Tag Archives: Celebrity Cruises

$14 Million for Royal Caribbean Cruises CEO Fain

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Richard Fain, chairman and CEO

Royal Caribbean Cruises reported executive compensation for a record 2019 financial year in a Friday evening SEC filing, just two days following the announcement the company was laying off approximately 26 percent of its U.S. workforce.

CEO and Chairman Richard Fain saw a $14.4 million payday in 2019, mostly driven by stock awards. Fain has agreed to forgo his base salary through September of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other key company executives also enjoyed a robust pay check-in 2019, with Michael Bayley, president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean brand, taking in just over $7 million, up from $5.7 million the year prior.

Lisa Lutoff Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, saw compensation at $4.4 million.

The company noted it will consider the business and financial impact to the company, shareholders and employees in evaluating 2020 performance in early 2021, citing COVID-19.

Compensation Table:

Europe Bookings Leading the Way for 2021 According to Cruise Planners

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Viking Cruises Ship in Barcelona

“While the numbers are changing daily and being closely monitored, right now, cruise departures for 2021 are leading with Europe as a top destination at 38% of the mix with a large focus on European River cruising, followed by the Caribbean making up 23% of the mix and Alaska trending with 15% according to the company’s latest revenue reports,” said Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners CEO and Founder.

Cruise Planners has a nationwide network of travel agents that are already used to working from home, Fee said.

The company also shifted its marketing approach, according to a statement, shifting to a primarily digital approach of sending heartfelt messages providing hope for the future of travel, exploration and discovery and human connection on behalf of its travel advisor network.

Cruise Planners is also offering advice, tools and support to its travel advisor network to protect client investments and help maintain agent commissions by arming them with the latest supplier cancellation policy updates as well as providing direct access to travel supplier executives. In the last three weeks, advisors have heard from executives at Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Globus Family of Brands and Apple Leisure Group with more to come. They have been sharing what is happening with their brands and what trends they are experiencing.

Travel Agent Cruise Ship Business Vacation, PNG, 1104x556px ...

“There are thousands of people holding on to future travel credits that still need to be rebooked. We are hearing straight from the experts how to adjust travellers’ itineraries and take advantage of the rebooking offers available to them,” added Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner. “It is a win/win for clients and agents when a client rebooks a future vacation since many suppliers are offering value adds and perks to those who apply their future cruise credit towards an upcoming vacation.”

Cruise Planners did undergo what Fee called a small round of layoffs while maintaining 90 per cent of its workforce. Salaries were reduced on a sliding scale across all departments including executives who are taking the highest pay cut. Fee and co-owner and COO, Vicky Garcia, volunteered to forgo 100% of their salaries and are working hard to lead the company through a full recovery eventually.

All-Female Bridge and Leadership Team Sets Sail on Celebrity Edge

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Celebrity Edge Bridge Team
Celebrity Edge all-female Team.
 Onboard the Celebrity Edge, an all-female bridge and onboard leadership team set sail yesterday, commemorating International Women’s Day.

Led by Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, who was accompanied by 26 other women representing 16 different countries, the Celebrity Edge sailed out of Port Everglades and began its seven-day Caribbean journey.

Retiring Pilot Boat Captain Cheryl Phipps, one of only a few female pilot boat captains in the country, led the ship out to sea.

Also, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Celebrity Edge-lit up the high seas with a vibrant purple glow, the colour associated with the day.

Celebrity Edge

“I fell in love with cruise ships at age 12 when my family took its first cruise vacation. At the end of the trip, I asked my Dad if he thought I could be a cruise director someday and he replied that I could drive the ship if I wanted to. Five years later, I enrolled at the California Maritime Academy and nineteen years later I became a Captain,” said Captain Kate McCue. “I firmly believe that you have to see it, to be it. My hope is that today we inspire a new generation of young girls and women to chart their own course of pushing boundaries and breaking barriers to be whatever it is they want to be.”

“To ‘man the bridge’ with 100% women and to fill every leadership role onboard with women is truly significant. I am so proud of these accomplished women, who worked tirelessly to be the best person for the job in a traditionally male-dominated industry and I am honoured to work alongside them,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Advancing gender equality in our industry takes a purposeful and focused commitment because it is not easy. This is such meaningful progress and we’re just getting started.”

Onboard for the sailing are women in other fields including Madeline Stuart, the first Supermodel with down syndrome; Kellee Edwards, the first black woman to host a national adventure travel show; and child prodigy artist Autumn de Forest; international jewellery designer Reout Kallati; and fashion designer Mary Frances. The seven-night sailing will celebrate other female achievements through a variety of events including panel discussions, gallery exhibitions featuring female artists, excursions to women-led businesses in the ports the ship visits, and a cinema series putting female directors, actors and inspirational narratives centre stage.