Sheehan leaves Norwegian Cruise Line

Kevin Sheehan is leaving Norwegian Cruise Line after more than seven years with the firm.

Sheehan will be succeeded as president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings by Frank Del Rio, who is chief executive of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

Sheehan had led Norwegian through acquiring Prestige, confirmed in November 2014, as well as seeing Norwegian through a successful IPO.

“It has been a privilege to lead Norwegian over the last seven years. I am proud of what we have accomplished, and take comfort in the knowledge that I am leaving the company much healthier and stronger than when I joined. With the company set for success, I hand the baton off to Frank, a proven leader in the cruise industry,” said Sheehan said.

Cruise News interviewed Sheehan in 2013 when Breakaway was launched.

Del Rio founded Oceania Cruises in 2002 and had been leading Prestige since April 2007, where he oversaw the acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

“I am excited to begin this new chapter in my long career in the cruise industry,” said Del Rio. “I am blessed with a great team at Norwegian, and I am confident that together we can help our company continue to realise great things.”

Steve Martinez, member of Norwegian’s board of directors said: “Frank Del Rio has established himself as a leader and innovator in our industry. Norwegian is poised for continued growth and we are delighted to have Frank lead our team during the next phase of the company’s evolution.

“We also thank Kevin Sheehan for his service to the company. Kevin has built Norwegian into the highly successful company it is today – a company that has reported 25 consecutive quarters of growth in trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA coupled with consistent margin improvement.”

Norwegian Cruise Line under Sheehan

August 2007: Joins after US-based Apollo Management buys stake from Star Cruises

January 2008: Apollo agrees $1 billion into Norwegian

January 2011: Sheehan appears in an episode of television series Undercover Boss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zf_KiQURvk

June 2012: Memorandum of agreement signed to purchase Norwegian Sky

October 2012: Norwegian agrees two more ‘Breakaway Plus Class’ vessels. Norwegian Escape debuts in October 2015 and Norwegian Bliss in 2017.

January 2013: Norwegian Cruise Line files for IPO

April 2013: ‘Game changer’ ship Norwegian Breakaway launches

July 2014: Cruise line doubles Q2 earnings year-on-year

July 2014: Another two cruise ships are ordered, entering service in 2018 and 2019

November 2014: Norwegian completes acquisition of Prestige Cruises