Freedom Venues Vaccinated/Unvaccinated Rules Spelled Out

[rtazz17]

9 hours ago, Evilgrin72 said:

I'm just having a hard time seeing how anyone is happy with this.  Vaccinated cruisers probably aren't going to sail knowing they have to wear a mask on 70% of the ship.  They'll probably hop over to a line that is sailing at 95% or that doesn't require a mask.  Unvaccinated cruisers aren't likely to book knowing they're going to have to wear a mask any time they're not outside and aren't going to be able to access the casino, the solarium, several bars and multiple events.  Kind of a "no-one wins" situation they've created.

We get it. Dont sail then. But stop constantly saying it and guessing how everyone else feels about something. 

[tinkertwo]

Haven't read everything on here word by word but did I miss how RCCL will be able to tell if you are vac'd or not?  If they can't ask for proof of a vaccination what would prevent someone from just saying they are?

 

[zekekelso]

5 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

I have a port within an hour driving distance but it gets old only cruising from there, so it’s never been a thing for me.  But Vegas is pretty open right now -  we just got back from there yesterday.  

Such a shame no cruise line docks in Vegas. Would make for a great day in port. I guess it’s because the ships don’t want competition for their onboard casinos. 

[DallasGuy75219]

7 minutes ago, tinkertwo said:

Haven't read everything on here word by word but did I miss how RCCL will be able to tell if you are vac'd or not?  If they can't ask for proof of a vaccination what would prevent someone from just saying they are?

 

The Florida law doesn't say they can't ask for proof of vaccination; it says they can't require proof of vaccination.  So they ask, and you can voluntarily provide proof.  If you don't voluntarily provide proof, you can still sail but you're subject to the additional restrictions and costs for the unvaccinated. 

Edited June 29, 2021 by DallasGuy75219

[jrapps]

3 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

Such a shame no cruise line docks in Vegas. Would make for a great day in port. I guess it’s because the ships don’t want competition for their onboard casinos. 

That, and being 300 miles away from an ocean might also contribute.

[tinkertwo]

Just now, DallasGuy75219 said:

The Florida law doesn't say they can't ask for proof of vaccination; it says they can't require proof of vaccination.  So they ask, and you can voluntarily provide proof.  If you don't voluntarily provide proof, you can still sail but you're subject too the additional restrictions and costs for the unvaccinated. 

Thank you, that makes sense.

How would they distinguish who is or is not vaccinated while sailing?  What would prevent an unvaccinated person from say entering the casino?  The solarium?  

[DallasGuy75219]

1 minute ago, tinkertwo said:

Thank you, that makes sense.

How would they distinguish who is or is not vaccinated while sailing?  What would prevent an unvaccinated person from say entering the casino?  The solarium?  

They will punch a hole in the SeaPass of everyone who isn't vaccinated, and you'll have to show your SeaPass to get into any of the restricted areas.  There was also talk of the vaccinated having to wear a wristband throughout the cruise if they wanted to use the restricted areas, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.

[Evilgrin72]

46 minutes ago, rtazz17 said:

We get it. Dont sail then. But stop constantly saying it and guessing how everyone else feels about something. 

I'll say whatever I like as long as it doesn't violate the terms of this board, but thanks for your input.

 

Whether I sail or not is something I'll decide as time goes on and I can see how this evolves. As it stands now, no. I'm just trying to figure out why they're doing what they're doing when it doesn't seem likely to please anyone, no matter your POV on vaccines. If you have a differing opinion and want to explain why you think this is a good compromise, I'm certainly open to hear your point of view. If not, then good day. 

Edited June 29, 2021 by Evilgrin72

[zekekelso]

23 minutes ago, jrapps said:

That, and being 300 miles away from an ocean might also contribute.

Like that would stop the cruise lines from docking in Long Beach and calling it “Vegas.”

[coffeebean]

9 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

And why should children be forced to dine with unvaccinated adults. So wrong RCL so Wrong

Because children are un-vaccinated too. I do not get your POV at all.

[coffeebean]

7 hours ago, Evilgrin72 said:

I really want to support the industry and help them get back to business, but the way RCL has chosen to do this in FL is somewhat bewildering to me. Doesn't feel like anyone is going to be happy with this, but maybe I'm wrong. 

