15 Royal Caribbean crew on Navigator of the Seas stage hunger strike until repatriation

   May 11, 2020 ,   Accidents

A group of 15 crew on RCI-Royal Caribbean’s cruise liner Navigator of the Seas staged a hunger strike until RCI confirmed they would be repatriated. Navigator OTS' crew has been stuck at sea for ~2 months after the global COVID-19 pandemic started, stranding thousands on ships worldwide.

The 15 Romanian crew on Navigator OTS began fasting Thursday afternoon, May 7, frustrated they had been stuck at sea for weeks. According to RCI's spokesperson Jonathon Fishman, the situation had been resolved Friday morning after the protestors had an “amicable discussion” with the ship's Master (Captain Mal Bardsnes). The objecting crew, however, said they would continue striking until the shipowner RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises verified they would be returning home soon.

On Monday morning, RCI announced it was in the process of repatriating crew currently on Navigator OTS, and that the Romanians are scheduled to fly home from Bridgetown Barbados later in May.

Navigator OTS is currently en-route from PortMiami Florida to CocoCay Bahamas.

For other Navigator of the Seas accidents and incidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.