Viking appoints former US Navy Vice Admiral as chief health officer

Viking appoints former US Navy Vice Admiral as chief health officer

Viking has announced the appointment of Dr Raquel Bono as the cruise line’s chief health officer.

A board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps, Dr Bono most recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As principal at RCB Consulting, she partnered with Viking earlier this year to help develop and define new protocol enhancements.

In her new role as chief health officer, Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said Dr Bono will be instrumental in the cruise line’s restart of operations, with a focus on public health.

“Dr Bono brings valuable perspective informed by an extraordinary career that has included decorated military service, trauma surgery and health care administration,” Hagen said.

‘Additionally, her work as the head of Washington State’s COVID-19 healthcare response team makes her uniquely qualified to be our chief health officer as we finalise plans for operating cruises safely.

“We are proud to officially welcome Dr Bono to the Viking family, and we will soon be sharing more details about the Viking Health & Safety Program, which we believe is one of the most well-researched and comprehensive COVID-19 prevention and mitigation plans in the travel industry.”

Commenting on her appointment, Dr Bono said: “I am delighted to join the Viking family and am proud of the significant work we have already done together.

“I look forward to continuing to create the safest environment possible for Viking’s guests and crew members, while also contributing to the collective public health efforts to address COVID-19.”

Dr Bono’s appointment follows the news of Viking becoming the first cruise line to complete the installation of a full-scale polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing laboratory at sea.

The laboratory on board Viking Star has enough capacity for up to daily testing of every crew member and guest, which provides flexibility to respond to COVID-19 prevalence levels around the world.

In the coming months, Viking will complete the installation of PCR laboratories on the remainder of its ocean ships, and will also have a network of shoreside laboratories for its river ships.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]