Health & Safety Measures (US Website)

[DCGuy64]

16 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

Sid, the problem I have is having to wear a mask all the time, not sailing with non vaccinated passengers. The other lines have it split so that vaccinated do not have to wear a mask except in close quarters inside. None on deck,

Excuse me for intruding, but where are you reading that you'll have to wear a mask "all the time"?

I asked @kernow yesterday about the mask wearing since he/she was recently on the Virtuosa, and the mask wearing requirement seemed very minimal. I'm wondering what resource is telling you that you'll have to wear a mask everywhere. I think the information you're getting is incorrect.

[NightOne]

4 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Excuse me for intruding, but where are you reading that you'll have to wear a mask "all the time"?

I asked @kernow yesterday about the mask wearing since he/she was recently on the Virtuosa, and the mask wearing requirement seemed very minimal. I'm wondering what resource is telling you that you'll have to wear a mask everywhere. I think the information you're getting is incorrect.

 

The information I read is here:

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

 

Under the "ONBOARD, ASHORE & DISEMBARKATION REQUIREMENTS" section it says:

 

FULLY VACCINATED:

 

"You will be required to wear a mask throughout the cruise while indoors and in public areas. Mask use is not required outdoors. Where social distancing is not possible outdoors, mask use is recommended for all guests"

[DCGuy64]

4 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

The information I read is here:

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

 

Under the "ONBOARD, ASHORE & DISEMBARKATION REQUIREMENTS" section it says:

 

FULLY VACCINATED:

 

"You will be required to wear a mask throughout the cruise while indoors and in public areas. Mask use is not required outdoors. Where social distancing is not possible outdoors, mask use is recommended for all guests"

Thanks, that's the classic CYA official language. But the onboard experience is quite different. While not specifically laid out, it's obvious that when you're eating and drinking, swimming, and in your own cabin, you won't have to wear a mask. But even the written policy states that masks aren't required to be worn outdoors, hence the statements I've been reading that masks are required "everywhere" or "all of the time" are demonstrably false.

[NightOne]

10 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thanks, that's the classic CYA official language. But the onboard experience is quite different. While not specifically laid out, it's obvious that when you're eating and drinking, swimming, and in your own cabin, you won't have to wear a mask. But even the written policy states that masks aren't required to be worn outdoors, hence the statements I've been reading that masks are required "everywhere" or "all of the time" are demonstrably false.

 

ANY required mask usage ONBOARD for Vaccinated passengers is a showstopper as far as I am concerned.

[DCGuy64]

Just now, NightOne said:

 

ANY required mask usage ONBOARD for Vaccinated passengers is a showstopper as far as I am concerned.

Yeah, I get that. I don't blame you for not wanting to have to wear a mask. My point is that there's a huge difference between having to wear a mask at all and having to wear it everywhere. For some folks, any mask wearing is too much. But I'd bet $1 million dollars that having safety protocols is why MSC has had extremely few cases.

[NightOne]

28 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Yeah, I get that. I don't blame you for not wanting to have to wear a mask. My point is that there's a huge difference between having to wear a mask at all and having to wear it everywhere. For some folks, any mask wearing is too much. But I'd bet $1 million dollars that having safety protocols is why MSC has had extremely few cases.

 

If masks were the solution then we wouldn't still have the problem. There are other safety protocols that can be instituted. Personally, I think this starts with no unvaccinated passengers over 12 years of age. 😉

[MotownVoice]

19 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

If masks were the solution then we wouldn't still have the problem. There are other safety protocols that can be instituted. Personally, I think this starts with no unvaccinated passengers over 12 years of age. 😉

I can count on both hands the situations where I would think mask wearing would be mandatory for everyone:

1.  In the lobby, in lines, at the excursion desk, etc.
2.  In the atrium during the theme nights and formal dances and champagne fountain events, I suppose they'd ask you to mask up if they saw you relaxing in the atrium lounge if they saw you without one.

