Fora Travel, which was founded in 2021 and has made waves in the industry since then, has announced its first-ever head of cruise.
Randy Marsden, who has been a Fora travel advisor since 2022 (and has booked hundreds of cruises in that time), will lend his expertise to the in-house role, which was created in response to demand for cruise bookings. According to Fora, agency advisors booked nearly 100,000 cruise cabin nights in 2024.
“Randy brings over a decade of experience launching and scaling start-ups across the healthcare, software, hospitality and travel industries," said Henley Vazquez, co-founder and CEO of Fora. “Since Randy joined Fora, he’s played a key role in challenging outdated cruise stereotypes, staying ahead of key cruise trends and helping us stand out in the industry."
Randy Marsden has been named Fora Travel's first head of cruise.
Credit: Credit: 2025 Fora Travel
In his new position, Marsden aims to help travelers better understand the diversity of the travel type, from the new and modern ships available to emerging trends, including wellness-focused itineraries and top-notch culinary experiences.
“We’re seeing cruising take off with a new, more diverse audience of people across generations," Marsden said. "Today’s cruisers are looking for a premium experience with a deeper focus on destinations, and cruise brands are delivering incredible new options that appeal to a wide range of modern travelers."
Brands and products breaking the mold include Explora Journeys, Virgin Voyages, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Four Seasons Yachts, according to Fora. Not to be outshone, legacy lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises are answering the call for fresh ideas with new themes and itineraries, as well.