Royal Caribbean has announced the appointment of Kenneth Yeo as its regional director of sales for the Asia Pacific. The company said that the position is new and designed to drive growth in the region.
Yeo, who brings over two decades of commercial experience across diverse industries, will lead the trade, corporate, and retail sales teams based in Singapore, supporting the Asia Pacific region. He will also work closely with the trade marketing, and operations divisions.
Royal Caribbean said it has enjoyed exceptional engagement with its trade partners in recent years – working closely to deliver strong promotional campaigns, enabling valuable guest support, and navigating the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yeo will continue to build on this as the company gears up to progressively return to service across the region.
Angie Stephen, managing director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean International, said: “It is time to expand our senior leadership team and we are thrilled to welcome Kenneth onboard. His wide-ranging experience and leadership roles – both locally and internationally – together with his understanding of the diverse needs of consumers across the region will be invaluable to Royal Caribbean. The region holds tremendous opportunity for growth. Kenneth will be key to driving collaboration with our trade partners, who remain instrumental in providing added value to us and our guests.”
Yeo also commented: “Embarking on this journey with Royal Caribbean is certainly a career-defining moment for me. I look forward to steering the team to even more extraordinary wins, building on our successes to further the growth of the cruising industry amidst and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruising is back and will be better than ever.”
Several cruise lines are on their way back to U.S. homeports this summer. Cruise Industry News has studied some of the major players’ COVID-19 vaccine policies and restart plans.
Royal Caribbean International Ships: Freedom of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas First Cruise: July 2, 2021 Homeports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Seattle, Bayonne and Galveston Region: Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska Vaccination required? Rules vary by ship
For Freedom, Odyssey, Allure, Symphony and Mariner sailing out of Florida ports in July and August, vaccines are “strongly recommended” for all eligible guests. Approximately 90 percent of the passengers are expected to be vaccinated, but those choosing not to be vaccinated or not willing to verify vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols at their expense.
For the Serenade and Ovation from Seattle, the Independence from Galveston and the Oasis from Bayonne, guests will need to be fully vaccinated with the exemption only for children under 12. Children under 12 will need to be tested and subject to health protocols, with no additional charges for any testing.
Carnival Cruise Line Ships: Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Miracle First Cruise: July 3, 2021 Homeports: Galveston, Miami and Seattle Region: Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska Vaccination required? Yes – for 95% of the guests in July
The company noted, however, that it will be able to accommodate a “small number” of unvaccinated guests (children under 12) and allow a small number of exemptions.
Norwegian Cruise Line Ships: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Breakaway First Cruise: August 7, 2021 Homeports: Seattle, Miami and New York Region: Alaska, Caribbean and Bermuda Vaccination required? Yes, initially
Norwegian Cruise Line will deploy three ships in the United States until September. With the new Norwegian Encore sailing to Alaska, the company is also planning to offer cruises to the Caribbean with the Norwegian Gem and to Bermuda with the Norwegian Breakaway.
All initial voyages will operate with fully vaccinated guests and crew.
Celebrity Cruises Ships: Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Equinox First Cruise: June 26, 2021 Homeports: Fort Lauderdale and Seattle Region: Alaska and Caribbean Vaccination required? Yes – guests over 16
According to the company’s website, all guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. As of August 1, 2021, all guests aged 12 and older will need to be fully vaccinated.
MSC Cruises Ships: MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina First Cruise: August 2, 2021 Homeports: Miami and Port Canaveral Region: Caribbean and Bahamas Vaccination required? No
According to MSC, the new itineraries will welcome both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests. Those who are not vaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be subject to requirements such as additional testing, as well as restrictions, which are still to be announced.
Princess Cruises Ships: Majestic Princess First Cruise: July 25, 2021 Homeports: Seattle Region: Alaska Vaccination required? Yes
The cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.
Holland America Line Ships: Nieuw Amsterdam First Cruise: July 24, 2021 Homeports: Seattle Region: Alaska Vaccination required? Yes
Welcoming the passengers back in Alaska, Holland America Line will return to service on July 24. On that day, the Nieuw Amsterdam will sail from Seattle for the first of 10 Saturday departures that will operate through Oct. 2.
Guests will be required to have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Ships: Grand Classica First Cruise: July 2, 2021 Homeports: Palm Beach Region: Bahamas Vaccination required? No
Bahamas Paradise will be one of the first cruise lines to resume service in the United States. After receiving a green light from the CDC to conduct a simulated sailing in June, the company plans to welcome the guests back next month. On July 2, the Grand Classica will restart its regular program of short cruises between Palm Beach and Freeport.
According to Bahamas Paradise website, guests will not need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding, while the crew will be fully vaccinated.
Silversea Cruises Ships: Silver Muse First Cruise: July 29, 2021 Homeports: Seattle Region: Alaska Vaccination required? Yes
According to the company, one of the measures to guarantee the health and safety of the operation, is making sure that all guests and crew are vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control said it had approved one cruise ship from Royal Caribbean to resume sailing in June, more than a year after U.S. cruising was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge will depart from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on June 26, the cruise company said. It will be the first U.S. departing cruise in more than a year with paying passengers.
“Cruising from the U.S. is back!” Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group chairman and the chief executive officer said in a statement.
The CDC said it is committed to working with the cruise industry and ports to resume cruising in a phased approach.
“CDC and the cruise industry agree that the industry has what it needs to move forward and no additional roadblocks exist for resuming sailing by mid-summer,” the agency said on Wednesday.
The ship will skip a simulated voyage because it requiring crew and passengers to be vaccinated, the CDC said.
Royal Caribbean said all sailings will depart with a vaccinated crew and everyone over 16 must present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. From August 1, all guests ages 12 and older must present proof of vaccination.
The inaugural sailing sets the stage for Royal Caribbean Group to announce additional itineraries, the company added.
The state of Florida, which was later joined by Alaska, sued President Joe Biden’s administration in federal court in April, seeking to overturn the CDC’s decision to prevent the U.S. cruise industry from immediately resuming operations. A federal judge sent that lawsuit to mediation last week.
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