Venice Cruising

From past experience on Serenade, I cruise her quite frequently, my guess is  they will make the Safari Lounge into a diamond lounge. There is no way all of the D, D+ and Pinnacles will fit into the regular diamond lounge.

 They have used the Safari Lounge quite frequently for that purpose.

Captain Aris Medina's Linkedin page shows him working for Virgin Voyages since October.

On 10/26/2021 at 12:26 AM, DELTABLUE said:

John Blair heading home for some R&R after one more cruise on Serenade.

Who is replacing him?

Thanks for doing this John. My phone is popping up pictures every day too. I should have been on Serenade at the moment 😥, somewhere in the Caribbean.

2 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

I'm assuming that's Oct 26?

Yes I think it must be. I didn't have a chance to check her schedule earlier but just got home in the next sailing is the 26th. With the international date line it'll take him a couple of days to get there so leaving today would put him in Sydney on the 25th. 

On 10/21/2019 at 2:55 PM, wolfcathorse said:

rotation on Freedom, Mariner, Navigator, and advance changes done on Explorer and Vision as I'll be at sea. Who's on Mariner now?

Adventure OTS - Capt Carl Graucob (started rotation 9-16-19)

Adventure OTS - Capt Krzyszthof Szymkarczuk

Allure OTS - Capt Tore Grimstad (started rotation 8-18-19)

Allure OTS - Capt Ron Holmes

Anthem OTS - Capt Felix Srecko Ban (started rotation 8-14-19)

Anthem OTS - Capt Henrik Loft Sørensen

Brilliance OTS - Capt Ante Cavala (started rotation 8-28-19)

Brilliance OTS - Capt Ole-Johan Gronhaug

Empress OTS - Capt Shawn McDuff (started rotation 9-15-19)

Empress OTS - Capt Diego Lombardic

Enchantment OTS - Capt Arild Hansen (started rotation 10-11-19)

Enchantment OTS - Capt Toni Tomljanovic

Explorer OTS - Capt Kjetil Gjerstad (started rotation 11-5-19)

Explorer OTS - Capt Malvin Bardsnes

Freedom OTS - Capt Frank Martinsen (started rotation 10-20-19)

Freedom OTS - Capt Thomas Busto

Grandeur OTS - Capt Patrik Jukes (started rotation 9-14-19)

Grandeur OTS - Capt Thordur Thorsson

Harmony OTS - Capt Johnny Faevelen (started rotation 8-18-19)

Harmony OTS - Capt Gus Andersson

Independence OTS - Capt Teo Strazicic (started rotation 8-30-19)

Independence OTS - Capt Iv Vidos

Jewel OTS - Capt Trym Selvag (started rotation 8-18-19)

Jewel OTS - Capt Anders Ingebrigtsen

Liberty OTS - Capt Dustin Catelsky (started rotation 10-20-19)

Liberty OTS - Capt James MacDonald

Majesty OTS - Capt Daniel Budzelewskiis (started rotation 9-16-19)

Majesty OTS - Capt Per Kristoffersen

Mariner OTS - Capt tbd (started rotation 10-21-19)

Mariner OTS - Capt Tobias Oster

Navigator OTS - Capt Mattias Persson (started rotation 10-28-19)

Navigator OTS - Capt Angel Oviol

Oasis OTS - Capt Göran Peterson (started rotation 9-6-19)

Oasis OTS - Capt Claus Andersen

Ovation OTS - Capt Henrik W Loy (started rotation 9-20-19)

Ovation OTS - Capt Sverre Ryan

Quantum OTS - Capt Sindre Borsheim (started rotation 9-6-19)

Quantum OTS - Capt Erik Standahl

Radiance OTS - Capt Marek Slaby (started rotation 10-18-19)

Radiance OTS - Capt Espen Been

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Toni Calne (started rotation 10-19-19)

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Trond Holm

Serenade OTS - Capt Aris Medina (started rotation 10-20-19)

Serenade OTS - Capt Stig Nilsen

Spectrum OTS - Capt Charles Teige (started rotation 9-5-19)

Spectrum OTS - Capt Flemming Nielsen

Symphony OTS - Capt Rick Sullivan (started rotation 9-28-19)

Symphony OTS - Capt Rob Hempstead

Vision OTS - Capt Michael Lindberg (started rotation 10-30-19)

Vision OTS - Capt Juan Luis Caranti

Voyager OTS - Capt Huimin Wu (started rotation 10-6-19)

Voyager OTS - Capt Pehr Pehrsson

Marek Slaby is not back on Radiance yet .He is leaving home today to fly to Sydney.  So his rotation will start on Radiance next sailing from Sydney.

On 7/15/2019 at 5:46 PM, Paulette3028 said:

Cece Del Razo has taken over from Elvis Pinto on Empress.....until he returns to Empress on 9/7.....Elvis told me this himself.

Thank you!

8 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

Elvis Pinto has left Empress for his vacation and he has told me directly that he returns to Empress on 9/7.

Oh, darn. I will just miss him. I'm on the September 1st sailing. Do you know who his vacation replacement is?

On 5/23/2019 at 11:02 AM, TPKeller said:

 

 

 

If you look back at the last report, you will see that the Radiance changed captains about 2 months ago, so we are coming up on the "standard" window of 10 weeks.  Even if no other information is available, that's a good first guess that they'll be switching back soon.

 

"Radiance OTS - Capt Espen Been (started rotation 3-23-19) 

Radiance OTS - Capt Marek Slaby"

 

Theron

Captain Marek is back on Radiance starting today.

On 10/3/2018 at 9:22 AM, wolfcathorse said:

rotation on Majesty

Adventure OTS - Capt Shawn McDuff (started rotation 8-3-18)

Adventure OTS - Capt Krzyszthof Szymkarczuk

Allure OTS - Capt Ron Holmes (started rotation 8-26-18)

Allure OTS - Capt Tore Grimstad

Anthem OTS - Capt Henrik Loft Sørensen (started rotation 8-14-18)

Anthem OTS - Capt Felix Srecko Ban

Brilliance OTS - Capt Ole-Johan Gronhaug (started rotation 9-22-18)

Brilliance OTS - Capt Ante Cavala

Empress OTS - Capt Diego Lombardic (started rotation 8-4-18)

Empress OTS - Capt Carl Graucob

Enchantment OTS - Capt Nils-Petter Hoeydal (started rotation 8-17-18)

Enchantment OTS - Capt Toni Tomljanovic

Explorer OTS - Capt Malvin Bardsnes (started rotation 9-15-18)

Explorer OTS - Capt Kjetil Gjerstad

Freedom OTS - Capt Frank Martinsen (started rotation 8-18-18)

Freedom OTS - Capt Thomas Busto

Grandeur OTS - Capt Thordur Thorsson (started rotation 9-22-18)

Grandeur OTS - Capt Patrik Jukes

Harmony OTS - Capt Gus Andersson (started rotation 9-1-18)

Harmony OTS - Capt Johnny Faevelen

Independence OTS - Capt Iv Vidos (started rotation 8-31-18)

Independence OTS - Capt Teo Strazicic

Jewel OTS - Capt Dustin Castelsky (started rotation 8-19-18)

Jewel OTS - Capt Trym Selvag

Liberty OTS - Capt Anders Ingebrigtsen (started rotation 8-19-18)

Liberty OTS - Capt James MacDonald

Majesty OTS - Capt Per Kristoffersen (started rotation 9-28-18)

Majesty OTS - Capt Mathias Persson

Mariner OTS - Capt Toni Calne (started rotation 8-17-18)

Mariner OTS - Capt Angel Oviol

Navigator OTS - Capt Kjell Nordmo (started rotation 8-9-18)

Navigator OTS - Capt Trond Holm

Oasis OTS - Capt Claus Andersen (started rotation 8-19-18)

Oasis OTS - Capt ? ? ?

