Journey with us!
Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our incredible team of employees at Royal Caribbean Group We are proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package and excellent career development opportunities each offering unique ways to explore the world
We are proud to be the vacation‑industry leader with global brands — including Royal Caribbean International Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — the most innovative fleet and private destinations and the best people Together we are dedicated to turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests
Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Marketing Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full‑time Director Product Development Celebrity Cruises reporting to the Vice President Product Development
Position Summary
The Director of Product Development (Basel) is the primary Product Development leader for River guest experiences with additional oversight and project‑based support across Destination Experiences and select Ocean initiatives as needed Acting as a direct extension of the Miami‑based Product Development organization this role ensures that River onboard and destination experiences are delivered with operational excellence brand consistency and strict adherence to SOPs throughout their lifecycle—not only at launch but in steady‑state operation
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Leadership Attributes
River‑First Product Leader with deep ownership of River guest experience execution
Operationally embedded and closely partnered with live operations teams
Steward of brand intent service standards and SOP integrity
Pragmatic problem solver capable of managing disruption while protecting guest experience quality
- Product Oversight
Serve as the Product Development owner for all existing River onboard and destination experiences
Ensure alignment of River experiences—land and ship—with approved concepts brand standards and operating procedures
Act as the primary escalation point for River product execution issues
Align global product intent with regional operational realities in close partnership with Miami‑based Product Development
- Operational Excellence & SOP Delivery
Ensure consistent execution of SOPs across all River guest experiences
Identify gaps between documented SOPs and live execution; partner with Operations to drive corrective action
Embed product standards into daily service delivery and champion standardization across the River fleet
- Experience Audit & Quality Assurance
Lead ongoing audits of River experiences
- including
- Guest journey flow
- Service delivery consistency
- Brand alignment
- Experience quality
Evaluate performance capture insights- and feed learnings into product refinement and development work
- Shipyard & Technical Collaboration
Partner with Shipyard teams on design workshops reviews and working sessions
Participate in mock‑ups sample reviews and prototype walk‑throughs to validate guest experience feasibility
Translate shipyard learnings into actionable product and operational refinements
- Marine & Refurbishment Support
Provide Product Development guidance to Marine and Technical teams on refurbishment decisions
Evaluate trade‑offs related to functionality durability guest impact and brand integrity
Review renovation scopes materials and sequencing to ensure minimal guest experience disruption
- Entertainment Programming & Special Events
Oversee River entertainment scheduling and experiential flow
Lead execution for seasonal programming and special events
Ensure programming aligns with brand storytelling and operational capacity
Collaborate with Entertainment Marketing and Operations to deliver seamless experiences
- Partnerships & Activations
Oversee execution of River‑focused partnerships and experiential activations
Ensure third‑party experiences meet brand and service standards
Support Ocean partnership initiatives as needed
- Operational Partnership & Disruption Support
Serve as a Product Development consultant to Basel‑based Operations during unanticipated disruptions
Support rapid decision‑making related to schedule staffing supply or technical issues
Recommend adjustments to protect the guest experience while ensuring operational continuity
- Secondary / As‑Needed Scope
Provide targeted support for Ocean initiatives including audits and special projects
Maintain River‑first accountability while supporting cross‑brand needs
Share River‑based insights and best practices where relevant
- Launch & Transition Support
Support launches and pilots for new River experiences
Ensure seamless transition into steady‑state operations
Validate SOP and brand standard alignment before handoff
- Governance Reporting & Communication
Provide structured updates to Miami‑based Product Development leadership on:
Contribute to executive‑ready summaries issue logs and documentation
Maintain disciplined records of decisions deviations and learnings
- Executive Communication & Special Projects
Qualifications Knowledge and Skills
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
10+ years' experience in Product Development Guest Experience Operations Newbuild Refurbishment or Hospitality
Preference for internal candidates knowledgeable about brand culture and structure
Strongly preferred: River cruise small‑ship luxury hospitality or high‑touch operational experience
Demonstrated experience leading live product portfolios—not solely concept development
Proven collaboration with Operations Marine Technical and Shipyard partners
Experience supporting refurbishments and lifecycle improvements
High ownership mentality with strong cross‑functional influence
Exceptional judgment in fast‑moving operational environments
Willingness to travel extensively across River and Ocean assets
Strong operational SOP auditing and service‑delivery expertise
Strong narrative communication and executive‑presentation skills
Financial / Quantitative Responsibilities
Physical Requirements
Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities Must be able to travel globally conduct presentations and work beyond standard hours as needed
Working Conditions
This job description outlines primary responsibilities but is not exhaustive Additional duties may be assigned Role primarily operates in a standard office environment with travel for team‑building training or conferences Flexibility in working hours may be required
We know there's a lot to consider
As you go through the application process our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance and answer any additional questions Thank you again for your interest in Royal Caribbean Group We hope to see you onboard soon!
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race color religion sex age national origin disability sexual orientation sexuality gender identity or expression marital status or any other characteristic protected by law Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment
