Monday, September 8th, 2008...7:57 pm
The Commodore
It’s not easy to decide which of man’s creations is the most beautiful. It may be a work of art, or a garden, or a building, or perhaps, one of Jessica Simpson’s breasts.
Once, on a glorious spring morning, I saw the wonders of Venice rising out of some dawn mist and thought it might well be the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. But then there’s the Queen Mary 2 and the Aston Martin Vanquish. The Hermitage Museum isn’t too shabby either and neither am I ………dressed as gladiator.
However, after a long time to think about it, I’ve decided that the most jaw-dropping, eye-watering, hand-biting, man-made spectacle of all time is the 1965 Riva Aquarama speedboat. Now, I know nothing about boats and had never seen one of these perfect creations before. However, in May I was in Portofino and, as I walked around the tiny harbor full of George Hamiltons and Chanel-laden women, I saw this piece of perfection just bobbing about in the water. ……………
I had no idea what it was but I had to know. So, I approached the boat marveling at angle of its bow and the positioning of that wraparound windscreen. Then there was the leatherwork in white and turquoise that seems to go so perfectly with the deeply polished mahogany hull, with the whole thing finished off with a tail that tapers and flares just so.
Mr. Google tells me that these boats were sold to Stewart Grainger, John Barry, Rex Harrison, Peter Sellers, Brigitte Bardot, Karl Heineken, Sophia Loren, Joan Collins, President Nasser, Victor Borge, King Hussein, Ferruccio Lamborghini, Prince Rainier, Richard Burton, and Pee Diddly.
That the most beautiful man-made creation should have come from Italy is no surprise. There’s a passion for aesthetics in Italy that you simply don’t find anywhere else and I think that applies with the man you are about to meet.
I actually got to shake his hand many years ago but I am sure he won’t remember. I was introduced to him by one of our captains when our ships were together in St. Martin. Back then he was a captain for Princess Cruises and now…..he is their commodore …….. And if you ask anyone in this great industry everyone will tell you the massive respect they have for him and if you ever wanted someone to drive the most beautiful machine, The Aquarama, a mahogany passport to the high life……….then this would be The Man.
Ladies and gentlemen please meet a true gentleman of the sea, Commodore Romano of Princess Cruises.
1. Please can you tell us about your career so far from the time you fell in love with the sea to your current posting?
For over fifty years, the sea has been my life, my work and my love. Even as a very young boy, I dreamt about ‘driving’ my own boat. I was born in Sorrento, Italy, which is an old established seaman community. So, for me, it was a very natural choice to go to sea and do what many people from my hometown have been doing for hundreds of years.
At age 14, I attended ‘Nino Bixio’ in Piano di Sorrento, one of the oldest maritime schools in Italy. After graduating in 1970, I started my career as a deck cadet on a cargo ship owned by Lauro Lines, an Italian company that also owned the two prestigious cruise ships, the Angelina Lauro and the now infamous Achille Lauro.
For six months I sailed from Italy to the Middle East, unloading general cargo merchandise. At that time the Suez Canal was closed to shipping so we had a 32-day trip around South Africa that took us first to Karachi, Pakistan, and then to several ports in the Persian Gulf including Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Korramanshar and Basra. In the 1970’s Korramanshar in Iran and Basra in Iraq were two very busy ports on the Shat El Arab. They were beautiful old cities with lots of history, the commerce was fluent and shopping was great. I have a Persian carpet I bought in Korramanshar, which I still treasure today.
The work was hard but the benefits were enormous. For the first time, I had a chance to explore parts of the world I’d only read about. And I, like all the sailors before me, was seduced by the sea and her beauty. I fell in love with the freedom sailing gave me. I loved the vastness of the ocean and the sense of adventure I knew awaited me in each port. The world was suddenly mine.
Shortly after returning home from this stint at sea, I began my national service with the Italian navy. For two years I served as a radar controller on two Italian navy destroyers. My time in the navy was peaceful but in 1973, after returning to the merchant marines, I sailed on the bulk carrier, ‘Pina.’ We arrived in the Port of Haifa, Israel, and became helpless bystanders in the middle of the Yom Kippur war. We arrived in the port and were waiting to discharge our cargo of grain when the war started. The Pina was blocked inside the harbor for 35 days and, from my vantage point, I was able to see and hear gun battles happening on the nearby Golan Heights and witness several aerial battles over the skies of Haifa. Needless to say, I was happy to finally leave.
