Maritime Executive Changes at Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation & plc, the largest cruise company globally, has announced that Vice Admiral William R. Burke (Ret.), the Chief Maritime Officer, will step down from his position on February 1, 2025. Lars Ljoen, the current Chief Operations Officer of Carnival Cruise Line, will then assume the role of Chief Maritime Officer for Carnival Corporation & plc. In this capacity, Ljoen will be in charge of all maritime operations for the corporation and its various cruise lines, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Josh Weinstein. Additionally, Ljoen will oversee strategic destination development and manage the company’s owned and operated ports.

Throughout his 25-year career in the cruise industry, Ljoen has established himself as a respected figure, showcasing a remarkable track record in high-ranking positions both at sea and on land. In his current role as Chief Operations Officer at Carnival Cruise Line, Ljoen is responsible for supervising various facets of the company’s marine operations, such as nautical and technical operations, environmental adherence, and safety measures. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in managing port operations, guest services, food and beverage offerings, onboard revenue generation, entertainment programs, as well as crew and travel operations.

“Lars is the obvious choice for this vital role, given his deep knowledge of our industry, his pedigree of success in key senior-level positions in the company, and his ability to consistently deliver operational excellence and business results for our largest global cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, Carnival Corporation & plc’s Chief Executive Officer. “Notably, his leadership during one of the most challenging times in our industry helped Carnival Cruise Line successfully navigate the operational pause and quickly reclaim its title as the world’s largest and most popular cruise line – an important driver of our company comeback.

“As we remain laser focused on achieving our carbon and emissions reductions goals and maintaining our leadership in safety and environmental best practices, Lars will bring his tremendous knowledge to build upon the legacy that Bill has established during his tenure,” he said.

Prior to Carnival Cruise Line, Ljoen served with Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group since 2015, initially as senior vice president and then promoted to executive vice president and managing director in 2016. At Costa Group, which at the time included Costa Cruises and AIDA, Ljoen was responsible for Carnival Maritime, the marine service unit of the group, as well as fleet governance, marine projects, and continuous improvement.

Previously Ljoen headed business strategy development for Ceres Marine Terminals (NYK Ports) and was director of marine operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. He began his career on supply vessels and shuttle tankers in the North Sea offshore industry.

“I’m honored to step into the Chief Maritime Officer role and eager to build on Bill’s remarkable foundation of operational excellence and write the next important chapter,” said Ljoen. “I look forward to applying my experience and skills to an even bigger platform to ensure the company’s continued success.