What are RCCL's Covid policies like?

[LandlockedCruiser01]

Carnival refugee here.  I'm abandoning ship (pun intended) from CCL because of their draconian Covid policies.  I can tough out the vax requirements; I got both shots and the booster.  But CCL also makes you wear masks everywhere other than while eating or swimming, they eliminated all social activities "to keep you safe", even dancing in nightclubs, and they don't let you have close contact with passengers you didn't come with.  (But they're keeping social activities you gotta pay for, like casino games.)  Which makes solo cruisers SOL, a far cry from Carnival's very solo-friendly onboard atmosphere, not to mention make them blatant hypocrites.  They also did away with paper menus and activity schedules; "to keep you safe", of course. 

 

I'm aware that NCL is pretty much back to 2019, other than vax requirements.  So I'll probably abandon CCL for them.  But I'm also curious about RCCL, and want to broaden my options.  So, what are RCCL's rules?

 

1. Do you have to wear a mask everywhere?

 

2. Do you have to social distance?

 

3. Do they still have fun social games and activities?

 

4. Do they still have paper menus and activity schedules?

 

Knowledgeable minds, please share with inquiring minds.

Edited November 11, 2021 by LandlockedCruiser01

[twangster]

Royal policies are more draconian.  

 

I sailed Mardi Gras in August after the mask policy went in.  I've sailed many Royal since the restart.  Also MSC and Princess.  

 

Carnival's approach started out like "what virus?  there's no stinking virus" then the virus bit them so they put the mask "recommendation" in place.  On my sailing it was 75% compliance.  Venues had no capacity limits and most were standing room only. 

 

Of all the lines I've sailed since this restart Carnival is the least draconian for protocols and enforcement of the few they have.  

 

Royal did test cruises so they could allow unvaccinated to sail.  However because there was going to be more unvaccinated on board they implemented tougher policies compared to CCL.  CCL was 95% vax at a minimum so in theory they didn't need to be as strict about it. 

 

When the Bahamas and St. Thomas put a vax requirement in place for ships Royal's plans to allow unvax went out the window but the protocols didn't.  

 

Royal is definitely more serious about capacity limits in venues on board and social distancing.  Mask compliance is typically higher with Royal but on the short 3 night weekend cruises that have a lot of new cruisers the mask compliance has dropped a bit.  The crew try to manage that but there are so many new cruisers who don't care and don't listen it's a challenge for them.

 

Royal's main theater looks half empty because it is.  They require reservations for shows and they cap the crowd size.  On Carnival it's like they are trying to see how many they can squeeze into the theater.  Pretty sure the CD and HD have a running bet to see if they can cram a few more in each show.  

 

Not going to lie - I booked Mardi Gras because when I booked it masks were not required.  They put the mask thing in place a few weeks before my cruise.  Looking back, I did not feel very safe on Mardi Gras.  I hate masks but found myself not feeling very good jammed into a maskless comedy club on Mardi Gras.  I stopped going to shows because it was too much for me.  No masks with capacity controls would have worked for me.  I wasn't ready to cruise like it was still 2019.  

 

I'm not a mask fan at all but I do feel safer on Royal.  It's manageable even though I hate masks.  For me they have the right balance but for others who want to cruise like its still 2019 might not enjoy the draconian policies on Royal. 

[Markmom18]

OP:

I was on the Carnival Miracle Halloween Cruise (B2B) last month.

 

I did not experience the cruise experience you described.

 

Karaoke, Playlist Productions, Comedy Club, Love & Marriage, Deck Parties, Buffet, MDR, talking with Staff, Trivia, everything was great!

 

I was vaccinated and wore my mask …as I would guesstimate 90% if guests did (except eating, drinking, outdoors). 

 

I did the Lobster Excursion to Rosarita Beach. Yes, we wore masks. Damn, the local people do. It’s what’s going on in the world ya know. 
 

We’ll be on the Harmony in the Fall. Looking forward to another fantastic cruise!! 

