HAL requiring masks?

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, St. Louis Sal said:

One part of this no one is mentioning-if you are in Seattle and now you’ve tested positive for Covid, surely you are not going to board a plane for home knowing you could be contagious (at least I hope not). And what is the amount of time you should be quarantined? 
 

St Louis Sal

 

That applies to anyone anywhere that flew or arrived by public transport.

 

And part of the cost anyone positive is going to have added to their trip.  They are now saying a 10 day quarantine suffices but there would have to be negative test results IMO  to be assured all is well to travel and you are not a risk to others.

[KirkNC]

40 minutes ago, St. Louis Sal said:

One part of this no one is mentioning-if you are in Seattle and now you’ve tested positive for Covid, surely you are not going to board a plane for home knowing you could be contagious (at least I hope not). And what is the amount of time you should be quarantined? 
 

St Louis Sal

I would assume two weeks.

[KirkNC]

8 hours ago, theoldfossil said:

FYI

Israel 05.08.21 severely ill unvaccinated 87 partially vaccinated 8 full vaccinated 167

Gibraltar 05.08.21 new cases vaccinated 21 unvaccinated 9 

This maybe news to some but vaccinated people can still get the virus.  What the vaccine  does to that 5% of the vaccinated population is almost guarantee a mild case.  Roughly 160,000,000 Americans are vaccinated so we should expect  about 8,000,000 of those people to get a mild version of the virus.  So, no need to get excited when someone vaccinated gets the virus.  

[PreOtter]

On 8/4/2021 at 4:29 PM, kazu said:

 

Yes, I guess the Cruise with Confidence won’t cover this since some of the cruises are less than 30 days to sailing 😔. those further out can invoke it.

Our cruise was for 9/11-18, so we had 7 days to cancel and get the FCC.  I cancelled yesterday.  For me the final straw was requiring masks for a fully vaccinated and tested cruise.  This morning I heard on TV that the feds will withdraw recovery funds from cruise companies (and others) that don’t require masking.  Aaaarrrrgggghhh!

 

We have cruised Alaska before, and were only using it for a fun break, and this helped take the fun out.

[Boytjie]

6 minutes ago, PreOtter said:

This morning I heard on TV that the feds will withdraw recovery funds from cruise companies (and others) that don’t require masking.  

 

But the cruise lines did not qualify for recovery funds.

[PreOtter]

17 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

Can someone tell me if the CDC has ruled this, can't find anything on it. If not then Hal is creating a big mess here, if you don't believe in the vaccine than don't ask for it, just have every passenger vaccinated or not, tested. Otherwise the vaccinated passenger are indeed VACCINATED and don't need to undergo another test, period.

I heard on TV today that the White House is considering withholding federal funds from organizations, including cruise ships, if they don’t follow their guidance, including masks.  I think HAL didn’t have a choice.  I can’t find a reference right now, and I was still coffee deprived when it came on, but the timing works.  I still haven’t found any real world statistics on how effective masks are — comparisons between places where they are required and where they aren’t.  Anyway, I cancelled our September cruise.

[KirkNC]

6 minutes ago, Boytjie said:

 

But the cruise lines did not qualify for recovery funds.

That’s what I thought as well but I did think they got a little that was somehow Alaska related due to land tours there.

[PreOtter]

9 minutes ago, Boytjie said:

 

But the cruise lines did not qualify for recovery funds.

Sorry, I think they said federal funds.  I don’t know specifically which ones.

[cursail]

14 hours ago, nocl said:

Not really because the on board testing for cruises out of the US are for medical purposes if infection is suspected.  The only place you are seeing cruise line mass testing is in those areas where the country requires  the cruise line to do so.

 

In the US the requirements do not require the cruise lines to test at the pier (though a cruise line could do such as part of their protocol if they wanted to).  Would be interesting to see if MSC includes that in their protocols when they start up in the US. I believe that Celebrity did testing prior to disembarkation on their cruises starting outside of the US.

 

 

In the US the responsibility for test has been with the passengers, with the exception that Royal has required unvaccinated passengers to test at the pier and during the cruise. As well as Celebrities short experiment with poor results.

 

Gotcha, that makes sense.

[cursail]

10 hours ago, nocl said:

While the numbers seem to make a point.  You have not included the percentage of the population that is vaccinated.  For example it is surprising that you have that many unvaccinated cases in Gibraltar because 99% of their population has been vaccinated.  With that high of a vaccination rate you would expect an cases to be break through though the overall incidence rate would be quite low.

 

To really look at a situation one needs a number of facts not included in what you posted such as the vaccination percentage, the illness incidence rate as well as the case numbers.

