Royal Caribbean extends cruise suspension, announces US$40m funding pool for agents

Labadee, Haiti - October 9, 2012: Tourists are watching the sunset on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. With a passenger capacity of over 8 thousand, the Allure of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world to date.

Royal Caribbean Group has expanded its suspension of cruising on certain trips, with some unable to return to sailing until May.

The group has been busy building strong health and safety procedures for its ships alongside the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and government authorities around the world.

Celebrity Cruises sailings through 30 April, including the 1 May transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Apex, have been suspended, along with the cruise line’s Europe and transatlantic cruises on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Constellation in May through October 2021.

Royal Caribbean International sailings have been suspended through 30 April, including Spectrum of the Seas from 16 February through 28 February. However, the cruise line’s sailing suspension excludes Quantum of the Seas.

Silversea Cruises sailings have been suspended through 1 April, and Azamara sailings have been suspended through 30 April.

After an unprecedented nine months without sailing, the group has announced plans to launch a US$40 million pool of funds to help qualifying travel agents rebuild their businesses.

‘Pay it Forward’ is the second phase of Royal Caribbean’s RCL CARES program, and is designed to support agents as they bounce back from a challenging 2o2o.

Agents can apply for three-year, interest-free loans of up to US$250,000 to keep their businesses focused on a return to growth at a time when the pandemic shows increasing prospects for coming under control.

“We know our travel advisor friends are suffering, too, and we will get through this tough period together, just as we always have,” said Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain.

“Our travel partners have stood strong beside us for more than 50 years, and we are determined to be there for them now. We’re going to get to the other side of this challenging time together.”

The company said details about the application process for the program would be shared directly with travel advisors in January.

In other Royal Caribbean news, the group has appointed Amy McPherson to its board of directors.

McPherson spent more than 30 years in leadership roles at Marriott International, including 10 years of service as the company’s president and managing director for Europe, until her retirement in 2019.


Featured image source: iStock/jimfeng

Latest News

  • Famil

TravHost launches expert hosting service to transform industry famils

TravHost offers a pioneering service bridging the gap between media professionals, travel agents and tourism organisations, addressing the demand for exceptional famil hosts. Founded by seasoned travel media professionals Fiona Harper and Carolyne Jasinski, TravHost is poised to revolutionise the way tourism organisations and travel companies approach famils. With decades of experience in tourism and […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Travel Agents

Book big and bag a spot of the TTC Tour Brand’s Top Achievers’ Famil

TTC Tour Brands’ Top Achievers Famil incentive is back, rewarding top-selling agents with the chance to embark on an unforgettable trip to a destination that remains a secret – for now. Agents who have sold any Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki, from 1 December 2024 to 14 March 2025, go into the […]

  • Business Travel
  • Conferences

New Zealand International Convention Centre to open in February 2026

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has announced it is opening its doors to New Zealand and world conferences and events in February 2026. The long-awaited NZICC is set to transform New Zealand’s conference and events industry, boosting visitation and the wider economy with its world-class facilities. Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

AmaWaterways invites AU/NZ travel trade to An Evening with AmaWaterways events

AmaWaterways has announced the dates of its upcoming An Evening with AmaWaterways events for travel advisors, just over a year after it entered the Australian and New Zealand markets. Dedicated to travel advisors, the events will be held in six cities and will be hosted by AmaWaterways’ regional sales managers, plus feature a presentation from […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

Mooloolaba cruise season boosts Sunshine Coast tourism and trade

Mooloolaba is set to welcome a series of cruise ships through February and March 2025, significantly boosting local businesses and tourism to the Sunshine Coast. Their arrival is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere and provide a substantial economic uplift to the region. Viking Sky kicks off the season on Sunday 8 February, with 930 […]

  • Food & Beverage

Little Pete Brewing opens first of its kind open-air bar

Little Pete Brewing has opened a new open-air bar at 543 Step Rd, Langhorne Creek, a must-visit South Australia destination for a drink with a view. The first-of-its-kind open-air bar sits on 8ha, surrounded by vineyards and paddocks, with the Bremer River flowing nearby and framed by majestic ancient river red gums. “We always felt […]

  • Events

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025 with a one-of-a-kind activation that showcases their world-class event capabilities to inspire event planners and decision-makers. CENTREPIECE is located in the heart of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Victoria’s epicentre for live sports and entertainment and home to world-renowned venues including Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces two exciting new events

NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced ‘NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025’ and ‘Value Family Activities’ events lined up for this year. NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025 2-for-1 ticket sales for this event have begun with this season’s program featuring 29 Off-Broadway performances, including 18 new participants. The twice-yearly program runs from 17 February through 9 March with […]

  • Events
  • Tourism

Jeju wins bid to host 2028 Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has successfully secured the 14th Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC14) for Jeju in November 2028. This was achieved in partnership with the Korean Society of Microscopy, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Convention Bureau, and Jeju International Convention Center. Korea was selected as the final host after strong competition at the 13th […]

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]