🛳🛳

Bobbi

 

P.S.To the OP:

  B.S. in particular on CCL not letting you mingle/get close to other guests. Have you recently been on ANY cruise? Safe, courteous to other guests, kind, and welcoming is what I found.  BTW, our son is a Carnival Fun Squad Member on the Panorama.  I have first hand experience and knowledge via our son. Please don’t spread misinformation.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Markmom18

[bucfan2]

Go on Celebrity.  No masks/space suits/etc.  Plenty of activities, and paper menus.  Great experience.

[smplybcause]

I just got off Carnival Mardi Gras and it was way less strict than my Royal cruise over labor day. Carnival didn't care about what type of mask (there were a lot with mesh masks that were completely see through, the gaiter style ones too) and they only cared about compliance at food venues, entering the theater, and entering the night club. Way different than royal handing out masks if you weren't wearing them or not an approved one. Royal also was a lot more on top of spacing in non vax only places. Carnival didn't even care. 

 

So in my experience Royal is stricter, but I also felt a lot safer on them too. Though admittedly I kinda went with the crowd at night when everyone was walking around drinking or dancing without a mask on. 

[PhillyFan33579]

As others have stated, RCI’s policies are very similar to CCL. If you want a more relaxed on-board experience when it comes to COVID protocols, I recommend going on Celebrity. 

[LandlockedCruiser01]

 

7 hours ago, smplybcause said:

Way different than royal handing out masks if you weren't wearing them or not an approved one. Royal also was a lot more on top of spacing in non vax only places. Carnival didn't even care.

I wonder how RCCL (or CCL, for that matter) would feel if I wore a Halloween mask?  Would they keelhaul me across the hull for doing that?   Jokes aside, this sounds nothing like what I read on CCL's board.  People there said that Carnival is very strict about going paperless and minimizing close contact between passengers.  Basically, they became "the fun ships" in name only.  Either way, thanks for the warning.  I will not be considering Royal Caribbean for my cruise at this point. 

 

7 hours ago, bucfan2 said:

Go on Celebrity.  No masks/space suits/etc.  Plenty of activities, and paper menus.  Great experience.

I heard they're pretty formal.  Now, I like to dress up for dinner and such, but I also want to cut loose during the day and tear up a dance floor at night.  How are they in that regard?  Will I be able to splash around in the pool with new friends, do silly contests, and take PG13 group selfies in the promenade in front of the nightclub?  (I'm in my late 30's.)

Edited November 11, 2021 by LandlockedCruiser01

[StingBeanz]

In my opinion, the over emphasis on the restrictions on Royal led to several gaps in service during my recent sailing. 

 

The staff are constantly worried about being disciplined for not addressing someone who forgot to put their mask on or getting more severely disciplined for having the Covid Police customers take photos or videos of them maybe missing someone without a face covering and having said photos or videos posted to social media. 

 

It is impossible to do your job and do it well while you are constantly waiting for the hammer to drop. 

 

I agree with others about Celebrity. On the Edge I felt like I was back in 2019 and on Symphony I felt like I was back in 2020. 

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

 

I wonder how RCCL (or CCL, for that matter) would feel if I wore a Halloween mask?  Would they keelhaul me across the hull for doing that?   Jokes aside, this sounds nothing like what I read on CCL's board.  People there said that Carnival is very strict about going paperless and minimizing close contact between passengers.  Basically, they became "the fun ships" in name only.  Either way, thanks for the warning.  I will not be considering Royal Caribbean for my cruise at this point. 

 

I heard they're pretty formal.  Now, I like to dress up for dinner and such, but I also want to cut loose during the day and tear up a dance floor at night.  How are they in that regard?  Will I be able to splash around in the pool with new friends, do silly contests, and take PG13 group selfies in the promenade in front of the nightclub?  (I'm in my late 30's.)

Sounds like you would be happiest cruising on CCL based on this post, despite your concerns regarding COVID protocols. 

[maggieq]

I thought you could take your mask off once you got to a “vaccinated” location?  So other than hallways, elevators, promenade mask wearing, what am I missing?  Have the rules changed to a “sip and cover” policy like princess ?

