Laura Hodges Bethge is president of Celebrity Cruises, an award-winning premium cruise line
known for its sophisticated design and elevated hospitality, and one of three best-in-class cruise
brands owned by vacation industry leader Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), which also
includes Royal Caribbean and Silversea. Prior to that, she served as the Group’s executive vice
president of shared services operations, responsible for safety, security and environment, risk
management, travel services, supply chain and crew movement teams.
In early 2025, Hodges revealed plans for Celebrity Cruises to enter the river cruise business with
the launch of Celebrity River Cruises in 2027, marking an exciting and significant expansion of the
brand’s offerings.
Laura’s long history with Royal Caribbean Group began in 2000 leading the fleet accessibility
program followed by positions in hotel and marine operations, sales, marketing, and investor
relations. She was also based in Shanghai where she oversaw commercial operations for this
strategic market as Vice President of Market Development. Notably, she was also Senior Vice
President of Product Development for Royal Caribbean, the largest global cruise line, where she
led teams conceptualizing the line’s groundbreaking ships, onboard experiences, and private
destinations, including the first island in Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Island Collection — Perfect
Day at CocoCay.
In the South Florida community (her hometown), Hodges Bethge is on the board of Easterseals,
a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of people and families with disabilities. She also
supports efforts aiding the Police Officer Assistance Trust (POAT), a nonprofit organization
that assists officers and their families in times of need. She received the American Caribbean
Maritime Foundation Anchor Award last year for her support of Caribbean maritime education
and community development and was named one of the 2025 Most Influential Women in Travel
by TravelPulse.
Hodges Bethge holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and an MBA in international business
and finance, from Florida International University.