CLIA Announces Royal Caribbean’s Jason Liberty as New Chairman

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading authority of the global cruise industry, on Thursday announced that Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty has been appointed chairman by its Board of Directors. Liberty succeeds Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises who served in the role since January 2021.

CLIA provides an important and unified voice for the global cruise line industry representing cruise lines, suppliers, business partners, and a robust travel advisor community.

“Mr. Liberty assumes the chairmanship at a time when the industry is building on the momentum of strong demand and our members are advancing ambitious sustainability initiatives in pursuit of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said CLIA Executive President and CEO Kelly Craighead.

Jason Liberty.

Cruise, one of the fastest growing sectors of travel and tourism, is forecasted to reach 106 percent of 2019 levels in 2023—with 31.5 million passengers sailing—and approximately 35 million passengers in 2024.

“Mr. Liberty is a highly versatile and strategic leader who will help us build on this resurgence of travel and realize our global operating ambitions,” Craighead said.

Liberty became Royal Caribbean Group’s president and CEO in early 2022, following a career spanning nearly two decades in the cruise industry and having served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer for many years. Last year, he drove powerful gains in the Group’s business, becoming one of the top performing stocks of the year. He stewards three industry-leading brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea; as well as joint ventures in Germany-based TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, of which the company is a 50 percent owner.

“I am excited and honored to lead this organization as we enter a new era of cruising. With consumer demand continuing to accelerate, we are doubling down on our commitment to decarbonization and sustainable growth, ensuring that we are not only investing in our oceans and communities, but preserving them for generations of travelers to come,” Liberty said.

The global chair for CLIA provides leadership to the CLIA Global Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, responsible for establishing the overall strategic direction of the association on behalf of its cruise line members representing 95 percent of the world’s ocean-going cruise lines.