Oasis of the Seas - Your Questions Answered

GENERAL

Q1. Are you building bigger and bigger ships just to try and keep grabbing headlines – do you really believe that a ship as big as Oasis of the Seas will be enjoyable for guests?

A1. We have not set out to build the largest ships in the world, our goal is to offer our guests more amenities and more options to choose from. In order to do this, we have had to build bigger ships to accommodate the innovative amenities found on the ship.

Q2. Can you explain how you found the names for Project Genesis I and II?

A2. Royal Caribbean entered into a partnership with USA Today to give readers the opportunity to name these ships. The name Oasis of the Seas was selected from more than 91,000 entries in the contest, which the cruise line launched on January 18. Entrants were invited to submit two names ending in “of the Seas” that best encapsulate the universe of experiences a Royal Caribbean cruise provides guests. The contest marks the first time members of the general public, outside of the cruise industry, have been given the opportunity to name a cruise ship. The winning combination of names, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, scored the highest among all contest entries considered by a panel of judges, and earned the winner the honor of naming not only the world’s next largest and most innovative cruise ships, but the entire class of the new ships, the Oasis-class.

Q3. Explain the neighborhood concept?

A3. Oasis of the Seas will be organized into seven main themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal styles, preferences or moods.

Q4 How many neighborhoods will the Oasis-class feature?

A4. Oasis of the Seas and its sister-ships will feature seven neighborhoods.

1. Central Park
2. Boardwalk featuring AquaTheater
3. Royal Promenade
4. Pool and Sports Zone
5. The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness neighborhood
6. An Entertainment themed neighborhood – details to be announced in the Fall
7. A Youth themed neighborhood – details to be announced in the Fall

Q5: Oasis is such a huge ship, won’t guests have a hard time finding their way around?

A5: Oasis is designed and technologically configured in such a way that guests should be able to navigate their way around the ship quite easily. The layout of the ship is easy to understand and the concept of neighborhoods—a familiar concept to most people—provides an easy frame of reference for guests. Enhanced signage will also help guests navigate the ship. Interestingly, while Oasis is wider than its predecessor Freedom class of ships, it is really only 100 feet longer than a Freedom-class ship.

Q6. With 6,000 people won’t certain places be too crowded?

A6. By designing specific neighborhoods to suit the mood, preferences and styles of our guests we believe our guests, they will be able to move seamlessly between different areas of the ship without ever feeling crowded. There will many intimate areas onboard where guests can choose to go to get away from the activity is they so wish.

VITALITY AT SEA SPA & FITNESS NEIGHBORHOOD

Q1. What is the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Neighborhood?

A1. Created as the crown jewel of our Vitality program, the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness neighborhood will encompass various amenities that cater to complete body wellness.

Q2. What new features will be available at the Spa?

A2. The spa onboard Oasis of the Seas will be the largest spa at sea. It will not only offer the diverse Spa amenities that Royal Caribbean is already known for, but on Oasis of the Seas we will be enhancing the options with several features including a dedicated teen spa, thermal suite, and in-room massages.

Q3. How can Spa and Fitness Center be on the same level?

A3. The entrance to the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center will be on Deck 6. Guests who will be enjoying a Spa treatment will descend to Deck 5 and wait in our Relaxation Room for their spa service. All of the treatment rooms, except for the teen spa, are located on this deck. The Fitness Center is located on Deck 6.

Q4. What makes the Fitness Center different?

A4. The Fitness Center onboard Oasis of the Seas will offer the latest in fitness technology. There will be more than 150 state-of-the-art cardio and resistance machines, dedicated areas for classes such as spinning, yoga and Pilates as well as a brand new feature – a Kinesis wall. Kinesis is the newest and most innovative form of resistance exercise - a full-body, no-impact workout utilizing fluid, natural movement to engage several muscle groups simultaneously.

Q5. Royal Caribbean has set the bar in introducing the latest in Fitness – e.g. – the boxing ring on the Freedom Class – what will the Fitness Center on Oasis offer?

