20 minutes with: Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO of Celebrity Cruises

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When Lisa Lutoff-Perlo took over as president and CEO of Miami-based Celebrity Cruises in 2014, no forecast could have predicted how devastating the Covid-19 pandemic would be for cruise lines. . But two and a half years later, the industry – which some thought would never fully return – is thriving again.

“It’s an industry that’s resilient, that’s been through all the tough times we’ve faced,” says Lutoff-Perlo. “It’s probably the worst, but it’s not the first.”

Lutoff-Perlo, 65, who has 20,000 crew under his leadership, took the opportunity to rethink what cruising should be. Celebrity recently unveiled a partnership with chef Daniel Boulud, works with internationally renowned architects and designers, and has collaborated with ambassadors and advisors ranging from actress and health guru Gwyneth Paltrow to gymnast Simone Biles. It’s part of a reimagining of what large ships are capable of and the kind of premium experience the company is able to offer its customers.

Lutoff-Perlo spoke with penta on his vision for the future of luxury cruising.

SLOPE: With the CDC lifting its “Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships” in July, what can cruise passengers expect in the short and longer term?

Lisa Putoff-Perlo: Every day gets better, that’s what I say. It seems to be getting a bit easier, although you know we still have to be vigilant. So we’re taking what little respite we get and continuing to exercise as much caution as possible, to keep everyone safe and healthy.

In June, we recommissioned our 15th vessel. So within a year we had all of our ships back in service. The only thing that will be different in the future, at least in the short term, is that unvaccinated passengers will still be able to sail. They will be required to test on any cruise they choose to take. For fully vaccinated customers, for cruises of five nights and less, at least for this short period, they will not have to test. Which will be good for them, just because this test adds another element of something they need to do and hopefully removes a barrier for us.

What do you think the future holds for luxury cruising as we continue to emerge from the pandemic?

[The pandemic] reinforced [our guests] resolve to explore the world and visit it in a meaningful way. That’s why they travel. And they are travellers, their state of mind is that they are curious about culture and they want to enjoy the world. And they want to enjoy the things Celebrity focuses on. You see people who really want to see the world again, explore it deeply, and improve their mind, body, soul, and spirit. And enjoy the cuisine, the design, the details that we offer.

One of the details that catches the eye is your partnership with Daniel Boulud. How did it happen?

Our culinary program on Celebrity is led by Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Gallagher. Cornelius happened to be a protege of Daniel. They are very good friends and they have known each other for decades. Cornelius trained with him in several of his restaurants in New York. As they stayed in touch over the years, Daniel became increasingly intrigued and interested in the cruise industry. Especially since someone like Cornelius chose to join him. Until then, Daniel was not at all curious about our industry. We’ve evolved our partnership over time, culminating in Le Voyage, which is Daniel’s signature restaurant that we now have on Celebrity Beyond.

What’s your response to the contingent of travelers who don’t believe a cruise can provide a truly luxurious experience?

Fame really changes people’s minds about it. I’ve been President and CEO of Celebrity for eight years now, and one of the things I first thought was, why don’t people believe that a cruise experience can to be luxurious on a grand scale? And why, in our industry, do people think that unless you’re on a ship with only 100 people, you’re not going to have a luxurious cruise experience? I looked at Vegas and thought, if Vegas could change its reputation and deliver the luxury on a grand scale pioneered by Steve Wynn, then why don’t people believe this industry can do it? And we prove them wrong every day with Celebrity.

What has the pandemic taught you about the ability to manage or mitigate different pressing health issues or risks?

It taught all of us, and me in particular, about resilience and agility in a bigger way than I’ve ever had to use those two things in my career. One of the things you learn through this is that it’s not going to last forever. We will come back, and when we come back, we will come back stronger than ever. One day at a time; it is an expression that we have used a lot.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.