By contrast, Celebrity sailed out of Port Everglades with 99% vaxxed on board with no masking or distancing protocols at all. THAT is the cruise experience I will pay for. What Royal has done is an abomination, IMHO, just to let the kids sail and to allow un-vaxxed adults on board too. Although I am Diamond Plus on Royal, we will not be giving them any of our vacation dollars until the onboard experience out of Florida is the same as Celebrity and what NCL and Carnival propose to do.

[Thenagers]

9 hours ago, harkinmr said:

RCI does not need to jump through the hoops that it is in Florida. Celebrity just set sail from FLL with 99% vaccinated passengers and voluntary submission of vaccination proof. No problem with Florida government. Carnival will be proceeding with a similar plan. No less than 95% vaccinated.  RCI made a choice to welcome a larger percentage of unvaccinated passengers, including adults, thereby creating discomfort for both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers.  Their call, and not the right one given the overall reaction. 

RCL is trying to have unvaccinated kids not unvaccinated adults. Notice the places that are vaccinated only. Kids can’t go anyway. Plus kids are exempt from the extra testing fees. Honestly Carnival is a mess as well. They are having a lottery for unvaccinated spots for kids and no kids clubs. Personally I wouldn’t take my kid on either until all this is sorted out. I feel sorry for families that really want to cruise. I’m taking my teens but they are vaccinated. 

[Evilgrin72]

Just now, coffeebean said:

By contrast, Celebrity sailed out of Port Everglades with 99% vaxxed on board with no masking or distancing protocols at all. THAT is the cruise experience I will pay for. What Royal has done is an abomination, IMHO, just to let the kids sail and to allow un-vaxxed adults on board too. Although I am Diamond Plus on Royal, we will not be giving them any of our vacation dollars until the onboard experience out of Florida is the same as Celebrity and what NCL and Carnival propose to do.

 

Exactly this. Couldn't agree more. What's confounding to me is that they seem to think that families and unvaccinated passengers will flock to them and happily wear masks. Now maybe I'm wrong and that other guy is right and I'm misreading the market, but I'm not sure I've heard one person say that they were sailing and more than happy to wear masks everywhere. Everyone I've heard say they were already booked seem to be of the opinion that it won't be necessary by the time they sail or that it won't be enforced. 

[Mikew0805]

10 hours ago, Evilgrin72 said:

I'm just having a hard time seeing how anyone is happy with this.  Vaccinated cruisers probably aren't going to sail knowing they have to wear a mask on 70% of the ship.  They'll probably hop over to a line that is sailing at 95% or that doesn't require a mask.  Unvaccinated cruisers aren't likely to book knowing they're going to have to wear a mask any time they're not outside and aren't going to be able to access the casino, the solarium, several bars and multiple events.  Kind of a "no-one wins" situation they've created.

I'm vaccinated, and will be sailing on one of these cruises. I do not mind.

[Evilgrin72]

Just now, Mikew0805 said:

I'm vaccinated, and will be sailing on one of these cruises. I do not mind.

That's good. I am not anti-mask at all (just wore one in the supermarket despite being vaccinated and not required,) I just don't really want to wear one on a cruise ship. I was thinking more about unvaccinated folks, but I am glad that some vaccinated people are sailing and just wearing the mask when necessary. 

[coffeebean]

7 hours ago, OSUZorba said:

What do the other lines do if someone refuses to provide proof?

With no proof of vaccination, the person is considered un-vaxxed. The pool for un-vaxxed is a maximum of 5%. Once the 5% is reached, un-vaxxed people can not board the ship.

[Moltar]

47 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

Like that would stop the cruise lines from docking in Long Beach and calling it “Vegas.”

 

Pittsburgh is just 369 miles from NYC. Have you lost your mind? That's like asking them to make a port stop to Pittsburgh.

[Mikew0805]

Just now, Evilgrin72 said:

That's good. I am not anti-mask at all (just wore one in the supermarket despite being vaccinated and not required,) I just don't really want to wear one on a cruise ship. I was thinking more about unvaccinated folks, but I am glad that some vaccinated people are sailing and just wearing the mask when necessary. 

I understand not wanting to. However, my cruise addiction is all I have to fill my cup, and with my job I need it badly. I am willing to do whatever they want to be on a ship. I have not had PTO for 16 months because I was saving for all the cruises. LOL.

