Royal Caribbean Group is presenting the results of an independent study on the transmission of aerosol particles through a cruise ship's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Royal Caribbean Group commissioned the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the National Safety Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, with support from the Healthy Sail Panel—a group of globally recognized experts convened by Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.—to guide the cruise industry's response to COVID-19. The study, conducted by UNMC and NSRI scientists in July 2020 aboard the Oasis of the Seas, helped inform the Healthy Sail Panel's 74 detailed best practices for safeguarding the health of guests, crew, and the communities that cruise ships visit. The Healthy Sail Panel's recommendations are compiled in a report released last September in response to a public comment request from the CDC.
A team of five medical scientists specializing in bioaerosols, led by Josh Santarpia—associate professor of pathology and microbiology at UNMC and director of research for the chemical and biological programs at NSRI—set out to understand in detail the role of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the spread of airborne particles on cruise ships. The study specifically explored the effectiveness and efficiency of ship air management strategies—ventilation, filtration, and supply—and examined airflow in different areas of the ship, including guest cabins, crew quarters, lounges, and other public spaces.
Royal Caribbean Group, a leader in modern cruise ship design, has long been at the forefront of the latest industry innovations and advancements. As such, its existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were built to be robust and efficient, providing maximum ventilation, continuous fresh air intake, and layers of filtration for both incoming and outgoing air. Based on the findings of the UNMC study and at the recommendation of the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group is adopting new practices, incorporating additional layers of protection to further minimize the potential for transmission, adjusting the ship's configuration to allow for maximum air changes per hour, and upgrading to MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 13 filters throughout the system. In addition, Royal Caribbean Group has already equipped its medical facilities with a separate ventilation system and added HEPA filters as an extra precaution.
Royal Caribbean Group is implementing the recommendations of its Healthy Sailing Panel, comprised of scientific and public health experts, to provide safer and healthier cruise vacations on all its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions, and port of call authorizations are subject to change based on ongoing assessment, public health guidelines, and government requirements.
