DESTINATIONS PRESIDENTS’ CRUISES | CRUISE
Presidents’sway i
t sounds crazy: putting yourself in the line of fire of your fiercest critics, aka cruise lines’ loyalty club members. But that’s what the brave
presidents of some of the world’s leading cruise lines do to dig deeper into what their customers think and want – and, yes, to do their bit to increase sales. The sailings, known as presidents’ cruises, have
been around for a long time but they are back in vogue as competition hots up and companies look for new ways to gain an edge over their competitors. If it takes the top brass to meet and greet top-tier guests to make sure they feel valued, so be it.
SOCIETY SAILINGS “It’s been very respectful,” said Silversea president Bert Hernandez after a Q&A on his first Venetian Society Reunion Voyage (Silversea’s name for a president’s cruise) after just six months in the top job.
“It’s an honour to meet our Venetian Society guests and important for me to listen and learn.” The presidents of Windstar Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Atlas Ocean Voyages have also recently hosted special sailings, while Hernandez has more Silversea Venetian Society (VS) cruises lined up on October 17 and June 19, 2026. The latter is a 12-day sailing round-trip from Nice that starts at £9,500 per person (with flights, transfers and excursions). In June, luxury line Crystal marked its 35th
anniversary with a Chairman’s Cruise accompanied by Geoffrey Kent, founder and chairman emeritus of Abercrombie & Kent, part of parent company A&K Travel Group. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International chief Michael Bayley will be centre stage on his annual President’s Cruise on September 22 – a Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing on Utopia of the Seas.²
travelweekly.co.uk
Get insider access to cruise line bosses on these special sailings, writes Jane Archer
11 SEPTEMBER 2025
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PICTURE: Quark Expeditions/David Merron
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