Royal Caribbean International An update on Anthem of the Seas

Posted on 02/18/2016

From the desk of

Michael Bayley President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International............................................................................................................................... , 

I want to give you an update and some additional information on Anthem of the Seas.

As many of you know, last week Anthem of the Seas encountered a storm that was dramatically stronger than all official weather forecasts. U.S. Coast Guard and other investigators have relayed information to us that our captain followed proper procedure in managing the ship in the storm. They praised him for making decisions that kept our guests and crew safe, kept the ship seaworthy and led to only four minor injuries in a ship with more than 6,000 people on board. The ship passed all safety inspections. All but a few minor repairs have been completed. Anthem is back at sea.

The severity of the storm far exceeded forecasts, but ultimately it is our responsibility to avoid these possibilities – and this event has provided us with an important learning opportunity. We can do better, and we will. I want to let all travel partners know the steps we are taking.

We've updated our storm avoidance policy and added additional resources at our headquarters to provide more data and guidance to support our captains. Senior marine executives and, when necessary, meteorologists will be involved in decisions about when, where and whether to sail when storms are forecast.

There are a handful of remaining minor issues that require attention including replacing outdoor ceiling paneling by the SeaPlex, repairing some balcony partitions and replacing broken furniture. North Star, RipCord by iFLY, FlowRider and other favorite experiences are fully operational.

To those of you with clients on upcoming sailings, rest assured that Anthem of the Seas is ready to deliver the Royal Caribbean experience that you expect from us. We value your partnership highly and sincerely thank you for your continued support and recommendation of Royal Caribbean vacations. 

Kind Regards,Michael Bayley President & CEO Royal Caribbean International