't seen another thread on it.

 

CDC has updated their guidance to differentiate between vaccinated and un-vaccinated sailings! Here is the source (they did not highlight the changes, just kind of threw them in): https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/covid19-operations-manual-cso.html

Important changes below:

Fully Vaccinated Travelers:

Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements.

Fully Vaccinated Travelers:

Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask except in crowded settings.

 

Thank you Reddit user /u/imnotagirl_janet for bringing this to my attention as I would have not noticed it otherwise.

Not sure about when doing activities outdoors. The last one I read. If you are at the pool lounging you MUST wear a mask. Nice tan after that. Also between drinks and between waiting for your meal and next course. I hope yours supersedes that one. That came out about a week ago. CruiseCritic posted that one.

[cruisingguy007]

17 hours ago, harkinmr said:

Reduced capacity was always the plan.  Cruise lines have been doing it for months on sailings outside the US. 

 

Price increases are another way to achieve reduced capacity. Dynamic pricing (surge pricing in this particular case) should ease some of the capacity and help maximize passenger spend averages. 

[jsglow]

On 5/12/2021 at 3:12 PM, jsglow said:

I'll predict the next big shoe to drop. The CDC will only require those Americans without proof of vaccination to present a negative Covid test upon entering the country from certain 'authorized' locations.  (Think Caribbean cruise ship versus a flight from a hot spot such as India.) 

 

 

Ding, ding ding.  Just as I predicted two days ago!  New policy as of this morning.  No tests if you're vaxxed either at embarkation or disembarkation.  Not sure how it applies to flying into the country but this opens the cruising door wide open.  😃

[cscurlock]

On 5/13/2021 at 7:28 AM, ontheweb said:

Add to the problem of knowing who are the non-compliant adults for mask wearing, how do you identify them for leaving the ship for shore excursions.

It will be 100%. The CDC is just saying that is the minimum acceptable rate.  The bean counters at the CDC ran the vaccinated requirement through their disease control algorithm when NCL it requested the requirements since they didn't like the unvaccinated requirements.    

[SRQbeachgirl]

56 minutes ago, jsglow said:

 

 

Ding, ding ding.  Just as I predicted two days ago!  New policy as of this morning.  No tests if you're vaxxed either at embarkation or disembarkation.  Not sure how it applies to flying into the country but this opens the cruising door wide open.  😃

 

Could you post a link for the new guidance? My Google-fu does not seem to be working well today.