A bright light within the travel industry is gone, but her shining spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of the travel and cruise industry communities.
In a sad notice, Cruise Planners reports that the popular, affable and creative Vicky Garcia, its chief operating officer, has passed away following a long illness. Garcia, who had more than three decades of travel/cruise industry experience, was 56 years of age.
"As I reflect on our 18-year partnership, I feel blessed to have had such a sincere, warm and fun BFF by my side,” says Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, Coral Springs, FL.
In the trade group’s statement, Fee also says: “She knew early on that the secret to CP success was in the human touch, our agents, and Home Office Team, many of whom were part of her extended family. She truly felt that way.”
Beginning her travel industry career in 1987 as a Royal Caribbean International reservations agent, Garcia moved up the ranks to become that cruise line’s manager – sales service. She also served as manager of reservations for Norwegian Cruise Line. In 2004, she joined Cruise Planners as its executive vice president of sales and marketing, prior to moving up to COO in 2013.
Recently, she was selected as one of South Florida’s Top 25 Influential Business Women. She’s served on many trade advisory boards over the years for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), American Express Travel, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Special Needs Group, Regent Seven Seas Council and The Travel Corporation. She was also selected by Viking as godmother for Viking Magni.
Cruise Executives Speak Out
But beyond her professionalism, leadership and business acumen, Garcia is equally remembered this week for her kind, fun spirit and caring approach to people she met along the way. Here are a few comments from cruise line executives.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, tells Travel Agent: “So sad to hear the news of Vicky’s passing. She was truly one of a kind and touched so many in our industry and beyond with her positive energy, authenticity and caring for others.”
In addition, “Vicky and Michelle were an incredible team and built a company with their great passion and love for travel, cruising and each other,” says Duffy. “They have enabled so many to live their dreams. Vicky had a huge heart and will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. My thoughts and prayers for everyone at Cruise Planners, Carol [Alexander] and their family.”
Shawn Tubman, senior vice president of sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, says: “All our hearts are hurting upon hearing the sad news. Vicky was a favorite of everyone who knew her. Warm, caring, wicked smart with just the right amount of devilishness. We’re all better off having known her. Our thoughts at Regent go out to Vicky’s family, Carol Alexander, and everyone at Cruise Planners. She’ll be truly missed.”
For Katina Athanasiou, senior vice president of sales, Silversea Cruises, remembering Garcia is all about “her authenticity. She was honest, brave, bold and asked tough questions, but always fair and kind and truly cared about others and doing good.”
Athanasiou also viewed Garcia as a strong industry advocate and a “tremendous sounding board to many who looked up to her. I, for one, am going to miss her immensely. She was a light in both her personal and professional life and I was honored to know her.”
Garcia's long-time friend and business colleague, Alex Pinelo, senior vice president of sales, AmaWaterways, points to Garcia’s strong advocacy role for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of South Florida. Garcia was a strong advocate and volunteer for that cancer charity and also the LGBTQ community.
As for her cancer charity advocacy, "she approached me back in 2014 and asked me to run for Man of the Year” for that organization, said Pinelo, who at the time was VP of key accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line. “I initially said ‘no,’ but when she asked me again the following year, ‘I not only said ‘yes,’ but with her help, support and coaching was able to raise over $176,000 to support this very important cause not only to her but to so many around the globe.”
Pinelo continued: “Vicky will be missed by all she came in contact with and is leaving behind a huge void in our industry. I never had a sister, but I would always tell Vicky if I did, I would want her to be my sister from another mister and I will dearly miss her.”
Cruise Planners Feedback
Certainly, Garcia most touched the people within the Cruise Planners organization whom she considered her family. She proudly “wore the green,” the official Cruise Planners corporate color, and also fielded what the organization calls the “Cruisitude” attitude, as she helped advisors start, build, finetune and foster the growth of their franchise businesses.
Calling Garcia’s passing as “very sad indeed,” Adam Martindale, owner of a Cruise Planners franchise, San Diego, CA, told us: “I think my fondest memory was when I first met her at a Cruise Planners training class when I started my franchise and realized what a real person she was -- no nonsense, tell-it-how-it-is—and I loved that.”
Martindale cites Garcia’s positive attitude and encouragement to him through the years. “I’m proud to have met and known her through the years…and will really miss her energy and perspective. Her spirit will live on forever at Cruise Planners.”
Sarah Matulonis, travel advisor with the Cruise Planners franchise in Fort Pierce, FL, wrote on her Facebook page: “Thank you, Vicky Garcia, for all the love and light you brought into this world and into my life. You were a champion of creativity, always doing what was needed to bring mine and others’ big ideas to life.”
She continued: “You were a fun, kind and loving mentor, boss, friend and even happily took on the title of being my bonus “mom” when a fellow traveler thought I was your daughter. I miss you.”
Michael Consoli, owner of a Cruise Planners franchise in Roswell, GA, and the organization’s top seller, said that “Vicky’s passion for the travel industry was influential and infectious. Her love of the business, the people and her job inspired all of us to be successful and passionate about bringing amazing travel experiences to our guests.”
On a personal level, Consoli told Travel Agent that wherever he went in the world: "Vicky knew no strangers. We were privileged beyond words to be a part of her life. She is a force in our lives and the industry that will be sadly missed.”
Caitlin Gardner, former public relations director for Cruise Planners, had worked with Garcia since 2008 before coming in-house with Cruise Planners in 2013. Personally recruited by Garcia, “it was the best decision to say yes to her,” Gardner says, remembering Garcia’s “warm, welcoming and come-as-you-are vibe, which she brought with her to work every day.”
Gardner cites amazing memories with Garcia at industry events, meals and drinks, fun cruises, Cruise Planners Conventions and her own Caribbean wedding. She says that Garcia even came to the hospital to visit her on the day her son was born.
“But my favorite memory is from 2015, during the 'Love is Love' event in Fort Lauderdale where Vicky and her wife, Carol, were able to legally renew their vows in her home state of Florida,” says Gardner, noting that they had previously been married in New York state. “It was powerful, it was impactful and it was memorable—just like Vicky.”
More Executive Feedback
Last night, Travel Agent spoke again to Fee. The two definitely had a special bond, Fee says, acknowledging that she’s emotional about Garcia’s passing: “As business partners, she was special, she was the ying to my yang… and when Vicky was around, life was just more fun!”
In addition, Fee called Garcia “instrumental in helping me build Cruise Planners into the powerhouse company that it is today. She was the ‘Queen of Cruisitude’ and will forever be missed by me.”
In its statement, Cruise Planners also said that Garcia is survived by her wife, Carol; brother, John; and her beloved niece Chelsea and nephew Jake.
Yesterday, however, it wasn’t only Cruise Planners leaders, advisors, staffers and cruise line executives who expressed sadness at Garcia’s loss and appreciation for what she’s done for the industry. Competitors and industry groups did so as well.
“On behalf of the team at Nexion Travel Group and the ASTA Board of Directors, we send our deepest condolences to her family and to the team of Cruise Planners,” said Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion and a member of that ASTA board.
Summarizing her feelings, Friedman puts it well: “Vicky Garcia’s passion for our industry and the people who work in it was infectious. Although she was technically a competitor, it never felt that way. Her kindness and her spirit will continue to shine. We are all better for having known her.”