皇家加勒比郵輪公司(Royal Caribbean Cruises)的首席執(zhí)行官理查德?費(fèi)恩雙腳搭著擱腳凳,坐在“Celebrity Edge”號郵輪的露臺上,“Celebrity Edge”號是一年多以來從美國啟航的首艘郵輪。面對新冠疫情期間公司數(shù)十億美元的巨額虧損,費(fèi)恩依然保持著幽默感。
他開玩笑說,自己可能會(huì)建議商學(xué)院開設(shè)一門新課:如何在連續(xù)15個(gè)月顆粒無收的情況下經(jīng)營公司。在接受《財(cái)富》雜志電話采訪時(shí),費(fèi)恩說:“我愿意去上這個(gè)課。”
新冠疫情給旅游業(yè)的利潤帶來了滅頂之災(zāi),導(dǎo)致航空、旅行、酒店和度假產(chǎn)業(yè)的營收大跌,那些嚴(yán)重依賴旅游業(yè)的城市更是苦不堪言。
皇家加勒比擁有270多艘經(jīng)常往返于全球各地的郵輪,對這家公司來說,過去15個(gè)月完全就是一個(gè)噩夢。美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,疫情爆發(fā)初期,三艘郵輪新冠確診人數(shù)達(dá)到了800多名。去年3月中旬,美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心發(fā)布了禁航令。由于郵輪閑置了數(shù)月之久,公司船票銷售幾乎為零。
包括皇家加勒比、嘉年華(Carnival)和諾唯真(Norwegian)在內(nèi)的郵輪公司已經(jīng)舉債數(shù)十億美元,賣掉了一部分船隊(duì),并開始采取強(qiáng)制休假、裁員或削減員工福利的舉措。
費(fèi)恩說:“過去15個(gè)月對任何與郵輪行業(yè)相關(guān)的企業(yè)來說都是噩夢?!?/p>
公司的年報(bào)顯示,2020年年底,皇家加勒比的“高額債務(wù)”達(dá)到了189億美元。去年,其營收跌至22億美元,較2019年的109億美元大幅下滑。公司去年裁掉或暫時(shí)解雇了約23%的美國海岸雇員,并在全公司范圍內(nèi)停止招聘新員工。為了更加專注于其他業(yè)務(wù)線,皇家加勒比以2.01億美元的價(jià)格向Sycamore Partners出售了擁有三艘郵輪的精鉆郵輪(Azamara)品牌。費(fèi)恩稱,該品牌的財(cái)務(wù)狀況“在繁榮時(shí)期相當(dāng)好”,但他仍然決定在疫情期間剝離這一資產(chǎn)。
今年的情況有所緩解,不過,郵輪行業(yè)仍然需要熬過數(shù)月的時(shí)間,營收數(shù)字才會(huì)有所好轉(zhuǎn)。今年前三個(gè)月,皇家加勒比的船票收入還不到2100萬美元,相比去年同期14億美元的船票收入簡直不忍直視。今年年初,皇家加勒比開始運(yùn)營來自于非美國港口的郵輪。
費(fèi)恩表示,盡管郵輪開始再次離港航行,但這些郵輪已經(jīng)閑置了數(shù)個(gè)月的時(shí)間,“這對船來說并不是好事?!?/p>
船員不得不回到船上,并重新學(xué)習(xí)如何操作,而且新船員也需要熟悉相關(guān)的業(yè)務(wù)。
“即便他們在一年半之前就已經(jīng)在船上,但有些內(nèi)容仍然需再次學(xué)習(xí)。”費(fèi)恩說道,而且船員之間的關(guān)系也需要重新建立。
6月26日,“Celebrity Edge”號駛出了邁阿密的埃弗格雷斯港,船上提供自助餐和其他所有服務(wù),其船員已經(jīng)全部接種新冠疫苗,載客數(shù)量限制在30%左右。這是一年多以來從美國啟航的第一艘郵輪。在新加坡、加納利群島和其他港口城市,皇家加勒比早已恢復(fù)運(yùn)營。
為了預(yù)防疫情爆發(fā),皇家加勒比制定了嚴(yán)格的規(guī)定,并升級了郵輪空氣過濾系統(tǒng)。費(fèi)恩表示,所有員工必須在接種后才可以上船,目前公司已經(jīng)為2.2萬名雇員接種了疫苗。費(fèi)恩稱,在佛羅里達(dá)州,皇家加勒比并未要求乘客出示接種證明(該要求最近已經(jīng)被美國政府叫停),然而,那些未出示證明的乘客在登船后有可能會(huì)被要求進(jìn)行檢測,佩戴口罩,并保持社交距離。
