UK agents have been assured that it is ‘business as usual’ despite management changes at the top of Princess Cruises.
The new structure will see Jan Swartz (pictured) step up to succeed Alan Buckelew as president of Princess Cruises.
With Buckelew moving to become chief operations officer for parent company Carnival Corporation, Swartz will report to Stein Kruse, who has been promoted to president and chief executive of the newly-formed Holland America Group.
Kruse will provide “commercial and operations oversight” to Princess, Holland America, Seabourn and our Alaska land operations, Swartz said.
Swartz, who has been sales, marketing and customer service executive vice president at Princess for four years, said: “Paul Ludlow, UK director, will continue to lead the Princess Cruises brand in the UK.
“For our travel agent partners, it will be business as usual, and all plans we have discussed regarding 2014 will proceed as agreed.
“I want to assure you that travel agents will continue to play a key role in the success of our company.”
She stressed that there is “absolutely no intention” to combine Princess and Holland America Line.
“In fact, our work together will focus on how to keep them as unique and distinct as possible,” added Swartz.
“I look forward to working with Stein, who is an experienced and dynamic leader, as we focus our team to take Princess Cruises to the next level of success and growth.”