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Filipinos are the largest nationality represented on the six
cruise lines that make up Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which employs 60,000
crew members on 41 ships around the world. Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will join humanitarian relief efforts in response to the
catastrophic damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the company
announced.
"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the storm," said Richard D. Fain,
chairman and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "More than
12,800 of our employees call the Philippines home. We want to do everything we
can to help them, their families, and their neighbors heal from this terrible
tragedy."
Since the storm, Royal Caribbean has taken steps to help crew members attempt to
communicate with relatives in the Philippines. Company executives also held a
special meeting Monday morning with more than 200 Filipino crew members aboard
Vision of the Seas, which was docked near the company's headquarters in Miami,
to let them know that more would be done, including matching contributions from
employees dollar-for-dollar. Contributions can be made online at
www.worldvision.org/royalcaribbean.
The company said its efforts to help the people of the Philippines would total
$1 million.
The cruise company will collaborate with its local manning agency, Philippine
Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC), to assess the storm's impact on crew members
and their families. The companies have deployed an emergency team to the
hardest-hit areas in the Philippines, and will establish a central
communications point where employees currently on Royal Caribbean International,
Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, CDF Croisieres de France,
and TUI Cruises ships, can ask for assistance in reaching their family members,
and where employees who are not currently on ship assignments can check in.
Royal Caribbean will be partnering with World Vision to provide broader
assistance to storm victims. World Vision, which has operated in the Philippines
since 1954, has deployed emergency relief teams across the country to provide
food, hygiene, and shelter kits, and to assess mid- and long-term needs.
Port Everglades, Florida-based Seafarers House, which offers refuge, resources,
renewal and respect to the maritime community through multi-faith service, will
be conducting religious services onboard several of Royal Caribbean's ships
while in port, so that crew members have a place to gather. Royal Caribbean is
reaching out to similar organizations that serve crew members in other ports of
call around the world.
Costa Crociere Group is also supporting the Filipino community working onboard
its fleet affected by the tragedy of the typhoon Haiyan.
The Costa Group is making a donation of 100,000 USD to help its Filipino
crewmembers, their families and their friends, according to a statement from the
cruise line.
Further support will come soon by Costa and Iberocruceros employees, who are
collecting funds to be donated.
A letter by Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere, is being sent to all
crewmembers onboard Costa and Ibero ships, coming from areas devastated by the
typhoon, to express the closeness of the entire company.
All ships are providing all the necessary support to Filipino crewmembers
onboard, including free Internet connection and free phone calls to contact
their families and friends at home. |
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