Royal Caribbean's stricter face mask protocols that were added as a result of the Omicron variant will be around for at least another few weeks.

The policy requires cruise ship passengers to wear face masks while indoors, regardless of vaccination status except while eating or drinking. 

The mask rules will remain in effect for sailings departing on or before January 31, 2022, at which point it will be reevaluated. 

This includes at venues reserved for vaccinated guests only.

Royal Caribbean first tightened the mask rules on December 17, 2021 for a period of time through January 5, 2022.

Masks are NOT required to be worn:

• In open-air areas of the ship, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• In the pool or any activity where they may become wet.
• In your stateroom when you are with your traveling party.
• While visiting our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• By any guest under the age of 2.

Masks ARE required to be worn:

• While indoors in public areas of the ship, unless seated and actively eating or drinking.
• While visiting public ports of call, where local regulations may require them.

Read more: What it's like to go on a cruise with Royal Caribbean's stricter mask rules

In addition to the face mask rules being extended, Royal Caribbean's ban on smoking in the casino will also be extended.

"In alignment with the expansion of the mask policy, smoking will not be permitted in the casino for all cruises departing on or before January 31, 2022."

Mask rule matches other lines

Other cruise lines have added similar rules to combat the rise in Omicron variant Covid cases.

Carnival Cruise Line requires its passengers to use masks on all sailings until at least the end of January 2022. Carnival also banned smoking in its casinos until further notice.

Holland America matched Carnival's stricter mask rules and indoor smoking policy.

Norwegian Cruise Line also added a face mask rule for sailings through the end of January.

Passenger reaction

Cruise ship passengers have generally has mixed reactions to the stricter mask rules, usually aligning with whether they have ever supported mask wearing or not.

On the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards, Swar liked the fact smoking has been banned in the casino because as a non-smoker, they hope it stays around, "The casino is so much better without the smoke! I hope it is a permanent change. Not a smoker, but used to do cigars."

Oliver Max took the stricter mask rules in stride, "I leave on a cruise from Galveston on Sunday. It’s a little disappointing but I’m not going to let it ruin my vacation. I’m still going to have fun."

As the Omicron variant began to generate higher case counts on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean enacted stricter rules about face masks on its ships.

The new rules require all passengers to wear their masks indoors, even in vaccinated areas, and the question of how much these new rules impacted the cruise experience began to arise.

I sailed on Navigator of the Seas about a week after the stricter mask rules went into effect, and wanted to share my experience with these new protocols for anyone going on a cruise soon.

Keep in mind that my experience is not indicative of what your experience will or will not be. I hope it sheds some insight into what the written policy really means in practical terms.

What is the stricter mask rule?

On December 17, 2021, Royal Caribbean announced passengers on all sailings through January 5, 2022 will be required to wear masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking.

Before this change, fully vaccinated passengers could go maskless in designated areas.

This policy is in place for all sailings departing before January 5, 2022, at which point it will be reevaluated.

Masks are not required to be worn outdoors, in the pool, in your stateroom, or at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

My experience with the new rules

When Royal Caribbean announced the new rule, it sounded as if you would have to wear your mask indoors at all times, and possibly even between bites or sips of food.

In practice, the rule has not been quite that restrictive.

Both on my sailings and on others reported by RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers since the new rule went into effect, it seems the rule has changed two fundamental things that used to happen onboard:

• Eliminating the loophole of someone walking around with a drink as a way not to wear their mask
• Walking into a vaccinated zone and removing your mask without food or drink

While more crew members are reminding passengers to put on their mask or pull it up, they are not patrolling hallways looking for mask compliance. I believe there is a renewed emphasis on ensuring masks are being worn indoors, but not to the point it's overbearing.

My experience on Navigator was if you are seated in a bar, restaurant, or lounge, as long as there was food or drink in front of you, you were fine without masks and not asked to put the mask on between bites or sips.

Across my seven nights onboard, I spent lots of time in the main dining room, pub, Schooner Bar, and casino.  In all scenarios, masks were required upon walking in, but as soon as I sat down with food or drink, there was no issue with my mask down.

