Dear Crew Worldwide,
How are you today? We really hope you are managing as well as it is possible in these uncharted waters. We know it’s scary to find ourselves in this new reality with suspended jobs, no certainty and plenty of challenges to come. So, let’s take a few moments and explore the state of our inner world, our inner selves.
Starting this week and throughout the next few weeks, Royal Caribbean International will be sending many of the crew members home. In a letter sent by the President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley, the crew was informed that the company will provide a flight home and the promise of a return ticket when it is time to come back and join the ships. The crew members will be entitled to 30 days of pay starting from March 25.
At a meeting held yesterday onboard Freedom of the Seas shipboard employees were informed that the company will try to send non-essential personnel home in the following days.
Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. announced today the company will suspend cruising in the United States. Beginning at midnight tonight, Royal Caribbean is pausing the fleet's U.S. sailings for 30 days.
The company is communicating with their shipboard employees to resolve any issues they have regarding this difficult decision.
United Arab Emirates Transport Authority announced that all cruises operating out of the UAE have been suspended. The latest precautionary measure announced Tuesday night come as a response to stop the spread of coronavirus the government said.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world's largest cruise industry trade association including members such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line, today issued the latest update saying that its members have expanded restrictions on Coronavirus preventive measures. The statement says that CLIA members will deny boarding on their vessels of anyone who has traveled in the affected regions in northern Italy.
In just three weeks, an outbreak of coronavirus has spread from the central Chinese city of Wuhan throughout Asia and as far as the United States, to become a global threat. As of January 23, the National Health Commission announced the number of infected patients by the virus has gone to 830, while the death toll has risen to 26 people.
A man went overboard from Oasis of the Seas, while the ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The incident happen on Wednesday evening when an unidentified male passenger fell from the Deck 10 while the cruise ship was docked at Pier 3 in Old San Juan.
This marks my 12years of ship life. I embarked on my 1st journey on 20th Dec 2007 on Celebrity Summit and I can say one thing that no matter what anyone has to say or think or feel it is one of the toughest jobs in the world, it changes you physically, mentally and emotionally but I do admit that I am loving every minute of it and thank from the bottom of my soul to all who had made this journey possible for me through support and encouragement.
A horrible tragedy occurred today when guests sailing on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas visited New Zealand's most active volcano Whakaari on White Island. Tourists have been caught up in the eruption of the volcano resulting in at least five deaths, and 27 people missing report news outlets in New Zealand. There are many people who have been taken to hospital with burns as a result of the eruption.
