Posted on 03/02/2021 9:34:08 AM PST by Capt. Tom
Richard D. Fain delivered a video message today with the hope of a better future, and patience, as the end is not quite here yet. He also talked about no decision yet on vaccine requirements for guests.
The news of Odyssey of the Seas operating her maiden season in Israel was an incredibly positive step towards cruising resuming. However, the cruise line requires guests over 16 to be vaccinated onboard. News met with skepticism by avid cruisers, while others have been overjoyed by the prospect of being able to set sail.
That is just a small part of the larger message that Fain delivered, which was one of increasing positivity and looking forward to a better tomorrow.
It’s No Time For Dessert Just Yet Richard D. Fain is a man who likes his desserts, that much is clear after the Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group posted his video message to price a situation update.
In the video message, Mr. Fain announced the cruise company is going full steam ahead to a new chapter after celebrating a full year of virtually no cruises worldwide. It has been a year of frustration, disappointment, anger, and uncertainty. You can watch the full video message below:
However, work is being done to prepare the company and its vessels for a healthy return to service. Keep in mind that the period, until ships are sailing in any worthwhile numbers, will be the most frustrating one, according to Mr. Fain:
“Ironically, while we are now entering what should be the most positive phase of the process, it may also be one of the most frustrating phases. These are the most hopeful days we’ve had in a long time. But as we get closer to our goal, we inevitably also get more impatient to reach it. It’s like eating dinner.”
The message came with a word of warning though, while the situation looks promising now, it could very well end up badly again for the various cruise lines:
“This is the current trend and we need to be careful that we don’t screw it up as eager as I am to get to dessert, especially if it involves chocolate cake. I know I should eat my entree before I eat the cake.”
Why Did Royal Caribbean Go To Israel? Fain also went into detail about the choice of bringing Odyssey of the Seas to Israel. Companies have been favoring Spain and Italy in the last six months to cruise from. Costa, MSC, TUI, and others have all been sailing from these countries. Therefore Israel seems to be a strange choice.
According to Fain, the choice was clear. Israel currently has the highest number of vaccinations in the world. The country has also shown the vaccines have been 99% effective against anyone getting seriously ill.
The fact the company has chosen, together with the Israeli government, to sail only with Israeli guests who have been vaccinated has been an easy decision:
“This is a big deal. It will give us a new opportunity to demonstrate in a tangible way, how we can accomplish our goal of operating cruises in an appropriate and safe manner. The question is no longer when will cruising resume. It already has resumed. Odyssey of the Seas will be our fifth ship operating around the world and is very much a part of our ramp up.”
Does This Mean All Ships Will Require Vaccinations? Royal Caribbean has been operating ships for many months now. There have been ships sailing in Singapore and the Canary Islands without incidents whatsoever. It looks like the Odyssey of the Seas is more an isolated vessel than a benchmark for others.
Realistically speaking, there will be cases onboard ships, especially as we start seeing more and more ships sailing; this will inevitably happen. As Richard Fain states, as long as there are procedures in place, this will be minimized:
“I believe it’s possible to establish strong protocols to deal with those cases. When they arise, our goal is to isolate individual cases. So they don’t become an outbreak, which ruins the vacation of everyone else. Our isolation and contact tracing protocols will help isolate the few cases that do occur. Clearly, the experiences in Singapore, Germany, Italy, and the Canary Islands are demonstrating that safe and healthy cruising is possible.”
Will the cruise line be requiring vaccinations from all onboard?
“So this raises the question of whether we will require vaccines on all of our families. The answer is we don’t know yet. Clearly, widespread vaccinations are the fastest and the best way to get this disease under control. Whether we will require vaccines of all of our guests on all of our ships, hasn’t been decided yet, but we are prepared to go where the science leads us.”
COVID-19 Vaccine Positivity Rules While we aren’t there yet, the positivity in Mr. Fain’s message is something that we haven’t seen much in the last year from any CEO from any major cruise line. Could it be that we are on the way back? It is certainly starting to look like it.
Countries are re-opening, Cruises are sailing, vaccination programs are running, and soon we will see Odyssey of the Seas, sailing in Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. While Odysseus was the victor in Greek mythology, maybe Odyssey will be the victor in the fight to restart cruising.
