In a press release issued today, Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, recently announced the cruise line’s 2025 President’s Cruise itinerary. Guests aboard the 2024 President’s Cruise were the first to learn about the upcoming sailing aboard the iconic Celebrity Apex on May 17, 2025.
For Captain’s Club members, the annual cruise offers a vacation experience like no other. It is a special opportunity for Hodges Bethge and other Celebrity Cruises executive team members to spend time with the cruise line’s loyal guests, while enjoying elevated experiences not offered on any other sailing. Natural wonders and once-in-a-lifetime thrills await on this special sailing combining the spectacular landscapes, majestic wildlife and towering waterfalls of the Norwegian Fjords with bucket-list opportunities for history buffs, foodies, and adventure seekers provided by Norway’s cities and villages. Guests can soak up the magic and culture of picturesque cities like Oslo, Alesund and Bergen with an exciting array of to-be-announced shore excursions, special events, and unique experiences only offered on the 2025 President’s Cruise.
“The President’s Cruise is a massive celebration of our Captain’s Club members, and the sailing is an incredible opportunity for me and my executive team to spend time with our guests,” said Laura Hodges Bethge. “It is incredibly rewarding to hear guests’ stories and experience Celebrity through their eyes. The feedback and ideas we receive while onboard are instrumental in shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises, allowing us to innovate and enhance our offerings in ways that truly resonate with our guests.”
This year, the six-night Caribbean escape on the popular Celebrity Beyond from Sunday, June 23 to Saturday, June 29 featured exclusive onboard entertainment, premium tailored excursions, and a sneak peek into what Celebrity guests can experience in the months and years to come.
Two unforgettable sea days were filled with one-of-a-kind activities. A pool party like no other featured performances from members of the Team USA Artistic Swimming team, entertainment from Guinness World Record holding hula hoopers, and crowd-favorite games like the Officers vs Guests pool volleyball game, umpired by Hodges Bethge. “A Conversation with Celebrity” provided the opportunity to ask unfiltered questions to Celebrity executives and guests were also treated to unique performances from West End star Marisha Wallace and Celebrity Reflection captain, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, who put on a rock show like none other.
The special sailing highlighted one of Celebrity Cruises’ newest experiences, a stop a Perfect Day at CocoCay, the number one destination in Royal Caribbean Group. A “Perfect Day” of surprises included jet ski and flyboard stunt performers, Caribbean Junkanoo bands, DJs, an afternoon soirée for Captain’s Club members at Coco Beach Club, and more. In Grand Cayman, guests set off on shore excursions hosted by Celebrity’s executive team, with Hodges Bethge hosting a private lunch at the iconic Grand Old House, the oldest dwelling in Grand Cayman. An exhilarating day in Bimini rounded out the trip, where the President’s Cruise took over the island for an unforgettable private beach club party, before the ship received a spectacular send-off with fireworks ahead of returning to Port Everglades.
The annual sailing is one of many perks for Captain’s Club members, who now enjoy a wider range of benefits than ever before. Royal Caribbean Group recently announced an industry first one-for-one tier matching across all three Royal Caribbean group brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. While Captain’s Club members have enjoyed the unparalleled bonuses such as stateroom upgrades, discounts to pampering experiences in the spas, exciting cruise club events onboard, the expanded Loyalty Status Match gives Captain’s Club members even more benefits, and more ways to see the world with over 50 incredible ships sailing to nearly 1,000 destinations across all seven continents.
