Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed the expansion of its presence in the Australia and Pacific region, with the establishment of a sales and marketing centre based in Sydney, Australia to support the growing demand for cruise travel in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The office will represent the company’s three lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Industry veteran Steve Odell will be joining the company as senior vice president and managing director Australasia.

Beginning October 1st 2015, he will be responsible for the continued growth of the company’s presence in the region and differentiating each brand’s unique offerings.

“In view of the growing international interest in cruising combined with our strong growth strategy, the new office in Australia is a natural next step in our global expansion of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings,” said Harry Sommer, executive vice president of international business development for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

“It reflects our confidence in the growing Australia and New Zealand markets and we believe that our three brands – Norwegian with Freestyle cruising, Oceania Cruises as an upper premium product and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in the luxury sector – are all a perfect fit for the Australian market, offering a wide variety of experiences and worldwide itineraries.”

Odell joins the company with broad cruise industry experience earned over the past thirty years through pioneering activity in a variety of senior positions in the luxury sector.

He has played a key role in the establishment of the luxury cruise segment in Australasia since 2000, most recently as Silversea’s president EMEA & Asia Pacific.

He has also served as chairman ICCA (now CLIA Australasia) between 2005-2007 and was a founding Board member of the Asia Cruise Association (now CLIA Asia).