My observation was nearly every other passenger was compliant with the mask rules indoors.  Just like airports, supermarkets, and schools, you would occasionally find someone who was not wearing their mask, but it was extremely rare and I assume a crew member would remind them to put it back on.

The issue of masks below someone's nose seems to be an issue greater than the cruise lines can solve, but I did observe some crew members asking passengers to fix their mask, especially in the casino.

Not only were guests doing a good job of wearing their masks indoors, but I noticed many passengers wearing their masks outdoors.  Granted, the low humidity and cooler temperatures of a December cruise on the West Coast make wearing a mask outdoors far more tolerable than if this was June.

In summary, I thought the new rule was not that much of a departure from what it had been before, especially in bars or restaurants when eating or drinking.

Casino

Speaking of the casino, another change Royal Caribbean made was to ban smoking in the casino.

Previously, the casino was designated a vaccinated-only zone and you could take your mask off. In an effort to keep masks on, smoking was banned in the casino.

As a non-smoker, I certainly welcomed the change and while seated at a table or slot machine, masks were worn.

Unlike the bars or restaurants, I would put my mask on between sips of a cocktail, especially at table games where passengers and the dealer were close to each other.

Passenger reactions

My experience is going to vary from others, so I wanted to share other comments from folks that cruised over the last two weeks.

Neesa summed up her thoughts on the new rule by thinking about the bigger picture, "It is humbling on board, I am interacting with staff and feel compelled to comply as I want them to feel comfortable,  they are important and looking in their eyes I can agree, I'm doing it for them. I respect them and the job they are doing."

Flowrider was also on Navigator of the Seas and shared their mask rule observations, "Just got off the Navigator.  Mask was indoors the whole time, not outdoors.  When we were in line to be served food at Johnny Rockets or El Loco Fresh they asked us to put it on.  No mask required at the pool."

"Once we got off the ship in Mazatlan/Cabo/Puerto Vallarta we took masks off.  Nobody ever asked us to put the on except for obvious indoor settings, i.e. in a store/shop."

"MDR or Windjammer you wear it like before.  Sitting at the table the mask is off.  Walking around to buffet mask is on."

tonyfsu21 sailed on Oasis of the Seas last week, "masks indoors on ship. You can remove while dining and drinking at restaurants and bars. You DO NOT need to wear a mask outdoors on pool deck and other areas. Outdoor in ports (no mask) inside vehicle on way to an excursion you must be masked."

tonyfsu21 also talked about his experience in the casino, "I played the machines all night with a beer in hand and a lowered mask. In between beers walking around casino I had my mask on. Not really sure about the tables but I’m assuming the same. At the end of the day, there are no police and this is not like a prison it’s vacation and the staff knows that."

ChessE4 voiced their support of the new change, "With the explosion of COVID cases in Florida, I can see why masks would be required on cruise ships and elsewhere.  Things will get better, but we need to take note of our current situation."

Over the past week, Omicron variant news has dominated the news cycle and there's already been a number of changes in the cruise industry, but the exact news has been misconstrued in a few cases.

Between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning vaccinated passengers to not go on a cruise ship, and news reports about missed port calls making the rounds on social media, a lot of misconceptions about where cruising is right now have emerged.

Not everyone follows the daily changes in the cruise industry, so it can be difficult to keep tabs on what has or has not changed. And certainly a government warning gets a lot of attention, even if it's just a recommendation.

Before you read what Aunt Sally posted on Facebook as something she heard, here are three really important untrue myths about going on a cruise right now that are totally untrue.

Cruises are being cancelled again

When the CDC announced it had raised the warning level for going on a cruise ship back up to its highest level, that got some folks thinking cruises were cancelled again.

The CDC warning is just that, a recommendation and nothing has changed in terms of mass cancellations. In fact, not one scheduled Royal Caribbean cruise has been cancelled.

Example of incorrect reporting of the CDC's warning

This is not the first time the CDC has changed its warning level for the cruise industry, but just like its warnings for visiting different countries, these are just suggestions it offers to the general public.

