Richard Fain News

Royal Caribbean Group's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Fain, is stepping down after more than three decades with the U.S. cruise operator that is still recovering from the slump caused by the coronavirus crisis.Finance chief Jason Liberty will takeover as CEO, Royal Caribbean said on Tuesday, and will be tasked with taking the company back to pre-pandemic levels as sailing operations slowly restart more than a year after operations were suspended.Fain was one of the key leaders…

Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku on Monday commenced production of Royal Caribbean International's next cruise ship Icon of the Seas. The start of production and the revealing of the ship’s name were celebrated at the shipyard's plate hall, where Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer, Chairman of the Board of Meyer Turku , Bernard Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Richard Fain, and Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President of Maritime & Newbuilds, were present. CEO and president of Royal Caribbean International…

Royal Caribbean Group said on Thursday it was aiming to restart its U.S. cruises in July after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new measures to speed up approvals, sending its shares up 2.5%.Late on Wednesday, the CDC made public a letter to the cruise industry that said it was “committed” to the resumption of passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer.It followed a lawsuit from Alaska and Florida that sought to overturn the health…

Royal Caribbean Group said on Monday it was seeing an uptick in future bookings, following a disastrous year for the cruise operator, as travel enthusiasts look to sail again at a time governments globally have started mass vaccinations.The company’s shares, down 44% last year, soared 9% in morning trading, as Royal Caribbean said it recorded a 30% increase in new bookings since the beginning of the year when compared to November and December.Analysts have also tipped Royal Caribbean…

Royal Caribbean Group has hired Dr. Calvin Johnson as Global Head, Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, a new role created to lead the cruise line operator's global health and wellness policy, manage its public health and clinical practice and determine the strategic plans and operations of its global healthcare organization.Johnson will also collaborate with the Healthy Sail Panel assembled in response to COVID-19, to ensure the company establishes and implements its protocols and recommendations.Dr.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd forecast a loss in the second quarter on Wednesday as the cruise operator struggles with mounting debt amid trip cancellations due to travel curbs imposed to check the spread of the coronavirus.The company, which posted a bigger-than-expected loss in the first quarter, has faced the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic as major outbreaks in cruises were blamed for spreading the disease.In the past few months, Royal Caribbean has borrowed more than $5 billion, some by pledging its ships, and now expects to pay between $590 million and $610 million in interests for the rest

Arne Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. died Saturday, April 11, 2020, in Palma, Spain. He was 90.In a company statement on Sunday, Royal Caribbean Cruises called Wilhelmsen a "a constant influence on the company from its founding, serving more than three decades on the company's board of directors."Together with the company's first CEO, the late Edwin Stephan, Wilhelmsen saw possibilities for the nascent cruise industry that others did not, Royal Caribbean Cruises said."At a time when the rest of the world thought cruising was a niche use for old transatlantic liners…

The plight of the cruise ship off Japan with more than 200 coronavirus infections and the shunning of another by five ports despite no known cases has led to a sharp change in tack for an industry in shock: avoid Asia.To that end, many cruises in the region are being cancelled while others currently sailing are being re-routed, skipping originally scheduled stops in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd on Thursday canceled 18 cruises in Southeast Asia after calling off eight trips to China last week.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL.N) said on Thursday it would buy a 66.7 percent stake in privately owned Silversea Cruises for about $1 billion to add ultra-luxury and expedition cruises to its fleet.Silversea Cruises, which has nine ships, sails to destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland, with most of its tickets selling for more than $5,000.In contrast, the most expensive cruises run by Royal Caribbean under its Azamara Club Cruises brand cost around $3…

Richard Fain, the chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO of Celebrity Cruises—one of three brands in the Royal Caribbean family—announced a new category of ship that, among other transformational design moves, brings stateroom balconies indoors. Designed completely in 3-D, and featuring the work of A-list global architects and designers, the 2,918-guest Celebrity Edge aims to make discerning global travelers redefine how they experience the world and how intimate a vacation can be. “Celebrity Edge is one of the most exciting, innovative and transformational ships I have ever been involved with,” said Richard D. Fain.

Miami-based cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Meyer Turku shipyard signed a memorandum of agreement for two next generation cruise ship orders to be delivered in 2022 and 2024. The around 200,000 gross ton large cruise ships under the project name “Icon” will mark the beginning of a new generation of LNG powered cruise ships with a number of innovations such as an application of fuel cells for power generation. Fuel cells are a very energy efficient and clean way to generate electrical energy. “With Icon class, we begin the journey to take the smoke out of our smokestacks", said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

The world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas – which cost US$1 billion to build over 32 months – has been finished and was delivered to owner Royal Caribbean International. The immense floating town has 18 decks and will be able to carry 6,360 passengers and 2,100 crew members. At 66 metres (217 feet), it is the widest cruise ship ever built, while its 362-metre length makes it 50 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. Barcelona will be Harmony's home port for the next few months – it has 34 seven-night voyages scheduled, first sailing June 7 – before relocating to Port Everglades, Florida, for the winter Caribbean cruising season. The ship was built for the US-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) by the STX France boatyard in Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast.

Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Anthem of the Seas, was named in Southampton, U.K.,  in a spectacular ceremony. U.K. travel agent godmother  Emma Wilby named the 4,180-passenger ship with the words: "I name this ship Anthem of the Seas. May God bless her and all who sail on her," before pressing the button to release a bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne - which smashed. She sang Katy Perry's hit, 'Firework.' The ceremony opened with high-energy rock music, flashing lights and video, and a live performance of "We Will Rock You," part of an onboard show by that name devoted to the music of Queen. The 168,667-ton Anthem of the Seas, a sister ship to Royal Caribbean's much-ballyhooed Quantum of the Seas…

Royal Caribbean’s 2nd Quantum Class cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas, was officially delivered to the cruise line by Meyer Werft in a signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany. Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman and CEO Richard Fain officially received the 16-deck-high vessel from Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard. “I am very happy to receive Anthem of the Seas from Meyer Werft Yards,” said Richard. “We’ve always broken the mould with each successive ship we build, and Anthem of the Seas is no different. Anthem of the Seas is 168,666-tons and a sister ship to Royal Caribbean's much-hyped Quantum of the Seas, which launched in October with a number of first-for-the-industry features such as a deck-top ride into the sky and a bar with robot bartenders.

The chief executives of the world's largest cruise companies will participate in a wide-ranging discussion on the health and future of the global cruise business at Cruise Shipping Miami 2015's State of the Industry session on March 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The panel will be moderated by Richard Quest, CNN's foremost international business correspondent and presenter of "Quest Means Business" and the monthly "CNN Business Traveller" programs. The State of the Industry panel includes Arnold Donald…

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's quarterly profit beat analysts' average estimate as demand for its European and Chinese cruises increased and passengers spent more on board, helping it raise its full-year profit forecast. Shares of the world's second-largest cruise operator rose as much as 9.1 percent to a life-high of $61.35. European cruises account for 22 percent of the capacity in the company, whose cruise lines include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruise. The company raised its full-year earnings forecast to $3.40-$3.50 per share, from $3.25-$3.45.

Royal Caribbean chairman hints that new ship order is possible. During the Royal Caribbean second quarter 2012 financial results conference call, Royal Caribbean chairman hinted at the possibility that Royal Caribbean could order a new ship for either Royal Caribbean or its sister company, Celebrity Cruises. Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain spoke about the possibility, "We clearly are looking at that sort of thing. "From 2012 through 2016, our berth capacity growth is less than 3%, and in fact, we don't have any ship deliveries in 2013 at all," he said. "But as we said before, we also can't stagnate.

Nor-Shipping 2009 was the largest in the event’s history, dating back to 1967. 1105 exhibitors from 52 countries participated. By comparison, Nor-Shipping 2007, which took place in the midst of a market boom, had 830 exhibitors from 42 countries. The Leading Voices conference that opened Nor-Shipping 2009 on Tuesday, June 9 got the show off to a favorable start. Attended by Norway’s King Harald V, the conference featured leaders of global stature, including IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, and Richard Fain and Wilh. Wilhelmsen of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

A clear, sunny Saturday afternoon of November 10, set the stage for the arrival of the first passenger ship into New York Harbor following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The vessel, Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas, sailed into New York for a two-day tribute cruise for the families of the fallen firemen and police officers who were victim to the devastation at the World Trade Center. Royal Caribbean also plans to donate $50,000 to the Twin Towers Relief Fund. The 142,000-ton Adventure of the Seas - sister ship to Voyager and Explorer of the Seas - was christened at Pier 88 and named by representatives of the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department.

Royal Caribbean International has announced that Jean Driscoll - world-class athlete, Olympian, Paralympian and international advocate for persons with disabilities - will serve as godmother to the line's newest ship, Mariner of the Seas, which debuts later this year. As godmother, Driscoll will officially give the ship its name during ceremonies in Port Canaveral, Fla., on Nov. 14, 2003. "We are immensely pleased that such a prominent athlete and outstanding advocate for persons with disabilities will be the godmother of our newest, fully accessible ship," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Jean is a true champion who excels in everything she does, in the sports arena and beyond.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. named Jack Williams president and chief operating officer of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. In his new role, Williams, previously president of Royal Caribbean International, will manage the day-to-day operations of both cruise lines. The two lines will continue to operate independently under Williams. Williams' appointment follows an earlier announcement that respected cruise veteran Richard Sasso, president of Celebrity Cruises, will resign from the company, effective January 1, 2002. spa facilities and cuisine," said Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. "He has built a solid framework for us to build from, and we will continue his legacy of excellence.

On Tuesday, November 20, a major announcement shocked the cruise and financial industries when Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Peter Ratcliffe, CEO of P&O Princess held a press conference in London to report that their two respective lines would join forces to form the world's largest cruise line, in a deal worth more than $6 billion. MR/EN had the opportunity to dial in to the conference, which occurred the morning of the merger at London's Lincoln Centre, to provide a first-hand account of this monumental transaction. In an era filled with terrorism, turmoil, economic frustration, massive layoffs and steep cutbacks…

When NorShipping 2009 closed on June 12, the organized had claimed a record numbers of visitors; a total of 15,999, along with a total of 17,780 exhibitor representatives (1105 exhibitors from 52 countries). Given the current status of the world economy and the prospects for a protracted recovery, it is a testament to the brand built in Oslo that NorShipping could command an increase in traffic of 15% versus 2007. “We believed that the market downturn would lead the maritime industry to think again how it reaches out to the market,” said Tollef Schiander, Director for NorShipping. “Companies concentrate their resources on those activities and marketplaces that get results. This year’s Nor-Shipping was more popular than ever.