A5. We still have a few more surprises we are not ready to announce. Stay tuned.

Q6. What will be served at the Vitality Café?

A6. The Vitality Café will offer a healthy spa menu including healthy snacks, juices, smoothies and nutritious entrees.

Q7. Will there be a charge?

A7. That has not been determined yet.

POOL AND SPORTS ZONE

Q1. How is the pool deck different?

A1. The pool deck will be like nothing seen before at sea. It will feature 4 different types of pools, 10 whirlpools, an expanded adults-only Solarium as well as private cabanas, all this with fantastic views of the sea as well as the Central Park neighborhood below.

Q2. What new features are on the pool deck?

A2. The pool deck will feature 4 pools to suit the needs and tastes of all our guests: the main pool, a sports pool, our H20 Zone and a new Beach pool. We will also feature private cabanas where guests will have a private attendant. We have also expanded our adults-only Solarium by moving it to the front of the ship providing two-levels of tranquility in an intimate space.

Q3. Why did you move the Solarium to the front of the ship?

A3. By moving the Solarium to the front of the ship we are able to provide our guests with a fantastic view of the sky and sea. We were also able to expand the space and will feature 2 whirlpools, 2 cantilevered whirlpools along with a main pool.

Q4. What will be served at the Solarium Bistro?

A4. The Solarium Bistro will serve healthy breakfasts, lunch items such as wraps, fruits and salads and in the evening the Bistro will transform into a specialty restaurant for those guests looking for a healthy entrée under the stars. It will also be a romantic setting for dancing.

Q5. Is there a charge?

A5. The Bistro will have a charge for dinner which will be comparable to the rest of our other specialty restaurants.

Q7. How is the sports deck different?

A7. The Sports Deck is the largest sports deck at sea and will feature our signature mini golf course, a sports court, where guests can play basketball and volleyball as well as not one but two flowriders – even larger than those found on our Freedom-class ships. The Sports Deck will also feature a zip line, which soars nine decks above the Boardwalk.

Q8. Why two Flowriders?

A8. The Flowriders onboard our Freedom-class ships have proved to be hugely successful, we are just following our guests demand for more opportunities to surf the waves.

Q9. Why aren’t the rockwalls on the sports deck?

A9. The two rockwalls are located in our Boardwalk neighborhood flanking the amphitheatre and providing a more unique experience. We moved the walls to the back of the ship so that they can be larger and provide more routes and interesting experiences. Each of the rock walls each measure 43 feet tall.

Q10. How many restaurants and bars are in the Pool & Sports Zone?

A10. The are four bars, the Wipe Out Café, as well as the Windjammer Café, which looks over the pool deck and will feature our new Asian eatery, Izumi.

BOARDWALK

Q1. What is the Boardwalk?

A1. The Boardwalk is one of seven neighborhoods featured on Oasis of the Seas. Inspired by the seaside piers of England and nostalgic boardwalks such as Coney Island, Boardwalk will be an area for the whole family to enjoy.

Q2. Where is it located?

A2. The Boardwalk is located on Deck 6 – Aft.

Q3. What are the main features of the Boardwalk?

A3. The Boardwalk will have two central features:

• The Carousel – the full sized carousel will feature hand carved horses and animals and will be the first of its kind at sea.
• AquaTheater – the AquaTheater is a dynamic space that offers our guests a breathtaking view of the sea. Modeled after Grecian amphitheaters, the AquaTheater will be the first of its kind at sea and offer our guests a fantastic experience during the day and at night.

Q4. What will guest experience at the AquaTheater be like?

A4. The AquaTheater is the first of its kind at sea. During the day guests will be able to lounge and swim. At night the space will be transformed into a performance venue which feature dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet and professional high-diving performances.

Q5. What is the capacity of the AquaTheater?

A5. 600 guests

Q6. How was the carousel made?

