Richard Fain, Chief Executive of Royal Caribbean Group recently spoke to the trade in a series of video messages stating the pact of activity towards a restart of US cruising has “heated up”.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been put under increasing pressure from politicians in Florida and Alaska that rely on the cruise industry for income and jobs.
He added: “We all share a common goal, a return to a healthy cruise vacation for all Americans.”
With the vaccine rollout underway in the US, at least 45% of Americans have received their first dose.
In other parts of the world, the company resumed operations occurring in only ten positive cases of Covid-19 on board, each of which had been handled with no outbreaks or disruptions to other guests.
Finally, knowledge of the virus and how to contain it has grown, in particular with extensive testing available it helps catch the virus early and prevents spreading. On board contract tracing can be done with extreme precision undreamed of on land.
These three key aspects enable the cruise liner to reduce the risk on board.
Addressing “new and tougher” restrictions imposed last week by the CDC on cruising from US ports, while indicating that a restart could be possible as early as July, Fain said: “We are eager to work with them towards that goal.”
“My fondest desire is that we can follow president Biden’s target of July 4 as a major reopening milestone. The evidence is that we can do it. Now is our opportunity to work together towards that common goal.”
