Royal Caribbean just figured out how to improve the worst part of cruising
There hasn't been a lot of upbeat news for cruise fans coming out of the world's cruise lines in recent months. But on Friday, Royal Caribbean Group finally gave them something they could get excited about: A plan to greatly shorten and simplify the safety drill process.
The parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and Azamara said it had developed new technology, which it is calling eMuster, that will let passengers complete most of the safety drill that is held at the start of every cruise on a mobile device or interactive cabin TV instead of in a big, crowded, unwieldy muster station.
Under the new system, passengers will review all the same information that they have been getting in a group setting until now -- details on what to expect and where to go in case of an emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket -- on their own using the new technology in the hours leading up to departure.
For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter.
After reviewing the safety information on a mobile device or cabin TV, passengers then 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.
Every passenger still will be required to complete the safety drill process before departure, as required by international maritime law.
Royal Caribbean Group is calling the new process Muster 2.0.
Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles
"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and crew are our number one priority, and the development of this new muster process is an elegant solution to an outdated, unpopular process," Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain said Friday in a statement. "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."
Royal Caribbean Group began working on the new technology long before the coronavirus outbreak began. But its development is expected to go a long way to solving one of the biggest hurdles to bringing cruising back in an era where the virus still is a concern: How to keep passengers socially distanced during safety drills.
On a typical cruise, the safety drill is one of the times when passengers are in the closest proximity to each other, as every single passenger must assemble in a limited number of spaces.
Related: Surprise! Royal Caribbean just changed its name, without telling anyone
"Muster 2.0 represents a natural extension of our mission to improve our guests' vacation experiences by removing points of friction," Royal Caribbean Group senior vice president of digital Jay Schneider said in a statement. "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."
Royal Caribbean Group said it worked with international regulators including the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure the new process met all safety requirements.
The company has patented or is in the process of patenting the eMuster technology in countries around the world and plans to license it to other lines. It said it is waiving its license fee during the coronavirus pandemic so other brands can begin using the system immediately. It said it already has granted a license to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
The technology will debut in the coming days on the ships of German line TUI Cruises, which is in the process of resuming limited cruising out of German ports. Royal Caribbean owns part of TUI Cruises through a joint venture.
Royal Caribbean Group tested a mock version of Muster 2.0 in January on Symphony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship.
More stories to help you plan your next cruise:
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app