Key Aspects:
- Dominique Gamba has announced his departure from his position as Senior Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean.
- Gamba has served with both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises and in different food and beverage leadership positions since June 2006, apart from a brief spell at Viking.
- He has indicated that he may not yet be leaving the cruise industry entirely and hints that “paths will cross again” in the future.
Dominique “Dom” Gamba, the popular and skilled Senior Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean, has announced his departure from the company.
Gamba made the announcement via his social media accounts on September 3 and September 4, 2026, including Facebook and LinkedIn. With the posts, he shares his gratitude for so many great years with great people.
“After so many unforgettable years with Royal Caribbean Group, my heart is full. I want to thank each one of you [who] walked beside me – for the lessons, the late nights, the victories, and even the challenges that shaped us,” he said.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Gamba’s service with Royal Caribbean Group began not with Royal Caribbean, but with Celebrity Cruises in June 2006 when he began as a traveling restaurant operations manager. He stayed with Celebrity Cruises until January 2013, at which time he joined Viking Ocean Cruises until August 2013.
In September 2013, Gamba returned to Royal Caribbean Group, this time with Royal Caribbean as a traveling food and beverage director. Since that time, he moved up the management ranks of the cruise line to manage fleet restaurant operations to director of fleet restaurant operations to a senior director, and finally to the senior director for all of food and beverage operations in July 2026.
This position involves overseeing the culinary and bar teams across the 30 ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and more than 450 total dining and beverage venues. These range from classic main dining rooms to specialty restaurants to quick service locations, both onboard and at the cruise line’s private destinations, such as Perfect Day CocoCay.
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His departure so soon into his new position is a surprise, but Gamba indicates that this may not be the end of his service with the cruise line.
“This is not an ending. Just a pause in the journey, and I truly believe our paths will cross again. Thank you for being an important part of my life,” he said.
Gamba goes on to wish “Kudos” to operational team members and tags many of his colleagues in Royal Caribbean management as well as the culinary, beverage, and restaurant teams.
Well Wishes From Colleagues
Many different colleagues chimed in on Gamba’s announcement to wish him the best as he moves on to a new adventure, with the support stretching across different departments on different cruise lines.
“And just like that – we lose a wonderful colleague and dear friend. Thank you for the foundation you’ve built and for all of your years of service and loyalty,” said Aurora Laly Yera-Rodriguez, AVP of Guest Experience at Royal Caribbean.
“Wishing you all the very best my friend. Aren’t many who have done it better than you. Thank you for everything you did for me during all the years we worked together,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, former president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “It was an honor and a privilege.”
“Dom – I truly put you in an elite category. The way you championed your team as well as every single crew member you came in contact with was inspiring,” added Mike Szwajkowski, Senior Director of Entertainment for Silversea, another brand in the Royal Caribbean Group. “The passion you brought every day left me awestruck and made me want to be a better leader.”
Cruise Hive also wishes Gamba well and thanks him for his devoted service to so many in the cruise industry and the guests who enjoy the amazing dining on every voyage.
