by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:35 PM ET, Wed July 15, 2026
Cristienne (Cris) Nicole De Souza (Photo Credit: Victory Cruise Lines)
WHY IT RATES: Victory Cruise Lines has made a key hire to enhance its leadership team.—Sarah Kuta, TravelPulse writer.
Victory Cruise Lines, committed to all-inclusive, small ship, coastal cruising on the Great Lakes and Canadian Coasts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cristienne (Cris) Nicole De Souza as Vice President of Sales. De Souza will work alongside current Vice President Bob Salmon, who will retire in 2027.
De Souza will oversee Victory Cruise Lines’ sales strategy with responsibility for driving revenue performance across travel advisor partnerships, national accounts, host agencies, consortia, group sales, charter opportunities, affinity programs, and direct sales channels. Working closely with the leadership team, she will focus on expanding distribution, strengthening advisor relationships, accelerating demand generation, and supporting the continued growth of Victory’s distinctive Great Lakes cruising experience.
“Victory Cruise Lines is thrilled to welcome Cristienne Nicole De Souza as Vice President of Sales,” said David William Kelly, President and COO of Victory Cruise Lines. “Cris brings an extraordinary depth of cruise industry expertise, a proven record of revenue growth, and longstanding relationships throughout the travel advisor community. Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue building on our momentum and delivering exceptional Great Lakes experiences for our guests.”
Cristienne (Cris) Nicole De Souza brings more than 20 years of cruise, travel, hospitality, and commercial leadership experience, having held senior leadership positions with Trafalgar River Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar Cruises, Nexion Travel Group, AmaWaterways, Resorts World Bimini, and Royal Caribbean Group. She will work closely with Salmon for the remainder of 2026 providing partners a smooth transition.
“Bob Salmon has been an invaluable member of the Victory Cruise Lines family from its inception and a respected leader within the travel industry for many years,” said Kelly. “His passion for our brand, dedication to our travel advisor partners, and countless contributions to our sales organization have helped shape the success of Victory Cruise Lines. On behalf of our entire team, I want to thank Bob for his outstanding service and continued commitment to the brand.”
Bob Salmon will retire from Victory Cruise Lines in 2027 following an accomplished career spanning more than 50 years in the travel, tourism, and cruise industries. Over the course of his career, he held senior leadership roles with Victory Cruise Lines, American Queen Voyages, Spirit Cruises, Herschend Family Entertainment and Gillette Company, where he helped drive sales growth, expand trade partnerships, and strengthen brand performance. Widely respected throughout the industry, Bob built a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and trusted relationships with travel advisors and industry partners, culminating in his successful stewardship of Victory Cruise Lines' sales organization.
Source: Victory Cruise Lines press release
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