No cruise line has made any hint of cancelling cruises, so ships are definitely still sailing.

Cruise ships can't visit any ports

Some Caribbean ports have denied entry to certain cruise ships due to some passengers having tested positive for Covid-19 onboard.  While that fact is true, the amount of ships and port calls affected has been quite small.

So how many ports have denied ships?

Royal Caribbean Group provided an update that as of December 30, 2021, 16 scheduled visits had been cancelled out of a total of 331 visits.

Certainly each country has the right to refuse a ship to visit, but these are being handled on a per-ship basis.

The company expects these disruptions to continue in the near term and then decline as the world adjusts to the current trends. 

Most importantly, cruise lines have arrangements with their departure ports that a cruise ship sails from and how the port, health district and cruise lines plan to respond in the event of an outbreak with medical care, transportation and housing, if needed. This was set up before any ship restarted cruises in 2021 as part of the CDC's Conditional Sail Order.

The important takeaway is that cruise ships are not being locked out of every port and stuck at sea.

Can't visit their own private islands

This rumor was based in some truth, that has since snowballed into false information.

On December 30, guests on Freedom of the Seas reported their ship was unable to dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay because Bahamian officials refused to let passengers off the ship.

Similarly, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic was also held up from docking at Castaway Cay in The Bahamas.

In the case of both ships, Bahamian officials allowed the passengers to disembark later that day.

It appears that this was some kind of a paperwork mistake on the side of The Bahamas, but nothing has been confirmed.

Regardless, since that day, other cruise ships have had no problems visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Where to get reliable cruise ship updates

Certainly this post should help get everyone up to date, but what about tomorrow or next week? How do you avoid this false information entirely?

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean will always convey updates to your sailing via email when a change has been officially made. Your travel agent is also a reliable source of information to ensure nothing has changed.

I'm generally a fan of Facebook groups for sharing tips and experiences, but unfortunately there can be false or misleading information shared in some groups. Take any updates you get on social media with a grain of salt, unless there is printed evidence to the contrary.

You can also reach out to Royal Caribbean via social media as a way to double check something you may have heard about.

Read more: My favorite Royal Caribbean cruise hacks

Lastly, you can check with the folks on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards (yes, this is a self-serving tip). Our community is good at helping direct cruisers with questions and expectations.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new warning against going on a cruise ship, raising its warning level to the highest again.

The CDC changed the warning because of the Omicron variant and the increase in cases onboard cruise ships. It recommends to avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.

The warning level has gone from level 3 to level 4.

The CDC's 4-level system categorizes destinations, including international destinations and United States Territories, into the following four levels:

• Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19
• Level 3: High level of COVID-19
• Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19
• Level 1: Low level of COVID-19

This is not the first time the CDC has issued such a high warning. It did so in November 2020 before lowering it to level 3 in June 2021.

According to the CDC, the virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting Covid-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose.

The CDC recommends people who go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms.

Unvaccinated passengers should not only test, but self-quarantine for a full 5 days after cruise travel.  Royal Caribbean does not allow anyone above the age of 11 to sail on its ships if they are unvaccinated.

The CDC's warning

The basis for raising the warning level stems from the Omicron variant and an increase in cases onboard ships.

"Since the identification of the Omicron variant, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among cruise passengers and crew reported to CDC. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of cruise ships meeting the COVID-19 case threshold for CDC investigation."

According to the CDC, cases reported on cruise ships have increased 31 percent over the last two weeks.

This compares to the overall rate of infection in the United States, which has increased 153 percent over the same time period, although it is likely a steeper difference as we know that testing rates are far higher on cruise ships than in the general population.

Cruise ships have strictest Covid protocols

Since restarting cruises in June, Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry have implemented the strictest health protocols of any private business.

Royal Caribbean has gone above and beyond measures enacted by any other industry to ensure guest and crew member safety.