A6. The carousel was hand carved specially for Royal Caribbean by the Carousel Works – a company based in Ohio.

Q7. What venues will be on the Boardwalk?

A7. The Boardwalk will feature a Johnny Rockets, Seafood Shack, Coffee and Donut shop, Ice Cream Parlor, Sail Bar as well as retail space dedicated to the young and young at heart. This neighborhood will also feature a psychic and tattoo parlor and other carnival games and amenities.

Q8. Who will this area appeal to?

A8. The Boardwalk will appeal to everyone of all ages and especially to families.

Q9. What type of accommodations will be available in the Boardwalk?

A9. The Boardwalk will feature both ocean view and balcony staterooms. Below is a breakdown:

• Aft Window Atrium Ocean View (EAO) - 8
• Aft Ocean View Balcony (AO) - 217
• Aft Ocean View w/ Balcony Accessible (AOX) - 4
• Family Suite Balcony (AAR) - 6

Q10. How large are the rockwalls?

A10. There are two rock-climbing walls on either side of the AquaTheater and they are 43 feet.

Q11. Tell us more about the zipline experience?

A11. Suspended nine decks above Boardwalk, a zipline will run the length of the neighborhood giving adventurers a thrilling experience with amazing views overlooking the action below.

ROYAL PROMENADE

Q1. How is this different then the Royal Promenade on other ships?

A1. The Royal Promenade is an evolution of the same space found onboard our Voyager- and Freedom-class ships. Wider than its predecessors (19 meters vs. 9 meters), the Royal Promenade also will feature many industry firsts as well as allow guests to connect to the sky through the domed crystal canopies above.

Q2. What special features will be on the Royal Promenade?

A2. The Royal Promenade will feature many industry firsts including:

• The Rising Tide – the first moving bar at sea, the Rising Tide will transport guests form the Royal Promenade to the neighborhood above, Central Park
• Suspended above the Globe and Atlas Bar, a bridge will unfurl from the globe atop the bar to serve as a focal point for entertainment performances.
• Mezzanine – for the first time the Royal Promenade will span two levels, with a mezzanine in the aft area which will feature Royal Caribbean staples such as the Champagne Bar, The Schooner Bar, the Crown & Anchor Lounge for Diamond members and the future cruise sales area.
• Crystal Canopies – guests will have the opportunity to be connected to the sunlight above through the arched domed crystal canopies that will encompass the roof of the Royal Promenade. The canopies will also allow guests to connect to the neighborhood above, Central Park.

Q3. What type of venues will be on the RP?

A3. The Royal Promenade will feature many venues that are found on our other ships. These include Sorrento’s Pizzeria; Café Promenade; Boleros; Champagne Bar, Schooner Bar and the On Air Club. New venues include the Globe & Atlas Pub; the Mondo Coffee Bar and Rising Tide bar.

Q4. What type of retail venues will be on the RP?

A4. The Royal Promenade will feature retail shops including: Focus – a photo shop and gallery; Regalia – fine jewelry retailer; Solera – perfume and cosmetics shop; Prince & Greene – souvenir shop; The Shop – logo store; Port merchants – liquors and sundries; Willow – an accessories shop and A Close Shave – a men’s barber shop.

Q5. How will you handle so many guests who need assistance at Guest Services?

A5. There will be to Guest Services areas, one at the forward end and one at the aft end of Royal Promenade adequately servicing our guests.

Q6. What type of activities will be featured on the RP?

A6. As on our other ships, the Royal Promenade will be the heart of Oasis and feature live entertainment, street parades, Captain’s toasts, etc. and will be a great place for people watching.

Q7. Will you still have the RP staterooms?

A7. Yes, we will have 18 promenade staterooms.

Q8. Where is RP located and where does it lead to?

A8. The Royal Promenade leads to one of the other neighborhoods which will be announced in the Fall. Watch out for details.

CENTRAL PARK

Q1. Will there be a dome covering the entire Central Park area?

