Royal Caribbean said they planned to use employees and partners (travel agents) for the volunteers but since they'd received several thousand emails from customers offering to volunteer they set up the volunteer link although it isn't guaranteed they will use any volunteers from the public.
The reason for these trial cruises is outlined in the Framework for Condition Sailing issued by the CDC. It is lengthy and I haven't read it in detail as I have no intention of cruising anytime soon, but you can see the info on these trial cruises beginning around page 24 and all that is required for a line to get a Conditional Sailing Certificate issued to resume cruising whenever that may be. There are a lot of criteria that must be met and protocols around Covid that are listed in there:
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC- ... 2020-p.pdf
Once the trials are done and everything else is met (whenever that is), when a Conditional Sailing Certificate is issued there are a lot of conditions and cruises won't be longer than 7 days unless CDC modifies that.
Out of all the details, a couple that stood out to me:
- during a cruise if a threshold of Covid is detected onboard (threshold level not defined), the cruise will be ended immediately and ship returned to the US port it started at. Passengers must have been advised that if this was to occur their travel home may be restricted or delayed.
- passengers must all be tested at embarkation and disembarkation. Results must be available before embarking and before passengers depart for final destination at disembarkation
- if a threshold of Covid is detected, the cruiseline must disembark and transport guests using non-commercial transportation.
The above only applies for cruises over 250 people.
A smaller cruise was able to sail as it was under 250 - SeaDream, has 53 passengers and 66 crew and is on it's first Caribbean cruise. Passengers had to have a negative test before embarking and also tested during the cruise. This cruise has now ended early due to a positive case during the cruise:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... s-seadream
Started Saturday, from Barbardos, and was to return the following Saturday. Wednesday the Covid was detected so it was cut short:
...passengers were required to have a negative PCR test to enter Barbados and underwent another test on the dock administered by the ship’s doctor.
“We all felt very safe,” she said, adding that the ship had been implementing strict hygiene protocols. “Yet somehow, Covid appears to have got on board.”
The reason for these trial cruises is outlined in the Framework for Condition Sailing issued by the CDC. It is lengthy and I haven't read it in detail as I have no intention of cruising anytime soon, but you can see the info on these trial cruises beginning around page 24 and all that is required for a line to get a Conditional Sailing Certificate issued to resume cruising whenever that may be. There are a lot of criteria that must be met and protocols around Covid that are listed in there:
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC- ... 2020-p.pdf
Once the trials are done and everything else is met (whenever that is), when a Conditional Sailing Certificate is issued there are a lot of conditions and cruises won't be longer than 7 days unless CDC modifies that.
Out of all the details, a couple that stood out to me:
- during a cruise if a threshold of Covid is detected onboard (threshold level not defined), the cruise will be ended immediately and ship returned to the US port it started at. Passengers must have been advised that if this was to occur their travel home may be restricted or delayed.
- passengers must all be tested at embarkation and disembarkation. Results must be available before embarking and before passengers depart for final destination at disembarkation
- if a threshold of Covid is detected, the cruiseline must disembark and transport guests using non-commercial transportation.
The above only applies for cruises over 250 people.
A smaller cruise was able to sail as it was under 250 - SeaDream, has 53 passengers and 66 crew and is on it's first Caribbean cruise. Passengers had to have a negative test before embarking and also tested during the cruise. This cruise has now ended early due to a positive case during the cruise:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... s-seadream
Started Saturday, from Barbardos, and was to return the following Saturday. Wednesday the Covid was detected so it was cut short:
...passengers were required to have a negative PCR test to enter Barbados and underwent another test on the dock administered by the ship’s doctor.
“We all felt very safe,” she said, adding that the ship had been implementing strict hygiene protocols. “Yet somehow, Covid appears to have got on board.”
When your mind says give up, hope whispers "one more try"
Never say never
Never say never