Masks now required by CDC on ships?

[Starwind]

It also says the mask is required for the duration of travel. If you follow this to the letter of the order, that would seem to even include while you were with your own travel group in your stateroom.

Including while sleeping.

See page 4 of the order [bold added].

In addition, the requirement to wear a mask shall not apply under the following circumstances:
•While eating, drinking, or taking medication, for brief periods;
•While communicating with a person who is hearing impaired when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
•If, on an aircraft, wearing of oxygen masks is needed because of loss of cabin pressure or other event affecting aircraft ventilation;
•If unconscious (for reasons other than sleeping), incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance;7 or
•When necessary to temporarily remove the mask to verify one’s identity such as during Transportation Security Administration screening or when asked to do so by the ticket or gate agent or any law enforcement official


Presumably by the time it gets to cruising being allowed there would be CDC regulations that specifically apply to overnight cruising that would take into account things like guests in their staterooms, crew in private rooms, sleeping, etc. Or not, but at least spell out that those places are not exemptions if that is the case.

In one of cruise line officials' interviews they said one of the challenges they had with preparing for returning to sailing is that the CDC info so far was not specific enough and they had asked for more specific information but not heard back from CDC. The above kind of specificity is the kind that is needed, for a multitude of safeguarding aspects of returning to sailing, and it seems that is part of what has been lacking so far.

 

[jlwhitney]

Cruises are also not the same thing as transportation. Big difference 3 night cruise and a 8 hour plane ride.

 

[disneyseniors]

And actual quote by the WHO director, or just some one said the WHO director said it?

According to Reuters, WHO did not change their stance on wearing masks
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-masks-idUSKBN29X2S5

It showed the CDC director. Like I said, I don't know if it's true or not. But I do think a lessening of restrictions on masks in certain areas will be coming. Cruising is another thing altogether, and I am not a cruiser so don't pretend to know.

 

[disneyseniors]

And actual quote by the WHO director, or just some one said the WHO director said it?

According to Reuters, WHO did not change their stance on wearing masks
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-masks-idUSKBN29X2S5

I thought I just posted an answer, but it didn't show? so here it is again.

It was a picture of the director. I didn't read the whole thing as I take it with a grain of salt.
I'm glad to see the answers on here.
I thought it was too good to be true, LOL.
However, I do think the CDC will lessen the restrictions on some of the mask requirements this year.
As for cruises, I have no idea. I am not a cruiser, so don't really know how that would work for cruises.
Thanks to everyone for the responses.
Like I said, I didn't know if it was true or not.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Cruises are also not the same thing as transportation. Big difference 3 night cruise and a 8 hour plane ride.

Royal Caribbean believe this order applies to cruises, as does Carnival. When you read the full order, I would tend to agree with them.

 

[AquaDame]

Royal Caribbean believe this order applies to cruises, as does Carnival. When you read the full order, I would tend to agree with them.

For now I do as well - I hope it gets hashed out better though. A nap on a plane is not the same as a week long cruise... they may say yes it is, but I'd like that to be spelled out. I'm also curious if you have to wear a mask outdoors on the ship if that will also pertain to verandahs. If it does, then there is no reason for me to switch rooms, but if that would give us a way to be outside without a mask, then I'd move.

 

[cgolf]

I don't have an issue with a mask on a cruise, but in the stateroom would be crazy and unenforceable. The cabin is essentially a hotel room and the CDC has no restrictions for those that I know of.

As for the cruise lines looking for clarification, I would be careful there. The CDC has been pretty strict with the no sail orders. A better plan would be for the cruise lines to work together on a proposal based on their interpretation of the rules and see if the CDC signs off on it. That way they don't end up with additional restrictions that the CDC comes up with when they clarify things.

 

[CM Dad]

I don't have an issue with a mask on a cruise, but in the stateroom would be crazy and unenforceable. The cabin is essentially a hotel room and the CDC has no restrictions for those that I know of.

This was before the recent order affecting masks on transportation, but last month my wife and I took the Amtrak autotrain from Virginia to Sanford to visit WDW. We had a private sleeper car. We were required to wear a mask any time we were not in our own room. The did tell us that it was OK to remove masks inside the room.

This makes sense, but regulations don't always

 

[OKW Lover]

So many over-reactions here. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask in your own stateroom. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask on your veranda.

 

[cgolf]

So many over-reactions here. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask in your own stateroom. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask on your veranda.

I think everyone agrees with you, but the CDC probably does need to be a little more clear for things like cruises or the sleeper cars on trains. Either that or they assume its a slam dunk that it would be silly to wear a mask in your own room so why write it in. Guessing the former but the latter would be nice

 

[AquaDame]

I think everyone agrees with you, but the CDC probably does need to be a little more clear for things like cruises or the sleeper cars on trains. Either that or they assume its a slam dunk that it would be silly to wear a mask in your own room so why write it in. Guessing the former but the latter would be nice

^ Yep, this. Making us read between the lines and "guess" intentions is how things lead to bickering on interpretations.

