Healthy Cruising and the Royal Promise

"The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and the communities we visit, is our top priority. In response to COVID-19, Royal Caribbean is evaluating every last detail of our operations to develop unprecedented standards that will keep you safe and healthy. That’s why we have assembled the Healthy Sail Panel, a group of the best minds and leaders in public health, biosecurity, epidemiology, hospitality and maritime operations. Their insights and recommendations are helping to drive our way forwards as we work to strengthen our current procedures and create new ones across the entire cruise experience. The panel will work alongside our new Public Health & Chief Medical Officer, Dr Calvin Johnson, who will lead the company’s public health initiatives and oversee our response to health crises. Our collective efforts will be shared with the cruise industry and other industries that may benefit from our findings – because we’re all in this together."

Healthy Return to Sailing

Royal Caribbean Group continues to collaborate with the Healthy Sail Panel, epidemiologists, health authorities and various governments around the globe to ensure a healthy and safe return to cruising for guests, crew and the communities visited. The Company also continues to prepare and develop its plan to meet the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for US sailings. Meanwhile most sailings remain suspended.

In December, Quantum of the Seas started operating out of Singapore.  The CDC  requested Royal Caribbean provide information about two of their COVID-19 safety technologies being used on Quantum.  We wrote about the first one, Muster 2.0 in a previous post.  With that technology, passengers no longer gather in large groups to complete the mandatory safety drill before sailing.

The second technology, the Tracelet™ is a patented technology which allows for contact tracing.

 

What is a Tracelet™? 

Tracelet™         Courtesy Royal Caribbean Singapore

Who needs to wear it? 

What if I cannot wear it on my wrist? 

The Tracelet™ is a comfortable, water-resistant, hypoallergenic wearable worn by all guests and crew during the cruise. The Tracelet™ helps Royal with contact tracing in the unlikely event of an onboard health concern. Therefore, everyone onboard regardless of age, needs to wear it. 

Should you be unable to wear it on your wrist, they will find another way for you to wear it. Any guest who chooses not to wear the Tracelet™ will be unable to sail.

As cool as the Tracelet™ is, you might want to take it with you, but unfortunately you'll have to leave it onboard when the cruise ends for the next guests to use.   

What Happens if Someone Tests Positive Onboard?

Courtesy Royal Caribbean - Click to Enlarge

That's an excellent question that is on the minds of most perspective passengers.  First of all, since everyone eligible (currently 12 and over)  is starting out the cruise fully vaccinated and/or with a negative test, odds are in your favor that this won't happen.  But if it does, Royal Caribbean Group (all brands) has your back.  The following information should ease your mind.

Upgraded Medical Facilities & Expert Care 

"There’s nothing more important than your health and safety. Our high-quality medical care includes doctors and nurses onboard each sailing and state-of-the-art equipment onboard. And in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19, we’re fully prepared with immediate medical evaluations, rapid COVID-19 testing and dedicated zones for COVID-19 care, more critical care beds on each ship, and robust treatment plans."   Read More (click here).

Identification / Containment / Providing Care & Assistance

These are the pillars behind Royal Caribbean's protocols to handle a medical emergency of this nature.  Thanks to the Tracelet™  and the technology behind the scenes,  Royal Caribbean can quickly determine who you've been in contact with and take steps to contain further infection.   By definition that means anyone that was within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more which can be determined by the technology.

Editor Note:   Think about this:   If you tested positive at home - would you know who you were in contact with and for how long?

We've already mentioned that they have upgraded their medical facilities and can isolate patients as necessary.   The next thing they do may be unexpected.

Medical Evacuation

When a passenger is identified with COVID-19, the Royal Caribbean Care Team onboard takes over.  The team will get them the necessary treatment onboard and arrange for private transportation back home.

Transportation will be provided by private air ambulance paid for by Royal Caribbean.  Even if you are not exhibiting symptoms, this arrangement is used to ensure you have proper care should you need it in transit.   You will be delivered to your doorstep by the transport team assuring that you are completely cared for.

Editor Note: Can you think of another hospitality provider that would provide this level of care?  While this is for all brands of cruise lines that are part of Royal Caribbean Group, other lines have similar care that they can provide.  Check with your travel professional during your cruise planning.

