COVER STORY


Authenticity matters C


hristine Duffy personifies fun. She rides the roller-coaster, lip syncs with the boss at a ship event and employs a chief fun


officer. She has a heart for the crew, military veterans and the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.


She’s also running the biggest brand in cruising (by passengers carried). And doing a stellar job, by many accounts.


‘Christine has taken Carnival Cruise Line to new heights since joining the company in 2015,’ says her boss, Arnold Donald, president and ceo, Carnival Corp. & plc. ‘She has proven herself time and time again to be a dynamic leader for the Carnival brand with never-ending energy, passion and creativity, along with a penchant for fun in absolutely everything she undertakes.’


Duffy heads a 40,000-strong team that’s very multinational, but she’s emphasising greater diversity, inclusion and opportunity. She has shepherded the introduction of the three-ship Vista class and is preparing to introduce the 27th and biggest Fun


seatrade-cruise.com


Affiliations with several celebrities are strong and effective, the ‘Choose Fun’ branding resonates and travel agents once again love Carnival.


Morale is ‘the highest since I’ve been here,’ says Gus Antorcha, chief operating officer (who spoke prior to coronavirus). Net promoter scores and crew scores are the ‘highest they’ve ever been.’


Donald hired Duffy, who previously led Cruise Lines International Association, as the ‘unconventional choice’ for the presidency, given she was an outsider with no cruise operations background. Her predecessors – Gerry Cahill, Bob Dickinson, Micky Arison and company founder Ted Arison – all had Carnival pedigrees.


She has proven a great fit and a champion for the brand. In fact, people frequently describe Duffy as ‘on-brand.’ She likes that.


Team pep rally – a tradition with each new ship


Lapping five years as president, Christine Duffy has proved a great fit to lead the Fun Ship brand. Anne Kalosh reports.


Ship ever built, Mardi Gras. It is North America’s first LNG-powered cruise vessel and, on the fun side, it sports cruising’s first-roller coaster.


Dynamic leader with a penchant for fun


Supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is ‘very humbling, a source of pride’


‘Carnival is America’s cruise line. We lean into this idea. I embrace Ted Arison’s vision that every American deserves


Seatrade Cruise Review 5


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