3.  In the buffet while in line collecting food, at the bars and coffee shops.
4.  In the passageways on the way to an outdoor location.

5.  In the theater.

6.  In the casino.

7.  Shopping in the stores, photo shop and museum or art galleries.

8.  In line to leave or return to the ship.

What am I missing?

Those don't seem like such a heavy lift to me.  The only people that this would put out would be people who have been trying to skip around the protocols all along.  The rest of us have been donning these things since a year ago, March.  It's like putting on our sunglasses.

Edited June 24, 2021 by MotownVoice

[NightOne]

1 minute ago, MotownVoice said:

I can count on both hands the situations where I would think mask wearing would be mandatory for everyone:

1.  In the lobby, in lines, at the excursion desk, etc.
2.  In the atrium during the theme nights and formal dances and champagne fountain events.

3.  In the buffet while in line collecting food.
4.  In the passageways on the way to an outdoor location.

5.  In the theater.

6.  In the casino.

7.  Shopping in the stores, photo shop and museum or art galleries.

8.  In line to leave or return to the ship.

What am I missing?

Those don't seem like such a heavy lift to me.  The only people that this would put out would be people who have been trying to skip around the protocols all along.  The rest of us have been donning these things since a year ago, March.  It's like putting on our sunglasses.
 

 

We are not wearing masks here anywhere. The only mandatory mask wearing is on airplanes, etc.

 

And yes your list is quite long and off putting.

 

Vaccinated passengers = Yes

 

Masks = No

 

That is my opinion

[MotownVoice]

4 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

We are not wearing masks here anywhere. The only mandatory mask wearing is on airplanes, etc.

 

And yes your list is quite long and off putting.

 

Vaccinated passengers = Yes

 

Masks = No

 

That is my opinion

And your opinion is valued.  But it won't change the policy.  You've already stated that you don't intend to cruise under these conditions, so you understand what your parameters are.  It's not going to change until something in the conditions changes.  (And for the record I share your "vaccinated only, unvaccinated need not submit a deposit" view).

Edited June 24, 2021 by MotownVoice

[NightOne]

23 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

And your opinion is valued.  But it won't change the policy.  You've already stated that you don't intend to cruise under these conditions, so you understand what your parameters are.  It's not going to change until something in the conditions changes.  (And for the record I share your "vaccinated only, unvaccinated need not submit a deposit" view).

 

I think the situation will be completely different in October but I'm impatient waiting for changes in protocols. LOL

[KennyFla]

1 hour ago, NightOne said:

 

ANY required mask usage ONBOARD for Vaccinated passengers is a showstopper as far as I am concerned.

Sounds like our cruise in October may not be too crowded.  Mask or no mask WE ARE SAILING

[GOLDENBONNY]

One thing I don't get . If MSC cruising from Florida and not gonna follow CDC rules but Florida rules why masks are needed? Florida is mask free state now. I am not going on cruise with mask on ,masks are useless anyway against airborne virus .

[GOLDENBONNY]

6 hours ago, NightOne said:

 

ANY required mask usage ONBOARD for Vaccinated passengers is a showstopper as far as I am concerned.

for us as well . I am not cruising in mask on. 

[phissy]

Wondering why MSC is offering Covid Reassurance policies for passengers on Caribbean cruises that take place Oct 31, 2021 or before.

( Fine print on MSC news release above on  first post.)

what happens on Nov 1, 2021?

I guess no more reassurance on their Covid policies. 

[RC Dancers]

Does anybody know what percentage of cabins are being booked on cruises from US ports?

[Homosassa]

13 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

One thing I don't get . If MSC cruising from Florida and not gonna follow CDC rules but Florida rules why masks are needed? Florida is mask free state now. I am not going on cruise with mask on ,masks are useless anyway against airborne virus .

No, Florida is not a mask free sate.

 

There are places and activities that require masks.  There are places and activities that state masks are optional.