I spent the next few years on large oil tankers owned by Getty Oil and Exxon International Oil until in 1977, when I was fortunate to land a job as a 2nd Officer on the cruise ship “ Fairstar,” owned by Sitmar Cruises. I knew immediately that I had stumbled on the best of both shipping worlds—I was still able to enjoy the serenity and adventure of sailing but with much better cargo. Excited and friendly faces had replaced merchandise and oil, which made my job much more enjoyable.
From 1977 to 1988, I sailed on the Sitmar Cruises passenger ships Fairsea, Fairwind, Fairsky and Fairstar in various deck officer positions. In 1984, I received my first senior appointment as staff captain on the Fairsky. Four years later, Princess Cruises bought Sitmar, and in 1991 I assumed command of the former Dawn Princess.
Princess also gave me the opportunity to work ashore for a year in 1994. I worked as fleet captain, based in the Princess marine office in Los Angeles. That was a great professional experience for me, allowing me to complete my overall onboard experience and knowledge of the company. It was also a very special assignment because my first son, Luca, was born that year in Los Angeles.
I have now been a captain with Princess cruises for 17 years, and have had the pleasure of being in command of most of her ships sailing all over the world. And just as it was when I was a young boy watching the ships go by in Sorrento, I am living my dream of ‘driving’ my own boat.
2. Congratulations on being made Commodore of Princess Cruises. Can you tell us what the responsibilities of a Commodore are?
Commodore of the Princess fleet is a very prestigious title in the P&O history. The title is an honor that is traditionally bestowed upon the most senior captain of a fleet of ships, and the position represents the highest rank attainable to a Princess mariner.
This January, I was honored to be promoted to Commodore and follow in the distinguished footsteps of Commodores Quartini, John King, Lagomarsini and many others who I had the pleasure of serving with when I was a deck officer.
As commodore I am a point of reference for the company and the other captains who are welcome and encouraged to contact me at any time if they wish to discuss an issue or need advice on anything regarding both the onboard or shore operation.
The passengers really enjoy the fact that their captain is the fleet commodore as they understand they have a very experienced skipper at the helm.
3. I am sure you must have seen many changes over the years you have stood on the bridge. As you look at all the technology you have today, what has been the best leap forward that has made your job easier?
There have been many changes over the years but some of the greatest technological strides affect the way we now navigate the world’s oceans. The introduction of the ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), accurate GPS (Global Positioning System) and the AIS (Automatic Identification System) has made navigation safer and much easier.
Back in my cargo ship days, we used paper charts. With them we only had a position history of where the ship had been, but now with ECDIS and satellite GPS, we now have very precise information on where we are at all times, and even a prediction of where we will be by using a time vector. Another great advantage of the ECDIS is that when approaching ports we have a greater choice of range scales we can use and also have a path of where the ship will be in the next 60, 120, or 180 seconds. This is very valuable especially when approaching a small port or maneuvering in extreme wind and current conditions.
Another great advancement has been the Automatic Information System (AIS). With AIS we are able to positively identify ships in the area, virtually eliminating any possibility of communicating with the wrong ship. This is helpful when we cruise areas like Alaska and Canada as we are able to identify and see ships around coastlines well before they appear on the radar screen. As a result we are better able to avoid meeting at narrow points.
There have also been great strides in the engineering systems of the new ships. With the introduction of more effective side thrusters and the Azipod propulsion systems, ship handling has become safer and more effective. We are now able to enter ports in more extreme weather conditions and with much bigger ships than was thought possible in the past. We no longer need to rely on tug assistance, which at some ports may be unavailable or insufficient.
4. Like most Captains, I am sure many guests ask you “Who is driving the ship?” With all the demands of a modern day Captain, how much time do you actually spend on the bridge and when you are not there, can you tell us the shift pattern of the Officers and Quartermasters?
