Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain has called the big bump in the road that is the recent Delta merger into United Airlines , a “disaster” for American travelers . That is because the new combined airline will have just one hub, meaning United flights to vacation destinations will be “more crowded” and “more expensive.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. CEO Michael Bayley called a decision by Delta Air Lines to cease flying the 747-400 in the U.S. an “unfortunate” move that would be a “big bump in the road.” In a March 25 letter, Bayley told Delta CEO Richard Anderson that the move would “impair [Delta’s] ability to reach your customers.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises, which just released its 2019 cruise ship schedule, is looking to recycle its older ships, the Anthem of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas, according to CEO Richard Fain. “The Oasis of the Seas has been a terrific success,” Fain said. “We are looking at the Anthem of the Seas, which has been a really terrific success, and potentially recycling it.”
The COVID-19 Delta variety has put a kink in the cruise industry’s recovery, but Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain believes it hasn’t altered the disease’s “final trajectory.”
In his most recent video update to travel advisers, Fain stated, “It was just a few weeks ago that we all believed the virus was getting under control and life was gradually returning to normal.” “Unfortunately, the Delta version threw all of our preparations into disarray.”
According to Fain, the highly infectious variety has triggered a new wave of sickness, even breaking past vaccine barriers and generating breakthrough cases. He admits that the issue is affecting people’s willingness to schedule a cruise trip.
“We are not at all where we had hoped to be.”
The Freedom of the Seas docked at CocoCay’s Perfect Day (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)
“It has harmed our reservations, particularly for the remainder of this year and the beginning of next. We are not at all where we had wanted to be. After taking two leaps ahead, we’ve gone one step back. Fortunately, further progress is on the way,” Fain added.
Despite the Delta setback, Fain remains confident in the overall trajectory.
READ: What Cruise Ships are Currently Sailing in the United States?
“Cases are increasing, but they will soon reach a peak. Hospitalizations and deaths are increasing, although to a considerably smaller extent (than last winter’s high), and mainly among individuals who have chosen to reject the vaccination on their own.
“Cruises are running… and future reservations indicate that there is a lot of demand. Overall, that’s exactly the pre-Delta trajectory we planned for, and it seems to be on track to continue soon.”
‘Whatever it takes to keep COVID at bay, we must all do our part.’
Odyssey of the Seas is a ship that sails around the world (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)
The cruise operator, who was recently recognized with the American Society of Travel Advisors’ Lifetime Achievement Award, made an impassioned appeal for Americans to be vaccinated.
“We all need to get vaccinated in order to bring our lives back to normal. We must all do our part to keep COVID at bay by getting the vaccination. Not for ourselves, but for the sake of our loved ones, friends, and, yes, our country.”
COVID-19, which Fain describes as a “strong and determined adversary,” may still be defeated, according to Fain, since “Americans can accomplish great things when they work together.”
13 of Royal Caribbean’s 24 ships are already in the water.
“We are a nation that values tough individuality. However, despite our individuality, there are moments when we must do what is best for everyone, rather than simply what seems to be best for myself. Sometimes we have to give up part of our uniqueness in order to watch out for one another.”
Fain listed a number of good events that he thinks will lead to the COVID virus’s eventual defeat.
“The FDA has now granted the vaccine its final, formal clearance. Vaccines will be accessible to children as young as five years old in a few months. More than half of our fleet is now operational, and more ships are being added on a daily basis.”
“My goal is that by working together and getting immunized, we can hasten that final triumph. But, in the end, we’ll be able to fight this infection. The Delta variation is a significant stumbling block, but the overall route is clear.”
You have to hand it to Delta. This airline has been trying to innovate the industry, from the new SkyTeam members they’ve added to their fleet to the new technology they’ve installed. Now, they’ve gone and started using the Airbus A350 to fly their “Delta One” first class passengers.. Read more about has royal caribbean started test cruises and let us know what you think.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- richard d. fain house
- richard fain
- richard fain net worth
- richard d. fain
- richard fain house
