RCI-Royal Caribbean International announced on July 1 that it had repatriated 95% of its fleetwide crew.
Vicki Freed (RCI's Senior VP of Sales and Trade Support & Service) revealed that among its corporate brands, the company had so far repatriated 95% of its crew members and that number would climb to 97% by July 15.
Freed added they had about 40,000 crew members from their corporate collective efforts, of which 95% had been taken home, either via their own cruise ships or be a chartered aircraft.
In order to get crew back home, Royal Caribbean had to overcome political and legal hurdles countries had set up that prevent crew on a cruise ship from returning home.
Countries around the globe, including the U.S., have added complex regulations and travel restrictions meant to protect citizens at home while making it difficult for citizens abroad to return because they are on a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain noted in the first-quarter results call with analysts that crew repatriation was the company's first priority.