Being a ship’s captain requires a mostly enjoyable but rigorous combination of job skills. We are a mixture of mariner, manager, mentor and master of ceremonies. Dividing my time between the bridge and my other duties is a delicate balance. I like to spend as much time as possible on the bridge because there I am able to better teach my young officers and share with them my experience and knowledge of a particular ship and also pass along my love for this job and for the sea in general.
Due to their unique navigational requirements, some itineraries demand more time on the bridge than others. For example, I spend much more time on the bridge while cruising Alaska where there are many narrows passages to traverse, where the weather can be extreme with fog or strong winds, and numerous fishing vessels can create heavy traffic patterns that must be avoided. In the Caribbean, on the other hand, the ship is mostly on open sea with deep waters and good weather so the navigational demands are less.
I am always on the bridge at least one hour before making our final approach into a port or narrow passage, as well as on departure until the ship clears the port area and is well underway. I do visit the bridge several times during the day to check on our progress or when we have the occasional visit to the bridge by guests. The officers on the bridge have a set of standing instructions for when to call me, but I stress that they should contact me anytime they need assistance or have any doubts.
In addition to the navigation duties, the bridge team is also responsible for the constant monitoring of all of the vessel’s fire detection systems, and must be to able to act immediately in any emergency that might occur day or night.
The bridge team consists of a senior officer of the watch, a junior officer of the watch and one or two quartermasters depending on the cruising area. In the Caribbean we navigate mostly on Nacos, or auto pilot, so we have only one quartermaster on duty and a second one available if necessary. While in Alaska, where we hand steer most of the time, we do have two quartermasters on duty at all times.
The shift patterns of officers and quartermasters on the bridge consist of a four-hour watch followed by eight hours rest. We have three shifts which are divided as follows:
0000 to 0400 hours and 1200 to 1600 hours
0400 to 0800 hours and 1600 to 2000 hours
0800 to 1200 hours and 2000 to 2400 hours.5. You have navigated ships throughout the world. Are there any ports that you have found more challenging than others and if so, why?
You are correct that some ports are much more demanding than others and the challenges are unique to each situation. Much depends on the size and design of the ports. Port traffic is another issue as it has increased so much lately, and the weather and tidal conditions always play a very important role.
Many ports in Europe were built years ago when ships were much smaller than today. This makes going in and out of harbor much more difficult. The last time I sailed the Mediterranean Sea was in 1999 on board the Grand Princess. This summer I was aboard the Emerald Princess and was shocked by the growth of cruise ship and ferry traffic in these past eight years.
For example, Piraeus in Greece is a harbor we all find very tricky. It has a small entrance and very little room inside the port to turn around and dock. In addition, the traffic is constant with the continuous arrival and departure of large passenger ferries connecting Piraeus to the many Greek islands. For a big ship like ours, this combination of port size and heavy traffic makes docking on a good weather day challenging at best and quite taxing when winds and currents are strong.
6. What has been your proudest moment so far as a Captain / Commodore?
My proudest moment as a Captain came the day I was able to fulfill a childhood dream. In Sorrento, there is a tradition that goes back decades. If a captain from Sorrento docks his ship in the port of Naples, on arrival or departure he sails his ship along the picturesque Sorrento coastline while sounding the whistle, saluting the city, his family and friends, and paying respect to the Madonna del Lauro, the local protector of those at sea. When I was a young boy and heard the whistle, I would run down to the beach with so many dreams in my head and the hope in my heart that one day I would be a captain.
Forty years later, in 1998, I returned to Sorrento, captain of the brand new Grand Princess, then largest, most beautiful cruise ship in the world. My family and friends were very impressed and returned my salute with a firework display as I sailed the Grand Princess out of port. The feeling of pride I felt that day stays with me still.
7. You must also be very proud to be part of the Princess organization. From your vantage point, what is it that makes Princess so successful and so very popular with its passengers?