Here is a short list of the protocols required by Royal Caribbean:

• Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for passengers 12 years and older
• Mandatory mask wearing in all indoor venues unless seated and actively eating or drinking
• Social distancing
• Mandatory pre-cruise test of every single passenger
• Weekly testing of every single crew members
• Unvaccinated children get tested multiple times, including on embarkation day
• Hospital-grade HEPA filter of air circulation on cruise ships

While Covid-19 cases on Royal Caribbean ships have increased recently due to Omicron, none of the Omicron cases have been severe or needed to be taken to a hospital.

Cruise industry reaction

Almost immediately after the CDC raised the warning, the cruise industry fired back.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) issued this statement defending the cruise industry's work to keep crew members and passengers safe.

"The decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard—far fewer than on land—and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore."

"No setting can be immune from this virus—however, it is also the case that cruise provides one of the highest levels of demonstrated mitigation against the virus. Cruise ships offer a highly controlled environment with science-backed measures, known testing and vaccination levels far above other venues or modes of transportation and travel, and significantly lower incidence rates than land."

"While we are disappointed and disagree with the decision to single out the cruise industry—an industry that continues to go above and beyond compared to other sectors—CLIA and our ocean-going cruise line members remain committed to working collaboratively with the CDC in the interest of public health and safety."

Royal Caribbean Group told investors on Thursday that Omicron variant fears have seen an increase in cancellations and reduced bookings lately, but it has thus far only had a short-term impact.

The business update was issued by Royal Caribbean International's parent company as a way to explain what they are seeing as it relates to the bottom line.

Here's a look at the important takeaways from the update.

Omicron

Across the brands of Royal Caribbean Group, the Royal Caribbean Group has carried since June 2021 1.1 million guests with 1,745 people testing positive – a positivity rate of 0.02%. 

As it relates to Omicron, none of the Omicron cases on its ships have been severe or needed to be taken to a hospital. The company believes this is a result of almost everyone onboard having been vaccinated and having a negative test before boarding.

When looking at all variants of Covid-19, Royal Caribbean Group has carried 1.1 million guests with 1,745 people testing positive – a positivity rate of 0.02%.

"Omicron is having a big short-term impact on everyone, but many observers see this as a major step towards COVID-19 becoming endemic rather than epidemic," said Richard Fain, Chairman & CEO.

"We don’t like to see even one case, but our experience is a fraction of the comparable statistics of virtually any other comparable location or industry. Few businesses are subject to such intense scrutiny, regulation, and disclosure requirements by so many authorities, and we welcome that scrutiny because of our commitment to safety. We intend to maintain our goal of delivering the safest vacation on land or sea and will constantly adjust our procedures to accomplish this even in the face of Omicron’s amazing transmissibility."

Impact on reservations

While Omicron has been front page news, so far its impact on bookings has only had a short-term impact.

Right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Royal Caribbean Group, "experienced a decline in bookings and increased cancellations for near-term sailings but to a lesser degree than that experienced with the Delta variant. "

Load factors for sailings in the first half of 2022 remain below historical levels, as expected. However, sailings for the second half of 2022 continue to be booked within historical ranges, at higher prices with and without Future Cruise Credits (FCCs), with strong demand from the critical U.S. market.

Onboard experience

Royal Caribbean also addressed the impact Omicron has had on passengers and crew.

Just like all aspects of travel, the labor supply is being hit hard by Omicron because of the increase in workers testing positive, which means less employees to work.

Similar issues are impacting the company’s onboard service capabilities.  

In addition, the company is experiencing service disruptions at selected destinations and to date has cancelled or significantly modified 16 destination calls out of 331. The company expects these disruptions to continue in the near term and then decline as the world adjusts to the current trends. 

Fain concluded, “We are constantly learning and adjusting as Omicron appears to be ushering in a new phase in the fight against COVID-19."

"We expect these factors to have a negative impact in the short term but are optimistic they will lead us to a more pervasive but less severe health environment. Taken together, this should enable us to produce a strong transitional year in 2022 and a very strong 2023.”