A1. Central Park is open to the sky and the elements.

Q2. What happens when it rains or the weather is bad?

A2. We have six other neighborhoods for our guest to enjoy during inclement weather.

Q3. Yes, but how do guests gain access to all the venues surrounding CP?

A3. There will be covered walkways and large umbrellas providing cover.

Q4. Will there be real grass anywhere?

A4. Yes, Central Park will feature grass - but unlike Celebrity’s Solstice lawn club for croquet and bocci ball, the grass in Central Park will be incorporated into the Park with other foliage, shrubs and trees.

Q5. How large are the balconies overlooking Central Park?

A5. The stateroom balconies in Central Park are comparable to our balconies on Freedom-class ships.

Q6. Will you be charging a supplement for the fine dining outlets and how much?

A6. There will be a charge commensurate with what we are charging now. The exact cost is undetermined at this time.

Q7. Is Central Park replacing Royal Promenade?

A7. Central Park is an exciting and brand new feature for Royal Caribbean. This new concept will not be replacing any of our other wonderful onboard experiences.

Q8. What is the bridge above Central Park?

A8. Stay tuned as we will be revealing more details of Oasis of the Seas soon.

Q9. Is the design of the Central Park area on the ship based on CP in New York?

A9. Central Park refers to OUR park that is at the centre of the ship and is not modelled after the one in NY.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Q1. What new accommodations will Oasis of the Seas feature?

A1. Oasis of the Seas will feature several new accommodations with views unique to the ship such as Park View balcony staterooms and Boardwalk View balcony staterooms overlooking inwards towards the Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods. Some of the highlights of the superior accommodations include: the Royal Loft; Sky Lofts; Accessible Crown Loft suite; Crown Loft suites; Royal Suite; Presidential Family Suite; Owner’s Suite; Family Suite; AquaTheater Suite and the Grand Suite.

Q2. How many of these are there?

A2.

• Royal Loft: 1
• Sky Loft: 2
• Loft Suites: 24 + 1 accessible
• Royal Suite : 1
• Presidential Family Suite: 1
• Owner’s Suite: 10
• Family Suite: 6
• AquaTheater Suites: 6
• Grand Suite: 30

Q3. What inspired the Loft Staterooms?

A3. The loft staterooms were inspired by the urban living concept and provided an opportunity for our guests to enjoy magnificent endless views of the ocean through floor to ceiling double-height windows.

Q4. Will you have new family accommodations?

A4. Yes, Oasis of the Seas will feature several new family accommodations including the Presidential Family Suite which sleeps 14; the Family Suite which sleeps six and the AquaTheater Suite which sleeps six.

Q5. Will the average size of the staterooms on Oasis of the Seas be larger than that of the staterooms on the Freedom-class ships?

A5. The average size of the staterooms on our Freedom-class ships is 209 sq.ft. while the average size of those on Oasis of the Seas is 216 sq.ft.

Q6. Will Oasis of the Seas feature accessible staterooms?

A6. Yes, Oasis of the Seas will feature 46 wheelchair accessible accommodations in a wide variety of categories.

ITINERARY

Q1. We know that Oasis of the Seas will be based in Fort Lauderdale; do you have any more information on possible ports of call?

A1. Oasis of the Seas will be home ported in Ft. Lauderdale and will feature a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary from December 10 through May 10, 2009 with calls in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and Nassau, Bahamas. Starting May 1, 2009, Oasis of the Seas will alternate between the Eastern Caribbean itinerary mentioned above and a Western Caribbean itinerary with calls in Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico.

Q2. Will Oasis of the Seas come to the UK or other international ports when it launches in 2009?

A2. Oasis of the Seas will be sailing a Western and Eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Ft. Lauderdale. At this time, we cannot confirm the inaugural itineraries or other itineraries beyond April 2010.

Q3. When will cruises on Oasis of the Seas go on sale?

A3. Oasis of the Seas will be open for sale on September 3.

FINANCIAL

Q1. How much does the ship cost?

A1. The cost per berth is $230,000

Q2. What is the impact of Oasis of the Seas to its homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale?

A2. Oasis of the Seas is expected to generate approximately 584,000 guests annually at Port Everglades. Royal Caribbean is reimbursing up to $37.4 million in capital expenditures for expansion and related infrastructure needs of Terminal 18 at Port Everglades. According to an economic impact study conducted by Martin and Associates, homeporting the Oasis-class ships at Port Everglades will create more than 3,844 jobs, generate $172 million in personal income and $115.9 million of state and local taxes. In addition more than 858 new construction jobs will be created during the terminal expansion.

Q3: Why are you raising your fuel surcharges yet again and will guests be charged even more for fuel on Oasis?

A3: Unfortunately, as we’re all seeing when we fill our cars with gas, the price tag at the pump continues to skyrocket. Like many other industries, we, too, have had to pass along some of these costs to our guests. This past week, in fact, we’ve had to raise our per-guest fuel supplement to $10 per guest (for first and second guests in a stateroom), with charges not to exceed $140 per person. Unfortunately, this is the second time we’ve had to raise this fee since we initiated the charge. While we can’t predict what fuel prices will be next year, when Oasis launches, or even next month, for that matter, we can tell you we would never single out any one vessel for an added fuel charge—any supplement would be fleet-wide and would only be charged in response to high fuel prices.

Q4: We understand Aker is having financial problems, won’t that delay the delivery of Oasis?

A4: No. We have a strong 40-year partnership with Aker Yards and we are confident that the ship will be delivered to us on time.

ENVIRONMENT

Q1: What is the ship’s carbon footprint?

A1: We are proud of our company’s efforts to reduce its ships’ carbon footprint. There is no one single act driving our lower emissions. Rather, it is the cumulative effect of hundreds of small actions. As importantly, it is a mindset we bring to ship design and technology, specifically encompassing on Oasis:

• Fresh water management
• Optimized power plant
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Improved air-conditioning plant design
• Optimized pod propulsion
• Smoother ship bottom
• Optimized hull form and details

The result for Oasis is a 15 to 25 percent energy and carbon footprint improvement per guest compared to its predecessors. Our energy efficiency improves with each successive class.

Q2: What about the micro-climate you’re creating In Central Park? Isn’t that bad for the environment?

A2: Information to follow.

Q3. What efforts are underway to reduce waste on your ships?

A3. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. launched a comprehensive Save the Waves program in 1992 to reduce its impact on the environment. Specific to waste management, three key principles govern our actions:

• Reduce the creation or generation of waste material;
• Recycle and reuse as much as possible; and
• Ensure the proper disposal of any remaining waste.

Q4. How is our staff trained on the importance of the environment?

A4. Each ship is has an environmental officer to manage its environmental operations. These officers receive specialized training to oversee and verify all environmental systems, equipment, procedures and crew training. Crew members also receive instruction about their environmental responsibilities—within hours of their signing on our ships. On completion of their training, new crew members must sign a pledge to uphold these responsibilities. They also must be able to explain the concept behind our Save the Waves program to our guests.

Q5. What steps is Royal Caribbean taking fleet-wide to improve its energy efficiency?

A5. We are altering the speed of our ships while at sea – to gain the greatest fuel efficiency.

• We are installing new generators on some ships, which produce electricity more efficiently.
• We are turning off air conditioning in areas not being used.
• We are using special window tinting on our ships to keep interiors cooler and reduce the load placed on air conditioning systems.
• We are even using fewer lights and different types of bulbs (LEDs and compact fluorescent bulb technologies rather than halogens).

The above efforts have reduced our overall total fuel consumption from 2005 to 2007 by 5.4 percent for Royal Caribbean International and 6.6 percent for Celebrity Cruises on a per-passenger cruise-day basis.

Q6. What is your waste water purification system?

