As the health situation related to COVID-19 continues to improve across the U.S., Royal Caribbean International started to relax mask restrictions for its crew. Crew Center received a message from a crew member saying that masks are now optional for the crew in the crew areas. The crew member said that the loosening of the mask requirements in the crew areas is now implemented aboard Ovation of the Seas. He added that the new policy might be also implemented aboard the Voyager of the Seas, however, we are still waiting for confirmation about this vessel. Crew members are still required to wear masks while on duty and in the guests areas.

This is great news for the Royal Caribbean crew and a sign of relief, due to the fact that they were required to wear masks on duty as well as off duty, for the past two years.

Related to the easing of the crew mask policy Celebrity Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean Group, has rolled out a pilot program on two of its ships to test the masks-free policy on selected crew. The company said that nonguest facing crew will be mask free for a duration of two weeks, and if the results are promising this will lead to even more relaxed protocols across the fleet. 

The pilot program started on the Celebrity Reflection on August 26, and Celebrity Infinity on August 20, allowing nonguest facing crew to be mask free for two weeks.

Celebrity Cruises said that wearing masks onboard is not always pleasant and has been a challenge for the last year. Therefore the company will start a pilot program on the Celebrity Reflection on August 26, and Celebrity Infinity on August 20, which will allow the nonguest facing crew to be mask free for two weeks.