The volunteers will get to cruise free of charge in early 2021 while putting CDC-instituted cruise ship protocols to the test.
"Just like that…100,000 people have volunteered! We can’t wait to start this next phase with you all,” Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a post on his official Facebook page. “It has been so gratifying to receive literally thousands of emails and calls offering to volunteer.”
U.S. cruise lines are required by the CDC to test their coronavirus safety measures through simulated voyages with volunteer guests prior to resuming operations, Cruise Industry News reported.
Volunteers will have to sign a written form acknowledging they risk contracting COVID-19. The test voyage will take passengers to Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay.