Frank Del Rio, former president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has joined the board of directors of Cruise Saudi.
Del Rio's appointment represents a significant addition to the leadership of Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing cruise industry.
Del Rio retired from NCLH in 2023, after nearly a decade at the helm of the company, where he oversaw its three brands—Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—and fostered remarkable growth in fleet capacity and profitability. He was succeeded by Harry Sommer, formerly president of Norwegian Cruise Line.
In his new role, Del Rio brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the cruise industry to Cruise Saudi, the state-owned entity responsible for developing the Kingdom's cruise ecosystem. His appointment supports Cruise Saudi's ambition to make Saudi Arabia a leading global cruise destination, in line with Vision 2030.
Del Rio's appointment follows the trend of senior cruise industry executives taking on leadership or advisory roles in emerging markets, bringing valuable experience at a time when regions like the Middle East are looking to increase their presence in global cruise tourism.
The new board configuration signals greater public-private cooperation and the incorporation of international expertise into Saudi Arabia's cruise strategy.
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