Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

1 9 and adjustments to the dining, entertainment and other onboard experiences,” he says. “Most ships in our fleet are modern and advanced in design, so we don’t expect to have to make any significant structural adjustments to the onboard layouts at this time. However, we are certainly open to taking such measures should they be deemed appropriate.” Once finalised, the Healthy Sail Panel will offer recommendations to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recommendations will also be shared with the entire global cruise industry and other regulatory bodies. As part of the open source approach, other travel sectors will also be able to leverage the findings and protocols. “The global cruise industry has always had rigorous health standards, but we now have the opportunity to raise the bar even higher,” says Fain. “We hope our team of experts can develop best practices that can improve safety and provide everyone in the industry with a roadmap for reducing the risks of Covid-19.” Employees from across the entire Royal Caribbean Group are also playing a pivotal role in helping the company and its brands to prepare for a return to commercial operation. “People have mobilised to come together in cross-functional working groups, and the insights and ideas that have been emerging have been really quite amazing,” says Fain. “Many of these suggestions have been included on the plan that is currently being reviewed by our Healthy Sail Panel. “In many ways, Covid-19’s impact on the world is unlike anything we have seen in our living memory, and yet there are similarities to other crises we have overcome, such as SARS, H1N1 and terror attacks. The one constant in this industry is change, and we’re no strangers to that at Royal Caribbean Group. Not only do we embrace change, but we also harness it – in fact, it’s part of our mantra of ‘continuous improvement’.” That mantra is evidenced by Royal Caribbean Group’s work with ports, destination authorities, shore excursion providers and others in the wider travel industry to ensure guests and crew will have safe and enjoyable onshore experiences during their future cruises. “Keeping our guests and crew as safe on land as they are onboard our ships has always been an essential part of the cruise holiday for all of our brands,” says Fain. “We are closely collaborating with the authorities and our destination partners to develop ways we can ensure our health and safety standards take into account the need to protect both guests and local communities. This, too, is part of the larger Celebrity Apex was delivered via the world’s first virtual handover ceremony in April