This marks the first time since Oceania Cruises' founding in 2003 that there will be no family member involved.
Jason Montague, who recently returned to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in a new role as chief luxury officer to oversee Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is taking on day-to-day oversight. He's also doing so for Regent, since President Andrea DeMarco is leaving, as earlier announced.
Montague goes back to Oceania's founding
Montague's association with Oceania Cruises goes as far back as writing the business plan for the brand with the Del Rio family. He has served as president and COO of Oceania and Regent, and most recently was president/CEO of Regent until January 2023.
Earlier, Montague worked at NCLH to integrate Prestige Cruises International, the Oceania/Regent holding company, following its acquisition. He had served as CFO at Prestige before that and from 2004 to 2008 was VP/treasurer at Oceania.
Enduring legacy
'Both Frank and his father, our company’s founder, have left an enduring legacy on Oceania Cruises and the broader industry,' Montague said in a note going out to travel partners on Tuesday. 'I want to personally thank Frank for his outstanding stewardship of the brand, positioning it for an incredibly bright future, and for assembling an exceptional leadership team. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.'
As president, the younger Del Rio oversaw the introduction of 2023's Vista, whose splashy naming ceremony in Valletta, Malta, also served as a tribute and grand finale for his father as he retired from NCLH.
Before taking on the Oceania presidency, he had a stint as chief sales and marketing officer. This continued his 14-year tenure with the brand. In 2003, his first job at Oceania was director of destination services.
He rose to VP destination services and product development, and when Prestige Cruises International was formed, he moved up to SVP port and destination services for the two brands. After Prestige became a part of NCLH, he was SVP destination services and onboard revenue, through April 2017. Del Rio then worked as an entrepreneur in private equity, finance and tech before returning to Oceania Cruises in 2022.
Childhood dream fulfilled
When he was named president later that year, Del Rio told Seatrade Cruise News he'd dreamed of leading a cruise line since childhood.
'Growing up in Miami, the cruise capital of the world, and with my father, the industry was always of great interest,' he said at the time.
'A little boy has dreams and aspirations. It was always in the back of my head that [becoming president] might be a possibility.'