With the cruise industry being targeted by the media for Covid-19 cases onboard its ships, Royal Caribbean sent an email to passengers booked on a cruise over the next few weeks to give them realistic expectations.

A number of cruise ships have reported Covid-19 cases onboard, as well as had to skip ports of call due to the country denying entry, and even cancelling shows onboard its ships because of cases among the performers.

Royal Caribbean sent an email to passengers booked on a cruise between now and January 17, 2022 to inform them that unexpected changes are likely and should be expected.

In the email, Royal Caribbean said the increase of Covid-19 cases from the Omicron variant has caused many changes, "with the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, our public health guidance continues to evolve and we want to let you know what to expect as we prepare to welcome you onboard."

Royal Caribbean also pointed out that its crew members are fully vaccinated and boosted, along with its vaccine mandate for passengers, "All our crew members are fully vaccinated, have received booster shots when eligible, and are tested on a weekly basis with high contact front of house service staff tested every three days.

"All your fellow guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated and tested before boarding. And the small number of children sailing who are 11 and under get a second test at the terminal and are increasingly vaccinated. Typically, your onboard cruise community vaccination rate is in the 95% range."

While the cruise lines implement health protocols that no other form of travel comes close to matching, nothing is foolproof and Covid can still be spread onboard, "Even with such a high onboard community vaccination rate and enhanced protocols in place, there is a possibility of positive cases arising during your sailing, just as there is an inherent risk of COVID-19 anywhere people congregate or gather. "

In terms of ports not allowing cruise ships, Royal Caribbean talked about the collaborative effort they have with these countries, "We also work with local governments in all the ports of your itinerary who are informed of the ship's public health status before arrival and together, we decide if we can debark in their country."

"When we make these decisions, we consider the number of COVID positive cases onboard, and also the number of cases in the destination community along with factors such as the community vaccination status. Should we need to cancel a port of call, we will always do our best to find an alternate destination or work through a resolution for our missed port."

Royal Caribbean also warned guests that changes in onboard activities can occur, including:

• ice skating
• rock climbing
• laser tag
• production shows
• Adventure Ocean

Under the media microscope

Royal Caribbean's email comes in the wake of a great deal of news reports about Covid on cruise ships.

Just like in 2020, many mainstream media outlets are reporting on every single case of Covid on a cruise ship.

Unlike 2020, Royal Caribbean is armed with a slew of protocols and strategies that no other form of domestic travel uses.

Aaron Saunders, the News & Features Editor for CruiseCritic pointed out the stark reality of the lengths the cruise lines go to in order to keep customers safe, unlike airlines, trains or any other form of domestic travel.

To those slagging off cruise ships: ships have vaccine requirements. Testing protocols. Masking rules and HEPA-filtered HVAC systems.

US domestic travel is the Wild West by comparison. Your flight crew may now even be able to return to work only five days after having COVID. 🤦‍♂️

— Aaron Saunders (@deckchairblog) December 28, 2021

Ashley Kosciolek, a travel writer for The Points Guy, feels not only has the media been unfair in its reporting of Covid on cruise ships, but they lack proper knowledge of what the lines are doing, "I've been on 10 since June and would gladly do 10 more."

"I challenge any of the people whining about it to take a cruise. I guarantee they'd eat their words.

Going on a cruise is still a really fun family vacation, even during a pandemic, but it's important you understand the nature of cruising right now and be okay with changes.

If the idea of last-minute changes to rules and protocols bother you, perhaps putting off your cruise a bit longer might be prudent.

Over the last two weeks, cruise ships have been back in the focus of the media following higher-than-usual Covid cases onboard, which felt like perhaps things were regressing backwards instead of moving forward.

The cruise line appear ready to deal with the threat of the Omicron variant and continue forward, but these last two weeks have been a good reminder to anyone thinking of going on a cruise that changes are not only likely, they should be expected.

If you are going to sail on a cruise ship while Covid-19 is a major threat, be prepared and flexible.

Ports refusing ships, new mask rules, vaccine requirements, and who knows what else could affect an upcoming sailing, so it is vital that you not only stay up-to-date with these policy revisions, but not allow them to get in the way of enjoying your cruise.

