Holland America Group Chris Martin ~ Director, Port Operations Chris Martin joined Holland America Line in January 2004 as Manager, Port Operations, administering all port-related matters worldwide for the fleet. Over the years, his responsibilities have included planning and coordination of ports and itineraries, overseeing environmental management aspects for the fleet, and acting as a direct liaison between Holland America Line and various regulatory agencies. Chris was promoted to Director, Port Operations in October 2009. With the formation of the Holland America Group in December 2014, he is now responsible for port operations for all three brands. Prior to joining Holland America Line, Chris spent 9 years with Princess Cruises and Tours managing land-based divisions in Alaska and developing new port agency, shore operations, and port services for emerging destinations. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from the University of Puget Sound and a Master of Science in Management Communication from the University of Portland. He currently resides in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three kids.
Matthew T. Sams ~ Vice President, Caribbean Relations & Private Islands, Holland America Group Serving Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and P & O Austrailia Sams joined Carnival Cruise lines in 1985. In June 1997, Sams was promoted to Vice President of Caribbean Relations for Holland America Line and is responsible for the interests with the various governmental and regulatory agencies with which the company is involved in the Caribbean, Latin America and Florida. He also is responsible for the overall operation of the company’s private island destination, Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas. Based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Sams is Holland America Line’s representative to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, and is the current Vice Chairman of the Operations Committee. He and his wife Michelle, whom he met on a cruise to Alaska in 1979, reside on Ft. Lauderdale Beach.
Bill Sharp ~ Vice President - Port and Shore Operations Bill Sharp is currently Vice President, Port and Shore Operations for Holland America Line and Seabourn, both units of Carnival Corporation & plc. He is responsible for overseeing worldwide port and shore operations, hotel procurement and tour inventory for Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 ships and Seabourn’s fleet of six ships. He reports directly to Paul Goodwin, Executive Vice President of Onboard Revenue, Port and Shore Operations. Sharp began his career with Holland America Line as Director of Port Operations in April 1996, bringing a strong background in port operations, having spent 17 years working throughout Alaska, primarily responsible for oversight of cruise and cargo port operations. Following Seabourn’s transition under Holland America Line in 2011, Sharp began to assume roles for both companies. Prior to Holland America Line and Seabourn, Sharp held the position of Vice President of Operations at Southeast Stevedoring Corp. and Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska. Sharp has served on several industry working committees for the Northwest Cruise Association and Alaska Steamship Association, Friends of Maritime, Seattle and on the Advisory Board for Junior Achievement of Washington. He resides in Sammamish, Wash.
CRUISE INDUSTRY PROFILES
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