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Raimund Gschaider

VP, Hotel Operations – Royal Caribbean International

Photography by Steve McCurry

Over 40 years ago, Raimund Gschaider started a job in the dining room on Royal Caribbean’s first ship, Song of Norway.  

He went on to work on most of Royal Caribbean’s ships, including Sovereign of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, climbing his way up through various management positions until ultimately being named Hotel Director, helping launch several new ships. 

Now VP of Hotel Operations for Royal Caribbean International, he works shoreside, overseeing the day-to-day hotel operations of the Royal Caribbean fleet. One of his favorite parts of the job is hearing from our guests and bringing ideas back to the product development team for consideration as new ships are developed. 

“Royal Caribbean Group continuously reinvents cruising and drives innovation to a new level,” he said. Icon of the Seas, for example, is full of innovations like the Aquadome and, his personal favorite, the Pearl, an essential piece of the ship’s structure designed to be a piece of artwork in itself.  

It’s that forward-thinking drive for innovation that fuels Raimund’s passion for RCG and keeps him looking for opportunities to learn, grow and continue to pursue opportunities within the company.  

“If you have the desire to grow within RCG, it is there for you. You need to take it and commit to it,” he said. “There is no other company in the cruising industry – and I’d even say in the hospitality industry – that gives you that opportunity to grow.” 

“My advice to younger people is always ‘Be there. Be known. Take on additional responsibilities. Take a risk,” he said. “Become part of something that shapes the future of our company, and you will be noticed.”