Early on this summer when the first ships were back in service, I think many cruisers recognized protocol changes were likely and expected them.

Soon thereafter, we got lucky over the summer and fall with relatively few Covid cases onboard and protocols not changing much.  If you went on a cruise ship in October or November, you probably saw the most lax view by guests and crew towards certain requirements.

Covid cases on Symphony of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas served as a wake-up call for the cruise lines, and Royal Caribbean implemented tighter mask requirements along with a renewed emphasis on ensuring passengers follow the rules.

It suddenly felt like I was cruising again in June 2021, as rules were changing often and some cruisers clearly were not pleased with so many last-minute changes.

On the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards, there were quite a few comments on rule changes and what to expect. Some positive, and some negative. The bottom line is we got lucky with how smooth things went over the mid-part of 2021, but we're not out of the woods.

What to think about if you have a cruise booked

If you have a cruise booked, or are thinking of booking one, I can tell you I love being onboard and would go again and again because of the blend of a fun vacation with unrivaled health protocols.

I cannot emphasize enough the high likelihood of changes to protocols, rules, and requirements.

If you plan on taking a cruise, you should be open to many changes, even just days before you sail. Royal Caribbean is doing its best to navigate all of the new recommendations and best practices, but it can come at the expense of hitting guests with a new update.

If the idea of seeing an email a few days before you sail with a new testing requirements, or policy shift irks you, you should defer your cruise until a later date. Or even hold back all together for cruises to restart and see a semblance of regularity resume to them.

It's also equally important to keep up with the different rules and requirements. Being unaware of a change isn't going to cut it, and it's only going to lead to frustration on your part.

For some people, the opportunity to go on a cruise ship again is the most important consideration, and change is a way of life, so embracing it means getting back to the vacation they have always enjoyed in the past or want to give a try now.

Others may find the changes, uncertainty, or restrictions, simply too much for now.  In that case, postponing your trip to a later date when there is more predictability to going on a cruise may be the best course of action.

Denise and her family sailed on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas this past week, and celebrated the strict protocols on the ship that limited the spread of Covid-19 to just a minute percentage of passengers.

Like all of society, cruise ships are dealing with an increase in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant that spreads easier, although is far milder.

While an increase in Covid cases on land is seen largely as another chapter in the current saga of Covid, the media has taken to focusing again on cruise ships. Cruise lines have among the most stringent health protocols and report their Covid cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which makes reporting on new cases easy.

While the media has been busy highlighting new cases that affect a mere 1-2% of passengers, many cruise fans shared how much they are enjoying their cruise and appreciate what Royal Caribbean is trying to do during this time.

Passengers from Odyssey of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and others shared the health protocols onboard make them feel far safer onboard than at home.

CruiseGus is onboard Allure of the Seas and despite Covid cases onboard, is happy to have taken his family on a cruise, "glad we decided to stay on this cruise."

"I'm still enjoying myself, crew are fantastic."

Denise appreciated the fact on Odyssey of the Seas the crew members were working hard to ensure things were being taken care of, "Captain was always communicating, every day. Felt well cared for and safe. Security mingling through out in addition to staff gently reinforcing proper mask wearing to make sure that protocol was followed. "

Liz007 is also on Odyssey of the Seas and shared her admiration for the Captain and crew, "The staff and captain handled it well. We all know what we are getting into sailing in these times so it was not shocking what happened. Overall, a pleasant cruise to nowhere."

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared on social media over the weekend that while there have been Covid cases on ships like Odyssey of the Seas, investigations by the CDC revealed mild or asymptomatic cases.

"All cases appear to be mild or asymptomatic. Additionally, there have been no COVID-19 related hospitalizations, medical evacuations, ventilator use, or deaths from this ship."

"This new variant rapidly transmits yet no one (vaccinated) appears to get very sick."

gomammoth22 shared the result of Royal Caribbean's new stricter mask policy has been far better mask wearing on Oasis of the Seas, "Everyone wearing masks where needed."

