Recognizing the complexity of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (Cares) Act passed by Congress last weekend, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) launched a program to help travel agencies navigate and take advantage of the benefits for which they are eligible.
RCL Cares, available to travel professionals in the U.S., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, will offer services to help educate travel advisors on the Cares Act through one-on-one assistance and access to the latest information on the recovery benefits.
Accessible through CruisingPower.com, sales teams from Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea will be on hand to help.
Educational material about the new law is up and running. But soon, a resource desk will be set up to provide additional services and tools. One thing the program cannot provide is legal advice.
"This is perhaps the most challenging time the travel industry has seen, and we want to do all we can to support those who have supported us throughout our history," RCCL CEO Richard Fain said in a statement. "Our travel partner community is hurting, and help can't come too soon."
RCCL's four brands have suspended operations through May 12. Fain said that now is the time to turn the company's attention to caring for its travel advisors, who have seen their income plummet because the coronavirus crisis has kept people on lockdown.
"Any piece of legislation can be challenging to understand, and we want our travel advisors to receive all the financial assistance available to them," Fain said. "While our ships are idle, we have resources that can be redirected to helping our travel partners so that they will be fully ready and able to charge ahead when we return to service."
Fain has regularly reached out to the travel advisor community to offer encouragement throughout the current crisis and has urged them to stay in touch with clients so that they can be prepared when the cruise industry resumes its operations. In a video message last week, he told them that they will be needed more than ever once business picks back up.