In one 12 months, Princess Cruises’ latest and largest ship Sun Princess is scheduled to debut within the Mediterranean. To kick-start the one 12 months countdown, the cruise line has introduced the inaugural staff that can lead the ship via its remaining section of building, supply, and first season of crusing.
Note that there are two individuals listed for every function as a result of officers have to modify off periodically to have breaks between their contracts.
Captain Craig Street
Captain Craig Street joined Princess Cruises as a deck cadet in 1990, following time on the Warsash Maritime Academy within the south of England that additionally included coaching on cruise ships.
Appointed third officer in 1993, he labored his method up via the ranks, taking command of Star Princess in 2008. He’s since served as captain of 13 Princess ships.
Street developed an appreciation for journey at an early age as he spent a lot of his childhood residing together with his household abroad in numerous international locations together with Nigeria, Singapore, Dubai, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh earlier than becoming a member of Princess.
With an curiosity in flying, he additionally holds a non-public helicopter license and enjoys taking part in golf within the ports Princess’ ships go to. His favourite ports are in Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Captain Paolo Arrigo
An achieved mariner whose profession spans greater than 1 / 4 of a century at sea, Arrigo joined Princess as a deck cadet in 1996 after serving for a 12 months within the Italian Coast Guard. After shifting up via the ranks, Arrigo was named captain at Princess Cruises in 2017.
In addition to his function as captain, Arrigo has labored for Princess’ shoreside headquarters on a wide range of tasks, together with the managing components of the event and launch of the MedallionClass Experience.
His intensive maritime expertise and simple rapport with friends and crew made him a pure option to function captain on the truth TV program The Real Love Boat, which not too long ago accomplished its first season.
Staff Captain Brian Whelan
A local of Galway City in Ireland, Whelan started his maritime profession 23 years in the past with Princess, and through the years has steadily moved up the ranks to his present place as workers captain.
A graduate of the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, Whelan holds a Master Mariners’ Certificate and has been named considered one of 20 leaders beneath 40 by Seatrade Cruise News. When he’s not on a ship, he enjoys touring together with his household and says the Mediterranean is his favourite place to cruise.
Staff Captain Valerio Esposito
A local of Meta di Sorrento close to Naples, Italy, Esposito’s profession spans over 20 years, together with the previous 17 with Princess Cruises.
He began as a deck cadet on Golden Princess in 2006 and shortly progressed via the ranks as much as his promotion to workers captain in 2018, turning into one of many youngest within the firm to earn that place. Over the years, he’s commanded almost each ship within the Princess fleet, plus two P&O Australia vessels. Esposito is at the moment workers captain of Majestic Princess.
He accomplished his research within the south of Italy at Nautical Institute Nino Bixio, close to his hometown, and holds a Master Mariners Captain License.
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Hotel General Manager Ralph D’Souza
D’Souza joined Princess in 2006 as a junior purser and labored his method up via the ranks, reaching his objective of turning into resort basic supervisor in 2019. The spotlight of D’Souza’s profession was being chosen to be a part of the inaugural staff for the brand new Royal class sequence of ships.
During his seagoing profession, he has been a part of the launch staff for Royal, Regal, and Majestic Princess. In 2017, he was chosen to be a part of the deployment staff of the MedallionClass Experience, the place he was an envoy of the brand new expertise.
D’Souza holds a level in EMBA and a Ph.D. in enterprise administration. When he’s not crusing, he enjoys spending time at his coastal residence the place he enjoys gardening and exercising.
Hotel General Manager Simona Stumberger
A local of Slovenia the place she studied language and hospitality administration, Stumberger started her profession at sea within the bar division and diversified her resort experiences by working in visitor companies and with the resort and meals & beverage division.
She is now a resort basic supervisor, the place she shares her ardour for journey and impeccable service with every visitor. When on trip, she loves spending time with household and associates, climbing the mountains within the Alps, and taking care of her orchids.
Chief Engineer Gaetano Guida
Guida joined Princess Cruises in 2002 and was named chief engineer aboard Royal Princess in 2017. After incomes his nautical diploma in July 1999 from Nautical Institute Nino Bixio in Piano di Sorrento, Italy, Guida joined the Italian Navy serving on the M/V Vesuvio, a refueling ship for different naval ships.
He met his spouse on Star Princess in 2015 and collectively they’ve two sons. His hobbies embrace studying and listening to music.
Chief Engineer Davor Pavlovic-Kalifo
Pavlovic-Kalifo joined Princess Cruises in 2002 as second engineer and was named chief engineer aboard Sapphire Princess in 2014. A local of Croatia, he labored as an engine cadet on a cargo ship after which went on to school, graduating as a marine engineer.
His first task on a cruise ship was Tahitian Princess, the place he met his spouse. They are dad and mom to a three-year-old boy and love spending time as a household in Dubrovnik.
When not touring the world, Pavlovic-Kalifo enjoys deep sea fishing and exploring the Adriatic islands by way of his motorboat.
More Information
Several members of the aforementioned officers are already spending time on the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, and over the course of a number of months might be joined by almost 1,600 teammates who will function the inaugural Sun Princess crew.
The 4,300-guest Sun Princess is scheduled to debut in Europe on February 8, 2024 for a season of Mediterranean cruises adopted by Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale later within the 12 months.
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