Big change at Royal Caribbean with leadership at Celebrity Cruises

A high-level change at the helm of Celebrity Cruises will see the cruise line’s current president and CEO move to a corporate position, while an executive vice president assumes the top role at the brand.

Cruise line parent company Royal Caribbean Group detailed the new roles of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and Laura Hodges Bethge on April 6.

Laura Hodges Bethge is appointed President and CEO

Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of the Celebrity Cruises brand, announced that the cruise line’s President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, will resign, effective January 1.

At the same time, Laura Hodges Bethge, currently Executive Vice President, Shared Services Operations, of Celebrity Cruises, will be named President of the Line.

Hodges Bethge joined the company 23 years ago and has held senior positions in product development, hotel and marine operations, sales, marketing, product innovation, market development and investor relations.

She has played a leading role in the conception of new ships and private island destinations, including Royal Caribbean Group’s Perfect Day at CocoCay experience.

Hodges Bethge said: “With 15 ships, this is an exciting time for Celebrity Cruises. This year alone we will welcome Celebrity Ascent and achieve major design milestones on the yet to be announced fifth ship in the revolutionary Edge series. I look forward to building on the incredible achievements of Lisa and this world-class team as we continue to push boundaries and break new ground in the industry.”

The outgoing president is known as the Trailblazer

Lutoff-Perlo has served as President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises since 2014 and has overseen the launch of three Edge-class ships, two expedition ships and a major fleet-wide revitalization project.

She joined Royal Caribbean Group in 1985 as District Sales Manager and has risen through the ranks, including senior vice president of hotel operations and executive vice president of operations at Royal Caribbean International.

Widely considered a pioneer in the cruise industry, Lutoff-Perlo was the first cruise executive to name a cruise ship captain when she appointed Kate McCue celebrity edge in 2015.

Lutoff-Perlo also ran Celebrity Cruises as it received major recognition earlier this year from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, which was named five ships from Celebrity Cruises to the Forbes Star Awards List.

said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, “Lisa has been instrumental in making the Celebrity Cruises brand what it is today. From helping launch the revolutionary Edge line of ships to promoting the role of women in maritime careers, Lisa has had an incredible career while leading Celebrity Cruises and several parts of our Royal Caribbean International brand.”

Liberty also congratulated Hodges Bethge: “With her operational experience, business acumen and deep understanding of our company and the cruise industry, I know Laura is the right person to lead Celebrity Cruises into the next stages of growth.”

Celebrity Rise Debut late 2023

Celebrity Cruises’ new president will preside over the launch of the line’s newest ship, which will host 3,260 guests Celebrity Risewhich will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and is scheduled for launch at the end of 2023.

The fourth in the Edge series of the line, Celebrity Rise reached an important construction milestone in January 2023 when she was floated out of the shipyard. Work on the 140,600 GRT vessel will continue at her berth before sea trials later this year.

Her maiden voyage is scheduled for December 3, 2023 from Port Everglades. The 7-night Western Caribbean cruise will call at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata. The maiden voyage will be followed by alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Celebrity Rise will also undertake two preview cruises prior to the official maiden voyage. The first is a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise departing November 22, 2023, offering cruisers a Thanksgiving week. The ship will call at Cozumel. The second preview cruise is a three-night Bahamas cruise departing November 26, 2023 and calling at Nassau, Bahamas.