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Carnival Corporation & plc has announced significant changes within its leadership team for Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Seabourn.
Gus Antorcha, who currently serves as the president of Holland America Line, will assume the role of president of Princess Cruises, effective December 2, 2024. He will succeed John Padgett, who is set to depart from the company in mid-February 2025. Concurrently, Beth Bodensteiner, who is presently the senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Holland America Line, has been elevated to the position of president of the cruise line, also effective December 2, 2024. Both Antorcha and Bodensteiner will report directly to Josh Weinstein, the CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.
In addition, Bodensteiner will take on executive oversight of the ultra-luxury Seabourn cruise line, as the brand welcomes back Mark Tamis to Carnival Corporation as its new president, succeeding Natalya Leahy. Leahy has held various roles throughout her career at Carnival, including CFO of Holland America Line and Seabourn, chief operations officer for the former Holland America Group, and ultimately president of Seabourn. We extend our best wishes to her in her new role outside the company and express our gratitude for her significant contributions during her tenure with us.
Gus and Beth exemplify the leadership qualities that showcase the talent and expertise within our organization, possessing extensive knowledge of our industry, business operations, and the factors that contribute to our success, stated Weinstein. He expressed confidence that under their guidance, Princess, Holland America, and Seabourn will continue to be strategically positioned for a promising future, eagerly anticipating the next chapter for these distinguished brands and their sustained achievements.
Weinstein further remarked, “I would like to extend my gratitude to John for over ten years of dedicated service and innovation, particularly for his role in developing and launching Princess MedallionClass®, which transformed the guest experience at Princess and established a new benchmark for service and personalization in the cruise sector and the broader travel and hospitality industry. His efforts have played a crucial role in restoring the Princess brand to its esteemed status within the cruise market. We wish him every success in his future endeavors.”
Padgett expressed his deep appreciation for the entire Princess Cruises team, acknowledging their commitment and diligence in establishing Princess as a global leader in guest service, personalization, and innovation, providing guests with unforgettable vacations around the world. He remarked, “This journey has been exhilarating, and I look forward to witnessing the ongoing success of The Love Boat, holding deep respect and admiration for the brand and all team members, both onshore and aboard.”
Gus Antorcha is set to take the helm of Princess Cruises, one of the most renowned cruise lines under Carnival Corporation, celebrated globally as the inspiration behind The Love Boat and for its seamless, personalized MedallionClass experiences. In his role as president, Antorcha will be responsible for overseeing all performance and operational facets of the cruise line’s global fleet, which comprises 16 ships and serves over 1.7 million guests annually across more than 330 destinations worldwide.
Since 2020, Antorcha has led Holland America Line, managing all aspects of the award-winning cruise line. He successfully navigated the company’s return to full operations following the industry pause and has achieved several significant milestones, including the largest single booking day in Holland America’s history and the strongest financial performance in 16 years. Before his tenure at Holland America Line, Antorcha held various leadership roles at Carnival Cruise Line, most recently as the chief operating officer. He also served as a partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group.
“I hold great admiration for the exceptional teams at Princess, both onboard and onshore, and their commitment to crafting unforgettable travel experiences. It is an honor to lead this extraordinary brand,” stated Antorcha. “I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the talented team and their travel partners to continue providing the uniquely effortless and personalized Princess MedallionClass vacation experience that has endeared Princess to so many.”
A seasoned professional with two decades of experience at Holland America Line, Beth Bodensteiner will oversee all facets of the esteemed premium cruise line’s operations. This includes managing a fleet of 11 vessels that embark on over 500 cruises to more than 450 ports across 110 countries and territories worldwide. Prior to this role, Bodensteiner held the position of senior vice president and chief commercial officer for six years, where she was responsible for revenue management, deployment, and customer service. Her increasing commercial responsibilities encompassed global sales, product marketing, pricing strategies, and planning for Alaska Land + Sea Journeys, as well as integrated marketing and commercial initiatives for the ultra-luxury Seabourn brand.
Among her numerous achievements, Bodensteiner led the implementation of a sophisticated corporate-wide revenue management system and played a pivotal role in shaping Holland America’s strategy to attract high-value, loyal guests. This initiative enabled the cruise line to enhance customer demand through various high-profile partnerships and immersive experiences with organizations such as Top Chef, Audible, and Wheel of Fortune.
“Having championed this remarkable company for 20 years, I am immensely proud to assume the role of president,” Bodensteiner stated. “This presents a significant opportunity to collaborate with my esteemed leadership team to further our legacy of enabling millions of guests to discover the world through meticulously designed itineraries, exceptional service, and authentic connections to each destination.”
Mark Tamis brings over thirty years of experience in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel to his new position as president of Seabourn. He comes to the company after serving as global president of Aimbridge Hospitality, where he oversaw the business and operations of its 1,500 hotels. Prior to this, Tamis directed hotel and onboard operations for Royal Caribbean International and held the role of senior vice president of guest operations at Carnival Cruise Line. His extensive background also includes more than two decades in the luxury and boutique hotel sector, working with esteemed brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Ian Schrager Hotels.
“My most fulfilling professional experiences have been in the cruise industry,” Tamis remarked. “Merging that with my enthusiasm for crafting exceptional vacation experiences is truly a dream realized. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with our team members, guests, and travel advisors to enhance what makes Seabourn unique.”
