Jul 24, 2020 · Digital innovation

Muster 2.0: Reimagining health and safety onboard Royal Caribbean Group

Whether a frequent cruiser or a newbie, people are familiar with the safety drill, conjuring images of huddled crowds in orange life vests waiting to get back to the fun of their vacation. The safety drill, or muster, is absolutely essential for every cruise but is not the part guests look forward to. 

Enter Muster 2.0™ from Royal Caribbean Group.

Muster 2.0 is an entirely new approach to delivering safety information to guests sailing on the members of Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara. 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. 

Guests will be able to access several mandatory 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 – via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs. They will be able to review the information at their own time prior to setting sail, eliminating the need for the traditional large group assemblies. 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 law. The Group has worked with international regulators, the U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime and government authorities to ensure this new muster process meets all safety requirements. 

This marks the first dramatic change to the safety drill process in a decade, when Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas moved the life jackets from guest staterooms to the muster stations, which improved the evacuation process. This was widely adopted throughout the industry and showcases the Group’s mantra of continuous improvement.

Over a year in the making, Muster 2.0 is 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. 

As part of its commitment to safe cruising everywhere, 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.  

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