Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are collaborating to introduce new health and safety standards across their fleets.
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in Collaboration
With the global health crisis heavily impacting the cruise industry, it’s a time when major cruise lines need to work together to help get cruises going once again. That is the case with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line as the two cruise companies are collaborating to implement new health and safety standards across their fleets.
A new group of experts called “Health Sail Panel” has been formed and tasked with collaboratively developing recommendations for cruise lines. Their focus will be to advance their public health response to COVID-19, improve safety, and achieve readiness for the safe resumption of operations. Governor Mike Leavitt and Dr. Scott Gottlieb to serve as co-chairs of the new group.
Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said:
“This unprecedented disease requires us to develop unprecedented standards in health and safety.”
“Bringing aboard these respected experts to guide us forward demonstrates our commitment to protecting our guests, our crews and the communities we visit.”
The expert group has already been working together for almost a month on dealing with the situation which is impacting cruises. Their recommendations are set to be announced at the end of August and any details will be freely available so that other cruise lines could also choose to adopt the same measures.
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The group will also be submitting their plans and details to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and other authorities so that any new protocols can be reviewed first.
Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, said:
“We compete for the vacationing consumer’s business every day, but we never compete on health and safety standards.”
“While the cruise industry has always had rigorous health standards, the unique challenges posed by COVID-19 provide an opportunity to raise the bar even higher.”
This is now the main focus for all cruise lines as they need to keep guests and crew safe for when cruises do eventually resume. Royal Caribbean has currently suspended cruise operations in the United States through September 15 and that includes Celebrity Cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line plans on resuming cruises in the U.S. in October.
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