Carnival Corporation has announced a significant shake-up of management across its Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Holland America Line brands.
Gus Antorcha, currently president of Holland America Line, has been named president of Princess Cruises, effective December 2, 2024, replacing John Padgett, who is stepping away from the business in mid-February 2025. With the leadership change, Beth Bodensteiner, currently senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Holland America Line, has been promoted to president of the cruise line, effective December 2, 2024.
Ms Bodensteiner will also have executive responsibility for the company’s ultra-luxury Seabourn cruise line as the brand welcomes Mark Tamis back to Carnival Corporation as its new president replacing Natalya Leahy, who has served in various capacities through her career at Carnival, rising through the ranks as CFO of Holland America Line and Seabourn, then taking on the role of chief operations officer for the former Holland America Group and then becoming Seabourn President.
“Gus and Beth are proven leaders who reflect the talent and capabilities of our organisation and who have a deep knowledge of our industry, our business, and what drives our success,” said Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein. “Under their leadership, I have no doubt that Princess, Holland America and Seabourn will remain well-positioned for a bright future, and we look forward to the next chapter for these two world-class brands and their ongoing success.”
Mr Weinstein added: “I would also like to thank John for more than a decade of service and innovation, including developing and launching Princess MedallionClass®, which revamped the Princess guest experience and set a new standard for service and personalization in the cruise industry and for travel and hospitality overall, as well as returning the Princess brand to its rightful iconic status within the cruise industry. John’s dedication and impact have been significant. We wish him all the best.”
“I’m incredibly grateful to the entire Princess Cruises team for their passion and hard work in making Princess a global powerhouse in guest service, personalization and innovation to give our guests priceless vacations spanning the world,” said John Padgett.
“It’s been an exciting journey, and I look forward to watching the continued success of The Love Boat with love, respect and admiration for the brand and all the shoreside and shipboard team members.”
“The most rewarding work in my career has been my time in cruise,” said Mr Tamis. “Combining that with my passion for creating the best vacation experiences in the world is a dream come true. I look forward to joining our team members, guests and travel advisors in building on what makes Seabourn special.”
Ms Bodensteiner said: “After advocating for this amazing company for 20 years, I could not be prouder to take on the role of president. This is a tremendous opportunity to work together with my trusted leadership team to continue building on our rich history of helping millions of guests explore the world with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to each destination.”
“I have tremendous respect for the fantastic Princess onboard and shoreside teams and their dedication to creating memorable travel experiences, and it’s a privilege to lead this remarkable brand,” said Mr Antorcha. “I look forward to working with the talented team and their travel partners, and to continue delivering the distinctly effortless, personalised Princess MedallionClass vacation experience that has made Princess so popular.”
