Each year, Royal Caribbean selects an Employee of the Year from more than 40,000 crew members working aboard its ships. This year, 26 ships in the fleet submitted their nominations for this prestigious award, breaking the record for the highest number of nominees ever. The winner bags a cool $5,000!

Royal Caribbean recognizes crew members who exemplify the Royal Way core values, which include exceeding expectations, friendliness, compassion, and commitment. The Fleet Employee of the Year, Back of House award, went to Mario Zaguirre Aduana from the Philippines, who works as Repairman Supervisor - Aqua on Wonder of the Seas and has been with the company for 23 years.

Meet Mario Zaguirre Aduana

Mario's all about promoting The ROYAL Way standards, leading by example with his friendliness, helpfulness, and top-notch work ethic. Big shoutout to Mario for living The ROYAL Way and a massive congrats on this epic achievement!

Mario has been exemplary in 2023, as he has been throughout his career with RCI. Over the year, he has trained numerous new ROYALs, sharing his extensive technical knowledge. Mario ensures that all RWFs are operational and comply with USPH standards. He has successfully passed two external VSP inspections and five internal USPH inspections without a single finding in his areas. Mario is known and respected for encouraging his team to maintain the high standards he is known for.

His cheerful demeanor is infectious, inspiring confidence and respect among his team. He is held in high esteem by both his peers and subordinates across all shipboard departments.

Mario consistently promotes The ROYAL Way standards and sets an example with his friendliness, helpfulness, and exemplary work ethic. Thank you, Mario, for living The ROYAL Way, and congratulations on this magnificent achievement!

Congratulations, Mario, on this well-deserved recognition. The back-of-house crew is crucial for the smooth operation of our ships, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. And let’s not forget – back-of-house crews like Mario are the unsung heroes of the ship, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, even if passengers don’t see them.