MIAMI, July 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean
Group is replacing one of the least-loved but most important parts
of a cruise vacation – the safety drill – with Muster 2.0™, an
entirely new approach to delivering safety information to guests.
The innovative program, the first of its kind, reimagines a process
originally designed for large groups of people into a faster, more
personal approach that encourages higher levels of safety.
With Muster 2.0, the key elements of the safety drill –
including reviewing what to expect and where to go in case of an
emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket –
will be accessible to guests on an individual basis instead of a
group approach that has been followed historically. New technology,
eMuster™, will be used to help provide the information to guests
via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs. Travelers
will be able to review the information at their own time prior to
setting sail, eliminating the need for the traditional large group
assemblies. The new approach also enables everyone on board to
maintain better spacing as guests move about the ship, and it
allows guests to enjoy more of their vacation with no
interruption.
After reviewing safety information individually, guests will
complete the drill by visiting their assigned assembly station,
where a crew member will verify that all steps have been completed
and answer questions. Each of the steps will need to be completed
prior to the ship's departure, as required by international
maritime law.
"The health and safety of our guests and crew are our number one
priority, and the development of this new muster process is an
elegant solution to an outdated, unpopular process," said
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO,
Royal Caribbean Group. "The fact that this will also save guests
time and allow the ship to operate without pause means that we can
increase health, safety and guest satisfaction simultaneously."
"Muster 2.0 represents a natural extension of our mission to
improve our guests' vacation experiences by removing points of
friction," said Jay Schneider, Royal
Caribbean Group's senior vice president of digital. "In this
instance, what's most convenient for our guests is also the safest
option in light of needing to reimagine social spaces in the wake
of COVID-19."
This marks the first dramatic change to the safety drill process
in a decade, since Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas moved
the life jackets from guest staterooms to the muster stations,
which improved the evacuation process and has been widely followed
throughout the industry. More than a year in the making, Muster 2.0
is also an initiative that will be part of the comprehensive set of
protocols and procedures Royal Caribbean Group is developing along
with the Healthy Sail Panel that was recently assembled in
collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
"This new process represents the kind of innovation that the
Healthy Sail Panel is focusing on as part of its mission to enhance
the health and safety of cruising," said former Utah Gov. Mike
Leavitt, co-chair of the Healthy Sail Panel. "It shows that
we can accomplish a lot if we try to think outside the box on
safety."
"I'd like to extend my congratulations to Royal Caribbean Group
on this innovative milestone. It's exactly what our industry needs
during these unprecedented times and we appreciate the generous
offer to participate in this innovation," said Frank Del Rio, President and CEO, Norwegian
Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "In this industry, we all work
cooperatively to enhance health and safety, and this is an example
of that."
The distributed muster for ocean-going vessels concept is
patented in the United States and
is patent-pending in major markets around the world, including the
various cruise industry flag states. The company has also worked
with international regulators, the U.S. Coast Guard and other
maritime and government authorities to ensure it meets all safety
requirements.
In addition to introducing the new process on the ships of its
own cruise lines – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises
and Azamara – Royal Caribbean Group is offering to license the
patented technology to interested cruise operators and will waive
patent license fees during the time the world and industry battle
the global pandemic. Patent licenses have already been granted to
the company's joint venture, TUI Cruises GmbH, as well as Norwegian
Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Norwegian Cruise
Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Muster 2.0 was
first tested on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas in January
2020. Guests who took part in the mock process indicated
a strong preference for the new approach and also reported better
comprehension and retention of the safety information.
About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean
Group (NYSE: RCL) is a cruise vacation company comprising four
global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises,
Azamara and Silversea. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of
a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Together, our brands operate 63 ships with an additional 16 on
order as of July 10, 2020. Learn more
at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group