Managing Royal Caribbean International is a huge task for CEO and President Michael Bayley.
The cruise line employs nearly 88,700 people, with 28 cruise ships visiting over 300 locations around the world.
It's a massive endeavor, but that doesn't mean that it's all serious!
Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's President and CEO, also goes by Bada-bing Bayley.
Bayley has been with the cruise line for over 40 years, and he brings a clear love and cheerfulness to the job.
He shares openly on social media about his love of Royal Caribbean, from crew member profiles to passenger stories.
If that wasn't enough evidence of his fun-loving personality, Bayley also loves self-admitted "bad dad jokes."
Here's a collection of the best ones he's shared all over the Internet—often to unamused listeners.
Why did the pony ask for a glass of water? Because it was a little horse
Bayley hails from the United Kingdom—Cardiff, Wales, to be exact. The small country borders England, with a population of just over three million.
Bayley attended university in English, graduating from the University of Bournemouth with a degree in business.
When he graduated college, he heard from a friend about a cruise line hiring in the United States.
What do you call a group of men waiting in line for a haircut? A barber-que
In 1981, Bayley took his first-ever plane flight to the United States and began working with Royal Caribbean International.
His career started with a variety of shipboard and shoreside positions as he received an increasing amount of management responsibility.
Now, Bayley holds decades of experience in the hospitality and cruise industry.
My wife said I should do lunges to stay in shape. That would be a big step forward!
Michael Bayley shares the majority of his "bad dad jokes," on social media. He even started a series he's shared on TikTok and Facebook.
Bayley is rare among other CEOs of huge companies, who usually shy away from sharing a fun or intimate side of life.
However, Bayley often shares personal, hilarious videos, showing viewers what it's like to work for the cruise line, images of his travels, and even household fridge tours.
Why did the bicycle fall over? It was too tired
Bayley publicly shares on social media his genuine love for cruising and sharing fun moments with friends and family.
He currently resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife and two sons.
His username on Instagram and TikTok is captaincruise guy.
Read more: Who is Royal Caribbean Group's new CEO Jason Liberty
I think my phone is broken! I clicked the home button, but I'm still in the office!
Bayley's very first position at Royal Caribbean was as an assistant purser on the Nordic Prince.
The Nordic Prince, launched in 1971, was the second-ever ship built for Royal Caribbean.
The vessel was just over 550 feet long, and had a passenger capacity of 741 guests—a far cry from the mega-ships of today!
Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO explains why mega cruise ships are so popular 15 years after their inception
I went to the store to get a dozen bees, but I got thirteen. The guy said, don't worry, that's a free bee
The Nordic Prince sailed mostly in the Caribbean, and Bayley's job onboard was to assist with front desk administration, dealing with details like immigration, customs, crew travel, embarkation, and emergency muster lists.
He speaks fondly of the time he spent in this position.
According to Bayley, he dealt with lots of crew and passengers at the front desk.
He especially loved the sirloin steak and french fries served on Saturday night dinner.
What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofish-ticated!
Bayley's online dad jokes series often features guest stars at various cruising events.
From new ship launches to President's Day cruises, Royal Caribbean's CEO doesn't miss a chance to make new jokes.
He shared this joke with Boy George of Culture Club when they performed at the 2024 President's Cruise on Oasis of the Seas.
Boy George barely cracked a smile at some of Bayley's corny jokes, but he kept laughing.
I am very afraid of a calendar. Its days are numbered
This particular dad joke was shared to TikTok, featuring Philip Smith, former head of the Bahamas Feeding Network.
The cruise line's commitment to the charity began in 2019, and it continues to donate money and food to the organization.
As of 2023, Royal Caribbean had donated over $500,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network.
What did the chicken say when it saw lettuce? Chicken caesar salad
In addition to being a CEO and comedian, Michael Bayley is a big foodie. He enjoys the abundance of food available on Royal Caribbean ships.
Bayley has tried his hand at being a Teppanyaki chef in Izumi Hibachi, and he can often be seen posting Royal Caribbean dining polls on his Facebook page.
His favorite restaurants span all over the world, from Sao Paulo to Hong Kong.
According to his son, Bayley's best-cooked dish is enchiladas.
How does a French skeleton say hello? Bone-jour!
Michael Bayley was named President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in December 2014.
Prior to that, he actually worked for the line's sister company, Celebrity Cruises. There, he delivered strong results and built up the company's "Modern Luxury" brand.
In his prior role as Royal Caribbean International's Executive Vice President, Bayley was responsible for developing three of the company's cruise lines to an international business scale: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.
After working in that position for four years, he established 11 regional offices around the world, which now generate more than 50 percent of the corporation’s total revenue.
Now, he is the longtime CEO of the world's largest cruise brand—but he can always make time to crack a few jokes.
