Mourning Australasia cruise champion and family man David Bunn

Bunn died March 12 at his home in New Zealand surrounded by family, following a battle with cancer fought with stoicism and grace. He was 71.

Going back decades, Bunn represented several of Gerry Herrod's companies, starting with Ocean Cruise Lines then Orient Lines, Voyages of Discovery and Voyages to Antiquity. He was Royal Caribbean's longtime International Representative and an early and ardent champion of Oceania Cruises. He also represented Regent Seven Seas Cruises and was a founding shareholder in American Queen Voyages and an investor in Hebridean Island Cruises.

With Roger Allard at the 2014 naming festivities for American Queen Voyages' American Empress in Portland, Oregon

Zest for life

'David was a true fighter, great in business and always had time for his family, work colleagues and friends,' said Roger Allard, a British Travel Industry Hall of Fame inductee and chairman/owner of Hebridean Island Cruises. 'His zest for life was second to none and he truly cared about people ... He was infectious with his own brand of humor and made everyone smile. Even though we lived on the other side of the world to each other, it always felt like I had just seen him ...'

Laser focused

'David was a missionary for modern cruising in a small country more than 8,000 miles from Miami,' according to Adam Goldstein, former vice chairman, Royal Caribbean Group and past president/CEO of Royal Caribbean International. 'Despite those constraints, David was an instrumental member of Royal Caribbean's community of International Representatives that helped build today's thriving global cruise business. He was laser focused and could talk cruising 24/7. He was a good and loyal friend, in particular with Rama Rebbapragada [who helped lead Royal Caribbean's Asia-Pacific cruise expansion], and will be missed by many.'

Signing the first steel cut for Oceania Cruises' Riviera at a 2010 ceremony at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente, and at Rivera's 2012 naming ceremony in Barcelona

'David was an early supporter of Oceania Cruises and his innovative ideas helped shape the fabric of our partnership with the travel advisor community,' said Bob Binder, co-founder of Oceania Cruises. 'David was with us right from the start because he was open to things which were new and different. We did not have a lot of resources initially at Oceania Cruises so you needed a good sense of humor and David certainly had that.'

Boundless positive energy

Binder said Bunn had extensive cruise industry knowledge and approached new ventures with a 'boundless positive energy.'

He added that 'even in the most challenging times, David had an amazing sense of humor and optimism ... [He] kept us laughing through the rough times. Coming out of a meeting with David, things always seemed a little brighter.'

Oceania Cruises' Tim Rubacky, head of brand marketing & communications, considered Bunn like a brother: 'He was not just a business colleague and a boss, he was a mentor, a friend, an inspiration. He was always there to lift me up and push me forward during one of the most challenging chapters of my career.'

This was during the start-up of American Queen Steamboat Co. (later, American Queen Voyages), when Rubacky was SVP sales and marketing and he and co-founder/President Christopher Kyte brought in Bunn who, together with Allard, became a founding shareholder. Bunn took an active role with an 'enthusiastic and passionate interest' in the business, a knack for getting things on track and 'instilling a sense of peace and working harmony from half-way around the world.'

Bunn and Allard sold their stakes in then-profitable AQV in 2019.

Embarking on a tour of Athens

Part of each company's DNA

Whatever the brand, Bunn was 'always consistent and focused on the big picture. He looked at the business on a global basis,' Rubacky said. 'David was all-in, whether Royal Caribbean, Oceania, American Queen or Voyages to Antiquity. He became part of each company's DNA.'

Bunn's style was getting everyone around the table to hear their viewpoints and opinions — ideally, over good food and drink.

'David knew how to live life to the fullest and loved to include his friends in his adventures to share the joy with them,' Binder said. 'Traveling with David was always a bit of an adventure. He knew how to find the best places and always looked for the best in people no matter where we went.'

With longtime partner Hilary Shepherd aboard the American Queen steamboat in 2014

Bunn grew up on a New Zealand cattle and sheep farm. An early job with a haulage business introduced him to international shipping. He made his way to England in the mid 1970s and worked for Blue Star Line. He spent time in Chicago before going home to New Zealand and establishing a rental car/camper van hire company.

Then he plunged into the travel business in Auckland and Sydney and never looked back. He was involved with Gerry Herrod's four successive cruise brands. 'Working with Gerry Herrod, David Yellow and Adam Goldstein, I was incredibly lucky,' he told a friend. Bunn also introduced Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Oceania Cruises and American Queen into the market Down Under.

Proudest accomplishment

Yet his life's proudest accomplishment, friends and colleagues said, was his family.

David Bunn with his daughter Emma at her wedding in October

Rubacky added that Bunn applied a 'family approach' to business in that he took paternal care with colleagues, associates and employees.

Bunn is survived by his long-time partner Hilary Shepherd, ex-wife Janet and their daughters Amanda, Charlette and Emma, stepchildren Natalie and Louis, siblings and several grandchildren. Donations may be made in his name to Cancer Society NZ. A link to the recording of his March 19 celebration of life is here.

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