This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service. With a career spanning more than four decades, Vicki has become one of the most respected leaders in cruising and one of the strongest advocates for travel advisors.

In this episode, Vicki reflects on her path from selling travel in her early 20s to leading sales at two of the world’s biggest cruise lines. She shares why relationships have always mattered more than titles, how Royal Caribbean stood by advisors during the pandemic, and why she believes kindness and compassion should guide leadership.

They also explore:

• The evolution of the travel advisor’s role from agent to trusted advisor
• How Royal Caribbean has invested in supporting advisors long-term
• The cruise industry’s biggest opportunities for growth and new-to-cruise clients
• Innovation at sea, from Perfect Day at CocoCay to Icon of the Seas
• Why entertainment, luxury suites, and even shipboard dogs are redefining the cruise experience
• How perspective, gratitude, and “mental muscles” help leaders navigate stress

Vicki also shares the philosophy that drives her work: travel advisors aren’t just booking trips, they’re memory doctors, creating life-changing moments that clients will never forget.