RCI-Royal Caribbean continues with crewing up its cruise ships for the upcoming season. With the latest announcement of the line's gradual restart with more liners on the way, the company is bringing team members from all around the globe back onboard.
~400 crew currently in a hotel in Mumbai India are waiting to complete their 16-day quarantine along with a series of PCR tests before they join Royal Caribbean ships.
The crew checked in at JW Marriot Hotel on June 3 and underwent a COVID PCR test on June 4. During the quarantine, they have to undergo 2 more PCR tests on June 13 & 18. The isolation ends on June 20, when they'll start the voyage back to the ship on an RCI-arranged charter flight from Mumbai India to PortMiami Florida. Once they arrive in Florida they'll take company-provided transportation to the hotel and then undergo one more COVID-19 PCR test prior to finally boarding the ship, and starting the final quarantine and PCR tests.
The Indians are expected to board Symphony of the Seas in Miami FL on June 22.
Royal Caribbean said that the company recognized those protocols were very rigorous and required an extra level of effort from the crew members. Due to the current situation, the cruise line had implemented additional safety protocols for the team members coming from India.
Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas have received permission from the CDC to commence simulated test voyages. Symphony of the Seas will start her test sailing from Miami FL on August 1, while Allure of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral FL on July 27.