A leadership change rarely makes headlines outside the trade, yet this one matters for guests as much as it does for agents. With Danieli Enes stepping into a dedicated Business Development Manager role for New Zealand, Oceania Cruises is putting real focus behind a market that loves thoughtful, destination-rich voyages and smaller-ship service.
A locally focused BDM gives New Zealand’s adviser community a direct line to Oceania. That means quicker answers on inventory, clearer guidance on best-fit sailings for Kiwi travellers, and support that reflects local travel habits. When an adviser can reach someone who understands school calendars, long-weekend patterns, and favourite pre- or post-cruise stays across the Tasman, your planning time shrinks and confidence grows.
Enes moves into the role with practical experience that shows up where it counts, on your day in port. Having worked in destination management and shore excursion operations, she knows how a great tour runs and what details trip people up. That operational fluency tends to translate into better advice for advisers, improved tour curation, and a stronger bridge between what is promised in a brochure and what you actually experience ashore.
The New Zealand market is savvy about comfort, food, and culture. Putting a specialist on the ground as itineraries cycle into new seasons sets the stage for smarter capacity decisions, tighter air-sea connections, and campaigns that speak your language. In practice, this usually means better-timed offers, fresher education for advisers, and fewer surprises between deposit and sail-away.
A focused growth plan only works if it helps real people book better holidays. The shape of this move suggests useful changes for both the trade and travellers who prefer culinary-minded, mid-size ships.
A BDM embedded in the region can map guest preferences to specific voyages with more precision. For food-forward travellers, that might mean highlighting sailings that linger in market towns or arrive early for local food halls. For culture fans, it can be routes with late stays, so you catch a concert or evening museum access before reboarding. The upshot is simple, you see more of what you value without feeling rushed.
Expect more targeted training, from webinar refreshers to hands-on sessions that walk advisers through cabins, dining options, and shore tour mechanics. When an agent can explain stateroom nuances, or the difference between a relaxed tasting tour and a chef-led market visit, you book with clarity. That confidence shows up later as fewer itinerary changes and a smoother embarkation day.
New Zealanders appreciate experiences that go beyond postcards. With Enes’ destination background, advisers can steer you toward tours that carry more context, like visits that focus on artisans, local producers, or lesser-known historic quarters. Those choices turn a port call into a story, and that is the difference you feel when you talk about the trip a year later.
Titles are one thing, but capability is what shapes a season. The biography behind this appointment hints at the kind of detail-driven approach that benefits guests in small, cumulative ways.
Experience with a local destination management organisation builds a useful network and a pragmatic mindset. It means the person shaping sales priorities has already wrestled with tour timings, transport quirks, and the rhythm of peak days. That understanding helps align ship schedules with shore reality, which is how you end up with better-spaced tour departures and fewer overlaps in the heat of the day.
Having worked within cruise operations, Enes brings empathy for crew and guests alike. She has seen how a well-briefed guide can transform a morning, and how five minutes of slack in a schedule can save an afternoon. Those small decisions, multiplied across a voyage, are what make a premium holiday feel effortless even when the day is full.
The Oceania and Regent families often share best practices, especially around destination depth and service style. A leader with time across both portfolios can cross-pollinate ideas that work, from how to frame a culinary tour to how to brief a guide on dietary details. Guests do not need to see the machinery, they just feel the benefits as days ashore run smoother.
A growth push invites sensible questions. Should you wait for more routes or secure a sailing now, which cabins suit your style, and how do you link flights without stress.
If your dates are fixed by school terms or leave blocks, early booking still pays off. You can aim for preferred stateroom locations, secure dining times that match your routine, and plan air with calm lead time. If your calendar is flexible, hold a shortlist and ask your adviser to watch for a sailing that matches your weather or festival preference in-destination, then move when it lines up.
Balcony staterooms pair well with port-dense routes, you get the fresh-air reset between tastings and tours. If you value a long sleep after active days, look midship and lower for a steadier ride. Suites are worth considering for longer voyages where added space and inclusions remove friction and let you linger over an in-room breakfast before a late tour.
A locally tuned sales plan often brings better guidance on flight patterns, suggested arrival buffers, and hotel options that fit your budget and style. Ask for advice that considers your home airport, transit preferences, and travel party size. That context reduces the risk of tight connections and sets up a calmer embarkation morning.
Growth for growth’s sake is not compelling. Growth that reaffirms what the brand already does well is. This move signals confidence in the mix of culinary focus, attentive service, and destination depth that New Zealanders tend to seek out.
Rather than leaning on buzzwords, think about what culinary focus looks like day by day, a map-aligned lunch ashore, a chef-recommended market stop, or a tasting that fits the climate and culture. When a sales team understands why those touches matter, they promote sailings where the menu and the map speak to each other.
A mid-size ship lets you settle into spaces that feel personal, from quiet corners to dining rooms where staff learn your rhythm. In port, smaller vessels often secure berths closer to the action, which trims transfer times and gives you more minutes where the stories are.
New Zealand travellers usually prefer warmth without fuss. Training and adviser guidance shaped by local insight tends to deliver exactly that, service that appears when needed and fades when you are content. It is a simple idea, yet it is the hardest thing to teach, and a regional BDM can help keep it front of mind.
Before you dive into dates, it helps to frame your priorities. If food and culture lead the way, look for sailings that linger in markets and dock near historic centres. If sea days are your reset, target routes with a clean alternation between port and blue water, so you can read, nap, and arrive fresh.
If you are ready to compare voyages and see how itineraries line up with your calendar, open our Cruise Finder. You can filter by month, region, and voyage length, then save a shortlist to share with family or friends, which makes decision-making quicker and far less messy.
This appointment is more than a staffing note, it is a sign that Oceania Cruises is investing in the relationships and nuances that matter to New Zealand travellers. A dedicated BDM should mean clearer information for advisers, smarter itinerary matches for guests, and fewer rough edges between booking and boarding.
If you would like a hand turning that promise into a real itinerary, from picking the right cabin to timing your flights with a sensible buffer, talk with our expert team and we will build a neat shortlist that fits your dates and travel style.