Ovation OTS - Capt Flemming Nielsen (started rotation 9-14-18)

Ovation OTS - Capt Henrik W Loy

Quantum OTS - Capt Erik Standahl (started rotation 9-21-18)

Quantum OTS - Capt Charles Teige

Radiance OTS - Capt Sverre Ryan (started rotation 9-7-18)

Radiance OTS - Capt Trym Selvag

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Juan Luis Caranti (started rotation 8-12-18)

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Tobias Oster

Serenade OTS - Capt Aris Medina (started rotation 8-4-18)

Serenade OTS - Capt Stig Nilsen

Symphony OTS - Capt Rick Sullivan (started rotation 8-19-18)

Symphony OTS - Capt Rob Hempstead

Vision OTS - Capt Marek Slaby (started rotation 8-6-18)

Vision OTS - Capt Michael Lindberg

Voyager OTS - Capt Pehr Pehrsson (started rotation 8-12-18)

Voyager OTS - Capt Sindre Borsheim

Captain Marek left Vision on October 18th

Always!

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then please make sure you come back here and post who your captain was!!!! Inquiring minds want to know!

Of course!😀 I'll have internet on the cruise, so if there's a new captain I will be sure to let you know!!:cool::cool:

as I understand it, his name is just there until we know who's replacing him. In other words, I forgot to erase his name and put in the ?'s

I wonder who will replace him. I'm doing a 21 night B2B on Serenade starting March 19th which is right about when he or his replacement should be due back.

Is Captain Tor Olsen coming back to Serenade again, or is his name just there until we know who is replacing him?

Vision.. Captain Marek Slaby goes on vacation today and will be back on May 22nd

Hello, does anyone know who will be CD on Navigator on November 27th?

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We used the free shuttle to go out to dinner the night before too. I would definitely stay there again.

Thank you to all who gave information about hotels in Tampa. I was able to call 5 of them and get the lowdown on rates, parking and shuttles. Based on all info, we are staying at the Barrymore. A word to the wise, book early! With conventions coming in, there were no available rooms in several hotels for our dates.

I think you will do well with the Barrymore. I stayed there in March and left my car there for a week when I sailed on Vision. It worked out very well. It's not a luxury hotel but it was clean and comfortable and the staff very pleasant. It is the hotel that Royal Caribbean uses for their incoming crew members.

This is an easy and fun little walking tour (about 2 hours'ish)

 

This is awesome information, thank you! I am sailing on Majesty in 8 weeks, and will follow your walking tour. Is it safe for a woman to walk around this area alone? I'm sailing solo.

We have stayed at Best Western, Residence Inn and Country Inn and Suites in Port Canaveral. They are literally across the street from the terminal. Never had a problem with either and always do park and cruise which has been very reasonable.

Thank yo!. Did you see the info on The Barrymore in Tampa that I posted? I would definitely stay there again, as it is so convenient especially with the shuttle. There were several of us who met there the night before, including the captain, and we all used the shuttle to go out to dinner, instead of having to find parking at the restaurant. Worked out great!

We are looking to sail out of Tampa and need some referrals on places to stay. Is there any place on here that lists hotels?

 

Any recommendations appreciated. We typically go from Port Canaveral so I'm at a loss to the area.

 

Thanks

 

Tjohn50

I just posted info for you for Tampa, but I was actually on this board looking for info on Port Canaveral! :) Can you help me? I am looking for somewhere to stay and park, as I'll be driving over from the west coast.

Caroline

We are looking to sail out of Tampa and need some referrals on places to stay. Is there any place on here that lists hotels?

 

Any recommendations appreciated. We typically go from Port Canaveral so I'm at a loss to the area.

 

Thanks

 

Tjohn50

I stayed at The Barrymore in March. It is the hotel that Royal Caribbean uses for incoming crew members, and just a few minutes from the port. It isn't luxury, but is clean, comfortable and has free parking for 7 nights included in your one night stay. It worked out costing me less than the terminal parking, and I won't use the remote lots in Tampa having had negative experiences. Just tell them you will be parking there, as they give you a pass to hang in your car. They have a free shuttle to the terminal, and also will take you to any restaurants around, again free. When we returned instead of waiting for the shuttle, we took a taxi to the hotel - it was just $5. Don't let the reviews about lots of college kids put you off. Yes, there were lots of kids, as they us it as a dorm, but they were no trouble - quiet, polite. They were seen but not heard, lol!

