The Folo by Travel Weekly podcast on the incoming class of cruise CEOs, from top left: Andrea Zelinski of Travel Weekly, Alex Sharpe of Signature Travel Group and host Rebecca Tobin.
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We occasionally talk about a "sea change" within the cruise industry but this time we mean it. In the past two years, three of the four cruise companies have turned over their top jobs.
To sum it up: Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain stepped down as CEO as of January 2022, after serving in that role since the late 1980s. He was replaced by Jason Liberty, the company's CFO. In mid-2022, Carnival Corp. chairman and CEO Arnold Donald announced that he would step down, to be replaced by Josh Weinstein, the company's chief operating officer. And just last month, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio said he would retire this summer and that Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer would step up into the role. (We should note that, as of now, the fourth company, MSC Cruises, is still helmed by Pierfrancesco Vago.)
Cruise editor Andrea Zelinski looks at the changing of the guard in this week's Focus on Cruise cover story. And on this episode, with host Rebecca Tobin and Signature Travel Group CEO Alex Sharpe, we explore the changeover a little more and get of the sense of the people behind and ahead of the industry's trajectory.
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Related reports
Focus on cruise: Changing the guard
On the record: A Q&A with Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein
Travel advisors expect a smooth transition at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Arnold Donald, retiring from Carnival, reflects on changing cruise culture
Travel advisors praise Richard Fain for his commitment
Richard Fain's Covid-era video from March 2020