 

Many citizens that pay attention to medical/scientific data on Covid 19 voluntarily wear masks in public.

[jules815]

19 hours ago, NightOne said:

 

We are not wearing masks here anywhere. The only mandatory mask wearing is on airplanes, etc.

 

And yes your list is quite long and off putting.

 

Vaccinated passengers = Yes

 

Masks = No

 

That is my opinion

Not in medical facilities, doctor's offices?? Public transportation?? 

 

[kilkoyne]

14 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

for us as well . I am not cruising in mask on. 

 

Why post on an MSC forum if you don't intend to sail with them? Just curious, there are other cruise lines you can choose.

[GOLDENBONNY]

2 minutes ago, kilkoyne said:

 

Why post on an MSC forum if you don't intend to sail with them? Just curious, there are other cruise lines you can choose.

First of all because its a free forum and I can post everywhere I want .And second because I have cruise booked with MSC and I am waiting to see what's a rules will be by December ,if I need a mask on board we cancel and book Celebrity . 

[kilkoyne]

1 minute ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

First of all because its a free forum and I can post everywhere I want .And second because I have cruise booked with MSC and I am waiting to see what's a rules will be by December ,if I need a mask on board we cancel and book Celebrity . 

 

Of course you can post wherever you want and we all have the option to cancel/change cruise lines. Hopefully you'll find a cruise line whose safety protocols suit you. 🙂

[drsel]

On 6/24/2021 at 6:13 PM, kernow said:

We were on Virtuosa 2 weeks ago, you don't have to wear a mask all the time, in fact the time we were wearing masks was actually very little. On deck you only have to wear one while you are moving round, once seated or on a sunbed they are not required. It really was not the big deal that people are imagining.

I am so glad to have found you!. I would love to know

1. Did MSC insist on a Covid specific insurance for fully vaccinated passengers? Did MSC deny boarding to those who did not have it?

2. were they selling Covid specific insurance at The Cruise terminal ?

3. If so, could you buy this covid specific insurance for a long period of two months to cover multiple Cruise ships of MSC and Costa?

Edited June 26, 2021 by drsel

[kernow]

11 minutes ago, drsel said:

I am so glad to have found you!. I would love to know

1. Did MSC insist on a Covid specific insurance for fully vaccinated passengers? Did MSC deny boarding to those who did not have it?

2. were they selling Covid specific insurance at The Cruise terminal ?

3. If so, could you buy this covid specific insurance for a long period of two months to cover multiple Cruise ships of MSC and Costa?

Yes, for the UK cruises they insist on full covid cover for everyone and they want to see evidence of it at check in. If it's not clear that your insurance covers it they will sell you a top up policy that does in the terminal which is just for that cruise.

In the UK there are now lots of insurance companies that are selling specific covid insurance for these cruises at reasonable prices.

[drsel]

7 minutes ago, kernow said:

Yes, for the UK cruises they insist on full covid cover for everyone and they want to see evidence of it at check in. If it's not clear that your insurance covers it they will sell you a top up policy that does in the terminal which is just for that cruise.

In the UK there are now lots of insurance companies that are selling specific covid insurance for these cruises at reasonable prices.

4. Do you know if they will sell these top up Covid  specific insurance policies at the Barcelona Cruise terminal ?

5. Can we buy it for multiple Cruise ships for 2 months?

[kernow]

11 minutes ago, drsel said:

4. Do you know if they will sell these top up Covid  specific insurance policies at the Barcelona Cruise terminal ?

5. Can we buy it for multiple Cruise ships for 2 months?

I believe they are selling them for the current Italian cruises so maybe they will for Barcelona. As far as I know they are only for one cruise at a time. I would give the customer services a call to ask if they will be available.

[MarkusToe]

If you book your cruise in Germany, you do not need the insurance.. 

They offer it at the time of booking only. Its 25eur for a 7day cruise in the med.