Royal Caribbean Cruises’ chairman Richard Fain discusses the cruise company’s return to service, the new detailed set of protocols and procedures post-Covid-19 and how he is confident they will come back strong.

In his latest video message to travel agent partners posted on the RCL Cares website, Fain said:

“We’re all anxious to get back to operation our cruises and returning but we will not do so until we are confident that we can do so properly with appropriate safeguards for our guests and our crew.

“To that end, we are working on a detailed set of protocols and procedures that can give us and your clients that level of confidence.

“I know that every day you are receiving messages from airlines, car companies, delivery services, car services, etc, telling you of their enhanced protocols to protect against Covid-19. Many of you have asked me why the cruise industry isn’t doing the same.

“After all, you say, the cruise industry has a history of much stronger hygiene requirements that any of these other industries. Why aren’t we touting our procedures now?

“The reason is simple. Unlike them, we aren’t operating today and therefore we have the luxury of time to develop and to refine our ideas. We have the time to put together a blue-ribbon group of experts to advise us and to help us chart the absolutely best course.

“So stay tuned. We will soon be talking more about our way forward and when we do, I believe, in fact I’m confident, that you will say that we have used our time wisely.

“It’s also interesting to see the differences in different places around the world. While we are just beginning to even consider opening our offices in Florida some time next month, our offices in China have been open and operating for almost two months.

“We are slowly beginning to operate our society here in America, but our friends in continental Europe have been seeing significant opening up for several weeks already.

“A lot depends on when the pandemic started in the different geographical areas but it also reflects the various demographics and the very different cultures in the places.”

The Royal Caribbean Cruises boss went on to say how he is confident that we as a society will come together and find practical solutions to defeat the pandemic, as highlighted by a recent travel agent session hosted by Royal Caribbean International’s SVP, Vicki Freed, which Fain attended.

“I was amazed to learn that 5,600 travel agents participated. Fifty-six hundred travel advisors took the time and the trouble to participate in the session to better prepare themselves for selling cruises. That speaks volumes about your determination to defeat this disease and to sell more cruises.

“With that kind of focus, I feel totally confident about our ability to come back strong.”

Visit rclcares.co.uk for more information.