Is Sip and Cover Being Enforced?

[SNJCruisers]

Is the sip and cover policy of taking a sip of your drink and then having to raise your mask back up while enjoying a beverage of your choice at a bar being enforced?

Or is it just on the signs for show and as long as you are at the bar enjoying a drink your mask goes back on when you get up to leave.

[CruiseBro16]

I will investigate and report back later this week.

[ninjacat123]

On my MG cruise Oct 2, I found it was enforced in the casino but not in the bars.  I will be on Sunshine this Thursday and will report back.

Edited January 12, 2022 by ninjacat123

[obnancy]

On Panorama at Thanksgiving was not enforced while sitting at the bar, dining, etc.  On Radiance last week, they were being much more vigilant.   Most people were cooperating.

 

[skrufy]

On Freedom over Christmas the only place I saw it being enforced was in the Buffet area, while walking around, masks off while eating. The dining room, no enforcement. Casino everyone wore a mask. The atrium people wore masks and some did not. Overall it was very laxed enforcement.

[Roscoe13]

Currently on the Liberty  

Very tight enforcement of wearing masks at all times while inside in common areas. But once you sit down to eat or drink at anyplace inside masks come off until you are completely done with your intake. I have witnessed some self disciplined sip and covers but that's fine as it's what makes them comfortable. 

[sunonfire]

Since most responders are recent sailors —- what was the passenger capacity for your ship?

[kdr69]

7 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Is the sip and cover policy of taking a sip of your drink and then having to raise your mask back up while enjoying a beverage of your choice at a bar being enforced?

Or is it just on the signs for show and as long as you are at the bar enjoying a drink your mask goes back on when you get up to leave.

as per the Have fun be safe health protocols sip and cover is only for those who are playing in the casino and All guests, ages two and above, are required to wear masks at all times when indoors, except when eating or drinking or when in their own staterooms and when outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

[kdr69]

7 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

On my MG cruise Oct 2, I found it was enforced in the casino but not in the bars.  I will be on Sunshine this Thursday and will report back.

Thats because its only a required policy in the casino and not the bars as per Carnivals Have Fun be safe health protocols. You can find all the current protocols on Carnivals web site very helpful i find.

[Bermuda C]

Just off the Freedom this past Sunday.  We were at 50% capacity.  There were constant announcements about Sip and Cover, but no crew members were really hounding people about it.  Most everyone I encountered wore their masks indoors as requested.  There were a few that did not. I even saw a lady in the main buffet area maskless walking around looking at the food and such.

[ledges1]

If I am sitting in the Promenade area with a beer in my hand watching people walk by, does Carnival enforce sit and cover? 

[Bgcruising]

8 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

If I am sitting in the Promenade area with a beer in my hand watching people walk by, does Carnival enforce sit and cover? 

No.

 

I too have noticed that there is not an enforcement of the rules. I am on board now, and have been for a number of cruises b2b and there are plenty of reminders but nobody is going around telling people to put their masks on. Yes, they are handing them out as you go into the buffet area, but people walk through the lines without them. Alot of people follow the rules, but many do not. 

Same for all other areas, nobody will tell you directly to wear your mask, just signs and announcements. 

 

Its enforced like the chair hog policy, and the no flip flops in dining room policy.

Edited January 12, 2022 by Bgcruising

[Shantabulous]

On the Dream a couple weeks ago it was enforced in certain venues, not all areas had the policy.  Areas that did included the casino, ocean plaza, piano bar, and main theatre.  I suspect the other lounges also had this policy but we didn't check them out.  The MDR, buffet, chef's table, and steakhouse we were fine to be maskless at the table.  I was asked to pull up my mask once outdoors, in a short line at Guy's burgers.  

[Ilovesailaway]

Just off Sunrise. Cruise director said we had 1800 passengers. Sip and cover enforcement was a little hit or miss. Some staff were more diligent about it. I saw that the bartenders who weren't as strict would get reminded by managers to have us sip and cover. 

[2Shoes2Go]

On Elation, third of four. Announcements and signage. Most comply. We avoid crowds, so only one comedy and a couple shows. Except for NYE cruise, only slightly over 1,000 passengers. Ship is roomy. One new change, today at swabbing for b2b. We did our own, under supervision! Negative. On first b2b swabbing, nurse went very high. It was painful.

[SNJCruisers]

Appreciate all of the feedback. We will be on the Mardi Gras next month for a B2B and I just wanted to get a feel as to how diligent Carnival was regarding enforcing the rules.  I had seen a sip n cover sign from a YouTube video and I did not realize that the policy was only for the casino.  Since I don't gamble, it won't effect me.  Did not want to keep pulling the mask up while enjoying my libations at the Fortune Teller and other bars on board.

Currently on a 12 day B2B on the Celebrity Apex, with only 1300 passengers on our 5 day and now only 1065 on our 7 day.  There are currently more crew on board than passengers (1153).  Celebrity's mask policy just kicked in on January 3.  Over 99% compliance, of course unlike Carnival.

[ChutChut]

I don't understand the Sip and Cover rule. I mean - you can transmit any virus when eating or drinking without the mask. Pulling up/taking down, etc. probably is worse as you're fingering your mask, face, etc. a lot. This rule seems nonsensical. Either allow no masks at all upon entering an eating/drinking establishment or don't allow eating/drinking as pulling your mask down defeats the purpose. 

[K_e_short]

1 - There is no sip and cover rule when you are sitting at a bar, unless you are in the Casino.

 

Are you asking because you are worried about Covid? This is not the time to cruise.

 

Are you asking because you don't want to sip and cover? Read the Carnival's website

[Frank12]

We've ben on 2 cruises since the restart.  The only enforcement of the sip and cover was in the casino and the comedy club.  Other bars nobody said a word about no mask.  This was prior to Omicron however.

[kdr69]

2 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Appreciate all of the feedback. We will be on the Mardi Gras next month for a B2B and I just wanted to get a feel as to how diligent Carnival was regarding enforcing the rules.  I had seen a sip n cover sign from a YouTube video and I did not realize that the policy was only for the casino.  Since I don't gamble, it won't effect me.  Did not want to keep pulling the mask up while enjoying my libations at the Fortune Teller and other bars on board.

Currently on a 12 day B2B on the Celebrity Apex, with only 1300 passengers on our 5 day and now only 1065 on our 7 day.  There are currently more crew on board than passengers (1153).  Celebrity's mask policy just kicked in on January 3.  Over 99% compliance, of course unlike Carnival.

enjoy

[balcony bound]

It's been a month since I was on Mardi Gras.  Sip and Cover went well beyond casino - every entertainment venue for example. 

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, sunonfire said:

Since most responders are recent sailors —- what was the passenger capacity for your ship?

Passenger capacity is almost unlimited, the determining factor is basically how many cancelations for whatever reason. NYE Valor was about 2200 passengers.

 

Sip and cover and no smoking was the rule in the casino. Attendance was down in many venues so easier to space out.

 

 

[pogoism9]

48 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

It's been a month since I was on Mardi Gras.  Sip and Cover went well beyond casino - every entertainment venue for example. 

 

Same here. I was on Legend last week and the only indoor public areas that did not require sip and cover were food establishments. Everything else they were mostly enforcing sip and cover

[geckoaz]

On radiance new years eve i was never told to cover while drinking. Spent lots of time at atrium bar and never told ever to mask. Mask in casino a must. I was never reminded to wear a mask. I was a good boy.

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by geckoaz
Spell check

[Jamman54]

When we were on the Panorama in October it was enforced in three places. The casino, the piano bar,  and the show lounge. 😎