Royal Caribbean taps former senior Carnival official for key role

Jacoby will oversee tour operations for the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises brands, reporting to Larry Pimentel, Azamara president and ceo, in his corporate role as chief destination experience officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

'Roberta is a great hire and will add depth, perspective and great leadership to a solid group,' Pimentel said.

The global tour operations group supports Royal Caribbean's three North American brands in every destination at the more than 90 countries they visit, and is tasked with delivering the shoreside brand essence for each.

Jacoby has been involved in a number of projects through her own Miami-based consultancy since retiring at the end of 2011 from Carnival, where her last job was svp corporate special projects, reporting to then vice chairman and chief operating officer Howard Frank. One assignment was helping oversee the transition of Seabourn to Holland America Line.

Earlier, as svp hotel operations for Carnival Cruise Lines, Jacoby led hotel services for a 23-ship fleet, with responsibility for food and beverage, casino, spa, photography, accommodations, entertainment, shore excursions, youth programming, corporate training and crew. More than 30,000 employees were under her direction.

Prior to that, Jacoby served as svp air/sea operations and led corporate training and the strategy office, working with various departments. She chaired Carnival’s Quality Assurance Team and traveled to each ship every year to meet with crew and department heads.

Jacoby joined Carnival in 1976 as an air/sea reservations agent. She first reported to Micky Arison, who was then in charge of passenger traffic/reservations.

Her former long-time Carnival boss, Bob Dickinson, has noted Jacoby is known in the travel business for her management talent and tough negotiation skills.