In the wake of the tragic Costa Concordia grounding, questions are being asked about safety, and rightfully so. After all, cruise ships are commonly completely surrounded by ocean as far as the eye can see, left on their own to provide a safe and secure environment for passengers. In spite of a long history of safety, passengers want to know what is being done about security.
Today, Royal Caribbean got out in front of the onboard safety issue with an email to presently booked and past guests of the line.
All of us at Royal Caribbean International continue to extend our heartfelt sympathies to those affected by Carnival Corporation‘s recent tragic incident on the Costa Concordia. As a Crown & Anchor Society member and loyal Royal Caribbean guest, we know you may have some questions as the situation continues to unfold.
At Royal Caribbean International, the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority. It is fundamental to our operations. Our maritime safety record over our 42-year history illustrates our commitment to the safety of the millions of guests and crew that sail on our ships. The measures we take in the interest of safety are many, often exceeding the regulatory requirements – these are all part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in every aspect of our business.
To address some of your questions and concerns, here is a video that will provide an overview of safety onboard our ships; the training of our crew, officers and captains; and the many regulations that govern our practices. Click here to watch.
As a past cruiser, we know your friends and family may be asking about your own time at sea. We hope that you’ll share this video along with your personal Royal Caribbean experiences with them, and reinforce that cruising continues to maintain the best safety record of any industry in travel.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon on one of our ships sailing to 270 destinations worldwide.
Sincerely,
Adam Goldstein
President and CEO
Royal Caribbean International
In this video posted on the cruise lines website, Royal Caribbean further explains their safety efforts with a behind-the-scenes look at safety on a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean’s website too, has up-to-date information about safety and security for guests to consider:
At Royal Caribbean International, the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority and fundamental to our operations. Our marine safety record over our 42-year history clearly illustrates our commitment to the safety of the millions of guests and crew that sail on our ships. The measures we take in the interest of safety are many, with our ships often exceeding what is required by regulatory authorities – these are all part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in every aspect of our business.
At the beginning of every cruise, all guests and crew must complete a drill known as the “muster” drill (click the link to FAQs for more information), to ensure they are familiar with what to do and where to go in the unlikely event of an emergency. To further ensure they are aware of their specific muster location, we identify it on each of guest’s card keys. The location also is prominently noted on the back of every stateroom door.
In addition to the muster drill for our guests, our officers and crew conduct weekly, monthly and annual drills on every ship, and complete extensive training, certification and scenarios in preparation for the very unlikely event of an emergency, including training on ship evacuation procedures. All of our ships have sufficient lifesaving craft to accommodate every guest and crew member onboard, as well as additional capacity in reserve.
All of our ships are designed and operated in compliance with the strict requirements of the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency that sets global standards for the safety and operation of cruise ships, codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. Safety-related regulations are rigorous – and we often go above and beyond what is required; for example, carrying backup mechanical, navigational and safety provisions.
In addition, our vessels, regardless of where they sail in the world, comply with the U.S. Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) requirements, including railing heights, access control, closed circuit TV, medical preparedness, crime allegation reporting and crew training. Our own requirements generally exceed those specified within the CVSSA. We work closely with regulatory authorities to improve safety laws, and regularly participate in discussions and studies to inform legislators of current practices and offer our perspective on regulations and standards to assure safety.
Flag State authorities and other maritime safety regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, from each country our ships visit also regularly inspect our ships. Their examinations focus on life-saving equipment and safety and environmental protection items and these officials have the authority to prevent our ships from sailing if we fail to adhere to regulations. In addition to these inspections, ongoing system of internal as well as external (independent) marine expert audits also helps us remain vigilant, safely operate our ships and maintain effective systems.
This is one great example of what it will take to get passenger confidence in the safety of a cruise vacation back to where it was prior to the Costa Concordia incident. Still, much remains to be done as the details of that incident come into clear, factual focus and the industry learns, changes then moves on.
Related articles
- Cruise safety is a journey rather than a destination (chriscruises.net)
- New Video: “Safety is our Business” says cruise line (chriscruises.net)
- Cruise experts gather to address fears (chriscruises.net)
- 10 ways to survive a cruise vacation- updated (chriscruises.net)
- Royal Caribbean rolls out Caribean and Panama sailings on Vision of the Seas (chriscruises.net)
