LaDonna Allen

I attribute my success to being steady, consistent, and highly adaptable. In this industry, challenges are constant and conditions can change quickly due to geopolitical and economic factors, so continuous learning and the ability to pivot are essential. One of my most defining experiences was working through the pandemic when there were no ships in operation, and it took nine months to safely repatriate our crew members as many countries closed their borders. During that time, we had to coordinate complex logistics across fleets while also supporting guests, travel partners, and crew through unprecedented disruption, which strengthened my ability to remain calm, flexible, and solution-focused under pressure.

The best career advice I’ve received has come from influential mentors throughout my journey, including a professor from the College of William & Mary and a former colleague from Princess Cruises who remains active in the cruise industry. They shaped my professional growth by encouraging me to stay curious, remain open to learning, and take on challenges that push me outside my comfort zone. Their guidance reinforced the importance of building strong relationships, staying adaptable, and making thoughtful long-term career decisions rather than focusing only on immediate opportunities.

When starting off in travel, I tell them, number one, to be steady and consistent, and then to be very, very flexible. There's a lot of changes that happen in this industry, and really, the people that survive in this industry are those people who kind of stay really flexible with the conditions that happen out there. We are one of the industries that really changes with whatever's going on geopolitically and whatever is going on economically - we're always affected by that. So it does require, number one, constant learning, but it secondarily also requires that you be very flexible and ready to pivot at any point. Right now is an amazing time to become a travel advisor because you're really respected out there as the trusted source. There's a lot of opportunity for those of us in the industry to bring awareness to the fact that this is not only a surviving industry, but this is a thriving industry.

The biggest challenges in my field are that it is constantly evolving, with new challenges emerging every day. However, there are also significant opportunities, particularly as younger generations experience digital fatigue and increasingly seek trusted experts who can cut through the noise and provide authentic, first-hand guidance. I believe we are entering a new era where people value direct, reliable sources of information over simply searching online. Despite past perceptions that travel advisors are no longer needed, the industry continues to thrive, and there is a strong opportunity for experienced professionals to reinforce its value and highlight the important role we play in shaping meaningful travel experiences.

In both my professional and personal life, I value steadiness, consistency, and the ability to remain flexible in the face of challenges. I place a strong emphasis on mentorship and supporting others’ success, and I find great fulfillment in guiding those who are earlier in their careers while also serving our member base and helping travel advisors succeed in their daily work. Outside of work, I have maintained a yoga practice for nearly 20 years, which began as a way to stay grounded while my husband was deployed to the Middle East, and I also dedicate time to volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association. These values of service and resilience have guided me throughout my career, including during the most challenging periods such as the pandemic, when I remained focused on supporting both our crew members and travel partners through unprecedented disruption.