Former Ritz-Carlton Exec Named President of Oceania Cruises

A well-known hotel executive is making the move to the cruise industry. Oceania Cruises, along with its parent company, Prestige Cruise Holdings, has announced that former Ritz-Carlton vice president of sales and marketing, Bruce Himelstein, has been appointed president of Oceania Cruises, succeeding Bob Binder, who has been promoted to vice chairman and president of Prestige Cruise Holdings. The move is effective May 1, 2011.
 
Reporting directly to Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige, Binder will work alongside Del Rio on the final outfitting and delivery of Oceania Cruises’ new Riviera, which is scheduled to join the fleet in April 2012. He will also oversee several strategic initiatives, including the global expansion of the PCH brands, which, along with Oceania, includes Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
 
Himelstein, prior to his new position, was most recently executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Kerzner International.
 
Other appointments: Victor Gonzalez, executive vice president of passenger services for Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will step into an expanded role and report directly to Del Rio. His responsibilities now include all aspects of call center management, yield and revenue management, training and development and guest relations. Howard Sherman, senior vice president of revenue management for both brands, will now oversee air services and continue to report to Gonzalez.
 
Visit www.oceaniacruises.com.