Three captains will have commanded our ship as, in the Latin terminology of old Rome, “Magister Navis” or Master of the Sea, before our voyage ends. And we have had the privilege to dine at least once with each, and establish a casual acquaintance. With Oceania, their work contracts are a rotation of about two months on duty 24/7, and two months off on vacation, and their job as master of the vessel is to oversee every operation of the ship….everything.

Our first captain, the tall, striking Jurica Brajcic, brought the ship to Singapore from dry dock in San Juan and stayed until Hong Kong. He told us tales of Oceania’s Regent, approached by pirates while under his command. He is Croatian, from a long line of sailors, whose son also serves on the bridges of Oceania ships. Captain Brajcic, a longstanding, respected, and highly capable captain, the first to sail the Insignia when she was newly-christened, is stoic, reserved, and now looking to wind down his long career into retirement.

Embarking in Hong Kong, Captain Maxim Melnikov hails from Ukraine, also from generations of seamen. He was a dashing presence onboard…friendly, outgoing, with sparkling eyes and engaging sense of humor, and was often spotted on shore at ports in his shorts, t-shirt and backpack, out for a quick jog. Captain Max, as he was fondly called, had a custom of treating us, every sea day, to a dissertation of nautical interest on the public address system and would begin his oration straight up at noon with the greeting of “good morning, ladies and gentlemen!”, then sound the double clang of the bell, followed with, “and now…good afternoon!” We later discovered that he delivered these speeches from the bridge, and his “bell” was a spoon struck twice against a wine glass that was kept at the helm for just that purpose.

In Sydney, Captain Dimitrios Flokos took over as master. A handsome, silver-haired Greek, Captain Flokos is also a long-term veteran of the Oceania ships and was supposed to captain the beginning of our original Around the World voyage in January of 2015. Though he demonstrates clear authority, he is very visible, amiable, and approachable, and is often seen around the ship greeting guests. Despite his Greek accent and mediterranean, tanned features, he lived for many years in Los Angeles, and his beautiful wife who joined him on the ship in Honolulu, was born in Kansas City, spent her youth in Leavenworth, Kansas, and together they still visit extended family in the midwest, all the way from their home in Greece…..small world, indeed.

Along with years of training and experience in shipping and naval navigation, the cruise ship captain must must also be skilled at communication, customer service, delegation, organization, safety, crisis management….and it probably doesn’t hurt to have a little saltwater in your veins.