Hope Floats

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many of us in different ways, cruise companies are definitely feeling it pretty badly. If all goes to plan, Royal Caribbean will ideally start sailing some time in May, with their ships having been out of service for around 60 days. While we’re here sheltered in place on land, the crews of these ships are doing the very same.

One of the captains started a tradition, where at 7:30pm every night ships that were positioned close to one another would sound their horn as a sign that everyone was safe. It became a “Sunset Salute” of sorts. I think its a beautiful display of solidarity among the crews of different companies, in how they’re all in this together and hanging in there until the brighter days, and wishing the same for everyone.

I love this. Enjoy.

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On March 20th we started something special. With ships from different companies congregating in the same "neighborhood" it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate our solidarity. As a sign that we're all in this and we'll get through it together, we invite all ships, (currently with over 250,000 crew members onboard around the globe), to join in a horn salute at 7:30 every evening going forward. We sound our horns, to let our crew and the world know that while we are strong, safe, and healthy on board, we are thinking of those at home and hoping the same for them. Until our safe returns to our home ports, we wish them fair winds and following seas. You can follow the nightly salute at #HopeFloats . ⚓🔊💙🙏#wewillbeback #strongertogether @cliaglobal @celebritycruises @celebrityedge @royalcaribbean @azamaravoyages @meinschiffofficial @halcruises @carnival @princesscruises @msccruisesofficial @pocruises @norwegiancruiseline @maersk_official @cunardline @seabourncruise @aida_cruises @coscoshippinglinesnvrsk @cmacgm @ocean_network_express @hapaglloydag @hapaglloydcruises @evergreen_ships_official @hyundai_worldwide . 🚢Thanks to the following ships for helping to start the movement! #celebrityedge @celebrityreflection #navigatoroftheseas #symphonyoftheseas #harmonyoftheseas #oasisoftheseas #anthemoftheseas #marineroftheseas #zuiderdam #veendam #volendam #nieuwstatendam #nieuwamsterdam 🤜Thank you to our awesome Broadcast Team for this video: Bonnie, AJ, Maciej & @cruisedirectorsimon 🎬💙🎥 #lifeintheSeaSuite #seastheday #life #sea #cruise #sail #captain #beyondborders #wonderawaits #celebritycruises

A post shared by Captain Kate McCue (@captainkatemccue) on Mar 25, 2020 at 11:22am PDT

I did want to give credit where credit is due - I first saw this on Royal Caribbean Blog, and I loved the idea so I wanted to share it here. Be sure to check out the post over there, as Matt does go into more detail about the video and the story behind it.