Cruise Lines

Sad to see in Travel Weekly that Susan Hooper, managing director EMEA at Royal Caribbean International is leaving the cruise line in September.

Hooper was responsible for persuading her American bosses that Independence of the Seas - the world's biggest cruiseship - could be a success in the UK. Result? The ship was not only named here and is sailing from Southampton this year, but is on sale with a similar selection of Med cruises next year. Suspect that indicates she was right.

Meanwhile, the cruise merry-go-round continues over at MSC Cruises, where Giulio Libutti has taken over from Claudio Baino as managing director, while Stena Line's Lars Olsen has replaced Cunard president and managing director Carol Marlow as Passenger Shipping Association chairman. Olsen was previously chairman of the PSA's ferry section.