“I’ve learned so much, from so many”: Oceania’s Cathy Denroche to retire after 48-year career

A long-time travel professional with a track record of excellence is sailing into a new chapter.

Cathy Denroche, director of sales in Western Canada at Oceania Cruises, has decided to retire at the end of this year, PAX has learned. Her last day is December 31.

“As a 48-year veteran in the travel industry (fifteen of them with Oceania Cruises), Cathy has been a powerhouse and ensured steady growth in Western Canada,” wrote Tricia Wolf, vice-president of field sales at Oceania, in a letter to partners this week.

During her tenure, Denroche has hosted “countless events on ships and land,” Wolf wrote, has represented Oceania as a keynote speaker several times and has helped nurture the business of many travel advisors.

“Her dynamic personality and passion for the cruise industry has inspired so many,” Wolf wrote. “Cathy has been a true brand ambassador and from day one in her entire professional career. We are extremely grateful for her dedication, hard work and creativity. Cathy is one of a kind and we will miss her.”

While Denroche can never truly be replaced, Oceania is currently seeking a new business development manager for her region. The luxury cruise line hopes to have someone in place by the end of the year.

“I still feel like I'm 35 years old”

In a statement to PAX, Denroche said it has taken her a long time to “wrap my head around” retirement.  

“I still feel like I'm 35 years old,” she told PAX in an email Tuesday night (Nov. 19). “But the fact is, time is flying by and if I don't do it now, when will I ever make the move? The future is uncertain for all of us, but I'm excited to see what unfolds as well.”

“All I know, right now, is that I'd like to end this 48-year career with nothing but the best memories, while I still feel relevant. It's definitely a big move, but it's time. And that is really settling to me.”

Denroche referred to a slide that shows a big tape measure, accompanied by the words, "If not now, when?", that she always uses when presenting to the industry.

“I talk about doing the things we love while we can still do them,” Denroche said. “And this year, I realized that my timeline is running at a fierce pace and I need to look at things I've wanted to do for a long time, but haven't had the time to do them.”

Denroche noted that she has “grown up in this industry with a lot of people I will miss dearly, who have made my life so full.”

“The companies I have worked for have been huge sources of joy and I feel incredibly blessed,” she said. “How lucky am I to have loved a job like this, for this long, and take lifelong relationships with me as well!”

What is Denroche going to do in her retirement? “Well, for starters, clean out my closets and attic!” she said. “But I'm going to look at opportunities to volunteer, visit family and friends, and then we'll go from there. I'm definitely going to experience huge FOMO [the fear of missing out], but also the new JOMO [the joy of missing out]!”

As for the most memorable moments of her career, “I've learned so much and travelled the world over the course of 48 years,” Denroche said.

“But if I had to put my finger on it, it was always the boldness of going after something I wanted,” she said.  

The “biggest joy” she felt was when a travel advisor made a booking on her line for the first time.

“That feeling, and the partnership that develops from the people you work with, never goes away,” she said. “The bottom line? Travel, of course, but the people in this industry, young and old. I’ve learned so much, from so many.”

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