Oceania Cruises President Frank A. Del Rio is stepping down from his position, following Jason Montague‘s return to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) as Chief Luxury Officer, responsible for both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
Montague, who was previously Chief Executive Officer and President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, took up his new role on Monday, and announced Del Rio’s departure to travel advisors in a memo on Tuesday.
In the memo, Montague stated that Del Rio would be leaving and expressed his gratitude for his “outstanding stewardship” of Oceania and for building a strong leadership team. He paid tribute to both Del Rio and his father, Oceania Cruises Co-Founder Frank Del Rio, for their “enduring legacy on Oceania Cruises and the broader industry.”
A statement from Oceania Cruises said: “Evolution and change are a constant in the running of any business. While we don’t comment on specific decisions, we remain appreciative to Frank for his many years of impactful leadership. The brand has been positioned for an incredibly bright future with the introduction of Allura this coming July and to be followed by two new next-generation ships in 2027 and 2028.”
The cruise line confirmed that Montague would assume day to day responsibility for both brands. All of Del Rio’s direct reports will now report to Montague.
Frank A. Del Rio began his tenure as the cruise line’s President in 2023, mere months before his father retired as CEO of NCLH, after starting his career at Oceania in the early 2000s as Director of Destination Services. Over the years, he also served as the brand’s Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Port Destinations and Onboard Revenue. He also previously worked for both Regent Seven Seas and NCLH.
Montague’s return to NCLH falls under a new leadership structure, coinciding with a multibillion-dollar fleet expansion, encompassing the previously announced five new builds between Regent and Oceania, along with plans to refurbish nearly all their existing vessels.
It was announced in January that his appointment would see the current President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Andrea DeMarco, exit her role in early March 2025 after a transition period. Her final day is anticipated to be March 4.