 

I am sure things will change again soon, and you will be able to cruise and not wear a mask all the time.

[Thenagers]

6 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Might want to take your own advice.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination

"the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually."

 

This is, by definition, discrimination. It's treating people differently based on the category they are in, unvaccinated, not based on any individual attribute. It's just not discriminating against a protected class, (ie race), therefore it is completely legal. Discrimination is not inherently wrong, despite the negative connotation many between assume to be meant anytime the word is used.

These are safety protocols. 

[Thenagers]

4 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

I hope things change by November, but at this time I am not thrilled that my unvaxxed 10 yo child will be limited to areas full of unvaxxed adults. While it's not a problem for him (or any of us) to wear a mask at any of the indoor venues, like theater or ice shows where we are not eating or drinking, I am worried about congregating in the MDR limited to unvaxxed passengers only. And the fact that none of the passengers with kids can just take a taxi to the beach, keeping away from the crowds, but must actually ride a bus/ferry with the unvaxxed adults, is not going to keep the children safe.

 

We've kept him safe by doing remote schooling for the whole year, no sports, no extracurricular activities, no playdates with his BFF who went to school in person... However, now the teachers are all vaccinated, and all of the adults in his life as well, so even though there won't be any remote schooling in August, I find a small consolation in the fact that all of the people at the school are vaccinated.

 

So, needless to say - I am torn. It's already a risk to cruise with an unvaccinated child, but when the cruise line itself limits the already vulnerable kids to the areas with unvaccinated adults and teens only - the risk increases. 

At the same time, we haven't had a vacation in 2 years, thanks to covid. This cruise was L&S... We really want to cruise, and we are even willing to wear masks indoors.

I have a friend whose children did the vaccine trial. She is a doctor at Duke. She believes it will be available before school starts for the next age group. I don’t know how you feel about that but at least it is an option. 

[Thenagers]

4 hours ago, Goodtime Cruizin said:

 

That's interesting. Our cards have no stamp whatsoever. Of any kind. I think this is nothing but a CYA scare tactic. I'm not saying they may not try,  but they could not prove any type of fraud w/ the card we were issued. No signature and no agency stamp of any kind.

My state is doing a drawing for a million dollars for anyone that has gotten the shot. They did an article all about that no matter where you got it you are in the state date base.. This must be true because I picked up my sons vaccine records for college (men B required) and his Covid shots where already uploaded at the pediatricians office? We are in NC. 

[coffeebean]

6 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Might want to take your own advice.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination

"the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually."

 

This is, by definition, discrimination. It's treating people differently based on the category they are in, unvaccinated, not based on any individual attribute. It's just not discriminating against a protected class, (ie race), therefore it is completely legal. Discrimination is not inherently wrong, despite the negative connotation many between assume to be meant anytime the word is used.

But......those who refuse to be vaccinated can very easily change their category by getting themselves vaccinated. It is an individual decision and of course, there will be categories. How can there not be categories? Being in the un-vaxxed category is proving to be the undesirable category so why not transition into the desirable category? That's how I see it.

[forgotmyCCname]

31 minutes ago, coffeebean said:

With no proof of vaccination, the person is considered un-vaxxed. The pool for un-vaxxed is a maximum of 5%. Once the 5% is reached, un-vaxxed people can not board the ship.

I cannot find an actual Royal reference to this. Folks will be clamoring for early boarding positions; turning a family or 30 away the day of sailing is not realistic especially since they will have had their Covid tests. 
 

 

[forgotmyCCname]

10 minutes ago, Thenagers said:

My state is doing a drawing for a million dollars for anyone that has gotten the shot. They did an article all about that no matter where you got it you are in the state date base.. This must be true because I picked up my sons vaccine records for college (men B required) and his Covid shots where already uploaded at the pediatricians office? We are in NC. 

North Carolina seems to have been quite on the ball. One of my kids had his vaccines in NC at college- maybe he'll be lucky!!

[Merion_Mom]

5 minutes ago, forgotmyCCname said:

I cannot find an actual Royal reference to this. Folks will be clamoring for early boarding positions; turning a family or 30 away the day of sailing is not realistic especially since they will have had their Covid tests. 
 

 

 

The reference was to OTHER lines, not RC.