I am very proud to be part of the Princess organization, which is evidenced by my long 31-year history with the company. I think what makes Princess so successful and so popular with her passengers is that we really do take the time to understand how special cruising is. Cruising is unlike any other kind of vacation. Like me, our passengers have come to love the call of the sea and are thrilled by the sense of adventure that sailing the world can bring. And like me they find true joy in meeting people from all over the world, some who are celebrating special moments in their lives like a wedding or birthday or some who have given into the simple need to get away from it all. We really care that these people — who have so many other places to spend their hard-earned money — choose to spend it with us. We genuinely appreciate them and in return try to give them the best cruising experience possible. Each member of the crew—from our caring cabin stewards to our waiters, engineers and bridge officers—wants our passengers to feel like family. We’re not always perfect, and things do go wrong on occasion, but I think that the majority of people who sail with Princess appreciate the effort we all put forth and that is why we have so many fantastic repeat passengers.
8. How do you relax when you are on board and how do you relax when you are at home?
When I am on board I relax by walking around the ship and talking to both passengers and the crew. I enjoy the interaction and am always thrilled when I recognize past guests. I also love to fish. On occasion when we are in port, I will take the speedboat out and do a little fishing. At home I love to spend time with my wife and sons. We will often go fishing or camping. I also like to garden and in fact, am a very good cook!
9. I was talking to our Captain here on the Carnival Splendor, Captain Pagano, who not only knows you very well but has great respect for you as well,. It seems that Italian Captains know each other, regardless of which line they work for. Is there a great friendship between cruise ship Captains and why is it do you think that Italian Captains are some of the finest in the world?
Captain Pagano is a great friend and the respect is definitely mutual. And yes, I do have many Italian friends who are in command of ships that sail for other cruise lines like Carnival, Costa, Silversea and MSC. Some of us are old school friends and some are from my hometown. Others were colleagues on various ships or those I met while our vessels were docked in port together like my good friend Salvatore Rassello who is the captain of the “Carnival Glory.”
The community of Italian captains is strong and we have developed good and valuable friendships with each other. Part of the relationship is social. In past years, when fewer ships were in port and our stay was longer (often overnight), we would get together much more often, have lunch and spend more time catching up. But now we have more requirements concerning safety, security, the environment and passenger concern and our time together is less frequent and often reduced to a quick cup of coffee.
The other part of our relationship is professional and we always try to help each other with scheduling arrival times in port, exchanging nautical and operational information, and other tidbits that can help make us more efficient and successful in our jobs.
The truth is that fine captains come from all over the world and I am friendly with many of them, as well. We are all a very dedicated group who strive to do our best. But I think what makes Italian captains some of the best in the industry has much to do with a combination of our history and culture. Let us not forget that we are all descendants of Christopher Columbus! But seriously, so many of Italian captains grew up with the sea as our backyard and have a strong bond and a love that greatly influences the way we look at and do our jobs.
Additionally, Italians by nature and culture are very rooted in family. Family provides the foundation for the deepest and most important relationships of Italian society and this sense of family extends to our passengers as well as our staff. We are known as some of the friendliest and most approachable captains in the business. This is also part of our Italian nature and the customers and crew love it and respond in kind. There is a definite trickle down effect. A friendly captain tends to have a friendlier staff and crew, which positively affects the passengers.
The idea of family really takes hold when it comes to the care and happiness of my crew. These are wonderful people who are away from their families for extended periods of time and that can take its toll. I try to be as available as I can so that they know I am here to assist, coach and help them whether their issues are personal or professional.
I, like all of my successful colleagues in command, understand that the care of the crew is just as vital as any passenger service we can supply. Every person who looks after the ship or our guests is an important part of the whole when it comes to providing a safe and pleasurable cruising experience. The bottom line is this: You can command the most beautiful and state-of-the-art ship but without a professional and happy crew you cannot achieve any lasting success. Because when it is all said and done, a good crew makes a good captain.
10. As is tradition here on the blog, I would like to ask you to please choose
your ultimate Captain’s Table. Let’s chose the menu first using your favorite items, prepared by the onboard Chef.-
Appetizer
Fresh Dungeness crab salad in Boston lettuce leafs
- Pasta
Spaghetti with fresh Manila clams
- Main Course
Whole red snapper baked in a salt crust
- Dessert
Baba’ au rumNow, let’s chose your ultimate table:-
Someone from the Cruise Industry
Micky Arison
- Your favorite movie actor
Clint Eastwood
- Your favorite movie actress
Sophia Loren
- Someone to make you laugh
Steve Martin
- Your favorite musician
Andrea Boccelli
- Someone from history who you wish you had met
Captain James Cook
Thank you, commodore, for that wonderful insight into your life at sea. I am sure many readers who have sailed with you will have their own memories of their time onboard and how you truly were the master of their vacation.
