MEDIA
Success Story Podcast
How Culture Took Us from $550M to $90 Billion
Richard D. Fain led Royal Caribbean Group as CEO from 1988, growing it from a $550 million company into a $90 billion cruise industry giant. A Berkeley and Wharton grad, he's known for pioneering revolutionary ship designs and sustainability initiatives that changed how the world cruises. His culture-driven leadership style built one of the most innovative and successful companies in global travel. He now serves as Chairman of the Board.
People
Gloria Estefan Once Prevented a Cruise Ship Disaster, Says Former Royal Caribbean CEO
The singer served as Royal Caribbean's godmother to the brand-new 'Nordic Empress' in 1990, but the job ended up being more dramatic than what she signed up for
Insider Travel Report
How Royal Caribbean’s Richard Fain Delivered the “WOW”
Richard Fain, chairman and former CEO for Royal Caribbean Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Fain’s new book “Delivering the WOW.” The book delivers both a running account of Fain’s time at Royal Caribbean and the lessons he and his team learned in how to develop innovative, even revolutionary cruise ships and products that “wow” guests. To buy the book, click on Amazon “Delivering the WOW.”
Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean Group hits 3 major cruise milestones, and it proves its chairman's important lesson
Royal Caribbean hit a triple ship construction milestone across two brands in the same day, and it exemplifies the vision its chairman laid out more than 30 years ago.
Travel and Tour World
All You Need to Know About The Evolution of Cruise Industry: Richard Fain Unveils the Keys to Royal Caribbean’s Success
Richard Fain, the former CEO and chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, has released a new book that gives readers an inside look into the world of cruising. Titled “Delivering the Wow: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success”, the book explores his extensive career, shedding light on the innovative leadership practices and strategies that helped shape some of the most successful cruise lines today.
TravelWeek
Interview: Royal Caribbean Group’s Richard Fain on ‘Delivering the WOW’
If you’ve ever wanted to find out how one of the best-known execs in the cruise industry led one of the best-known cruise lines to new heights of popularity, this is your chance.
AXIOS
Exclusive: New book charts Royal Caribbean's record rise
Royal Caribbean Group's record-breaking ships are driving a cruising comeback — its stock has jumped 400% in five years and it's now worth more than Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines combined.
Stacking Benjamins Show
How to Deliver the “WOW” in Everyday Life (with longtime former Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain)
You don’t have to command a cruise ship (or a boardroom) to lead with purpose. On this episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug welcome Richard Fain, longtime chairman and former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, for a conversation that’s not about corporate leadership… but about life leadership.
Investors Business Daily
Richard Fain Captained Royal Caribbean To Become Cruise Giant
Richard Fain had barely stepped foot on a cruise ship when the owners of Royal Caribbean (RCL) asked him to take a leadership role. They needed Fain's steady hand to steer the company's grand plans.
TravelAge West
Richard Fain on His New Book, 'Delivering the Wow,' Plus Innovation and the Future of Cruising
For a comprehensive history of the cruise industry, readers might pick up the book “Devils on the Deep Blue Sea: The Dreams, Schemes, and Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-Ship Empires” by Krisstoffer A. Garin. In that text, Richard Fain, chairman and former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, features heavily.
Seatrade Cruise News
For Richard Fain, it's all about the people
His book, 'Delivering the Wow: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success,' is out today.
Chief Executive magazine
Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain: Retaining Talent Is About Fit, Not Fitness
The difference between 'useless' and 'fantastic' isn't always performance—sometimes it comes down to chemistry.
Big Think
How Royal Caribbean transformed innovation with a weird acronym
At a constructive 1990s meeting, it was made clear that Royal Caribbean Group was not “Easy To Do Business With.” Rather than brush off the feedback the company created an “ETDBW” plan which drove meaningful improvements across departments. The ETDBW initiative served to highlight how the best innovations are often ones that happen when people “really listen.”
Yahoo! Finance
Royal Caribbean’s longtime CEO on the next big wave in cruising
One of the longest-serving CEOs in Corporate America is embarking on retirement, but not without imparting some wisdom to the next generation of leaders. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with former Royal Caribbean (RCL) CEO Richard Fain, who is out with a new book called ‘Delivering the WOW.'
Bloomberg: The Close
Cruise Industry Has Grown By Leaps and Bounds: RCL Chairman
A record 21.7 million US travelers are expected to set sail in 2026, up from 20.7 million this year, according to the American Automobile Association. It will mark the fourth straight year of record demand. Royal Caribbean Chairman, Former CEO Richard Fain discusses the success of the cruise industry in an interview with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on "The Close."
CNBC
Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain steps down, will remain chairman
Richard Fain, outgoing Royal Caribbean CEO, joins ‘Squawk on the Street’ in an exclusive interview to discuss why he plans on stepping down. Fain delves into his confidence in the incoming CEO, current CFO, Jason Liberty.
CNBC
Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain on the U.S. return of cruising
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean, joins CNBC’s Seema Mody aboard the first cruise to set sail since the pandemic. He discusses safety protocols on board the company’s ships and the ongoing return to normal.
CNBC
CNBC’s full interview with Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain
Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean chairman and CEO, joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss how the company is welcoming back travelers, the future of the cruise industry, vaccination mandates and more.
The Joy of Cruising Podcast
Richard Fain, Chairman and former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Author, Delivering the Wow
Mr. Fain’s new book, Delivering the WOW: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success, reveals actionable lessons from Royal Caribbean’s rapid growth: a culture that motivated employees to deliver WOWs to customers, transforming the customer and employee experience all at once with electrifying energy.
Cruise Radio
Star of the Seas Review + Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and former CEO Richard Fain wrote a book called Delivering the Wow. Ricahrd joins us to talk about the new book, some lessons along the way, and how it was bringing the cruise industry back to life after an 18 month shutdown.
Future Ready Leadership with Jacob Morgan
The Counterintuitive Hiring Secret That Built Royal Caribbean's $16B 'Culture of Wow'
What does it take to build a culture so strong that it powers 68 ships, 100,000 employees, and 12 million ecstatic guests each year? In this episode, Richard Fain, former CEO and current Chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, shares how he led the company’s evolution from a small cruise line into a $16 billion global powerhouse by anchoring performance in purpose and people.
TravelPulse
Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain Discusses His New Book, Cruise Innovations, Legacy, and More
Royal Caribbean's Chairman Richard Fain has a new book set to release, which details unique tales from his storied career in the cruise industry.
Leaders Magazine
Pushing The Envelope
An Interview with Richard D. Fain, Chairman of the Board, Royal Caribbean Group
The Cruisington Times
Inside Story: How Royal Caribbean Delivers WOW
Did you know that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line came within hours of being bought by its rival, Carnival? Know what made them decide to cut ships in half? Or why the Swedish Air Force was ready to shoot down a thrill ride planned on the Oasis of the Seas?
Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast
Cruising Life with Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain
On this week’s episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast.” Kiernan talks to Richard Fain who served as CEO of Royal Caribbean for 33 years. Richard and his team oversaw—and essentially invented—the evolution of the cruise ship industry from a niche business to a global behemoth.
CruiseTipsTV Unplugged
Inside Royal Caribbean: Richard Fain on Delivering the Wow
Richard Fain reveals the secrets behind Royal Caribbean’s culture of innovation