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Connect With Us On

    
    

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Plan a Spa Day at Sea

Plan Some "Me" Time 

During Your Cruise 

Mandara Spa

Revive, refresh and recharge in Norwegian Bliss's remarkable spa. Start with a hot-stone massage, one of over 50 specialty treatments offered by well-trained massage therapists. Just simply inhale, exhale and be well.

Shown here is the couples massage spa treatment room on Norwegian Bliss.   We recommend making your Mandara Spa reservations in advance or on embarkation day for best selection of days and times.

The spa offers discounted rates for multiple treatments or on port days.   Since our sea days would be busy, due to our conference meetings, we booked a couples massage for Wednesday afternoon when we would be in Mazatlan.  Due to Hurricane Willa altering our schedule, we needed to change our reservation to Friday when we were in Ensenada.  The only available time for the couples massage was 8 AM, so we selected that time.


The Thermal Suite

The Thermal Suite is a passage toward ultimate relaxation. Based on the concept of Turkish baths, where friends and family spent the day relaxing, the heat and cleansing therapies of our Thermal Suite experience include heated ceramic lounge chairs, a Thalasso Therapy Pool, hot tubs, steam room, sauna, and tropical rain showers. Different herbal steam and sauna grottos cleanse the body with gentle heat while a therapeutic heated-water pool bubbling effect will wash away stiff and sore joints. Take a dip in the Vitality Pool or enjoy a warm waterfall cascading onto your shoulders. Heated chaise lounges and tropical shower features make this both a relaxing and cleansing experience. A Salt Room is available on Bliss, Breakaway, Getaway and Escape.

The Spa Experience

Your spa experience begins with arriving 15 minutes early to complete some paper work.  The questionnaire helps the therapist focus on what your desired outcomes are from the session.

There are oranges, infused water, and other refreshments available in the relaxation area.  Your therapist meets you in the area and escorts you to the treatment room.

After briefly going over your paperwork, they leave you to get ready for your massage.   A few minutes later you are lying on the table waiting for your heavenly treatment to begin.

At the end of your treatment, they'll leave you to get dressed and then bring you some water and go over some follow up treatment plans.  You aren't under any obligation to purchase the products they suggest, but if you do, they will be added to your room charge along with the treatment.   The cost usually includes 18-20% gratuity and you can add additional tip if desired.

Following our treatment, we spent the next several hours relaxing in the Thermal Suite.  This is a restricted area for spa guests and for anyone that purchased a daily or cruise-long package.

Inspire Conference  - Click for More Stories & Pictures

Norwegian Bliss
October 20-27, 2018
7 days R/T Port of Los Angeles (Long Beach)

Additional photos can be found on our Norwegian Bliss Shutterfly page

Race Track album

View Our Other Shutterfly Share Pages

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers


Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Cloud 9 on Carnival Breeze

Just Onboard Carnival Breeze
 What to Do

Sunday August 24th we began our seminar at sea onboard Carnival Breeze out of Miami, Florida. Since we had priority boarding, it wasn't long after completing the embarkation process that we were on our way to our cabin. Most ships wouldn't have the cabins ready that early, but starting around 12:30 PM, you could go to your cabin and drop off your bags.

As usual, we had some lunch, which in our case was one of Guy's Burgers. We'll write about those in another post because we want to skip ahead to the relaxing part of the day.

After having our burger, we headed to Cloud 9 Spa for a tour of the facility.  After all, it was #SpaSunday, so we needed to get some images for our Twitter followers.   That was a good excuse don't you think?

One of the therapists, pictured above, demonstrated the hot stones technique on our arms.  This is by far our favorite treatment, so it didn't take much convincing that we should start our cruise out right.

Couples Hot Stones Massage

Pictured here is one of the couples treatment rooms that we saw on our spa tour.   At the conclusion of the tour we booked the hot stones treatment for right after the mandatory safety drill.

TIP:   If you plan on having a massage or other spa treatment during your  cruise, go to the spa tour and book your appointments.  If you can, take advantage of embarkation day specials as well.

