New video from Richard Fain (090720)

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, kptbylorraine said:

But they are still taking reservations for November. ?

Taking bookings on sailings that are unlikely to happen has been happening since March.

[Biker19]

 

[Biker19]

Not a video but the gist of a webinar:

 

[quote]

 

Richard Fain said COVID-19 on the first Caribbean cruise since the pandemic shutdown seems to be handled well and that the industry can learn from this.

 

'We can't eliminate COVID in society ... The objective is to prevent outbreaks ... to make the risk of COVID less than it is in your hometown,' the Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO said Thursday as the SeaDream Yacht Club story was getting heavy media play.

Speaking during a Signature Travel Network webinar, Fain noted travelers aren't just concerned about getting the virus but about getting trapped on a cruise ship should anyone become infected.

 

Learning from months of operations

SeaDream has strict protocols and had been sailing in Europe since June, Fain said, adding that from what he's seen of the situation, it's been handled well. (At the time of his remarks, just one case had been confirmed; that subsequently went to five).

Also, several other lines' experiences from months of cruises in Europe shows that it is possible to contain coronavirus on a ship.

 

'So I would look at the few instances we've had of cases as success stories,' Fain said. 'We are able to deal with these things, isolated cases, in an isolated way. That's the objective.'

He considers the SeaDream matter an opportunity to learn 'and make us so much better as an industry.'

'Isolated incidences handled well are proof the system works'

'The coincidence of it being the first Caribbean cruise and the coincidence of having press on board notwithstanding, isolated incidences which are handled well are proof that the system works — not that there's a problem,' Fain said.

 

Impact of Biden's election

Turning to another timely matter, Signature Travel Network's Alex Sharpe asked if Joe Biden's election will have any impact on cruising?

 

'None whatsover,' Fain said without missing a beat.

Science, he continued, is going to decide the next steps, and the Healthy Sail Panel took a scientific and pragmatic approach in making its recommendations.

'I'm confident the decisions are going to be driven by science. I think the science is on our side. The environment of a cruise gives us opportunities to do things you can't do on land.'

Fain went on to note all the learnings from scientists and from the cruises in Europe and the Caribbean and elsewhere will result in protocols that 'reduce the chance of you getting COVID on your ship to dramatically less than it would be in your home community' while also ensuring that if there's a case or cases, they won't balloon into an outbreak.

 

CDC surprises?

Some have remarked on the complexity of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's framework for conditional sailing order. Sharpe asked if there were any surprises?

 

'Of course there were,' Fain said. '... Yes, we have work to do. Yes, there are some things we want to work with the CDC to understand better or, in some cases, to change because there are different facts.'

But there's a common goal: 'To get us safely back in the water.'

According to Fain, CDC requirements have 'always been very strict. In the long run, that benefits us. Our industry is not going to do well if people are worried about illness on ships.'

 

Speed of advances

Meanwhile, the speed of advances — vaccines, technologies and therapeutics — is 'mind-boggling.' So CDC will want to make changes as information and technology change.

This week's news of the Pfizer vaccine's effectiveness is 'potentially transformational,' along with hearing from Dr. Anthony Fauci that the vaccine may become available to anyone who wants it by the end of April.

 

Sharpe suggested cruise lines are characteristically shooting higher and aiming to deliver better than other sectors.

 

'We've always been safer,' Fain agreed, adding he gets a kick out of other businesses talking about they're now cleaning surfaces in a manner that 'Ten years ago we would have thought was inadequate on our ships.'

[Pratique]

He is right about the sanitizing. And some of the supermarkets near me have already given up trying to sanitize the carts. It's like they couldn't be bothered with it. Here's a wipe, do it yourself.

[DaniDanielle]

I have been cleaning  my carts from the start of all this.  I think I should get a prize for cleanest one😷

[Biker19]

 

[ipeeinthepool]

I listened to the entire video and it's clear, Richard Fain is getting soft.  Do you really need an electric blanket in Southern Florida?  Even turning it up to level 9?  Fain should spend a winter in Michigan to understand why electric blankets were invented.

[Biker19]

 

 

Edited December 3, 2020 by Biker19

[Coralc]

That looks a lot more like it might be his real backyard. 

[Biker19]

 

[smokeybandit]

If you want to hear him actually talk about the return to cruising, don't waste your time as he doesn't discuss it at all.

[Biker19]

 

[Biker19]

^ what ship is he talking about operating in the middle east?

[smokeybandit]

There's about 5 seconds of any value in the entire video

 

"When will we cruise again? I don't know"

[Coralc]

Same trees + a gardener walking through early on. I kind of like looking at the backgrounds. 

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, Coralc said:

I kind of like looking at the backgrounds.

Because that's more interesting/valuable than anything he has to say?

[Coralc]

Kind of, sort of. I get bored listening to him go on without any real new information. But thanks for posting the new video., 

I like to look at the tropical plants! 

Edited February 3, 2021 by Coralc

[Biker19]

 

[A&L_Ont]

I’d like to see the gardener stop and trim his hair.  At minimum the sideburns.🙂

[Jimbo]

11 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

I’d like to see the gardener stop and trim his hair.  At minimum the sideburns.🙂

Possibly not his pay grade.

[coffeebean]

On 11/14/2020 at 9:27 AM, Pratique said:

He is right about the sanitizing. And some of the supermarkets near me have already given up trying to sanitize the carts. It's like they couldn't be bothered with it. Here's a wipe, do it yourself.

Our Publix still sanitizes the carts. They also blow dry the carts when it is raining out.

Publix.....where shopping is a pleasure!

[Biker19]

 

 

Edited March 22, 2021 by Biker19

[A&L_Ont]

Still rocking the flow.

[Biker19]

Royal Caribbean Group CEO gives new update on cruises resuming - YouTube

[boscobeans]

23 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Royal Caribbean Group CEO gives new update on cruises resuming - YouTube

Looks like he is shooting straight and is being as transparent as possible. 

 

Just hope places like Jersey decide to look at the reality of all the past cruises and decide to open up the ports.  Getting the FCC-cancellation Blues.

 

After Pam and I get to November my laptop and her injecting hand will be about ready to get on the ANTHEM on the 7th.

Hopefully by then the Bahamas may be less restrictive.. 

 

Only 7 days in 8234,  but with no computer, phone or vaccination lines it will be just what the doctor ordered to hold us over till a Caribbean cruise in January..  LOL

Edited April 14, 2021 by boscobeans