I recently enjoyed
the privilege of joining Celebrity Cruises’ annual President’s
Cruise—a special voyage that sails once a year to celebrate members of the
line’s loyalty program, the Captain’s Club, which sees the company’s executive
leadership team and the president herself rubbing elbows with guests for the
duration of the sailing.
Although
Celebrity’s President, Laura Hodges Bethge, had plenty on her plate amid the
sailing—attending special events, hosting functions, introducing (and sometimes
starring in) ship’s entertainment, leading excursions, umpiring onboard
sporting competitions, emceeing and DJ-ing during parties—she also made some
time to provide TravelPulse with an exclusive interview.
We got the lowdown
on how things are going one year into her presidency, what Celebrity’s current and
forward-looking trajectories are, the status of the upcoming vessel Celebrity Xcel
and her decision to add some fresh new destinations to the line’s roster. Read
on to discover how things are going at the prestigious premium cruise line and
where they’re headed next.
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)
Q: It's been just
over one year since you took up your role as president of Celebrity Cruises. Where
does Celebrity stand today, one year in, and where would you like it to go next?
A: One year into my role as president, we
launched our new brand campaign ‘Nothing Comes Close’. This campaign sums up
travel advisor and guest feedback: Celebrity elevates the premium travel
category in a way that no other brand does. From the design of our ships to the
experiences and the destinations we visit, nothing comes close to what we
offer.
The brand
campaign’s ‘True Eye View’ of the Celebrity experience spotlights the guest
experience through their own eyes and puts the customer first in everything we
do.
Celebrity is
unique in the way we make our guests feel, offering the intimate and thoughtful
service of smaller ships with the variety and excitement of bigger ones. Future
ships will continue this, offering variety of choice without compromising on
service.
Q: Celebrity
has recently increased its emphasis on short Caribbean sailings, a change you
implemented. Can you walk us through that decision?
A: We’ve seen increased interest for shorter
sailings, with the Caribbean particularly capturing our guests' attention.
These three-to-five-night cruises are perfect for a quick getaway. We always
offered shorter sailings, yet now we offer them year-round.
When I first
became president, guests and travel advisors told me how much they would love
to experience Perfect Day at CocoCay. This April, we began sailings to the
private destination and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge mingles with guests aboard the 2024 President's Cruise. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Q: Who,
specifically, is a potential Celebrity cruiser? What audiences are you reaching
currently and where are you most optimistic for potential growth?
A: We have a great mix of guests covering all
ages and demographics. However, our sweet spot tends to be guests who
appreciate elevated travel experiences, and are both active and curious.
Celebrity guests all share a common interest: they're looking to enjoy a
premium vacation experience unlike any other at sea. Our guests love that our
cruises offer the intimate feel and thoughtful service of smaller ships, with
the variety and excitement of bigger ones. We’re excited to continue growing,
as high demand for cruising continues, spurred by shifts in consumer spending
towards experiences versus things.
Q: What are some
reasons why someone would choose Celebrity for such destinations as Alaska, the
Caribbean, Europe or elsewhere?
A: For the first time ever, our Edge
Series ships are positioned in our four most popular regions—Alaska,
Europe, the Caribbean and Australia. We put our guests first in everything we
do, and we will continue to place our newest hardware in the regions our guests
tell us they want to experience.
With its unique
spaces at sea and the innovative concept of bringing the outside world in—from
floor-to-ceiling windows in many of the common areas to Infinite Veranda staterooms
that transform the entire living space into a veranda at the touch of a button—there’s
no better way to explore these breathtaking regions than on an Edge Series ship.
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge interacts with guests at the Grand Old House, Cayman Islands. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Q: How is the design
of Celebrity’s next ship, Xcel, coming?
A: The construction of Celebrity Xcel,
the fifth ship in our game-changing Edge Series, officially began on
June 13 with the laying of the first keel. She is set to make her debut in
November 2025 in the Caribbean and will sail from Fort Lauderdale. Her
inaugural season will offer seven-night itineraries, alternating between the
Bahamas, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands, as well as Puerto Plata, St. Thomas
and St. Maarten. Sailings are now open for booking, and we look forward to
welcoming guests on these exciting new journeys.
Q: Is there
anything that might be realized in Xcel because of feedback from Ascent?
A: We launched Celebrity Ascent with
more onboard entertainment options than ever before and the programming is
receiving rave reviews. We’ve been listening carefully to guest feedback to
ensure we deliver even more of what guests love on Celebrity Xcel. While
I can't disclose too many details just yet, I can reveal that Celebrity Xcel
will introduce seven new experiences that live up to her name in every way.
Celebrity Cruises celebrated the keel-laying ceremony for Celebrity Xcel at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)
Q: Can you discuss the balance between
remastering existing ships and building new ones?
A: Across the fleet we strive to create a
premium vacation experience for guests, whether it be through a variety of ship
size, ship design or onboard experiences offered. We want to create experiences
that attract both new cruisers and loyalists alike, which we have achieved by
balancing new ship builds while revolutionizing the existing fleet.
Q: What is
tri-fuel and why is this the approach you’ve adopted for Xcel’s engines?
A: Celebrity Xcel will be equipped
with the industry's first tri-fuel engine—meaning the ship can run on biofuels,
methanol and traditional marine fuels. This innovative feature is part of our
decades-long commitment to sustainability and advances our energy transition
efforts under Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future platform. With every new
ship, we strive to sustain the planet, energize communities and accelerate
innovation, so that we continue to deliver the ultimate vacation experience
responsibly. As we continue to research what the energy of the future will be,
innovations like Celebrity Xcel’s tri-fuel engine allow us to better
understand how our ships operate on different fuels and help us determine what
fuels are readily available in ports around the world.
Celebrity Cruises executive leadership members duing 2024's 'Conversation With Celebrity' session. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Q: What would
you say to travel advisors wondering how Celebrity is distinctive and how to
best advocate for it?
A: Our travel agents were drivers behind our
new brand positioning, as we wanted to ensure we positioned ourselves in the
ways our guests and travel advisors think of us. We are grateful to our travel
advisors for depicting the exceptional value of a cruise vacation with us and
pairing customers with travel experiences which suit their travel style.
Q: What is currently
in the works for Celebrity that travel advisors should pay special attention
to?
A: With cruising representing just two
percent of the broader vacation industry, there's a tremendous opportunity for
growth. As consumer spending continues to shift toward experiences, our
ambition is to keep delivering the best premium vacation while advancing
sustainable solutions for the future.
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