"I hate wearing a mask more than most, but I will not complain once on this cruise."

Jax was also on Oasis this past week and thinks Royal Caribbean is doing a good job of balancing protocols with the guest experience, "I felt completely safe and my onboard experience wasn’t impacted."

Beyond just negative media attention, some ports in the Caribbean have denied entry to cruise ships because of the handful of passengers that are quarantined and treated for Covid. These same countries and territories have not curbed air travel at all.

The negative press has not changed BrianB's mind about going on a cruise again, "Eight cruises since September. Four on Oasis and four on Anthem. Leaving again on Friday."

Royal Caribbean will help with the financial burden of international visitors that need a Covid-19 test to return home.

Last week, the cruise line said it would stop offering complimentary Covid-19 tests for passengers that need a test to get back to their home country onboard the ship.

Instead, they would be referred to shoreside options for testing at an additional cost.

That rule was announced to go into effect beginning with sailings that depart on January 5, but Royal Caribbean has changed their mind.

If you are sailing between January 5th through January 31st, Royal Caribbean will cover the cost of this test for international guests on sailings through January 31st, 2022.

Once a passenger debarks, vendors outside the terminal will be waiting to provide either a PCR or antigen test based on your home country's testing requirement.

Guests are still able to test at other locations outside the terminal, such as at the airport or a local pharmacy - the arrangement and cost for tests outside the terminal will be the guest's expense and responsibility.

Starting on February 1st, 2022, guests who require a re-entry test to travel back home will be responsible for the cost of testing.

The cost of testing in the terminal varies by port and test, starting at $105 per antigen test and $210 per PCR test. You can also take advantage of other testing options, like airport testing or testing at a local pharmacy. The arrangement and cost of these tests are the guest's responsibility and should be paid directly to the test provider.

The new rules can be found on Royal Caribbean's website.

Countries, such as Canada, require a negative Covid-19 test in order for their citizens to return home following international travel.

Royal Caribbean had been offering such tests onboard its ships for no additional charge.

While Covid-19 cases on a cruise ship are never good news, the findings thus far show little concern.

Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas made headlines this week when just 1% of fully vaccinated crew members and passengers tested positive for Covid-19. 

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared a quote from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that indicates the cases onboard are all either mild or asymptomatic.

"The CDC is investigating the recent increase in COVID-19 cases identified on Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Odyssey of the Seas," CDC spokesperson David Daigle told members of the media.

"All cases appear to be mild or asymptomatic. Additionally, there have been no COVID-19 related hospitalizations, medical evacuations, ventilator use, or deaths from this ship."

Mr. Bayley touted this as a positive turn of events, "Bad news Good news!"

"Thought this statement by the CDC is helpful and supports what we are seeing with the mainly crew covid positive cases."

Mr. Bayley feels the fact the cases were very mild demonstrates that while Omicron spreads easier and faster than other Covid-19 variants, its effects appear to be milder, "More and more reports are confirming what we are seeing onboard! This new variant rapidly transmits yet no one (vaccinated) appears to get very sick."

Mr. Bayley has gone on the offense in recent days with social media posts following two Royal Caribbean cruise ships reporting between 40 and 50 cases of Covid-19.

In the case of Odyssey of the Seas, she was prevented from visiting Curacao and Aruba because of the cases onboard.

Last week, Symphony of the Seas had just 0.78% of the passengers onboard test positive for Covid-19.

While the mainstream media jumped on the story of another cruise ship with Covid, Mr. Bayley took the time to explain yesterday why things are not nearly as bad as they may seem in certain reports.

"We are seeing increases in positivity rates with some ships currently close to 1 percent (please note Florida positivity rate is 5 percent, which is pretty good relative to others)."

"Recently Symphony of the Seas was in the media spotlight with 48 positive cases (mainly guests) which was less than 1 percent of the onboard population."

"My hope is this really is the beginning of the end of this virus and what we are seeing is its morphing to fast spread and less harmful like the common cold!  (If vaccinated)."