PHOTO: Christine Duffy's move to Carnival Cruise Lines was welcomed by travel agency organizations. (Courtesy of Cruise Lines International Association)
In a matter of weeks, the leadership landscape in the cruise industry has shifted dramatically. New executives are taking the helm at Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and sister companies Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Now there's a new president and CEO at Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Corp.'s largest brand and one of the best known in the world. While some of the recent appointees are new to the cruise industry - including Drew Madsen at Norwegian and Orlando Ashford at Holland America Line - Christine Duffy is a familiar face, since she's helmed the Cruise Lines International Association since 2010.
The first wave of reaction was congratulatory, not only for Duffy's move to the Fun Ship line, but also that a woman broke through the glass deck into the corner office.
"I think it's a bold move no one could have predicted," said Stewart Chiron, a cruise retailer known as The Cruise Guy. "Carnival isn't just another cruise line. It's the name brand of the world's largest cruise company that operates 24 of 101 ships within their fleet. Christine is highly respected inside and out of the cruise industry. Having a former travel agent run one of the world's largest cruise lines is testament to Carnival's commitment to hiring the best talent they can find."
Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of sister travel agent networks CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., called it a "great" move for Carnival and travel agents. "Christine's passion for the cruise industry and her advocacy for the travel agent community are both qualities that will prove invaluable in her new role," Fiorino said. "She is a charismatic leader who has transformed CLIA and will continue to influence the entire cruise industry in her new role."
Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, agreed that the move would be positive for travel agents. "Carnival has recommitted to travel agents and Christine has already proven her commitment to the travel agent community with years of putting travel agents first," Fee said. "This new chapter in her career will forge continued travel agent support moving ahead for Carnival."
Steve Cosgrove, the outspoken owner of Dynamic Travel in Southlake, Texas, has in the past criticized Carnival for decisions that hurt travel agents under former president Gerry Cahill. He said the line has made some progress over the past year and would continue to improve its relationship with agents if Duffy "gets out and talks to us" by attending conferences and events.
Duffy's pending move would make her the fourth active female head of a U.S.-based cruise line. Last week, Celebrity named Lisa Lutoff-Perlo as its president and CEO when Michael Bayley moved into the top spot at Royal Caribbean International.
Jan Swartz became president of Princess Cruises in December 2013, while Edie Rodriguez has served as president and COO of Crystal Cruises since October 2013. Down under, Ann Sherry is CEO of Carnival Australia.
Past top female executives have included Pam Conover at several lines, including Seabourn and Cunard, Carol Marlow at Cunard and the late Deborah Natansohn at Seabourn and Orient Lines.
The next ripple in the cruise pond now will be the hiring of a new leader at CLIA, which just named Cindy D'Aoust executive vice president-membership and operations to replace Dwain Wall, who was vice president-trade relations for about a year.
D'Aoust comes to CLIA from Meeting Professionals International, where she was COO, and has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and in membership organizations, including senior roles with Maritz Travel.
After Wall's departure, former Regent Seven Seas Cruises CEO Mark Conroy signed on as a consultant and strategic adviser to CLIA. No doubt the trade would like to see a travel agent-friendly executive named to lead CLIA, although the organization is moving to the Washington D.C. area next month.
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