A6. For the last several years, we have also been working with wastewater-system manufacturers and environmental groups to develop new technologies that will purify blackwater and graywater to near drinking-water levels—an accomplishment few facilities on land have achieved. We are currently in the process of installing Advanced Wastewater Purification (AWP) systems on all our ships. This effort will be complete by 2010.

Q7. How do you dispose of special wastes?

A7. Some waste products generated on our ships must be handled with special care. These include used paints and thinners, medical waste, dry-cleaning fluids, aerosol cans, used butane lighters and old batteries. These wastes are never disposed of in rubbish containers, in the ships' sinks and drains, or in the ships' toilet systems.

Q8. What about solid waste?

A8. Modern equipment and strict enforcement of our regulations allow Royal Caribbean International ships to have a zero-discharge policy for solid wastes. We segregate and safely store all solid waste until it can be incinerated or taken to a suitable disposal site on land. Food waste is pulped and discharged in waters more than 12 nautical miles from land - a distance far exceeding international regulations. (When our AWP systems are installed and fully operational, food waste will be processed and incinerated.)

Q9. How can I learn more about your environmental programs?

A9. You can learn more about our environmental programs at www.royalcaribbean.com/environment.

SAFETY, SECURITY & HEALTH QUESTIONS

Q1. There was a story in the UK this week about large cruise ships being targeted by terrorists. Aren’t you worried that Oasis would make a very attractive target for terrorists?

A1: The story in the UK press referred to a web chat, which our partners in government determined was one of many such web discussions they see over time and that this particular chat lacked specificity or credibility. That said, we continue to work closely with our partners to monitor threats and respond, if necessary. About Oasis, as one of our advisors, a retired Vice Admiral of the Coast Guard, noted, "Safety was built in (to Oasis) before the first steel was cut." Thanks to a proactive approach inspired by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and a collaborative design process involving leading experts in the industry, Oasis will set new standards in many areas central to guests’ safety, including fire protection; ship stability, survivability, and maneuverability; evacuation; and life-saving. We were very pleased several weeks ago when the IMO’s Secretary-General said, "It gives me great pride that much of what makes her (Oasis) so iconic is founded on standards for safety, security and environmental protection that were forged here at IMO."

Q2. Oasis is huge—is it safe?

A2: Oasis was designed and built in advance of the highest safety standards being contemplated by the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ agency responsible for maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. Combining cutting-edge design and technology, it greatly advances shipboard systems providing fire protection; ship stability, survivability and maneuverability; machinery systems; evacuation and life-saving.

Several noteworthy features include:

• Dual machinery systems that power and drive the ship to provide a backup system if one fails.
• A dedicated Safety Center separate from the Bridge.
• Large, redesigned lifeboats or “rescue vessels that launch in one vertical movement, are more maneuverable, and are equipped with GPS, a public-address system, windows, stretcher locations, and toilets.
• Cutting-edge design and technology that ensure greater ship stability, recoverability from damage, and vessel maneuverability.

The ship’s safety features also represent the collective wisdom of a fully-engaged Maritime Safety Advisory Board, which we appointed in 2006 to specifically advise us on Oasis.

Q3. Given Oasis’ tremendous size, isn’t the ship clumsy and unwieldy?

A3. All Royal Caribbean ships have had much greater maneuverability since we introduced pod propulsion on our ships in 1999. Oasis takes that advantage one step further by having three steerable pods and four bow thrusters—a first for us and an innovation we’ll be looking at in future newbuilds. Extensive testing has validated Oasis’ superior maneuvering capability to us repeatedly.

Q4: How is security handled on your ships?

A4: Each ship has a security officer responsible for ship security. These officers oversee a team of trained security personnel who implement and enforce security procedures on our ships. Central to their work is the ship’s SeaPass security system, which assigns all guests and crew members a unique identification card. This card identifies them to the ship’s security through their digital photograph and biographical information. This data is routinely provided to government agencies so that they may actively screen manifests in furtherance of ships’ security. Any time a guest or crew member attempts to board or depart a ship, an automated system allows security personnel to verify the person’s identity and confirm their authority to board or depart the ship. This technology allows the ship to know which guests and crew members are onboard and which are not, at any given time.