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi and Commodore Romano
61 Comments
September 8th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Brilliant… brilliant interview.
The Commodore represents himself and Princess impressively well.
Bravo!!!
Host Mach
September 8th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
It was really worth the wait for such a wonderful interview. The passion this man shows for the industry comes out in every comment. Thank you John and thank you Commodore for sharing your views with us.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
John: I am so glad I stayed around tonight to read this great interview with Commodore Romano.
I guess my Italian blood loves the sea, and, this was such a wonderful way to learn how the captains operate. I truly enjoyed all the details of Commodore Romano’s trip to his present position. As a cruiser of 25+ cruises, I do think the Italian Captains are the most friendly and have the best sense of humor.
You have outdone yourself today. Thank you again.
Marie
September 8th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
John:
What a wonderful tradition Commodore Romano described as he sailed the vessel along the Sorrento coastline.
David and I spent 2 weeks in Italy on our honeymoon and sadly only got to spend one day in Sorrento…but it was beautiful.
I am soooo excited. We booked the Fantasy for January 5, 2009 with the wonderful 50% discount Carnival gave us for our “dance” with Gustav!
David let me book a Penthouse Suite!!! woo hoo
All of a sudden, I LOVE hurricane season!!!!
This will be our first suite (since “mr tightwad” won’t spring for anything higher than an OV).
So currently we have the Fantasy booked for October 9, 2008, the Splendor booked for Nov 17, 2008, the Freedom booked for Nov 22, 2008, the Fantasy booked for January 5, 2009 AND
THE BLOGGER’S CRUISE!!!
I am going to need a cruise to rest up from all our cruises!!!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend ~ who is addicted to Club O2~ DJ)
September 8th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Hi John and Heidi!
Long time no see ! Thought I’d stop by and see what’s going on. I need a cruise!
Kathy (and Paul too)
September 8th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
John, this interview with The Commodore has to be one of the very best that I’ve read since I began reading your blog and since I started reading your blog it was right from the start. Your questions were excellent and The Commodore ’s comments were tremendous, breathtaking and very personal. I loved it. Thank you very much with this blog. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
September 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Hi John
We’ve been reading your blog every day, hoping that THIS will be the day that you interview “Goose” – Gustav – who’s going to follow you on the Splendor. We’ve come to the conclusion that this is a conspiracy … that you’re making us wait so that we’ll fall in love with you more and more, and that when we go on the Splendor next January/February/March we’ll pine for you, because “Goose” is there and not you!
OK, all right, we know that you’re irreplaceable, and we’ll keep reading your blog WHEREVER you are … but please can we hear from “Goose” too?
Your addicted Aussie fans
Frances and John
September 9th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Dear John the commodore is a man who is really of the sea.It is obvious this is his passion and destiny.Enjoyed the interview job well done to you both. Best wishes Gary and Bug
September 9th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Hi John,
Although I have not replied to the blogs in a while, I am here reading every day, and I really do look forward to them and enjoy them. The Splendor looks like a fantastic ship, and hopefully we will be able to travel aboard her within the next few months.
Do you know who the cruise director will be aboard the Splendor for the New Year’s cruise in December? Will you be the CD?
I also have another important question. About a year ago, I had asked you about one of our favorite crew members ever (after 8+ cruises) who we met aboard the Triumph in 2000. We had been in touch, and then his email address stopped working. Is there any way to possibly deliver him a message (assuming he is currently aboard a ship). Also, if we cruise in December, we think it would be really cool to cruise with him again 8 years later… after our kids who were 10 and 7 at the time are not 18 and 15. Do you know what ship Roberto Dejesus is currently aboard, and do you know what ship he will be on (if any) for the New Year’s cruise (end of Dec. – beginning of Jan.)? We would really appreciate any info, and we think it would be a truly memorable and sentimental cruise vacation.
