Oceania Cruises has appointed Vanessa Gondar as its new sales manager south.

Gondar was most recently account manager at Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World and also has other cruise and travel experience.

She will work alongside Alex Farquharson, senior manager key accounts, Lisa Clarkson, national accounts manager, and Sharon Wilson, who is sales manager for the north, Scotland and Ireland.

The team will report to UK and Ireland sales director Louise Craddock, who has been with the brand for more than 10 years.

With Gondar’s appointment the sales team will be “fully operational, ensuring the delivery of the best support to Oceania Cruises’ valued trade partners”, the line said in a statement.

Oceania Cruises set for ‘exciting’ future

Craddock said: “I am delighted that Vanessa is joining our UK and Ireland sales team at such an exciting time for Oceania Cruises.

“Vanessa has extensive cruise experience which, alongside her dynamic thinking, makes her the perfect addition to the Oceania team.”

At the beginning of March, Oceania Cruises named celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis as godmother of its newest ship Vista, launching in May 2023.

De Laurentiis will officially name the ship at a ceremony in Valletta, Malta, on 8 May.

Also, in February, the line confirmed that its second Allura-class ship will be called Allura. The 1,200-guest vessel is currently under construction in Italy and will sail its maiden voyage in spring 2025.