皇家加勒比還在其網(wǎng)站宣布,在2021年8月至12月期間,于佛羅里達(dá)州搭乘郵輪的未接種乘客還需出示其可以用于支付醫(yī)療和潛在撤離費(fèi)用的保險(xiǎn)證明,以備疫情爆發(fā)。
費(fèi)恩稱,未接種游客只是少數(shù),在公司最近出海的“Celebrity Edge”號郵輪上,99%的乘客都接種了疫苗。
然而,船上依然存在接觸未接種疫苗乘客的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。6月24日,皇家加勒比報(bào)告稱,有兩名年齡不到16歲、未接種游客登上了“海上冒險(xiǎn)家”號(Adventure of the Seas)郵輪,而且新冠病毒檢測呈陽性,隨后被立即隔離。這家郵輪公司在一份聲明中稱,船上所有16歲以上游客(占游客總數(shù)的92%)均接種了疫苗,包括那些與這兩名陽性感染者接觸的人士。6月28日,皇家加勒比的股價(jià)應(yīng)聲下跌了6%。
費(fèi)恩說:“有的人可能會(huì)被感染。雖然可能性不大,但也存在?!彼瑫r(shí)也重申了安全規(guī)定,以及郵輪迅速應(yīng)對這種局面的能力。
費(fèi)恩拒絕提供有關(guān)皇家加勒比當(dāng)前債務(wù)水平的最新信息,但他說,公司有能力償還這些債務(wù),而且大多數(shù)債權(quán)人也都了解公司歷史上的盈利能力。
由于費(fèi)恩坐在甲板上,電話另外一端傳來了呼呼的海風(fēng)聲,費(fèi)恩表示,盡管還得執(zhí)行很多新的規(guī)定,但自己對郵輪能夠再次啟航感到十分興奮。
他說:“這對我們來說是個(gè)重要的日子,對整個(gè)行業(yè)來說亦是如此?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
皇家加勒比郵輪公司(Royal Caribbean Cruises)的首席執(zhí)行官理查德?費(fèi)恩雙腳搭著擱腳凳,坐在“Celebrity Edge”號郵輪的露臺上,“Celebrity Edge”號是一年多以來從美國啟航的首艘郵輪。面對新冠疫情期間公司數(shù)十億美元的巨額虧損,費(fèi)恩依然保持著幽默感。
他開玩笑說,自己可能會(huì)建議商學(xué)院開設(shè)一門新課:如何在連續(xù)15個(gè)月顆粒無收的情況下經(jīng)營公司。在接受《財(cái)富》雜志電話采訪時(shí),費(fèi)恩說:“我愿意去上這個(gè)課?!?/p>
新冠疫情給旅游業(yè)的利潤帶來了滅頂之災(zāi),導(dǎo)致航空、旅行、酒店和度假產(chǎn)業(yè)的營收大跌,那些嚴(yán)重依賴旅游業(yè)的城市更是苦不堪言。
皇家加勒比擁有270多艘經(jīng)常往返于全球各地的郵輪,對這家公司來說,過去15個(gè)月完全就是一個(gè)噩夢。美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,疫情爆發(fā)初期,三艘郵輪新冠確診人數(shù)達(dá)到了800多名。去年3月中旬,美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心發(fā)布了禁航令。由于郵輪閑置了數(shù)月之久,公司船票銷售幾乎為零。
包括皇家加勒比、嘉年華(Carnival)和諾唯真(Norwegian)在內(nèi)的郵輪公司已經(jīng)舉債數(shù)十億美元,賣掉了一部分船隊(duì),并開始采取強(qiáng)制休假、裁員或削減員工福利的舉措。
費(fèi)恩說:“過去15個(gè)月對任何與郵輪行業(yè)相關(guān)的企業(yè)來說都是噩夢。”
公司的年報(bào)顯示,2020年年底,皇家加勒比的“高額債務(wù)”達(dá)到了189億美元。去年,其營收跌至22億美元,較2019年的109億美元大幅下滑。公司去年裁掉或暫時(shí)解雇了約23%的美國海岸雇員,并在全公司范圍內(nèi)停止招聘新員工。為了更加專注于其他業(yè)務(wù)線,皇家加勒比以2.01億美元的價(jià)格向Sycamore Partners出售了擁有三艘郵輪的精鉆郵輪(Azamara)品牌。費(fèi)恩稱,該品牌的財(cái)務(wù)狀況“在繁榮時(shí)期相當(dāng)好”,但他仍然決定在疫情期間剝離這一資產(chǎn)。
