Christine Duffy

Christine is President of Carnival Cruise Line, the flagship brand of the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation & plc. As President, she leads Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet of 29 ships that homeport in North America, Europe and Australia, sailing nearly six million guests annually and employing more than 52,000 people who hail from 120 nations around the globe. She reports to Josh Weinstein, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Christine’s “people first” business philosophy and wealth of experience in the travel industry makes her an accessible and relatable leader as Carnival Cruise Line leverages its commitment to delivering safe, fun and memorable vacations to its millions of guests and growing customer base. Since joining Carnival Cruise Line as its first female President, Christine has overseen the introduction of new ships and capacity expansion, including the introduction of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cruise vessels in North America, as well as ships with the first roller coasters at sea. Under her leadership, Carnival Cruise Line was the first major U.S. brand to return its entire fleet to guest operations after the industry-wide pause related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also oversaw the establishment of a state-of-the-art Fleet Operations Center at the company’s Miami headquarters, which incorporates technology utilized by NASA and the U.S. Navy for real-time fleet monitoring and enhanced decision-making.

Christine joined the cruise industry in 2011 when she was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). While at CLIA, she elevated the industry’s profile before consumers, regulators, industry stakeholders and the media; led the adoption of the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights to enhance the industry’s commitment to passenger safety, comfort and care; managed the industry response to several high-profile crises; and consolidated a network of 15 cruise industry organizations into one global association.

Prior to CLIA, Christine spent 10 years at Maritz Travel Company, the world’s largest corporate meeting, events and incentive travel company where she served six years as President and Chief Executive Officer. In this capacity, she worked directly with a variety of Fortune 500 corporations in the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial services and technology sectors.

Roles & Chronology

Corporate & Charitable Leadership

In 2023, Christine was re-appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. From 2020 to 2022, she served as Chair of the U.S. Travel Association, the leading advocacy and trade organization representing all components of the travel industry. Christine is a member of the Board of Directors of Aimbridge Hospitality, the global leader in hotel management services, and Herschend Family Entertainment, the nation’s largest family-owned operator of themed attractions, including Dollywood and Branson’s Silver Dollar City. She sits on the Professional Advisory Board of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of which Carnival Cruise Line is the Official Celebration Partner.

Christine has been a strong supporter of women’s leadership in the travel industry, leading initiatives that delivered research and programs to help women advance their careers. She was named by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality as one of its top women in travel and hospitality and is a 2024 inductee into the CLIA Hall of Fame. Christine is also a member of The Committee of 200, an organization of the world’s most successful women business leaders that supports, celebrates and advances women’s leadership. She was recognized by Moves magazine as a 2016 Power Women recipient for her work in serving as a role model for future generations of young women. She has also been honored by the Convention Industry Council and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others. Christine was a member of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference class of 2018, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious public liaison program for the Department of Defense.