Norwegian Cruise Line Just Named a New President—And His Resume Is Seriously Impressive

Norwegian Cruise Line just brought in heavyweight travel industry talent to lead the brand into 2026, and the timing couldn’t be more strategic.

The cruise line announced on December 11, 2025, that Marc Kazlauskas will join as President of Norwegian Cruise Line, effective January 19, 2026, according to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. He brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across sales, operations, and innovation in the global travel industry—and his track record suggests he knows how to drive serious growth.

Why This Appointment Matters

Here’s what makes this announcement significant: Kazlauskas isn’t just another executive changing chairs. He’s a travel industry veteran who has consistently delivered results in leadership roles across multiple segments—including cruise lines, tour operators, and massive global travel companies.

Most recently, he served as CEO of Avoya Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the U.S. and a leading host agency. Before that, he was President of FROSCH and Managing Director of Chase Travel Group, a JP Morgan Chase company that managed more than $11 billion in sales with a global footprint. He led large teams, managed multi-billion-dollar operations, and oversaw key partnerships across airlines, tour operators, and cruise lines.

Translation: this is someone who understands how to manage complex operations at scale, build strategic partnerships, and drive commercial success—exactly what Norwegian needs as the company enters an aggressive growth phase.

The Norwegian Connection

What’s particularly interesting is Kazlauskas actually started his career in the cruise industry at Orient Cruise Line, which was previously part of the Norwegian Cruise Line portfolio. He’s coming full circle—but with decades of experience leading major travel brands in between.

“Marc is a proven leader with deep commercial expertise and an unwavering commitment to the guest experience,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Sommer also made it clear that Kazlauskas won’t be running things from behind a desk. He expects the new president to be the face of the brand—visible on ships, at industry events, and engaging directly with guests and partners. Norwegian Luna’s naming festivities in March will be a major platform for Kazlauskas to share his vision for the brand.

Perfect Timing for Growth

This leadership change comes at a crucial moment for Norwegian. The company has robust booking trends, strong performance across the fleet, and a massive pipeline ahead: Norwegian Luna debuts soon, followed by additional newbuilds scheduled through 2036. The company is also making major enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay, its private island destination in the Bahamas.

Kazlauskas acknowledged the momentum in his statement: “I am honored to join Norwegian Cruise Line at such an exciting moment. The momentum already underway sets NCL up for continued success, and I look forward to building on the company’s strong performance alongside its incredible team.”

Before joining NCL, he also held leadership roles at Insight Vacations, where he oversaw U.S. operations and drove triple-digit revenue and profit growth, and at Tauck World Discovery, where he led worldwide sales. Those aren’t incremental gains—those are transformational results.

What It Means for Cruisers

Leadership changes at major cruise lines can sometimes feel like corporate shuffling that doesn’t affect the guest experience. But when a company brings in someone with Kazlauskas’s background—particularly his experience driving growth, building partnerships, and prioritizing guest experience—it signals strategic intent.

Norwegian is positioning itself to capture more market share, expand its offerings, and compete aggressively in a crowded cruise industry. For travelers, that typically translates to better service, more innovative offerings, and potentially more competitive pricing as the line fights to grow its customer base.

Kazlauskas takes over from David Herrera, who stepped down from the president position in August 2025. In the interim, Harry Sommer handled Herrera’s responsibilities while the company conducted its search.

With a new president who has a proven track record of building partnerships, driving sales growth, and scaling operations, Norwegian is making a clear bet on the future. If Kazlauskas can replicate even a fraction of the growth he achieved at his previous roles, Norwegian could be in for a very strong few years.

We’ll be watching to see how his leadership shapes the brand’s direction—and whether Norwegian can capitalize on the momentum it’s building heading into 2026.