Frank Rio

Senior Advisor, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Search every verified Frank Rio interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Frank Del Rio, who served as President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings until his retirement on June 30, 2023, was succeeded by Harry Sommer, the former president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. During his tenure, Del Rio advocated for the cruise industry's return to service during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he announced that the company would mandate 100% vaccination for all crew and passengers, and he criticized the CDC's guidelines, calling mask requirements "absurd" and "un-American." He also launched the "Safe to Sail" campaign to encourage past guests and industry stakeholders to contact government officials to allow cruising to resume from U.S. ports. Del Rio frequently emphasized the company's financial resilience and pricing power. In 2022, he stated that the company's debt was fixed over a 12-year period and that pricing strength would overcome inflationary pressures. He expressed confidence that pre-COVID occupancy levels would return in 2023, leading to a potential record financial year. Del Rio also highlighted the company's commitment to environmental initiatives, such as eliminating single-use plastics, and noted the diversity of the company's workforce and board. He described his career trajectory, including his role in founding Oceania Cruises in 2003 after being approached by the French government to use repossessed Renaissance ships.