Norwegian drops masks March 1st.

[AquaDame]

I've asked but haven't seen an answer... how exactly does on-board quarantine come about? You have to test negative to get on the ship in the first place, and there's no testing on board except for too-young-to-be-vaccinated kids on the last day, so what series of events has to happen for quarantine to kick in?

Known exposure to a positive guest who tests for any number of reasons. They then track if your kids were in the clubs at the same time, if you were at the same tastings etc. Someone mentioned cameras in the elevator as well, but I take that with a grain of salt...

 

[randumb0]

I've asked but haven't seen an answer... how exactly does on-board quarantine come about? You have to test negative to get on the ship in the first place, and there's no testing on board except for too-young-to-be-vaccinated kids on the last day, so what series of events has to happen for quarantine to kick in?

You report you are having symptoms and they test you

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The CSO ended January 15, 2022

Even without the CSO, doesn't the public transit mandate still apply to cruise ships? The CDC site makes it sound like the only reason ships weren't subject to the "public transportation conveyances" rule in the first place is because the CSO granted them a layer of flexibility.

If Norwegian can legally drop their mask mandate, can Delta Air Lines?

Known exposure to a positive guest who tests for any number of reasons. They then track if your kids were in the clubs at the same time, if you were at the same tastings etc. Someone mentioned cameras in the elevator as well, but I take that with a grain of salt...

The contact tracing part makes sense. My question is more on the "guest who tests for any number of reasons." Are people testing onboard?

You report you are having symptoms and they test you

What would happen if you were cruising in 2019 and had symptoms of norovirus or influenza?

(None of this is intended to be argumentative and I hope it doesn't come off that way. I'm new to DCL and cruising in general.)

 

[lanejudy]

What would happen if you were cruising in 2019 and had symptoms of norovirus or influenza?

I know they would quarantine you for Norovirus in the past. Not sure about flu.

People are currently tested if they have symptoms onboard. Also unvaxxed children are tested on the last full day of cruises 5+ nights. Now with the lower age requirement for vax, there should be fewer children tested for debarkation, presumably with fewer positives leading to fewer close contacts and less quarantines. A Youth Activities CM posted last month that there really have not been a lot of positives among the kids (I forget which ship).

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Even without the CSO, doesn't the public transit mandate still apply to cruise ships? The CDC site makes it sound like the only reason ships weren't subject to the "public transportation conveyances" rule in the first place is because the CSO granted them a layer of flexibility.

When reading the information on the CDC, CSO, Maritime, it states a change to be made for January 29, 2021, for cruise ships. But there is no order dated January 29, 2021. I'm an engineer and not an attorney. The wording is confusing and the CDC website keeps circling around with no clear answer.

 

[cvjw]

You report you are having symptoms and they test you

Or they see you having symptoms and question you. Not sure if they test you, but I bet they could.

On our October cruise, a young girl threw up at the table next to us. An officer was there within seconds questioning the parents. We were quickly moved to a different table and we could see the officer was still with the family for a while. Not sure what happened, but they were quickly on top of that situation. Bet covid symptoms are handled the same way.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Or they see you having symptoms and question you. Not sure if they test you, but I bet they could.

On our October cruise, a young girl threw up at the table next to us. An officer was there within seconds questioning the parents. We were quickly moved to a different table and we could see the officer was still with the family for a while. Not sure what happened, but they were quickly on top of that situation. Bet covid symptoms are handled the same way.

Said another way, asymptomatic positives are unlikely to have to quarantine because nobody would ever know (including the individual).

 

[AquaDame]

Said another way, asymptomatic positives are unlikely to have to quarantine because nobody would ever know (including the individual).

Seems likely, as long as they passed the test at the port and don't come into direct contact with other confirmed cases.

 

[Sykes]

Does the CDC require ships to document or report the number of cases that crop up onboard each cruise?
Or still give them a color code as to their status of safety?

The CSO ended January 15, 2022

Every cruise ship operating to, from, or via US ports is still voluntarily complying with the CDC's recommendations even though it is not mandated, so they are still reporting cases to the CDC. That may change after February 18th, which is the deadline for cruise lines to notify the CDC of whether or not they intend to continue to participate.

If any cruise ship opts out of complying with the CDC's COVID-19 program they would be listed as such here with a gray color status..

 

[tvguy]

I know they would quarantine you for Norovirus in the past. Not sure about flu.