I hope that you and Heidi are having fun and enjoying yourselves. Thanks for the blogs, and thanks for any information (feel free to post or email it).
-Matt T
September 9th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Wow.. it was so nice to see Captain Romano has made Commodore.
I’ve had the pleasure of sailing with him several times, and he’s a true gentleman, and excellent communicator.
We had a group from CruiseMates on a New Year’s sailing of the Golden Princess several years back, and Captain Romano was kind enough to have us up to the Bridge for a tour with him. Because the group was large, we were split into two groups, but he still did both tours personally. I still have the picture….
http://www.cruisemates.com/gallery/galleries/200/3219.jpg
I still recall everyone commented that his love for the sea was obvious when he spoke to the groups during the tour.
I certainly want to wish him continued success.
Regards,
Kuki
CruiseMates.com
September 9th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Awesome interview. The “picture” of sailing the Grand Princess out of Sorrento with fireworks going off brought tears to my eyes. ..indeed a fine moment in the Commodore’s life! Thanks for the detailed responses–I found them fascinating and thought provoking! Gloria
September 9th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Dear John, Bob and I both enjoyed the Blogger’s get together yesterday at the Cool Lounge. You were most gracious giving your time to answer our questions. I did forget one! You interviewed Butch recently and mentioned that he is currently a CD on one of the ships. Is he one of the candidates for the Dream Ship CD? We were curious about who would be the CD after you gave us the bad news awhile back that you would not be the CD. All 4 of our cruises have had you for the CD. We are strongly considering the April 25, 2009 transatlantic that you mentioned that you will be on. Keep up your good work and again thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time with the bloggers yesterday. Sincerely Bob and Cathy Ebert.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:28 am
John, the detail in your inteview with the Commodore was terrific! You really got him to open up with details that showed the difference in cruising over the years. Clearly, cities do not redesign their harbors as the industry progresses, so the steering capabilities had to improve. That was fascinating.
We’ll be on the Glory this weekend, thank you for making all the storms disappear, we appreciate it. Sending prayers to all those in the Caribbean and the U.S. affected by Gustav, Hanna, and Ike.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Wonderful interview John.
I loved the Commodore’s expression ” Was seduced by the sea and her beauty.”
Mary
September 9th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Excellent interview John! The Commodore certainly has a way with words! How exciting to meet someone so in love with his job! He must be a real pleasure to work for!
Thanks for bringing us a small peek into his life!
Mike
September 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Commodore Romano, you share so eloquently your wonderful experiences and insights with us! God’s blessings to you and your family!
Your description of the sail-away from Sorrento brought me to tears, it is the area my ancestors hailed from and I have yet to get there…thank you for that vision of tradition!! One day soon I shall be there, God willing!
Thank you, John, as always, for bringing us such amazing people, and details of a wondrous world we all love so much!
50 days and I shall be at sea again WOOOOO HOO!!!
Love to you all,
Floatie
September 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
HI John/Heidi:
What an amazing interview.
I really enjoyed what the Commodore has to say and I hope we can hear more from him in the future.
Quite an honor to a wonderful man.
Thanks again for posting this.
Hope all is well!
David
September 9th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
John,
Great interview…thanks for the time it took to do and to put together. Faline and I have worked twice with the Commodore, as a matter of fact, he was our captain on our first Princess contract. He is without a doubt, the nicest, most approachable and caring captain we have worked with. As you know, the crew takes its cues from the top down, and the atmosphere on the ship when the Commodore is there, is always calm and a pleasure to be a part of.
Aloha,
Dave Soreff
September 9th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Hello, John
Great blog! Love the interview, I just posted a blog on my web-site of princess cruiselines , and my cousine is booked nxt summer on the ruby princess from venice to rome, for 12 nights
from, JAKE S.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
John – We sailed last week on Caribbean Princess with Commodore Romano and got to talk with him for a few minutes at a party for the most frequent travelers on Princess. He is a real gentleman and certainly deserves his position at Princess. Glad to read your interview with him.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:29 am
WOW!!!!
What a WONDERFUL gentleman!!!
His passion and love shines through his words!!!
Makes smiles burst onto my face!!!
Thank you!
Lambie
P.S. I’ll be on the CONQUEST on Sunday 9/21… Can’t wait to meet her Captain!!
