Layoffs Announced at Royal Caribbean Cruises

The head of global sales and marketing at Royal Caribbean International announced Thursday she is leaving the company.

News of Lisa Bauer’s departure came as Miami-based parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. confirmed that about 100 of its land-based employees, mostly based in Miami, had lost their jobs in a company effort to achieve greater efficiency. The company has about 6,950 shoreside employees and 62,000 workers worldwide.

Employees were notified about the cuts Thursday and will mostly depart by the end of September.

Rob Zeiger, global chief communications officer, said Thursday that the reduction in staff “does not signal a larger restructuring or shakeup or anything like that.”

The jobs that were cut are spread across different levels and different cruise lines, Zeiger said. Those who have been laid off will be given severance packages and help finding new jobs and will be allowed to apply for open positions within the company.

“We’re committed to making sure that we run as lean and mean as we can and do what we can to deliver results for our shareholders, and that means constantly examining what you can do,” he said, adding that the company still plans to hire for some regional sales positions.

Zeiger said Royal Caribbean will not replace Bauer, who joined the company in 2002 as senior vice president of sales. In her most recent job, executive vice president for global sales and marketing, she oversaw Royal Caribbean International’s marketing and revenue management around the world. She was also in charge of sales and marketing offices and international representatives globally, which represented Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.

Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, will take on Bauer’s responsibilities. She will leave by the end of the week.

“She has made her mark across this company,” Zeiger said. “A lot of the things we do well we can thank her for.”

Source: The Miami Herald