 

Since you mentioned Israel there most recent data, that is actually based upon all of the information indicates that  the Pfizer vaccine is effective at preventing serious infection with the Delta variant in  90 percent range for hospitalization (88%) and serious illness (91%)  Though it is less effective then for the earlier variants.

 

The bottom line is Delta is worse than the earlier strains when it comes to break through cases.

 

Israel is the first country to start boosters in a percentage of their population where they have seen protection starting to weaken (elderly and others with weakened immune systems).

 

US will probably also start in September or October with boosters for similar populations.

 

 

This this this. Everybody needs to brush up on their conditional probability.

[zelker]

Yep, we're another one who isn't thrilled with the masking and testing protocols that were dropped on us this week so we pulled the plug on Alaska (would have been our 7th cruise up there so not a big deal other than looking forward to getting on a ship soon) and also the November Sea of Cortez (which we were really looking forward to since we were going to snorkel with the whale sharks and release sea turtles).  Still undecided about the RT Hawaii cruise in November - may move it to December just to buy a few more weeks before we would sail or may just cancel it, too and not have our first cruise until the end of February 2022 which would make it just under 2 years to be on a ship.  😞

 

BTW, has anyone determined what the masking policy will be regarding the pool areas?  

[rucrazy]

3 minutes ago, zelker said:

we pulled the plug on Alaska

 

3 minutes ago, zelker said:

and also the November Sea of Cortez

Sorry you had to cancel, but it may be smart considering all the unknowns at this point!

[KirkNC]

40 minutes ago, zelker said:

Yep, we're another one who isn't thrilled with the masking and testing protocols that were dropped on us this week so we pulled the plug on Alaska (would have been our 7th cruise up there so not a big deal other than looking forward to getting on a ship soon) and also the November Sea of Cortez (which we were really looking forward to since we were going to snorkel with the whale sharks and release sea turtles).  Still undecided about the RT Hawaii cruise in November - may move it to December just to buy a few more weeks before we would sail or may just cancel it, too and not have our first cruise until the end of February 2022 which would make it just under 2 years to be on a ship.  😞

 

BTW, has anyone determined what the masking policy will be regarding the pool areas?  

It may depend on whether the top is open.

[zelker]

1 hour ago, KirkNC said:

It may depend on whether the top is open.

 

But think about people who are eating and drinking in that entire Lido area (bar, Dive-In, etc), whether the roof is open or not.  No doubt it's going to be challenging for everyone as they try to work this out.  Hopefully @Copper10-8 will shed some light on what he observes next week related to all things 😷

[nocl]

4 hours ago, PreOtter said:

I heard on TV today that the White House is considering withholding federal funds from organizations, including cruise ships, if they don’t follow their guidance, including masks.  I think HAL didn’t have a choice.  I can’t find a reference right now, and I was still coffee deprived when it came on, but the timing works.  I still haven’t found any real world statistics on how effective masks are — comparisons between places where they are required and where they aren’t.  Anyway, I cancelled our September cruise.

Cruise lines, being foreign companies are not eligible for federal funds and were not part of the COVID recovery funds, were not eligible for loans under the programs, etc.  So whatever you heard was either wrong or was talking about US companies (not cruise lines) that actually receive federal funds

Edited August 6, 2021 by nocl

[Boytjie]

2 hours ago, zelker said:

Yep, we're another one who isn't thrilled with the masking and testing protocols that were dropped on us this week so we pulled the plug on Alaska (would have been our 7th cruise up there so not a big deal other than looking forward to getting on a ship soon) and also the November Sea of Cortez (which we were really looking forward to since we were going to snorkel with the whale sharks and release sea turtles).  Still undecided about the RT Hawaii cruise in November - may move it to December just to buy a few more weeks before we would sail or may just cancel it, too and not have our first cruise until the end of February 2022 which would make it just under 2 years to be on a ship.  😞

 

BTW, has anyone determined what the masking policy will be regarding the pool areas?  

 

HAL's website states:

"Effective with cruises departing on August 7th, ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino except when eating or drinking. Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate. As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board."
 

[Horizon chaser 1957]

On 8/5/2021 at 9:02 AM, rucrazy said:

I have a feeling most of us want to return to our passion of cruising .. and the sooner the better!

But as a matter of thought has anyone considered, that not enough of the world has not been vaccinated yet?

Maybe we are putting the azimuth thrusters in front of the ship?!

 

My DD who lives in Taiwan now is home for the summer. It’s the first time she’s left Asia since before the pandemic. She is used to a world where vaccines are still scarce and countries around them have frightening death tolls at this time. She still can’t get her head around the North American ( both Canada and the US) attitude that the pandemic is over and we should be back to travelling freely like it’s 2019.

