Carnival Corporation & plc has announced major changes to its global leadership team for Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Seabourn.
Gus Antorcha, currently president of Holland America Line, has been named president of Princess Cruises, effective 02DEC, 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 02DEC, 2024. Both Antorcha and Bodensteiner will report to Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.
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 Seabourn’s new president replacing Natalya Leahy.
"Gus and Beth are proven leaders who reflect the talent and capabilities of our organization and who have a deep knowledge of our industry, our business, and what drives our success," said 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."
Antorcha Takes New Role in Company
Antorcha will lead Princess Cruises, one of Carnival Corporation's most iconic cruise lines known globally as the inspiration for The Love Boat. As president, Antorcha will oversee all performance and operational aspects of the cruise line's global fleet of 16 ships.
Antorcha has been at the helm of Holland America Line since 2020. After successfully guiding the company's return to full operations post-industry pause, Antorcha led the line to achieve a number of milestones, including amassing the largest single booking day in Holland America history and delivering the strongest financial results in 16 years.
Prior to joining Holland America Line, Antorcha held various leadership positions with Carnival Cruise Line, including most recently serving as the cruise line's chief operating officer. Prior to joining Carnival, he served as a partner and managing director for Boston Consulting Group.
Bodensteiner Brings Decades of Cruise Line Experience
A 20-year veteran of Holland America Line, as president Bodensteiner will manage all aspects of the premium cruise line's business including its fleet of 11 ships. Previously, Bodensteiner served for six years as senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Holland America Line where she directed revenue management, deployment and customer service for the cruise line, while taking on increasing commercial responsibilities, including global sales, product marketing, pricing and planning for Alaska Land + Sea Journeys, as well as commercial activities for the company's ultra-luxury Seabourn brand.
Bodensteiner's accomplishments include spearheading the deployment and rollout of an advanced corporate-wide revenue management system, and helping drive Holland America's strategy targeting high-value, high-affinity guests by enabling the cruise line to generate incremental customer demand through a variety of high-profile collaborations, entertainment offerings and immersive experiences with organizations such as Top Chef, Audible, and Wheel of Fortune.
"After advocating for this amazing company for 20 years, I could not be prouder to take on the role of president," said Bodensteiner. "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."
Cruise and Luxury Hotel Veteran Mark Tamis Joins Seabourn
Tamis brings more than three decades of ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel experience to his new role as president of Seabourn. He joins the company after serving as global president, Aimbridge Hospitality, leading the business and operations for its 1,500 hotels. Previously Tamis led hotel and onboard operations for Royal Caribbean International and served as senior vice president of guest operations for Carnival Cruise Line. He also worked for more than 20 years in the luxury and boutique hotel space with brands such as Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Ian Schrager Hotels.
"The most rewarding work in my career has been my time in cruise," said 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."