In all cruise terminals our ships visit, our security includes screening procedures similar to those found at airports. This includes the use of metal detectors and x-ray machines for all guests, visitors and crew. During embarkation, proper government issued photo identification is verified. For most guests and embarkation points around the world, a valid passport and current visas are required.

Q5. What are the crime rates on board cruise ships?

A5. Last year, the cruise industry carried over 10 million guests and employed over 120,000 crew members. With this large number of guests, it is inevitable that criminal allegations will occur. In any situation where a crime is alleged, Royal Caribbean reports the allegation to the appropriate law enforcement agency and supports any investigation they may conduct. Some of these allegations result in prosecution, while others result in a finding that no crime occurred. Such decisions are made by a properly authorized, government law enforcement agency. Compared to shoreside crime rates, shipboard allegation rates are low. Despite this fact, Royal Caribbean works very hard to prevent security incidents.

Q6. Can you smoke onboard Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships?

A6. Guests are allowed to smoke in designated areas of the ship. All of our staterooms are non-smoking. However, guests are allowed to smoke on their balconies.

FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION

• All crew are trained in basic firefighting procedures. Crewmembers specifically assigned to the ship’s firefighting teams receive additional specialized training.
• The average response time for an emergency is within a matter of minutes - fire teams and trained emergency and medical crews are only a few hundred feet away from possible fires.
• The Cruise Lines International Association’s member line cruise ships have sufficient lifeboats and life rafts for everyone on board, plus additional capacity in reserve.
• At the beginning of each voyage, all cruise passengers go through a mandatory abandon-ship drill for familiarization in the event of an emergency.
• In 2001, members of the International Council of Cruise Lines (the predecessor of the Cruise Lines Industry Association) adopted mandatory safety standards for their cruise ships that exceed existing U.S. and international standards, which are integrated into its internationally mandated Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure compliance through internal audits and third party audits.
• Cruise ships comply with the IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention which is adopted by countries worldwide, including the United States. SOLAS governs the design, construction and operation of all ships.
• To ensure compliance with SOLAS and other safety requirements, the Coast Guard conducts quarterly inspections on all vessels embarking passengers at U.S. ports. The examinations focus on fire safety systems and life saving equipment and their safety and environmental protection items. Additionally, the Coast Guard witnesses fire and abandon ship drills to ensure crew proficiency.
• The U.S. Coast Guard verifies the adequacy of crew training through observation of drills, examination of documentation and interviews with officers and crew.

Q7. What about Norovirus, doesn’t that affect cruise ships regularly and what measures do you have in place to prevent it?

A7. Outbreaks of norovirus occasionally occur onboard cruise ships, just as it may in hospitals, daycare centers, nursing homes and schools. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the only illness that is more prevalent is the common cold. The main reason norovirus is often times associated with cruise ships is because of the higher sanitation and mandatory reporting requirements onboard cruise ships, which require that gastrointestinal illnesses be reported. On a cruise ship, those affected by the short-lived illness generally respond well to treatment provided onboard and the illness usually resolves itself in 24-48 hours.

Royal Caribbean International takes numerous proactive steps to prevent, control and eradicate norovirus onboard its ships. Some of these stepped-up procedures include:

• Implementing a two-stage illness prevention program. The program’s action plan outlines specific, heightened sanitation procedures for crew members – from the captain to housekeepers.
• Implementing enhanced cleaning procedures and protocols, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Using special cleaning products and disinfectants to clean throughout our ships.
• Conducting special cleaning of all “high-touch” areas on the ship, including, but not limited to, counter tops, rest-room and vanity surfaces, door handles, railings and grab bars, exercise equipment, TV remote controls, light switches, elevator buttons, and computer keyboards.