Salika Kebschull Named Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Managing Director

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has named Salika Kebschull as its next managing director, effective January 1, 2027. The appointment, announced on October 5, follows Isolde Susset’s decision to retire at the end of 2026 after approximately 30 years with the cruise line.

Susset became the brand’s managing director in 2024, when she also joined TUI Cruises GmbH’s executive board and assumed responsibility for the entire Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet. Kebschull will join the company on November 1, 2026, for a two-month handover alongside Susset, who will remain in charge throughout the transition.

“In Salika Kebschull, we are gaining an experienced leader who combines expertise in the international luxury hotel industry with sales expertise and cruise experience,” said Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.

Kebschull’s hotel and cruise experience

Kebschull previously served as director of cruise consultancy at Sea Cloud Cruises. Her hotel-sector roles have included general manager of Hotel Munchen Palace and director of membership services at Relais & Chateaux.

Her senior commercial responsibilities have covered revenue management and distribution, alongside marketing, sales, e-commerce and business development. Most recently, she has advised international hotel projects, with assignments covering guest experience, strategic positioning, sales and improvements to operating processes.

Kebschull trained at the Altotting Hotel Management School and Hamburg’s Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten. Her education also includes study visits to Cornell University and an MBA from Reims Business School/NEOMA Business School.

The incoming managing director said she looked forward to meeting the brand’s shoreside teams, ships’ crews and partners, and working with them on its future development. She described the opportunity to learn directly from Susset during the handover as “a particularly valuable start to my new role.”

Susset’s role in developing the expedition fleet

Susset played a central role in developing Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ three expedition ships: Hanseatic nature and Hanseatic inspiration, both built in 2019, and Hanseatic spirit, built in 2021.

Meier credited Susset with advancing the expedition business during her long career with the brand. “We are extremely grateful to her for this,” she said.

“I am grateful for the many special developments I have been able to shape together with fantastic teams,” Susset said. She singled out the establishment and subsequent development of the expedition segment as an important part of that work.

Susset welcomed the opportunity to transfer responsibility through a personal handover and wished Kebschull success in the position.