What are there so many posts regarding cruise lines here on FreeRepublic? Just asking.
Ha, 90% of FR is over 65!
Retirees spending their days in leisure...
If you have to ask, you might be in the wrong place !!
Only kidding. Welcome to FR.
Retirees spending their days in leisure...
—
or quarantine or lockdown.
Some like water, some like mountains ..
I like key lime pie and beef wellington myself..
never get it served at home the way I do on a cruise liner.
To each their own.. Don’t want to miss a meal.
I’ll get my shot(s) long before I get aboard.
The only way I am going on a cruise is if my corpse is dumped on board...
;-)
A lot of us Freepers like to go on cruises.
Watching how the cruise lines respond to politicians and the different health agencies worldwide is like watching the WHOOPS FIASCO unfolding again but in slow motion.
(WHOOPS) is the Washington/Oregon nuclear power plant fiasco that happened years ago.)
It also gives the "petri dish" and "anti vaxers" a chance to weigh in. -Tom
Thanks Tom.
FWIW - I came down with Covid after a Cruise to Mexico in January ‘20. I was in hospital for 12 days. I’ve had 1x Pfizer Covid vaccine shot and am not getting the second. I intend to go on a cruise to Mexico ASAP using the same cruise line from the same port.
There, that should cover most of the non-Cruising naysayer’s objections.
I live on the most beautiful beaches in the world here on the Emerald Coadt, FL
Why would I want to wait in line with thousands of smelly tourists just to go sit on a beach somewhete? lol
Hate hate hate standing in lines. Thats just me.
Royal Caribbean can kiss my $$$$ goodbye
Capt. Tom wrote: “IMHO the cruises operating out of USA ports are realizing the requirement of everybody being vaccinated is going to reduce the number of passengers, and ROYAL Caribbean is laying the groundwork to avoid this protocol in the USA.”
The choice for USA cruises will be vaccination or CV19 protocols such as masking, social distancing, reduced capacity, etc,. I’m thinking the cruise line will realize that there are fewer objections to vaccination than wearing a mask. Wife and I have been on eight cruises. We will not go on another if we’re required to wear a mask.
The cruise business is in a fight for survival. They can’t afford to have Covid outbreaks on ships again. They will do whatever it takes to avoid bankruptcy.
To be competitive, one cruise ship line should offer proof of use of prophylactic Ivermectin or hydrochloroquine (with D and zinc) during cruise as an alternative to the vaccine.
If there was an outbreak of Covid during the cruise, you could even gather evidence of which approach was more effective.
The RC CEO Fain has been an outspoken cheerleader for cruising will begin shortly; for over a year now.
His recent statements indication he is toning that down a bit.
I understand when you have gone from BILLIONS in the bank to borrowing BILLION$, and now being in debt, you have to keep creditors, and potential customers optimistic about the outcome. -Tom
If seriously ill onboard the ship would usually disembark you at the next port. Not possible last year due to the surprise nature of the illness, but my guess the lines will have agreements with each port of call covering that possibility.
Slightly OT but I think that if there are test cruises, the passengers should be limited to only those who already have reservations for a future cruise. I had a reservation for a cruise last December which was cancelled and then I rescheduled for a Jan. 2022 cruise. Therefore I think it is only fair that such test cruises be limited only to those passengers who have “skin in the game.”
Thy might also offer the test cruises to the travel agents who have booked plenty of cruise customers for them. -Tom
The vacation industry may be surprised when they eventually learn they are missed about s much as the NFL. :)
“The cruise business is in a fight for survival. They can’t afford to have Covid outbreaks on ships again. They will do whatever it takes to avoid bankruptcy.”
It looks like DR.Fauci wants to keep kicking their asses down the road to bankruptcy. See ongoing recent Freeper thread below.- Tom
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3939201/posts
“I’m thinking the cruise line will realize that there are fewer objections to vaccination than wearing a mask.”
I think you’re right. However, I wouldn’t do either. MAYBE the vaccine after they’ve been around a couple years, and are tried and true.
“Wife and I have been on eight cruises. We will not go on another if we’re required to wear a mask.”
DH and I have been on many — 12, I think — and we love cruising. We would not consider cruising if masks are required.
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