今年的情況有所緩解,不過,郵輪行業(yè)仍然需要熬過數(shù)月的時(shí)間,營收數(shù)字才會(huì)有所好轉(zhuǎn)。今年前三個(gè)月,皇家加勒比的船票收入還不到2100萬美元,相比去年同期14億美元的船票收入簡直不忍直視。今年年初,皇家加勒比開始運(yùn)營來自于非美國港口的郵輪。
費(fèi)恩表示,盡管郵輪開始再次離港航行,但這些郵輪已經(jīng)閑置了數(shù)個(gè)月的時(shí)間,“這對船來說并不是好事?!?/p>
船員不得不回到船上,并重新學(xué)習(xí)如何操作,而且新船員也需要熟悉相關(guān)的業(yè)務(wù)。
“即便他們在一年半之前就已經(jīng)在船上,但有些內(nèi)容仍然需再次學(xué)習(xí)?!辟M(fèi)恩說道,而且船員之間的關(guān)系也需要重新建立。
6月26日,“Celebrity Edge”號駛出了邁阿密的埃弗格雷斯港,船上提供自助餐和其他所有服務(wù),其船員已經(jīng)全部接種新冠疫苗,載客數(shù)量限制在30%左右。這是一年多以來從美國啟航的第一艘郵輪。在新加坡、加納利群島和其他港口城市,皇家加勒比早已恢復(fù)運(yùn)營。
為了預(yù)防疫情爆發(fā),皇家加勒比制定了嚴(yán)格的規(guī)定,并升級了郵輪空氣過濾系統(tǒng)。費(fèi)恩表示,所有員工必須在接種后才可以上船,目前公司已經(jīng)為2.2萬名雇員接種了疫苗。費(fèi)恩稱,在佛羅里達(dá)州,皇家加勒比并未要求乘客出示接種證明(該要求最近已經(jīng)被美國政府叫停),然而,那些未出示證明的乘客在登船后有可能會(huì)被要求進(jìn)行檢測,佩戴口罩,并保持社交距離。
皇家加勒比還在其網(wǎng)站宣布,在2021年8月至12月期間,于佛羅里達(dá)州搭乘郵輪的未接種乘客還需出示其可以用于支付醫(yī)療和潛在撤離費(fèi)用的保險(xiǎn)證明,以備疫情爆發(fā)。
費(fèi)恩稱,未接種游客只是少數(shù),在公司最近出海的“Celebrity Edge”號郵輪上,99%的乘客都接種了疫苗。
然而,船上依然存在接觸未接種疫苗乘客的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。6月24日,皇家加勒比報(bào)告稱,有兩名年齡不到16歲、未接種游客登上了“海上冒險(xiǎn)家”號(Adventure of the Seas)郵輪,而且新冠病毒檢測呈陽性,隨后被立即隔離。這家郵輪公司在一份聲明中稱,船上所有16歲以上游客(占游客總數(shù)的92%)均接種了疫苗,包括那些與這兩名陽性感染者接觸的人士。6月28日,皇家加勒比的股價(jià)應(yīng)聲下跌了6%。
費(fèi)恩說:“有的人可能會(huì)被感染。雖然可能性不大,但也存在。”他同時(shí)也重申了安全規(guī)定,以及郵輪迅速應(yīng)對這種局面的能力。
費(fèi)恩拒絕提供有關(guān)皇家加勒比當(dāng)前債務(wù)水平的最新信息,但他說,公司有能力償還這些債務(wù),而且大多數(shù)債權(quán)人也都了解公司歷史上的盈利能力。
由于費(fèi)恩坐在甲板上,電話另外一端傳來了呼呼的海風(fēng)聲,費(fèi)恩表示,盡管還得執(zhí)行很多新的規(guī)定,但自己對郵輪能夠再次啟航感到十分興奮。
他說:“這對我們來說是個(gè)重要的日子,對整個(gè)行業(yè)來說亦是如此?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
Royal Caribbean Cruises CEO Richard D. Fain sat with his feet propped up on an ottoman, on a balcony aboard the Celebrity Edge—the first cruise ship to depart the U.S. in more than a year. He has been running the company at a multibillion-dollar loss, but he still has a sense of humor.
