FORT LAUDERDALE — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain thanked travel agents in the CruiseWorld audience during his keynote speech Thursday, saying that "our fortunes depend on your support."
"The vast bulk of cruising is still purchased through the travel agency community," he said.
Fain talked about the importance of guiding a consumer through a cruise booking process, making his point by using a story about shopping for a dress with his youngest daughter and encountering a knowledgeable sales associate.
"I know what dresses are; everybody knows what vacations are," he said. "But people need to be guided."
Fain's keynote and subsequent question-and-answer session with Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann — the pair sat on the coffee table onstage and faced the audience directly instead of facing each other in the chairs provided — highlighted Day 2 of CruiseWorld.
Fain's keynote was followed with presentations by Gerry Wegner of Discover and John Caldwell, the president of MLT Vacations.
The trade show, which opened after lunch, was another highlight of the day.
The conference portion of CruiseWorld concludes today, with a keynote speech by Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan and additional breakout and education sessions about topics ranging from product information to social media.
Ship inspections run through the weekend.
For more on CruiseWorld, watch for our trade show bulletin later today.