Jason Montague is new chief luxury officer for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) announced the appointment of Jason Montague as its chief luxury officer effective 17th February.

Montague’s appointment falls under NCLH’s new leadership structure which aims to drive its multibillion-dollar fleet expansion for its ultra-premium and luxury cruise brands. 

The new chief luxury officer will oversee both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, capitalising on his extensive industry expertise and strong track record previously leading these brands. 

This appointment also underscores NCLH’s focus on its Charting the Course strategy, which includes adding five newbuilds to its upscale brands’ fleets and plans to refurbish nearly all their existing vessels.

Extensive experience

Before this appointment, Montague served as a Special Advisor to NCLH for two years after leading the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2022. 

Prior to this, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for both the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, where he successfully oversaw the launch of Sirena for Oceania Cruises and the Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 

Before NCLH’s acquisition of Prestige, Montague was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Prestige, where he played a key role in launching Oceania Cruises, overseeing the purchase of its initial R-class vessels, securing an investment from Apollo Global Management, and acquiring Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 

He also led the financing and delivery of Oceania Cruises’ new ships, Marina and Riviera.

Prior to that, he served as Oceania Cruises’ VP & Treasurer and SVP of Finance. 

Earlier, he ran a consulting practice focused on strategic planning for SMEs and was VP of Finance at Alton Entertainment Corporation. 

Montague holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Miami.

According to NCLH president and chief executive Harry Sommer: “With over 20 years of expertise in luxury hospitality and a strong track record of driving excellence, Montague brings exceptional strategic expertise to our company and to our executive team. Having already led Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in the past, Jason is uniquely positioned to shape their future. His unwavering passion for these brands, coupled with his financial acumen, alignment with our corporate culture and strong focus on executing our Charting the Course strategy, make him the ideal leader for this next phase of growth.” 

Montague said of his new assignment: “I am deeply honoured to once again lead Regent Seven Seas Cruises and collaborate with Frank Del Rio in leading Oceania Cruises. This is an exciting time for these two award-winning brands, as we are ready to execute on our commitment to delivering sophisticated mid-sized, upscale and luxurious ships with elegant designs and state-of-the-art offerings. Also, the passion and exceptional talent of team members across each brand, both shoreside and shipside, are a true inspiration. I am confident we will set new standards and create unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

What’s coming up

To advance NCLH’s bold vision for the future, the company plans to substantially increase its presence and positioning in the ultra-premium and luxury markets. 

Over the next five years, NCLH will execute its previously announced multibillion-dollar investment in its upscale brands as it pursues continued leadership in this market. 

For Oceania Cruises, the brand is expecting three newbuilds through 2029, starting with Allura later this year. 

Additionally, the brand’s ships Marina and Riviera will be refurbished in 2026 and 2027, respectively. 

For Regent Seven Seas Cruises, on the other hand, two new vessels will be added through 2029, in addition to planned enhancements to Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager in 2025 and 2026, respectively.