published on 11/19/2020

Royal Caribbean recruits 100,000 volunteers for test cruises

Volunteers will test out the cruise line’s COVID-19 safety measures

11/19/2020

Sarah D. Young Reporter and Editor

Royal Caribbean International has announced that 100,000 people have volunteered to test out the ship’s COVID-19 protocols before the cruise line opens its books to the public.

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.

Sarah D. Young

Sarah has been writing and editing for ConsumerAffairs since 2015. Her areas of interest include technology and cybersecurity news, retail news, and home and living news. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, an interior design enthusiast, and a mother of two.

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