[smplybcause]

4 hours ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

People there said that Carnival is very strict about going paperless and minimizing close contact between passengers. 

 

While there is an emphasis on paperless - at least in the MDR they'd give you a menu if needed. I never bothered, but saw them around. During the whole week I think I only saw a bar menu once - when the bartenders were like this is what our menu is like if we could hand them out. But the seats at the bar didn't have any spacing, no one said anything walking up to the bar and squeezing between people to order. The club was packed most nights with the only people wearing a mask after you entered those that wanted to. 

 

But I didn't find Royals policies onerous either. Kinda like the bit of breathing room you could get sometimes. But I think mardi gras was around 70% capacity. I think that ship is going to suck at full capacity. 

[LandlockedCruiser01]

13 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Sounds like you would be happiest cruising on CCL based on this post, despite your concerns regarding COVID protocols. 

That was then, this is now.  The "fun ships" factor is what drew me to Carnival back in 2012 and kept me a loyal fan until last year.  While my reviews don't have pictures of me with my new cruise friends, out of respect for their privacy, meeting those people made my cruises!  But when Carnival enacted a bunch of draconian protocols, such meetings are no longer possible.  In which case, Carnival is now the "fun ships" in name only.  That's when I realized I wanted out!

 

12 hours ago, maggieq said:

I thought you could take your mask off once you got to a “vaccinated” location?  So other than hallways, elevators, promenade mask wearing, what am I missing?  Have the rules changed to a “sip and cover” policy like princess ?

"Sip and cover"?   Good god, that sounds almost as awful as the atrocity that Diamond Princess cruise was back in January 2020.  Well, if Princess has rules like that, then another one bites the dust!  🎵And another one, and another one, another one bites the dust! 🎵

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

That was then, this is now.  The "fun ships" factor is what drew me to Carnival back in 2012 and kept me a loyal fan until last year.  While my reviews don't have pictures of me with my new cruise friends, out of respect for their privacy, meeting those people made my cruises!  But when Carnival enacted a bunch of draconian protocols, such meetings are no longer possible.  In which case, Carnival is now the "fun ships" in name only.  That's when I realized I wanted out!

 

"Sip and cover"?   Good god, that sounds almost as awful as the atrocity that Diamond Princess cruise was back in January 2020.  Well, if Princess has rules like that, then another one bites the dust!  🎵And another one, and another one, another one bites the dust! 🎵

For what it’s worth, we (my wife and I) were very loyal to Carnival for years. However, a couple of years ago we started sailing on other cruise lines and we no longer have plans to sail on Carnival again, even though we are only a few cruises from being Diamonds. No real complaints with Carnival, we just like what other cruise lines have to offer better. 

[audome78]

20 hours ago, maggieq said:

I thought you could take your mask off once you got to a “vaccinated” location?  So other than hallways, elevators, promenade mask wearing, what am I missing?  Have the rules changed to a “sip and cover” policy like princess ?

Just off an Oasis sailing, and am cancelling our 2 March cruises on Harmony because of Royal's making and social distancing policies. 

 

To answer your question, it's not quite "sip and cover", but it's not far from it. As an example, ON OUR CRUISE, you had to be masked while walking in public areas, but could take your mask off once  in a vaccinated only area. HOWEVER, once you stood up, the mask had to go back on. Need another glass of orange juice in the Windjammer? Put the mask on to walk 15 feet and back. More pizza in Sorrento's? Mask up to walk from your chair to the serving area and back. Need to use the restroom while in Chops? Stand up, mask up, walk out into Central Park, mask off until you walk back into the ship to the restroom. Repeat the process for your return trip.

 

All this on a ship where everyone over the age of 12 had to be vaccinated and test negative before they boarded.

 

This is not a statement on the effectiveness of masks, but an indictment of their applied use on that sailing.

 

It's misleading for Royal to state that their protocols allow masks to come off in vaccinated only areas, without also adding "while seated and actively eating or drinking."

 

And don't get me started on "social distancing", Royal Caribbean style...

