Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain has revealed that the cruise line will restart “slowly and methodically”, assuring that “we’re closer to the other side of this crisis every day”.

The big boss was talking to travel agents on a webcast on online trade hub RCL Cares, detailing some of Royal Caribbean’s plans for restart and assuring agents of the new health and safety procedures that will be on board.

Talking on the webcast, Fain revealed that Royal Caribbean will learn from a “small sample” of cruise lines that have restarted operations.

The RCG boss addressed lines such as Tui Cruises, who has been operating since late July, and MSC Cruises, who recently restarted operations in Italy. He praised the positive publicity around the restarts.

Fain also mentioned Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises, addressing that they are also due to restart there in “just a few weeks”.

Fain added: “While these are still only a small sample, we’ve always said we will learn from these early efforts.”

The boss then went onto introduce Royal Caribbean’s new expert Dr Calvin Johnson, who has been appointed head of public health and chief medical officer for the group.

Responding to Fain asking why he applied for the job, Johnson said: “I saw the opportunity to apply my skills in a really meaningful and substantive way during probably the most significant health crisis in our time.

“It is the nature of the work. It is the opportunity to serve 75,000 crew and to protect their health and to serve four to six million guests a year and to protect their health. I am all focusing on protection of health.”

Royal Caribbean Group has six cruise brands under its umbrella and currently employs 65,000 people from over 12o countries.

Brand include Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara.