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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
“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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
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. (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)
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. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
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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