Royal Caribbean Group today announced the appointment of Amy C. McPherson, former president and managing director of Europe for Marriott International, to its Board of Directors.
Her appointment was effective as of December 21, 2020.
“I am honoured to welcome Amy to our board of directors,” said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group’s chairman and CEO. “Her many years of involvement in the growth of the travel industry, as well as her deep experience in the development of international markets, will be a valuable addition to the board.”
McPherson spent more than 30 years in leadership roles at Marriott International, including 10 years of service as the company’s president and managing director of Europe, until her retirement in 2019. While at Marriott, she was recognized as one of 25 outstanding “Women Who Mean Business” by the Washington Business Journal.
Ms McPherson is former Vice-Chair of the Executive Advisory Council at James Madison University College of Business. Currently, she is a principal investor in KidsKnowBest, a full-service creative agency providing strong brand solutions for the social age powered by kids.
Significant demand was born as a result of Royal Caribbean International’s announcement for the search of volunteers to go on its first test sailings prior to returning to sea in the U.S.
So much that a form has been created to sign up, which saw more than 150,000 hopeful cruise lovers leave their details.“It’s a good feeling knowing that so many people want to get back on ships,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president for sales, trade support, and service at Royal Caribbean International, on Dec. 8 in response to the demand.
The company has also launched a website for potential volunteers to sign up.
Cruise Industry News breaks down what is known about the sailings.
What are they?
The test sailings are part of the new Conditional Framework by the CDC, which came in place of the “No Sail” order. They will include the company having a number of trial cruises using employees and volunteers as stand-in passengers to test safety and health protocols.
Trial sailings are said to be monitored by company officials, a third-party class society, as well as the CDC.
When will they take place?
Likely the first quarter of 2021, possibly even January. Here’s a quote from Freed at Virtually Yours forum organized by Cruise Planners:
“We don’t know exactly when the test sailings are going to happen – we think in Q1, and we’re hoping for January.”
Which vessels will be taking part?
Industry sources previously stated that they expect the Mariner and Navigator of the Seas, the company’s recently-refurbished “short Caribbean” ships, to be the vessels pressed into service.
On what itineraries?
Freed said in November that the first cruises will be short sailings to CocoCay, which would allow the company to operate in a bubble on its own private island.
Who gets to go?
More than 150,000 people signed up, according to Royal Caribbean International, so it will be tough to choose from them. Apart from cruise line workers and CDC staff, the cruise line is likely to choose volunteers among its most loyal customers.
“We haven’t figured out our protocols yet for the volunteers but certainly loyalty status will be a key selector,” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ president, and CEO during the International Cruise Summit that took place on Dec. 1-2. “Our top tier has the name of Pinnacle and they’ve cruised with us a gazillion times … they’ll be amongst the first to receive the invitation.”
Freed said on Dec. 8 that the company’s travel partners will be invited, too.
What about safety?
Royal Caribbean is working on ensuring they are conducted safely and in compliance with the regulations.
“While we review the requirements proposed by the CDC and consider when we can host our simulated trial sailings, we are gathering information from those who have shown interest on our Volunteers of the Seas Facebook page. Our priority is to ensure that we can exercise our comprehensive set of measures in a safe and healthy manner while making sure we provide a memorable vacation experience,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.
Yet a lot of information is still to be released about the sailings.
“We will be announcing more as we get more information,” Freed said. “So, we look forward to it; we’re looking forward to it.”
Independence of the seas in Southampton photo credit Dave Jones
Royal Caribbean International has announced a number of upcoming changes in itineraries and homeports to its summer 2021 cruises.
Highlights of the updated summer cruises for 2021 include new four- and five-night Mediterranean getaways from Barcelona, and more time in the Caribbean with ships sailing from additional U.S. cruise ports next summer including Tampa, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
New Itineraries and Homeports
Europe
• Adventure of the Seas, which was previously scheduled to sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm, will head for Barcelona to sail a mix of new 4- and 5-night Mediterranean itineraries.
• Jewel of the Seas, originally planned to homeport in Amsterdam and Barcelona, will now sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm on 7-night cruises calling on Northern Europe’s ports.
The Caribbean
• Independence of the Seas, originally sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. offering 3- and 4-night cruises, will now make Miami her home for the summer season and offer a combination of 6- and 8-night cruises to the Southern and Western Caribbean.
• Vision of the Seas, which was previously planned to sail from Barcelona, will sail from San Juan, offering a new summer program. She will offer 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
• Brilliance of the Seas will stay in Tampa for the summer offering a new drive to port for guests. She will sail 4-, 5- and 7-night cruises to the Caribbean.
In Europe, the Odyssey of the Seas will join Anthem and Harmony of the Seas and make its debut in Rome to kick off its inaugural Europe season.
In Alaska, the region will see the cruise line’s biggest season yet with four ships, including the Quantum of the Seas.
The Caribbean also includes the Mariner and Navigator of the Seas sailing 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday itineraries to The Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Oasis of the Seas cruising from the New York area for the first time. In Asia, guests can sail aboard the region’s newest ship, the Spectrum of the Seas, offering 4- and 5-night sailings from Shanghai and visiting Japan.
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