When this passes, 'Great vacations will be in huge demand': Fain

'We have teams planning our return to market as we speak, and we also have teams studying to make sure that our health and sanitation procedures are best in class and make use of the hard lessons we've learned over these last few months,' Fain continued in his latest video message aimed at inspiring travel advisors.

'I still believe without a doubt in the long term'

'While the short term is continuing to look tough, I still believe without a doubt in the long term,' Fain said. 'Celebrity Apex is coming, Odyssey of the Seas is coming and it will always be a Perfect Day at CocoCay.

'People are going to be ready for a vacation and they're going to remember how you stood by them, and they're going to stand by you.'

Speaking from home

The Royal Caribbean chief spoke from the tropical yard of his Miami manse, as employees are in their second week of working from home. He said he was capturing his message from an iPhone on a tripod.

'If anything, the pace is even faster at home than it was at the office. Our immediate focus is on keeping our guests and our employees safe, even while the last few ships are returning to port,' Fain said.

'But we're putting just as much effort, and just as much focus, into making sure that the day we begin sailing again — and it won't be that long before we do — we're able to offer our guests safe, healthy and enjoyable cruises from day one.'

Travel advisors' role will be 'even more critical'

Fain underscored Royal Caribbean's belief in the 'tremendous value' travel advisors provide to the company and to their customers. In the 'new world' to follow the current crisis, he said travel advisors' role will be even more critical: 'People need facts, and your ability to provide that expertise and your ability to educate the public on the value of a cruise is going to be invaluable.'

Fain encouraged travel advisors to use this 'really weird' time to better prepare for the times ahead. They should reach out to clients and think about ways to respond when the current period of isolation ends.

Work now will 'pay off in spades'

'I know it's been a tough and unrewarding effort recently, but it will pay off in spades, just as seeds planted in the spring blossom in the new harvest,' he said.