The boss of Royal Caribbean Cruises has dismissed as “balderdash” suggestions that agents will not be as important to lines as the coronavirus crisis ends.
Chairman and chief executive Richard Fain was speaking in the latest of a series video messages to the trade filmed while in lockdown during the cruise industry shutdown.
He emphasised that all cruise lines were protecting commissions to support travel agents.
Fain highlighted the company’s RCL Cares initiative as an example of the backing to the trade, by providing guidance and support to almost 7,000 agencies.
He urged agents to continue to provide support and expertise to clients.
But Fain said: “I’ve heard some advisors express concern that cruise lines may view them as less necessary in a post-Covid world.
“Balderdash. As we recover from this pandemic, your support, your relationships, your ability to in form the public will be critical to our future.
More: Webcast: ‘RCL Cares hub is here to stay’
Royal Caribbean brands club together to support trade
“So please continue to nurture those relationships and continue to hold us accountable for supporting you during these weird times.”
He said: “Looking forward to re-starting, health and safety are absolutely paramount. As I’ve said before, what was fine just a few weeks ago is no longer adequate.
“Good enough just isn’t good enough.
Fain stressed: “We need to raise the bar to new heights and we have teams of doctors and scientists and epidemiologists and teams of people who know our business all looking hard and charting the safest and sure path forward that we can.”
And he concluded: “We’re in this together and together we will make it through to the other side. The world may be different when this is behind us but some things never change.
“The most important of those is the power of friendship and of relationships. So let’s get there safely and let’s get there together.
“Let’s go on to better times from there.”
