Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed talks about how she has come to make travel her passion, the importance of having a travel advisor and the features that Odyssey of the Seas offers.
Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the Odyssey of the Seas has been heralded as a cruise line staple since its launch. It is now embarking on an unprecedented voyage to explore uncharted destinations and bring guests closer than ever before. The high-tech vessel will also feature groundbreaking technology and innovative programs for all passengers to experience this unique expedition.
Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales, talks about Odyssey of the Seas, Travel Advisors and more.
It’s apparent that the cruise industry is on the mend as more ships sail with an increasing number of passengers.
Royal Caribbean held an official naming ceremony for the new Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship on November 13.
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On a floating cabana at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay, I chatted with Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support, and Service.
The whole interview can be found below, or you can listen to the current edition of the podcast here.
TP: How are you doing, Vicki? How are things going for you right now?
VF: I’m in terrific shape. What’s great is that the sector is resurgent, and our travel partners are resuming operations and gaining traction, which is a fantastic sign.
TP: It’s the huge cruise’s return. Congratulations on earning 11 Travvy Awards in total for Royal Caribbean; how thrilling is that? And how significant is it that travel advisors, or “real travel infrastructure,” as they are known, voted you the best?
VF: You know, we only want to win prizes if we are deserving of them. As a result, it means a lot to us when the travel experts vote for us and honor our efforts. The fact that we got the gold Travvy for outstanding support in the travel business for the travel adviser is very noteworthy. That is significant to us since we have always cared about travel advisors and will continue to do so. And, you know, it’s in our DNA to just be there for travel advisors and assist them in being really successful.
TP: How are reservations shaping up for the holiday and winter travel seasons?
VF: We’re seeing an increase in reservations, which is fantastic. And customers are saying things like, “You know, I haven’t vacationed in a year or two.” I’m all set to go, and travel agents suggest Royal Caribbean. As a result, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Because we provide outstanding vacation experiences, our customers have high net promoter ratings, which means they are more likely to return and refer us to their friends and family. Everything is going swimmingly for us.
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TP: What is the current guest capacity level, and does it vary each ship?
VF: When we first started out, we wanted to be extremely careful about our occupancy numbers, and we wanted to make sure the processes were in place and operating. And the procedures are working, and we’ve grown our capacity and load factors to over 50% today, and we’re going to keep rising each month.
We now have 18 ships in the sea, with more on the way. So, by the spring of next year, all 26 ships, including the spanking new Wonder of the Seas, will be completely operational.
TP: How has the cruise experience altered since the company reopened?
VF: I believe there have been a number of silver linings onboard the ships. The E mustering, or safety drill, is the first. The guesses used to have to convene in a lounge or near the outside lifeboats in the past. And now everyone does it on their phone or by viewing a video on their stateroom TV. They next go to the lifeboat station, where they check in with a crew member, who asks if they have any questions. In the case of an emergency, here is where you’ll go.
They’re off to enjoy their holiday after everyone says, “Yeah, yes, I’ve seen the video, I agree I understand the facts.” As a result, they won’t be wasting time on their vacation by needing to gather in the old-fashioned manner to do safety exercises.
TP: What distinguishes Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas from the other cruise ships on the market?
VF: I believe what distinguishes Royal Caribbean from other cruise lines and holiday companies is our unique combination of quality and excitement. So, there are wonderful quality lines out there, some of which we own, and there are lines out there that have energy, but no one has the unique mix of quality and excitement.
In terms of features, we have a lot of them, and probably the one area where customers tell us, “You know, this is my one difficulty with being on a ship as beautiful as Odyssey of the Seas is that I can’t do it all in seven days, six days, or eight days, depending on the voyage duration.”
As a result, consumers will have to return since we are one of those organizations that simply states, “It’s all about choice.” So, when it comes to entertainment, there will be more entertainment alternatives than your customers can handle, as well as more food selections, specialist restaurants, gratis restaurants, and so on. You just cannot accomplish everything.
On Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship, the Lime and Coconut Bar and pool area (picture by Lauren Bowman) )
TP: How is Royal Caribbean addressing issues of diversity, equality, and inclusion?
VF: Well, it was a major effort on our part. We’ve always been a diverse workplace at Royal Caribbean, but now we’re even more dedicated to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything, has the opportunity to advance with a firm like ours.
TP: What are the company’s objectives for 2022?
VF: Our objective is to return to providing an outstanding holiday experience on all of our 26 ships. It is a primary priority of ours to service the travel professional. We never have to worry about our personal success if we can assist the travel professional succeed — it’s a win-win situation for everyone.
TP: What is your current message to all travel advisors?
VF: As a travel adviser, we are dedicated to supporting you. If you have a need, or even if you don’t have a need but simply want to expand your company, Royal Caribbean wants to be that partner you can count on and call on. So. Simply give us a call and allow us to serve you and assist you in growing your company since we will need your services in the future. We’re expanding as a business, and we need you to succeed in order for us to succeed. It’s a win-win situation for you, us, and, of course, the customer.
The “royal caribbean university login” is a cruise line that offers cruises around the world. The company has been in business for over 50 years and is one of the largest cruise lines in the world.
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