Wilhelmsen was part of his family’s shipping concern, Anders Wilhelmsen & Co AS, for more than a decade before he co-founded Royal Caribbean Cruises in 1968. At the time, cruising wasn’t the popular luxury vacation choice it would become. Instead of dedicated fleets of cruise ships, old transatlantic liners were occasionally used as unusual options for vacationers. Wilhelmsen envisioned the modern cruise industry and began building Royal Caribbean’s fleet. He remained on Royal Caribbean’s board of directors for decades as the cruise industry flourished.
What people said about him
With deep sadness, we bring you the news that Arne Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., passed away yesterday at the age of 90. The entire Royal Caribbean family extends its heartfelt condolences to the Wilhelmsen family. Read more: https://t.co/NvJoQY6GV1pic.twitter.com/7UzKr4YE8D
Arne Wilhelmsen had a long-term vision for the economies of scale of the cruise industry that few others did. Embraced Miami’s potential early on at a time when New York was the industry’s port of choice. R.I.P. #siteselection#econdevhttps://t.co/7CegEPu4Hx
News editor, Legacy.com. Named 2017's Obituary Writer of the Year by the Society of Professional Obituary Writers. Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans.
