Before the music. Before the buffets. Even before the boarding day smiles, is a strict cleaning and sanitizing protocol to ensure the health and safety of all souls on board. It is one expression of the Safety First principle that underpins all that we do onboard, monitored closely by several national and international health and safety organizations, including United States Public Health Services. Responsible ships, like the many I’ve served on with Royal Caribbean, safeguard health with the highest standard and part of my duty as a senior officer, is to rigorously enforce it.
Inspections are part of my daily routine. And as much as I survey departments for their marketing and sales appeal, I am also checking to see they have undergone area sanitation with Oxivir and Virox – proven effective environmentally friendly products – and that sanitation stations are in prominent positions for guests to use.
We want guests to use them. It keeps them safe. It keeps crew safe.
Hand washing is not always a guest’s first impulse prior to dining so we promote it in fun, entertaining ways to ensure compliance. We have a crew member outside the Windjammer, our main buffet restaurant, who reminds guests to “washy washy.” On Mariner of the Seas we even have a friendly crew member playing guitar singing loveable tunes with lyrics switched out to remind guests of the importance of hand washing. It has murdered Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline for me forever; friends and family will agree as my auto-response to the chorus is now, “wash, wash, wash.” Should guests not get the cute-but-not-so-subtle hint, a second crew member is there to point them in the direction of the hand washing sinks available right there at the entrance. No washy washy, no munchy munchy.
I’ve yet to see a restaurant in my home city require guests wash their hands before dining. Some fine dining restaurants offer a hot towel, but without soap, it is simply a welcome comfort without the sanitation benefit. This is not to be critical of restaurants. It is merely highlighted to underscore the extra effort taken by cruise ships to prevent outbreaks of any kind so that guests and crew are protected. At home or in the car, how many times have you seen family members digging into take-out finger foods like burgers, fries or tacos without first washing their hands or even using a wipe? In our oh-so busy lives, how many of us wash our hands before dinner at home? After the repeated hand washing messaging throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, could we remain tolerant to this? Surely ubiquitous awareness will compel positive, lasting behavioural change, a plus for all.
Over the past few weeks there has been considerable misinformation about the cleanliness and sanitation practices of cruise ships. As floating microcosms of our cities and towns, ships are at a higher risk because guests do not go back home after visiting our onboard public areas; they stay with us. As an active member of the Outbreak Prevention Plan (OPP) Compliance team, we are challenged to identify risk and correct behaviours for the purpose of continuous improvement. Our findings are shared through the marine division, with a zero-tolerance mindset for offenders. More than once I have had to issue written warnings to staff members for reporting GI symptoms late. Non-compliance is a fireable offence. We are expected to lead by example: health first, livelihood second.
As with our partners in the multi-billion-dollar travel industry, cruise ships will have its challenges getting back to business in the coming months. Some people may be hesitant to cruise because of the industry-specific criticism recently. I hope this isn’t the case. I hope we can all move past this pandemic and thrive. And those guests and crew drawn to the sea can once again experience the fresh ocean air against a spectacular sunset aboard a gorgeous cruise ship.
#cruising #cruiseindustry #cruiselife #handwashing #safetyfirst #tourism
Karen Petcoff
Onboard Marketing and Revenue Manager
Royal Caribbean International
