Lars Ljoen

Lars is the Chief Maritime Officer for Carnival Corporation Ltd. Reporting to the CEO, he leads the enterprise maritime function across the corporation’s world-class cruise line portfolio. 

Lars oversees all aspects of building, operating and safely running a modern fleet: corporate shipbuilding and newbuild programs, maritime policy and regulatory affairs, and strategy for fleet assets, technical standards and operational reliability. Through CSMART, the company’s maritime training academy, he ensures officer readiness, guiding training and assessment against rigorous competency standards. His portfolio also spans health, environment, safety and security –including health and medical, environmental compliance, global corporate security and engagement with maritime authorities worldwide – plus port and destination development, global port agreements, and the company’s owned and operated destinations. Lars is on Carnival Corporation’s Corporate and Global Executive Leadership Teams, advising the CEO on enterprise-wide strategy and operations.

A maritime and cruise industry veteran with over three decades of experience, Lars brings a distinguished record across senior sea command and shoreside roles. He moved into his current role in 2025, following three years as Chief Operations Officer of Carnival Cruise Line, overseeing marine operations – including nautical, technical, environmental and safety – and led port, guest, food and beverage, onboard revenue, entertainment, and crew and travel operations.

Before joining Carnival Cruise Line in 2018, Lars held senior roles supporting Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group, then home to Costa and AIDA Cruises. He joined Carnival Corporation in 2015 as Senior Vice President of Carnival Maritime, the group’s marine service unit, becoming Executive Vice President and Managing Director in 2016, overseeing fleet governance and marine projects.

Previously, Lars was Vice President of Business Development at Ceres Marine Terminals (of NYK Ports), then Vice President of Americas Cruise and Roro Services for NYK Ports Group. Earlier, he was Director of Marine Operations at Royal Caribbean International. His career started on supply vessels and shuttle tankers in the North Sea.

Roles & Chronology

Corporate & Charitable Leadership

Lars represents Carnival Corporation as a board member of Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL), which is a world-class ship repair facility and the largest ship repair facility in the Caribbean. He also serves as a director of several of Carnival’s principal operating subsidiaries, including Carnival UK Ltd, Princess Cruise Lines Ltd, and Holland America Line Limited.

Personal & Educational Background

A native of Norway, Lars earned a Bachelor of Science from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and completed the London Business School’s Senior Executive Program.