Without having to search the entire thread, can anyone bring me up to speed as to where Captain Leif Bang went to? He was our captain on Navigator back in '09

 

 

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He has retired

Adventure OTS - Capt Shawn McDuff (started rotation 3-26-16)

Adventure OTS - Capt Tomas Busto

Allure OTS - Capt Ron Holmes (started rotation 4-24-16)

Allure OTS - Capt Johnny Faevelen

Anthem OTS - Capt Henrik Loft Sørensen (started rotation 3-4-16)

Anthem OTS - Capt Anders Ingebrigtsen

Brilliance OTS - Capt Ole-Johan Gronhaug (started rotation 4-22-16)

Brilliance OTS - Capt Stig Nilsen

Empress OTS - Capt Diego Lombardic (started rotation 5-27-16)

Empress OTS - Capt Carl Graucob

Enchantment OTS - Capt Angel Oviol (started rotation 3-28-16)

Enchantment OTS - Capt Toni Tomljanovic

Explorer OTS - Capt Rick Sullivan (started rotation 5-16-16)

Explorer OTS - Capt Kjetil Gjerstad

Freedom OTS - Capt Toni Calne (started rotation 4-24-16)

Freedom OTS - Capt Espen Been

Grandeur OTS - Capt Trond Holm (started rotation 4-23-16)

Grandeur OTS - Capt Matthias Persson

Harmony OTS - Capt Gus Andersson (started rotation 5-22-16)

Harmony OTS - Capt Johnny Faevelen

Independence OTS - Capt Iv Vidos (started rotation 3-27-16)

Independence OTS - Capt Thore Thorolvsen

Jewel OTS - Capt Dustin Castelsky (started rotation 3-20-16)

Jewel OTS - Capt Lis Lauritzen

Legend OTS - Capt Kjell Nordmo (started rotation 5-8-16)

Legend OTS - Capt Arild Hansen

Liberty OTS - Capt Rune Johnsen (started rotation 4-10-16)

Liberty OTS - Capt James MacDonald

Majesty OTS - Capt Erik Standahl (started rotation 4-8-16)

Majesty OTS - Capt Per Persson

Mariner OTS - Capt Malvin Bardnes (started rotation 4-18-16)

Mariner OTS - Capt Flemming Nielsen

Navigator OTS - Capt Aris Medina (started rotation 4-16-16)

Navigator OTS - Capt Frank Martinsen

Oasis OTS - Capt Rob Hempstead (started rotation 3-26-16)

Oasis OTS - Capt Per Kristoffersen

Ovation OTS - Capt Flemming Nielsen (started rotation 5-26-16)

Ovation OTS - Capt Henrik W Loy

Quantum OTS - Capt Srecko Felix Ban (started rotation 2-10-16)

Quantum OTS - Capt Henrik Loft Sørensen

Radiance OTS - Capt Göran Peterson (started rotation 5-1-16)

Radiance OTS - Capt Trym Selvag

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Johan Malmberg (started rotation 5-13-16)

Rhapsody OTS - Capt Dimas Manrique

Serenade OTS - Capt Tor Olsen (started rotation 4-8-16)

Serenade OTS - Capt Krzyszthof Szymkarczuk

Splendour OTS - Capt Diego Lombardic (started rotation 1-16-16)

Splendour OTS - Capt Yngvar Knutsen

Vision OTS - Capt Michael Lindberg (started rotation 5-28-16)

Vision OTS - Capt Marek Slaby

Voyager OTS - Capt Sindre Borsheim (started rotation 5-10-16)

Voyager OTS - Capt Sverre Ryan

Vision ... Michael Lindberg is on extended leave as his wife pregnant with their first child due this month. Captain Marek left Vision today and will be back Aug 19. There is a temporary captain on board Vision now.

We did a 2013 TA on Vision w/Capt Lis. Great ship & crew, about the only thing we wished for was a specialty restaurant, which she now has. One of my favourite cruises and we were in an inside!

Yes, she has three specialty restaurants now. I was on her twice last year, will be back on her again for a 7 night Western Caribbean in March and the TA crossing in April. Love this ship. I'm just sorry she is leaving Tampa, as it is so close to my home!