What Makes Celebrity Cruises’ Epic President’s Cruise So Special?

by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 1:45 PM ET, Sun June 30, 2024

Perhaps it was the Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club members who didn’t even know they’d booked a President’s Cruise who seemed to enjoy it the most.

From the enhanced onboard décor and poolside activities to exclusive events like wine tastings and officers’ parties, these loyalty guests had a blast aboard this week’s special sailing, which saw the line’s executive leadership team and the company’s president herself joining in the onboard revelry.

The six-night sailing, which took place June 23-29, carried its contingent to Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean Group’s private island destination, Grand Cayman’s Georgetown and Bimini in the Bahamas before heading back to Fort Lauderdale.

Celebrity Cruises executive leadership members duing 2024's 'Conversation With Celebrity' session.

Captain’s Club members John and Sue told me they had no idea they’d booked aboard the annual President’s Cruise beforehand, but that they were stunned by the extent to which offerings around the ship had been elevated to mark the occasion.

In the midst of sailing back-to-back cruises, these Elite Plus-level members are already Celebrity devotees who had been on board for two weeks prior, but said they were surprised to find the festivities outdid anything they’d experienced before.

“We were on the eight nights before. When it switched to the President’s Cruise, I can’t tell you how much it was elevated,” said Sue. “I could not even imagine how wonderful it was. I mean, we’re out walking the track while nobody’s on the ship and they’re decorating the elephant by the pool and they’re putting up beautiful flower displays, and I thought ‘My goodness’. I mean, they’ve really stepped it up.

Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge mingles with guests aboard the 2024 President's Cruise.

Like plenty of these loyalists, the couple had already had an opportunity to converse with Celebrity’s President Laura Hodges Bethge herself during one of the Captain’s Club members-only events.

But access to the president wasn’t limited just to VIPs—she was out and about enjoying all sorts of happenings among the broader guest contingent, getting down in the trenches to personally umpire the guests-vs-officers volleyball competition on President’s Pool Day, demonstrating her culinary talents in an onstage cooking competition, opening each day’s shows and hosting various other entertainment offerings, and generally lending support to her fellow executives and Celebrity crew members.

According to those who work closely with her, Hodges Bethge is the sort of person you rarely encounter in such a high-level position—not only uniquely competent in her exceeding challenging role, but also passionate, hardworking, down-to-earth and profoundly personable.

This much quickly becomes obvious to anyone who has the pleasure of making her acquaintance. She unfalteringly exudes class and composure, but there’s also a warmth and exuberance there that make her extremely approachable.

Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge competes in a cooking contest aboard the 2024 President's Cruise.

This intangible quality explains why Celebrity guests and upper-echelon loyalty members feel comfortable walking up and chatting to her, asking questions or catching her up on their latest oceangoing exploits as though she were just another of their fellow cruise-goers. And, most surprisingly, she frequently knows them by sight and recalls their stories. She graciously gives each her time and attention, and earnestly solicits and welcomes guest feedback in all of its forms.

To that point, she told me that, when she started in this position roughly one year ago, she felt that her job should be, first and foremost, to listen. “When I first became president, I repeatedly heard from travel advisors and guests how Celebrity vacations are unparalleled in their eyes. Time and time again, they’ve shared gratitude for the thoughtfulness of our crew, the richness of our onboard entertainment and activities, and the exceptional way we make our guests feel.”

Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge interacts with guests at the Grand Old House, Cayman Islands.

“What I’m most looking forward to on this President’s Cruise is spending time with our Captain’s Club members,” she continued. “It's incredibly rewarding to hear their stories, understand their perspectives, and experience Celebrity through their eyes. The feedback and ideas I receive from our guests while onboard are instrumental in shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises, allowing us to innovate and enhance our offerings in ways that truly resonate with our guests.”

For the uninitiated, “The President’s Cruise is a giant celebration for our Captain’s Club members,” Hodges Bethge explained. “Hosted by myself, some of my shoreside leadership team, and the executive team onboard, the cruise is set to surprise and delight our most loyal members at every turn.” She added, “I can’t give away too much, however, the next couple of days will be peppered with a few surprises!”

Broadway star Marisha Wallace performs aboard Celebrity Beyond during the 2024 President's Cruise.

As it turns out, the surprises started on Day 1 and kept on coming. Special programming for this one-of-a-kind sailing ranged from on-deck demonstrations by Guinness World Record-holding acrobats and the U.S. Olympic Artistic Swim team to stunning stage performances by Broadway and West End star Marisha Wallace and powerhouse vocalist Will Martin, who could be called the “Josh Groban” of New Zealand.

President Hodges Bethge, her leadership team and the Celebrity Beyond’s own deck officers were frequently to be found at the center of the action. They took part in special events, such as a Conversation With Celebrity, in which audience members posed their burning questions to their beloved brand’s executives, along with attending various formal and informal meet-and-greet opportunities.

Record-holding hula hooper performing during the Celebrity Cruises 2024 President's Cruise voyage.

On Grand Cayman, the president personally hosted a special luncheon excursion to her favorite restaurant, the Grand Old House—the oldest residence on the island—where a live band played while guests dined on the oceanfront patio. Company leadership likewise mingled with Captain’s Club members during an exclusive takeover party held on Bimini Beach, at which Hodges Bethge herself took to the turntables to act as DJ while food and drinks flowed freely from every corner of the sun-drenched venue.

Sea days also saw plenty of special events onboard, some of which were curated by the president herself. In the theater, in addition to the regular shows and entertainment, there the aforementioned Celebrity cooking competition took place, as did the late-night adults-only game show The Liar’s Club, both of which saw Celebrity leadership take to the stage.

Celebrity’s own Captain Kirk (a real ship’s captain who moonlights as a guitar player and vocalist) performed more than once on the main stage with the Beyond house band, covering classic rock ‘n roll anthems. Executives and high-level crew members made the rounds at special onboard happy hours, meet-and-greets, prize giveaways, tasting experiences and much more.

"Shine the Night" party aboard the 2024 Celebrity Cruises President's Cruise.

On the final night of the itinerary, the 2024 President’s Cruise Farewell Party, “Shine the Night”, was held atop the resort deck, kicking off with a full spread of aerial fireworks launched from the shores of Bimini and continuing with dancing to music from a live DJ, acrobatic demonstrations, performances by the voyage’s headlining vocalists and general merriment that went on into the wee hours.

During the voyage, Hodges Bethge made the announcement that next year’s President’s Cruise will sail out of Southampton, England through Belgium and the Norwegian Fjords aboard the Celebrity Apex from May 17-25, 2025. And, if the onboard chatter is any indication, everyone who’s anyone is planning on being there.

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