Feeling Like We're on Cloud 9

When we were done with our 75 minutes of the full body massage with hot stones, we certainly felt like we were no longer on a ship, but floating on Cloud 9.  We headed back to our cabin after the massage.

This wouldn't be our final visit to the spa.  In fact it was just the beginning because we also booked the couples pass to the thermal suite which we'll describe in another article.  Welcome aboard Carnival Breeze - visit us again to continue the journey.

Earth to Cruise Lines Keep it Up

Earth Day
 April 22, 2014

For the past several years we've taken a look at the cruise industry's response to the environment on Earth Day.   This year we'll review an update provided by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Highlights from their press release:

“CLIA member cruise lines continue to invest in systems and technologies that improve overall environmental performance,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA.  “The industry takes its responsibility as caretakers of the environment seriously.  We work collaboratively with regulators, design and engineering experts and a range of stakeholders to raise the bar on our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the oceans and the nearly 600 ports our member cruise lines visit.” 



Following are examples of steps that cruise lines have taken to protect the environment:

• advanced wastewater treatment systems producing clean water
• new technologies that help to reduce air emissions (exhaust gas scrubbers, more efficient engines)
• using shore power where feasible
• energy conservation (LED lighting, high efficiency appliances, cabins heated by recycled hot water, special window tinting to use less air conditioning)
• ecological, non-toxic, slick hull coatings that increase energy efficiency and reduce air emissions

Cruise Line Recycling Highlights:

• increased non-hazardous waste recycled to shore by 18% and reduced total waste almost 5%
• recycled nearly 53% of the solid waste
• 1,254 tons of cardboard,  2,517 tons of scrap metal, 2,988 tons of glass, 669 tons of plastic and managed 748 tons of trash and international garbage at Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities
• over 52,000 gallons of used cooking oil annually 

These are just some samples of what individual cruise lines or family of brands have accomplished in 2013. The press release provides many more examples and additional details about how cruise lines have made a positive impact on the world.

The cruise industry is highlighting how its member lines are safeguarding the oceans and the environment through the recently launched ‘Cruise Forward’ industry-wide communications initiative.  Specific examples of how cruise lines across the globe are actively working to reduce the overall environmental impact of cruising and preserve and protect pristine oceans, beaches and ports can be found online at www.cruiseforward.org. 

Save the Waves

Royal Caribbean and other lines have special containers like these which help them separate the waste so that they can carry out these conservation efforts.

You can do your part by placing your garbage in the proper containers on the ship during your cruise.

On this Earth Day 2014, the earth is smiling about the progress made to date and hopes that everyone sailing on the seven seas continues in carrying out these efforts to protect the land and seas for future generations.

Here are some past Earth Day articles.  Links in these articles can assist you in additional research.  Each cruise line has a page dedicated to their efforts.  They are all very proud of what has been accomplished to date.

Past Articles:

Cruise Lines and Earth Day 2013 

Cruise Lines and Earth Day 2012 

Let There Be Green On the Sea

Every Day is Earth Day on Cruise Ship

 

Royal Treatment Free Spa Offer

EXCLUSIVE
ROYAL CARIBBEAN OFFER

Book an Oceanview or above by February 28, 2010 and get dollars off!
PLUS: Receive a FREE Spa Treatment on ANY 5-Night or longer cruise
departing between April 1 - December 31, 2010!

What's your favorite indulgence when on a cruise vacation? For me, it's one or more spa treatments on sea days. My favorite is actually hot stones, but there are other treatments that are just as fabulous.

For just a few more days, we are offering an exclusive offer which includes a FREE Spa Treatment* for one lucky passenger in each cabin sailing in Oceanview or above cabins on ANY 5-night or longer Royal Caribbean sailing.

*Click here for Terms & Conditions of Dollars Off and FREE Spa Treatment offer

Bookings applicable to receive spa offer will choose among one of three of the spa treatments: La Thérapie Hydrolift Facial; Swedish Massage; Reflexology including Massage.

Find More Royal Caribbean Cruises Here.

My first massage was on a ship about ten years ago. I've been having regular massages since that time. Massages are good for relaxation and health. Book by February 28th to take advantage of this limited-time offer.