PR84891

MIAMI, July 24, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

  - New patented approach helps guests sail away smoothly

  - Technology licensed to other cruise lines to help eliminate crowding

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(TM), 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.

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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(TM), 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outdated, unpopular process," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal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 (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2866310-1&h=3734066773&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rclcorporate.com%2F&a=Royal+Caribbean+Group )

(NYSE: RCL) is a cruise vacation company comprising four global brands: Royal

Caribbean International (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2866310-1&h=927730561&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalcaribbean.com%2F&a=Royal+Caribbean+International ), Celebrity Cruises (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2866310-1&h=1261444583&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.celebritycruises.com%2F&a=Celebrity+Cruises ),

Azamara (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2866310-1&h=2109237492&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azamara.com%2F&a=Azamara )

and Silversea (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2866310-1&h=2113637027&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.silversea.com%2F&a=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.

Source - Royal Caribbean Group

CONTACT: Rob Zeiger, Royal Caribbean Group, corporatecommunications@rccl.com