Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the appointment of Eamonn Ferrin as Vice President of International Business in a bid to strengthen its sales strategy. The cruise line has announced this in a press release.

According to the cruise line, Ferrin will oversee Norwegian’s sales efforts outside of the U.S. and Canada and “grow the company’s international footprint by deepening existing travel relationships, reaping new business and further integrating international source markets into the company’s global business plan.”

In this role, he will report to Todd Hamilton, Norwegian’s senior vice president of sales.

Ferrin joined the company in January 2019 as vice president and managing director for the UK, Ireland, Israel, South Africa and Middle East. Norwegian said that during that time he expanded the UK’s position as the “Miami-based cruise line’s leading international market through strategic investments designed to support the travel agent community as part of the company’s ‘partners first’ philosophy.”

According to the press release, key efforts included the launch of the incentive program NCL Freestyle Rewards, a new travel agent portal and resource center Norwegian Central and a fly-cruise booking platform NCL Air.

Norwegian said that Ferrin also increased its market share in the emerging markets of Israel, South Africa and the Middle East, where the cruise line recently increased its presence with the deployment of the Norwegian Jade.

The ship will make Norwegian history as the first to offer roundtrip cruises from Cape Town beginning December 2021. She will sail a number of unique voyages departing from Dubai, U.A.E., offering cruises to the Middle East and Europe with stops in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Greece. N. Jade will also visit Oman, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and South Africa.

“With his proven track record in the travel and hospitality industry, Eamonn understands how to drive local and global business,” said Hamilton.

“We are very excited for Eamonn to assume this role at such a pivotal time in our company’s history. Not only will we begin cruising this July, we are also opening a new chapter for NCL with the launch of our Prima Class, which will see the delivery of six next-generation vessels from 2022 until 2027. Eamonn’s experience and unique skillset will continue to be an invaluable asset,” he added.

According to the press release, Ferrin is an industry veteran with more than 23 years of travel and hospitality experience. He has worked in a variety of divisional CEO, COO and Managing Director roles in the UK, Canada and internationally for brands including Air Canada, Holidaybreak and MyTravel. Outside of Norwegian, Ferrin serves as a member of the CLIA Executive Committee and the CLIA Steering Group for the UK.

“I am honored and excited to lead NCL’s international business at such a defining moment for our company,” said Ferrin. “Together with my new team and our valued travel partners, I look forward to continuing to expand our reach, capitalizing on the great global pent-up demand for cruising and the new opportunities on the horizon.”