 

[sethschroeder]

I suspect this requirement will come to a legal challenge at the state level. In theory every airport is a port of entry even if you are only flying from Orlando to Miami.

Also the current order is fairly vague while being specific at the same time.

Basically they went strict with policy but vague in what it actually covers and applies to.

 

[sethschroeder]

So many over-reactions here. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask in your own stateroom. No, they won't be requiring you to wear a mask on your veranda.

They currently seem to be based on the language of the order.

Now there is a while before a cruise ship leaves port and this is just part of Biden's 100 Days of Masking that a number of States told him to go packing on.

 

[OKW Lover]

They currently seem to be based on the language of the order.

As if there would be people going around checking for masks while you are in a stateroom. Seriously?

 

[tvguy]

I suspect this requirement will come to a legal challenge at the state level. In theory every airport is a port of entry even if you are only flying from Orlando to Miami.

Also the current order is fairly vague while being specific at the same time.

Basically they went strict with policy but vague in what it actually covers and applies to.

Airports are controlled by the U.S Government, via the FAA and TSA. Certainly there could be a challenge, but it would have to be in the Federal courts since the states have no role.

 

[cgolf]

As if there would be people going around checking for masks while you are in a stateroom. Seriously?

They wouldn’t of course do that. If your stateroom host needed to drop something of of course you would need to mask up in your room, but I think that would be the only time.

On the funny side I would be covered sleeping with my CPAP, but would honestly use the pandemic as an excuse to not take it. The airport bins are gross enough and now during a pandemic, no thanks.

 

[sethschroeder]

As if there would be people going around checking for masks while you are in a stateroom. Seriously?

Except I am looking at the law. As for what they can enforce is a different question.

I didn't read everything but what is the penalty for not obeying as the operator? Could they be rejected port entry in the US without policy outlined to guests and possibly some check?

Also remeber pictures inside staterooms and on balconies if you not in a mask could be used as leverage against the operator or yourself.

As outlined though I think this is just part of the 100 day plan which will be over before cruising would resume.

 

[sethschroeder]

Airports are controlled by the U.S Government, via the FAA and TSA. Certainly there could be a challenge, but it would have to be in the Federal courts since the states have no role.

Airports can lots of times be locally or state owned, MCO is owned by local government entity as an example. Unless things have changed they also can actually request to leverage an entity other than TSA for security. So if pushed the state/local government could remove the TSA.

As far as the FAA they primarily control the actual air traffic or physical safety of the aircraft from my understanding. As far as them enforcing this regulation I am uncertain to what extent they would have control or if this would impact them to an extent they would need to turn away or reject air traffic not complying. Could the FAA reject state approved air traffic?

Also I do want to point out U.S. Government is a fairly broad group. I suspect though you mean the US Federal Government.

As far as the challenge needing to land in Federal court? I have zero clue about that since the State government would be claiming an overreach by the Federal government so not sure how that is handled typically.

We will see what unfolds in the coming days I guess.

 

[cmph]

^ Yep, this. Making us read between the lines and "guess" intentions is how things lead to bickering on interpretations.

Totally! I'm thinking of the masks-required-on-campus rule at my kids' schools. The elementary school had issues, b/c it devolved into a ridiculous argument among parents about what constituted "on-campus". Ultimately the poor principal had to rewrite the policies to expressly prohibit parents from standing around at exit gates/in the parking lots in lieu of arguments about the boundaries of "on-campus".

So yes, people will guess wrong at least some of the time, but your point about bickering is key - no one wants the cruise staff to have to defend vague policies to people who are in regular times kind of, um, difficult. Having something specific to point to when someone inevitably ends up unhappy will make their lives easier.

 

[tvguy]

Airports can lots of times be locally or state owned, MCO is owned by local government entity as an example. Unless things have changed they also can actually request to leverage an entity other than TSA for security. So if pushed the state/local government could remove the TSA.

As far as the FAA they primarily control the actual air traffic or physical safety of the aircraft from my understanding. As far as them enforcing this regulation I am uncertain to what extent they would have control or if this would impact them to an extent they would need to turn away or reject air traffic not complying. Could the FAA reject state approved air traffic?

Also I do want to point out U.S. Government is a fairly broad group. I suspect though you mean the US Federal Government.

As far as the challenge needing to land in Federal court? I have zero clue about that since the State government would be claiming an overreach by the Federal government so not sure how that is handled typically.

We will see what unfolds in the coming days I guess.

Yes, the state and local government are the airport landlords. And yes, 22 airports use private screeners not TSA. But they are trained by the TSA under Screening Partnership Program. If you walk though an airport you hear announcements that you must follow the rules set up by the TSA. And when you board the plane, you are told you have to follow FAA rules. I can't think of a reason a state would file suit since the airports already operate at the control of the U.S Federal Government