Edited November 12, 2021 by audome78
Misspelling

[LandlockedCruiser01]

40 minutes ago, audome78 said:

And don't get me started on "social distancing", Royal Caribbean style...

What was that like?  Do tell.  Did they have Social Distancing Police in dark uniforms, who made sure passengers all stay 6 feet apart? Did they put you in the brig for hugging a new friend? What's the brig like?

 

I wish I could say this statement is tongue-in-cheek. But with cruise lines these days, you never know for sure; it just might be true. 

 

Either way, while I'm ruling out RCCL for the next 5 years, I'm still happy to hear people's first-hand accounts about their Covid policies.

Edited November 12, 2021 by LandlockedCruiser01

[bucfan2]

57 minutes ago, audome78 said:

Just off an Oasis sailing, and am cancelling our 2 March cruises on Harmony because of Royal's making and social distancing policies. 

Certainly understand that.  Until they get rid of the archaic, draconian masking protocols, I believe more and more will cancel their follow on cruises (on not even go on the first one).

We on CC are the hard core cruisers...the general public maybe/maybe not.  Time for the protocols to change, or see occupancy remain <50% IMO.....plenty other mass gatherings to attend that are apparently 'safe' (concerts, sporting events, etc).

I should have never taken that Celebrity cruise....ruined me.

Edited November 12, 2021 by bucfan2

[LandlockedCruiser01]

5 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

I should have never taken that Celebrity cruise....

Why not?  I thought Celebrity didn't worship Covid?

[bucfan2]

9 minutes ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

Why not?  I thought Celebrity didn't worship Covid?

Oh, they don't.  The maskless experience ruined us.

Edited November 12, 2021 by bucfan2

[StingBeanz]

1 hour ago, audome78 said:

Just off an Oasis sailing, and am cancelling our 2 March cruises on Harmony because of Royal's making and social distancing policies. 

 

To answer your question, it's not quite "sip and cover", but it's not far from it. As an example, ON OUR CRUISE, you had to be masked while walking in public areas, but could take your mask off once  in a vaccinated only area. HOWEVER, once you stood up, the mask had to go back on. Need another glass of orange juice in the Windjammer? Put the mask on to walk 15 feet and back. More pizza in Sorrento's? Mask up to walk from your chair to the serving area and back. Need to use the restroom while in Chops? Stand up, mask up, walk out into Central Park, mask off until you walk back into the ship to the restroom. Repeat the process for your return trip.

 

All this on a ship where everyone over the age of 12 had to be vaccinated and test negative before they boarded.

 

This is not a statement on the effectiveness of masks, but an indictment of their applied use on that sailing.

 

It's misleading for Royal to state that their protocols allow masks to come off in vaccinated only areas, without also adding "while seated and actively eating or drinking."

 

And don't get me started on "social distancing", Royal Caribbean style...

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

 

Thank you for validating every feeling I had for the entire week on Symphony. 

 

I was on the Grandeur Noro Cruise (January 2015) and somehow it was a BETTER time. 

 

We try and make the best of every situation but the email informing me that they are extending all of this mask silliness until March when the conditional sail order is being lifted on 1/15/21 is making me want to cancel my upcoming reservations.

[AustinCruise]

1 hour ago, StingBeanz said:

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

 

Thank you for validating every feeling I had for the entire week on Symphony. 

 

I was on the Grandeur Noro Cruise (January 2015) and somehow it was a BETTER time. 

 

We try and make the best of every situation but the email informing me that they are extending all of this mask silliness until March when the conditional sail order is being lifted on 1/15/21 is making me want to cancel my upcoming reservations.

Cancel. Be happy if that’s what you prefer. 
 

There are also folks that are sailing because of the protocols. 
 

That’s perhaps why Royal and Celebrity have different policies. Something for everyone for now!

[Tatka]

On 11/11/2021 at 6:08 AM, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

 

I wonder how RCCL (or CCL, for that matter) would feel if I wore a Halloween mask?  Would they keelhaul me across the hull for doing that?   Jokes aside, this sounds nothing like what I read on CCL's board.  People there said that Carnival is very strict about going paperless and minimizing close contact between passengers.  Basically, they became "the fun ships" in name only.  Either way, thanks for the warning.  I will not be considering Royal Caribbean for my cruise at this point. 

