After 30 Years in Travel, This Industry Veteran Just Landed One of Cruising's Most Powerful Jobs
Norwegian Cruise Line appoints Marc Kazlauskas as new president, bringing 30 years of travel industry leadership experience including roles at Avoya Travel, FROSCH, and Chase Travel Group.
When Norwegian Cruise Line sat without a president for over three months following David Herrera’s August departure, industry insiders wondered who could possibly fill those shoes. The answer came on December 11, 2025, and it’s someone who’s been quietly shaping the travel industry for three decades—most recently steering one of America’s largest travel companies.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that Marc Kazlauskas will step into the role of President of Norwegian Cruise Line, effective January 19, 2026. The appointment represents a homecoming of sorts for Kazlauskas, whose career in travel actually began at Orient Cruise Line—a now-defunct brand that once belonged to Norwegian’s portfolio.
The Resume That Caught Norwegian’s Eye
Kazlauskas brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across sales, operations, and innovation in the global travel industry. Most recently, he served as CEO of Avoya Travel Group, one of the largest travel companies in the United States, where he demonstrated his ability to scale operations and drive customer satisfaction in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
But it’s his breadth of experience that makes this appointment particularly compelling. Before Avoya, Kazlauskas held the president role at FROSCH and served as Managing Director of Chase Travel Group—a position where he oversaw a staggering $11 billion in sales while managing partnerships with airlines, tour operators, and cruise lines. He’s also held leadership positions at Insight Vacations and Tauck World Discovery, giving him a 360-degree view of the travel ecosystem.
What This Means for Norwegian’s Future
Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, didn’t mince words about the appointment: “Marc is a proven leader with deep commercial expertise and an unwavering commitment to the guest experience.” Sommer expects Kazlauskas to be highly visible—the face of the brand at industry events and on the ships themselves.
In fact, Kazlauskas will get his first major platform to share his vision for Norwegian at the naming festivities for Norwegian Luna in March 2026. It’s a strategic moment to introduce new leadership—right as the brand prepares to celebrate its newest ship and chart its course for the coming years.
Why This Appointment Matters to Cruisers
For Norwegian passengers and those considering the brand, this leadership change signals several important things:
Commercial Expertise at the Helm: Kazlauskas’s experience managing billions in travel sales and complex partnership networks suggests he understands the business side of cruising intimately. This could translate to smarter pricing strategies, better value propositions, and more strategic deployment of Norwegian’s fleet.
Guest Experience Focus: Both his background and Sommer’s comments emphasize Kazlauskas’s commitment to the guest experience. In an era where cruise lines are competing not just on hardware (ships) but on service quality and memorable moments, having a president who prioritizes customer satisfaction could drive meaningful improvements across the fleet.
Industry Relationships: After three decades in travel, Kazlauskas brings extensive relationships with airlines, tour operators, and other travel partners. This network could benefit Norwegian passengers through enhanced fly-cruise packages, better pre- and post-cruise options, and smoother integrated travel experiences.
Operational Knowledge: His experience spanning operations and innovation suggests he won’t just focus on sales and marketing—he understands the nuts and bolts of running complex travel operations. This operational acumen could improve everything from embarkation processes to shore excursion logistics.
The Timing Is Strategic
Norwegian’s decision to bring in someone with Kazlauskas’s background right now isn’t accidental. The cruise industry is navigating a complex landscape: record demand post-pandemic, increased competition from new ship deliveries across all major lines, evolving consumer expectations around personalization and technology, and the need to balance growth with sustainability.
Having someone who’s managed large-scale operations, overseen massive sales volumes, and navigated industry partnerships for three decades positions Norwegian to capitalize on opportunities and address challenges with seasoned leadership.
A Full-Circle Moment
There’s something poetic about Kazlauskas starting his travel career at Orient Cruise Line and now returning to lead one of the industry’s major contemporary cruise brands. It suggests someone who genuinely understands cruising from the inside out—not just as a business category within travel, but as a unique vacation experience with its own dynamics, challenges, and opportunities.
For Norwegian passengers and the industry at large, Kazlauskas’s appointment represents fresh leadership with deep roots. He takes the helm on January 19, 2026, and all eyes will be on the Norwegian Luna naming ceremonies in March to see how he plans to steer one of cruising’s most innovative brands into the future.
The message from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is clear: after three months of searching, they’ve found someone who combines operational expertise, commercial acumen, and a genuine commitment to the guest experience. For a brand known for breaking rules and pioneering new concepts in cruising, that’s exactly the kind of leadership needed to navigate the waters ahead.