4 2 group acquired in July 2020, before selling Azamara Cruises), and TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, of which it is a 50 per cent owner as part of a joint venture. In addition, Liberty is responsible for spearheading the group’s strategy, technology, supply chain, port operations and legal functions. He has had to hit the ground running in the first few months of his new role. “The impact of the pandemic has certainly been the biggest challenge that has ever faced our company and industry,” he says. “Whether having to navigate through almost two years of no revenue or ramping up the operations of our entire fleet in less than year, the resiliency of our business, the work ethic and innovative nature of our team, and the incredible support of our partners has shone through this incredible black swan event.” Today, all 63 ships in the fleet are back on the water and most countries have reopened to cruise in a “meaningful way”, prompting guests to return to Royal Caribbean ships, says Liberty. “Our fleet is fully back at sea, our business has normalised and we continue to see strong demand for cruising with key secular trends, such as consumers spending on experiences rather than things, accelerating,” he says. “Cruise offers a strong value proposition, and as consumers look to get out and experience the world once again, cruising is an attractive option. “Our mission in the short and long term is simple – we look to wake up every day and deliver the best vacation experiences on Earth responsibly. Our priorities are to ensure we live up to our mission by having the best brands, ships, destinations, and people.” This year, Royal Caribbean Group will host the official naming ceremonies for Celebrity Cruises’ latest Edgeclass ship Celebrity Beyond and Royal Caribbean International’s biggest Oasis-class vessel to date, Wonder of the Seas. It will also open new port facilities including a terminal in Galveston, Texas. In 2023, it will welcome Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova and Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas to the fleet – its first LNG ships. “ Our future is full of promise and innovation” Representatives from Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku mark the start of construction for Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, which will be the brand’s first LNG ship when it starts service in 2023 COVER STORY
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