 

I heard they're pretty formal.  Now, I like to dress up for dinner and such, but I also want to cut loose during the day and tear up a dance floor at night.  How are they in that regard?  Will I be able to splash around in the pool with new friends, do silly contests, and take PG13 group selfies in the promenade in front of the nightclub?  (I'm in my late 30's.)

 

We sailed on Celebrity Edge in July and Oasis in September.

Oasis was more formal. People missed dressing up.

 

On Oasis we did have to wear masks inside, but it was not bothering us as I expected it would (we work 100% from home so we wear masks approx once a week or 2 weeks)

Edited November 12, 2021 by Tatka

[travelhound]

4 hours ago, audome78 said:

Just off an Oasis sailing, and am cancelling our 2 March cruises on Harmony because of Royal's making and social distancing policies. 

 

To answer your question, it's not quite "sip and cover", but it's not far from it. As an example, ON OUR CRUISE, you had to be masked while walking in public areas, but could take your mask off once  in a vaccinated only area. HOWEVER, once you stood up, the mask had to go back on. Need another glass of orange juice in the Windjammer? Put the mask on to walk 15 feet and back. More pizza in Sorrento's? Mask up to walk from your chair to the serving area and back. Need to use the restroom while in Chops? Stand up, mask up, walk out into Central Park, mask off until you walk back into the ship to the restroom. Repeat the process for your return trip.

 

All this on a ship where everyone over the age of 12 had to be vaccinated and test negative before they boarded.

 

This is not a statement on the effectiveness of masks, but an indictment of their applied use on that sailing.

 

It's misleading for Royal to state that their protocols allow masks to come off in vaccinated only areas, without also adding "while seated and actively eating or drinking."

 

And don't get me started on "social distancing", Royal Caribbean style...

Yup, I think we may also cancel our March sailing if these excessive protocols are still in place at that time. 

[orville99]

We have sailed three times on Allure since the restart, and have six more cruises scheduled on Harmony through April, and intend to take them all. We have not found the masking/distancing protocols inconvenient at all. Since we spend most of our time on the outdoor decks where masks are not required for anything, and only go inside to drink in vaccinated-only indoor venues where we rarely saw anyone in a mask, or wearing one to go from point A to point B, masking up for a few minutes at a time was no big deal. Also, once we were seated in any of the dining venues we pocketed our masks until we got up to leave at the end of our meal. In fact virtually no one wore masks from the time they sat down until the time they were finished with their meal and got up to leave.

[travelhound]

3 hours ago, StingBeanz said:

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

 

Thank you for validating every feeling I had for the entire week on Symphony. 

 

I was on the Grandeur Noro Cruise (January 2015) and somehow it was a BETTER time. 

 

We try and make the best of every situation but the email informing me that they are extending all of this mask silliness until March when the conditional sail order is being lifted on 1/15/21 is making me want to cancel my upcoming reservations.

I agree.  My family is fully vaccinated, so I would rather spend a week in Florida without any protocols or stress from testing.  Hopefully RCL will reconsider some of these overly excessive protocols for vaccinated passengers.

[ReneeFLL]

43 minutes ago, orville99 said:

We have sailed three times on Allure since the restart, and have six more cruises scheduled on Harmony through April, and intend to take them all. We have not found the masking/distancing protocols inconvenient at all. Since we spend most of our time on the outdoor decks where masks are not required for anything, and only go inside to drink in vaccinated-only indoor venues where we rarely saw anyone in a mask, or wearing one to go from point A to point B, masking up for a few minutes at a time was no big deal. Also, once we were seated in any of the dining venues we pocketed our masks until we got up to leave at the end of our meal. In fact virtually no one wore masks from the time they sat down until the time they were finished with their meal and got up to leave.

If you ate at the WJ did you get up to get more food? Was on the Freedom, Odyssey and right now the Oasis. They are constantly telling people to put on their masks even when getting up to grab something else.