Yes, we had a flyer left on our bed on our Disney cruise way back in 2003 about Norovirus and that you would be quarantined in your cabin if you came down with it. They apparently has some cases on our cruise because the buffet was all served by staff, not self serve, and there was an increase in staff members wiping down hand rails and other commonly touched items in the middle of our cruise.

 

[MermaidsMom]

But what are they doing about on-board quarantine? Unless they stop requiring folks to quarantine in the brig for the rest of the cruise, dropping mask requirement is just passing the buck on to you.

If the experience has to be truly stress free, the on-board quarantine has to go.

The sick have ALWAYS HAD TO QUARANTINE aboard cruise ships if they had a contagious illness. This is nothing new.

 

[Intr3pid]

The sick have ALWAYS HAD TO QUARANTINE aboard cruise ships if they had a contagious illness. This is nothing new.

This sounds like a comment from March 2020.

 

[robinb]

Oof this would make me extremely uncomfortable as a guest. "The indulgent bourgeoise living in freedom while the servant class is forced to cover their faces."

I sailed NCL in September 2021. At the time guests were not required to be masked but crew members were still masked.

 

[tvguy]

This sounds like a comment from March 2020.

Our in my case, 2003

 

[dreynolds1982]

Every cruise ship operating to, from, or via US ports is still voluntarily complying with the CDC's recommendations even though it is not mandated, so they are still reporting cases to the CDC. That may change after February 18th, which is the deadline for cruise lines to notify the CDC of whether or not they intend to continue to participate.

If any cruise ship opts out of complying with the CDC's COVID-19 program they would be listed as such here with a gray color status..

Yup, here's more detail for those interested - https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...n3kDIYXdsdw7Yf2Rc5b8c4bbGMjFYke_us4TRQR5yHMsA

Not sure how different this is from past guidance, but the interesting part is the bit about masks. That if the ship (incl crew) is at 95% or greater vaccination, then mask wearing can be made optional both inside and out. That's probably why/how NCL is able to change that.

The new guidelines still state that embarkation testing has to be done, but notes that it can be either 2-days prior OR at the port.

 

[mousefan73]

I'm ok with masks going away IF they also do away with random or required testing (exception embarkation tests) once you board, or to disembark for a port or to fly home. I'm not taking my mask off in indoor crowded places, until I know I will not longer tested, or risk being put in qurantine as a "contact person". Getting covid on board right now has a high price. I don't want the risk of being asymtomatic, positive and what happens after that.

I hope they adapt mask policies with other policies.

 

[mousefan73]

Even without the CSO, doesn't the public transit mandate still apply to cruise ships? The CDC site makes it sound like the only reason ships weren't subject to the "public transportation conveyances" rule in the first place is because the CSO granted them a layer of flexibility.

If Norwegian can legally drop their mask mandate, can Delta Air Lines?

Delta's rule is part of a federal mandate.

The contact tracing part makes sense. My question is more on the "guest who tests for any number of reasons." Are people testing onboard?
In our case, the Vancouver to Hawaii and back. We are still trying to figure out but we believe HI will require testing before our first port stop ( this is still to be confirmed) I would be uncomfortable already this April to sail 5/6 nights with the boat unmasekd BEFORE we arrive our destination,, that MIGHT require a test.

 

[kps7795]

I would doubt that masks will be dropped until WDW does it too

I believe that the parks and DCL will be treated differently because of the natural difference in the nature of the experiences. My belief is that DCL will only drop the indoor mask mandate once children under 5 are approved for Covid-19 vaccines. Once that happens, DCL will require full vaccinations and then the mask mandate will be lifted.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Delta's rule is part of a federal mandate.

The federal mandate applies to all "public transportation conveyances," there's nothing in it that's unique to airplanes.

My question isn't really "could Delta ignore the mandate," it's more "why can Norwegian ignore the mandate?"

 

[PirateFrank]

The federal mandate applies to all "public transportation conveyances," there's nothing in it that's unique to airplanes.

My question isn't really "could Delta ignore the mandate," it's more "why can Norwegian ignore the mandate?"

I don't have intimate knowledge about the text in the Executive Order regarding masks, so I might very well be wrong here.....but perhaps one aspect that explains it is that these ships are not US ships, traveling in international waters. The ships can chose to adhere to the EO, but I don't think they are required to or whats driving the masking on the ships. it's the CDC guidance and protocols on ship travel. These cruise lines dont want to be seen as not adhering to the guidelines.