[agathasmum]

3 hours ago, zelker said:

Yep, we're another one who isn't thrilled with the masking and testing protocols that were dropped on us this week so we pulled the plug on Alaska (would have been our 7th cruise up there so not a big deal other than looking forward to getting on a ship soon) and also the November Sea of Cortez (which we were really looking forward to since we were going to snorkel with the whale sharks and release sea turtles).  Still undecided about the RT Hawaii cruise in November - may move it to December just to buy a few more weeks before we would sail or may just cancel it, too and not have our first cruise until the end of February 2022 which would make it just under 2 years to be on a ship.  😞

 

BTW, has anyone determined what the masking policy will be regarding the pool areas?  

We too cancelled today for our cruise on the 28th. Didn't want to fly to Seattle on the Weds and then risk testing on Thursday and being positive. I was expecting to take a hit as we were in the 75% penalty phase today, and 100% tomorrow, and HAL waived the penalties and said they would give us a 100% refund. That was very unexpected and a really nice gesture of goodwill from HAL.

[dmcfad2]

23 minutes ago, agathasmum said:

We too cancelled today for our cruise on the 28th. Didn't want to fly to Seattle on the Weds and then risk testing on Thursday and being positive. I was expecting to take a hit as we were in the 75% penalty phase today, and 100% tomorrow, and HAL waived the penalties and said they would give us a 100% refund. That was very unexpected and a really nice gesture of goodwill from HAL.

That is nice to know. I was wondering about that.

[zelker]

35 minutes ago, agathasmum said:

We too cancelled today for our cruise on the 28th. Didn't want to fly to Seattle on the Weds and then risk testing on Thursday and being positive. I was expecting to take a hit as we were in the 75% penalty phase today, and 100% tomorrow, and HAL waived the penalties and said they would give us a 100% refund. That was very unexpected and a really nice gesture of goodwill from HAL.

When we cancelled yesterday (for the same reason - flying to Seattle on the 25th, not guaranteed we'd find somewhere to test, etc), they told our TA that "as a goodwill gesture" they'd give us 75% as FCC and the rest was refunded.  Based on what you and others have posted today, I just emailed my TA and asked her to reach out to HAL to get the FCC switched to a refund.  No reason they shouldn't honor the same thing - we were just a day too early.  (I hope)

Edited August 6, 2021 by zelker

[KirkNC]

1 hour ago, zelker said:

 

But think about people who are eating and drinking in that entire Lido area (bar, Dive-In, etc), whether the roof is open or not.  No doubt it's going to be challenging for everyone as they try to work this out.  Hopefully @Copper10-8 will shed some light on what he observes next week related to all things 😷

Yea but eaters and drinkers get a pass, not sure sunbathers do.

[KirkNC]

39 minutes ago, agathasmum said:

We too cancelled today for our cruise on the 28th. Didn't want to fly to Seattle on the Weds and then risk testing on Thursday and being positive. I was expecting to take a hit as we were in the 75% penalty phase today, and 100% tomorrow, and HAL waived the penalties and said they would give us a 100% refund. That was very unexpected and a really nice gesture of goodwill from HAL.

Very good to hear that!

[KirkNC]

1 hour ago, nocl said:

Cruise lines, being foreign companies are not eligible for federal funds and were not part of the COVID recovery funds, were not eligible for loans under the programs, etc.  So whatever you heard was either wrong or was talking about US companies (not cruise lines) that actually receive federal funds

Could be referring to the smaller US based companies.  Not like the media would know enough to differentiate.

[KirkNC]

6 minutes ago, zelker said:

When we cancelled yesterday (for the same reason - flying to Seattle on the 25th, not guaranteed we'd find somewhere to test, etc), they told our TA that "as a goodwill gesture" they'd give us 75% as FCC and the rest was refunded.  Based on what you and others have posted today, I just emailed my TA and asked her to reach out to HAL to get the FCC switched to a refund.  No reason they shouldn't honor the same thing - we were just a day too early.  (I hope)

HAL is consistently inconsistent. 😳🙄

[zelker]

2 hours ago, agathasmum said:

We too cancelled today for our cruise on the 28th. Didn't want to fly to Seattle on the Weds and then risk testing on Thursday and being positive. I was expecting to take a hit as we were in the 75% penalty phase today, and 100% tomorrow, and HAL waived the penalties and said they would give us a 100% refund. That was very unexpected and a really nice gesture of goodwill from HAL.

Just heard from TA - HAL agreed to give us a full refund rather than part in FCCs.  So glad I happened to read that you and others were getting full refunds.  Just one more reason I ❤️ CC!