Celebrity Edge, the largest cruise ship with more than 150 passengers embarked from the United States on June 26. Richard Fain, CEO and founder of Royal Caribbean Group was present at the cruise departing from Port Everglades. He spoke with Johanna Jainchill, news editor, about the history of the industry.Richard FainQ: What was your strategy to overcome the lack of communication with CDC?A: Communication was possible. There was a lot of paperwork and a lot of details. There was no dialogue. It was a one-way communication. It was a one-way communication. One is our overseas experience. The CDC could not ignore the data that we had. It caused so much suffering for so many people whose livelihoods depended upon cruising. They couldn't ignore the pain and suffering caused by closing down an entire industry. There was new leadership. As the vaccines were available and our capabilities with testing and contact trace became better than any on land, it was apparent that cruise ships were not a disadvantage.Q: Do you think the global regulatory environment is more opaque than it used to be? What is the reason?A: Everyone is trying to do it right. There is no one right answer. There are many regulations that can be combined to provide the best solution. You could say that I would rather concentrate on the vaccine. You may also say that I would rather concentrate on the testing. Neither of us are wrong. It's just slightly different. Certain areas are more likely to have a higher rate of occurrence than others, so you need to be extra cautious. Certain areas have higher rates of vaccination and may need to be more cautious. This does not mean that one group is more careful or harder to get vaccinated than another. There are many ways to care for a cat. It can be confusing when you have to follow the rules of 50 different jurisdictions.Q: Yes, just like on the cruise, we can roam free in Costa Maya's parts, but not in Cozumel or in the Bahamas. Is it hard to explain to guests why this is?A: We don’t attempt to communicate "why", as that would be usurping government power. They have come to this conclusion partly because of the high prevalence of vaccines in Mexico. We have our own requirements, regardless of what Mexico requires. We will not allow anyone who isn't vaccinated to join curated tours, regardless of what the country requires.Q: This ship has no unvaccinated passengers. It seems that your strategy of trying discourage people who are not vaccinated from cruising works.A: We want everyone to feel safe. That is why we have established protocols. It is much easier for those who have been vaccinated. The vaccination is both good for the individual as well as for society. We will also accommodate those who do not want to get vaccinated in Florida. We must, however, put in place protocols to protect others.Q: Do you expect the majority of your brands' fleets will be launched by the end of this year? Some markets will take longer.A: Some countries have taken a slower approach than others, from either our perspective or theirs. New Zealand and Australia are examples of this. Canada took longer to get the vaccines out. There will be some exceptions. We expect the majority of our fleet to return before the end the year. Some ships will not follow the same route as before.Q: Your videos of the pandemic were loved by the travel advisor community. They were truly unique. How did it all start?A: Royal sent me a portable film kit. It was a hit with everyone. So I kept going. It was done at home, and Colleen (my wife) was the camera operator. Travel agents gave me a lot of helpful advice. It was very helpful to me. While the videos are quick to make, the preparation can take a while. What do you have to say? What are you trying communicate? It gave me a feeling of belonging to the travel advisors which made me feel good. It was likely more for me than it was for them.