He joked that he may suggest business schools launch a new course: How to run a company with zero revenue for 15 months. “I’d like to take it,” Fain told Fortune by phone.
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the travel industry’s bottom line—cutting into revenue across the airline, travel, hotel, and resort industries, not to mention cities and countries that rely heavily on tourism.
For the more than 270 cruise ships that typically sail around the world, the past 15 months have been nothing short of a nightmare. Early on in the pandemic, more than 800 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were sourced to outbreaks on three ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC issued a no-sail order in mid-March: Ticket sales dissipated as vessels sat idle for months.
Cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian have taken on billions of dollars in debt, sold off portions of their fleets, and moved to furlough, lay off, or cut benefits to their employees.
“It’s been a brutal 15 months for anyone associated with the cruise ship industry,” Fain said.
Royal Caribbean had “substantial debt” to the tune of $18.9 billion at the end of 2020, according to its annual report. Last year, its revenue fell to $2.2 billion, down from $10.9 billion from 2019. The company cut or furloughed about 23% of its U.S. shoreside employees last year and instituted a hiring freeze across the organization. It sold its three-ship Azamara luxury brand to Sycamore Partners for $201 million in an effort to focus more attention on its other business lines. According to Fain the brand’s economics had been “adequate during the good times,” but he decided to divest during the pandemic.
This year has offered some respite, although it appears that cruise ships still have many months of sailing before numbers become more optimistic. In the first three months of this year, Royal Caribbean made less than $21 million in passenger ticket revenues, compared to nearly $1.4 billion in the first three months of 2020. Royal Caribbean began running ships from non-U.S. ports earlier this year.
While vessels are starting to depart from ports again, they have been sitting idle for months, which is “not good for ships,” Fain says.
Ship crews have to return to the ships and relearn how to work them, and new crew members need to learn the ropes.
“Even if they were on the ship a year and a half ago, you need to relearn some things,” Fain says, and bonds between the crew need to be reestablished.
The Celebrity Edge set sail out of Port Everglades in Miami on June 26, buffets and all—with its staff fully vaccinated and capacity capped at about 30%. It was the first cruise ship to depart the U.S. in more than a year. Royal Caribbean ships had already been sailing out of Singapore, the Canary Islands, and other locations.
In order to prevent outbreaks, Royal Caribbean has set rigid requirements and updated its air filtration systems. All staff must be vaccinated to come on board, and the company has vaccinated 22,000 employees so far, Fain says. In Florida, Royal Caribbean doesn't require guests to show proof of vaccination—a practice that was recently banned in the state—but those who don't show proof are subject to testing requirements and are required to wear masks and social distance while on board, according to Fain.
The company also announced on its website that unvaccinated passengers who cruise from Florida between August and December 2021 will also be required to show proof of insurance to cover medical and potential evacuation expenses, in case of an outbreak.
Unvaccinated guests are the minority: On his current Celebrity Edge cruise, 99% of people on the ship are vaccinated, he says.
But there are still exposure risks to unvaccinated passengers. On June 24, Royal Caribbean reported that two unvaccinated guests aboard the Adventure of the Seas, who were under the age of 16, had tested positive for the coronavirus and were immediately quarantined. All guests on the ship over 16 years old—92% of all the passengers—were vaccinated, according to a statement from the cruise line, including all those who came into contact with the two individuals. The stock sank 6% on the news June 28.
“It’s possible that somebody gets it. It’s unlikely, but it happens,” Fain says, emphasizing the safety protocols and the ship’s ability to quickly respond to it.
Fain declined to provide an update on Royal Caribbean's current debt rate, but he said the company will be able to pay the money back, and that most of its lenders know the history of its bottom line.
As he sat on the deck, the sound of wind coming through the phone, Fain said he is excited about ships being up and running again, despite all the new protocols.
“It’s a big day for us," he said. "It’s a big day for the industry.”