Cruise ship passengers will be required to wear masks, new CDC order states
Although all cruise lines in North America are currently shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, those people itching to get back on the high seas should prepare themselves to follow CDC orders when cruising returns.
According to a report by Royal Caribbean Blog, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has passed a new order requiring people to wear masks on public transportation, and that includes cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean Blog cited the CDC’s order, which stated: “Persons must wear masks over the mouth and nose when traveling on conveyances into and within the United States. Persons must also wear masks at transportation hubs as defined in this Order.”
What forms of travel fall under the CDC order?
The order, which goes into effect Feb. 1, 2021, “pertains to forms of travel including aircraft, train, road vehicle, vessel or other means of transport,” Royal Caribbean Blog reported, and “applies within any state, locality or territory.”
Are there exceptions?
The CDC order lists instances when the requirement to wear a mask does not apply, among which are: “while eating, drinking, or taking medication, for brief periods;” or “while communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;” or “when it’s necessary to temporarily remove the mask to verify one’s identity.”
According to the CDC order, those persons who are exempt include children under 2 years old, as well as “a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Also exempt, the CDC order states, is a person “for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty.”
Royal Caribbean Blog reported that “cruise lines must provide adequate notice of the rule,” – “disembarking any person who refuses to comply.” Additionally, guests should be informed that wearing a mask on the conveyance is a Federal law requirement and “failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law.”
Royal Caribbean had previously set its own similar guidelines.
The new rules require what the cruise lines “have already agreed to do on their own,” according to Royal Caribbean Blog.
The Healthy Sail Panel, back in September 2020, proposed passengers and crew members wear face masks on cruise ships. The list of protocols included “74 detailed steps that the panel believes will protect guests, crew members and the places cruise ships visit from the spread of COVID-19,” the report explained.
Royal Caribbean specified in its rules that when its cruise ships return to service, “face masks will be required,” with exceptions “similar to what the CDC outlined,” Royal Caribbean Blog reported.
Royal Caribbean explained that although guests will not be required to wear face masks in their own stateroom, they “should wear face masks in nearly all public settings regardless of physical distancing measures,” reported Royal Caribbean Blog – with exceptions in dining venues. There seated guests will be permitted to eat and drink without face masks, “provided physical distancing is observed.”
Royal Caribbean Blog further explained that in order for seated guests without face masks to safely dine, “restaurant seating will be arranged to allow for physical distancing,” and “tables and chairs will be disinfected.”
The cruise line’s rules also stated that guests should not wear masks while engaged in activities that may cause the mask to become wet, such as when swimming in their pools, or when participating in strenuous activities, such as jogging, running, or in fitness classes, the report explained.
In addition, Royal Caribbean Blog stated the cruise line’s rules require face masks to be worn “at all bars or nightclubs when not seated and actively eating or drinking with your party.”
Royal Caribbean crew members will wear masks and gloves at all times, the report stated.
Based on the CDC’s new order, it is yet unclear whether Royal Caribbean will change any of these protocols, Royal Caribbean Blog said.
The CDC’s aim in issuing the new order is to ensure people in close contact are not putting the public health at risk, the report explained.
Mask use is only part of the prevention protocol.
Along with the use of masks, the CDC believes other preventive measures, including “social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, is one of the most effective strategies available for reducing COVID-19 transmission,” Royal Caribbean Blog said.
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