September 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
What a wonderful interview. I have sailed with the Commodore twice and have always found him to be a very approachable, caring and very funny captain. To learn of his sailing history and the full scope of his position as captain has been a wonderful eye-opener. Thanks for the insight.
September 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
My husband and I had the pleasure of sailing with the Commodore in 2006 on the Coral Princess through Alaska. We were fortunate enough to know the gentelman who happened to be the pilot of that particular cruise and was able to meet with Commodore Romano on numerous occasions. The Commodore was such a wonderful man and very much approachable (also has a great sense of humor). We were also able to meet his wife and both sons who were on the cruise durning their summer vacation. I have to say that you could certainly feel the Commodore’s “touch” on the whole ship. It was one of the best crew’s we have ever cruised with.
Congratulations Commodore!!! We have no doubt that your tradition of being a WONDERFUL Captian will continue on in your new position as Commodore. You certainly do Princess proud!
September 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
We had the pleasure of meeting the Commodore on our recent Caribbean Princess cruise. We were lucky enough to tour the bridge, and Commodore was generous with his time and answered our questions with a smile and his abundant charm. When our paths crossed again later in the cruise, he stopped and greeted us warmly. Princess should be very proud to have Commodore Romano as their senior Captain.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:43 am
we have sailed 3 times with captain romano on the carribbean princess and will sail again on halloween with hm on the emerald pricess. what a wonderful man. he always has time to stop and say hello, and his captains parties are great. he and cruise director james lay make a wonderful combination. looking forward to sailing with them again.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
CAPITAN ROMANO, UN HOMBRE CAPAZ, INTELIGENTE, EL VIEJO DAWN PRINCESS, TRASPASO FRONTERAS CON NUESTRO CAPITAN ROMANO, TUVE AL OPORTUNIDAD DE TRABAJAR CON EL COMO TRIPULANTE Y AHORA LE DESEO MIS MAS SINCEROS SALUDOS Y QUE DIOS LO BENDIGA, HOY, COMMODORE DE PRINCESS CRUISES GUISEPPE ROMANO…CIAO.
September 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Thank you John for this wonderful interview with Comador Romano. Especially enjoyed his remarks and pride in sailing into his home port of Sorento…got goose bumps about the fireworks on his second sailing into the port…respect and pride exchaned between the Comador, his ship and his city. We are excited about our upcoming first cruise on Star Princess September 2009…and looking forward to many future cruises with this fabulous cruise line.
September 21st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thank you so much for the interview with Commodore Romano. My wife and I have cruised with him twice so far and he officiated at the renewal of our wedding vows on our 25th wedding anniversary in 2004 onboard the Caribbean Princess. We are sailing again on the Caribbean Princess in Jan. 2009 and are hoping that the Commodore will once again be our captain. We have found him to be a true gentleman.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am
HI THERE COMMODORE, THIS IS EDWIN I HOPE STILL REMEMBER ME,,,IM YOUR STEWARD BEFORE…YOUR THE ONE WHO PROMOTED ME AS SRS, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS AND BY THE WAY CONGRATULATION TO YOUR NEW POSITION AS A COMMODORE.. IM STILL ON VACATION FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS I WANT KIDS BEFORE I GO BACK TO THE SHIP…PLS REGARDS TO YOUR FAMILY MAM SABINA,MARCO AND LUKA… HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN WITH YOUR FAMILY….SOON
September 26th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hi John Thank you so much for your wonderful interview with Commodore Romano I just recently took the Caribbean Cruise on the Carribean Princess August 15th 2008 and had the pleasure of personally meeting this wonderful man he has truly earned his title of Commodore I look forward to seeing him again on another Princess Cruise.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read Commodore Jphn Heald’s interview. I found it to be most fascinating. I sincerely hope that my husband and I will some day have the oppotunity to meet him personally on one one of our Cruises.
Best wishes to him and his family circle.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I have indeed sailed with CMDR Romano several times,crossing the Atlantic. We are once again doing a transatlantic on Apr 18 on the newest Princess, THE RUBY. What a thrill it would beto once again have our beloved GIUSEPPE ROMANO at the helm.On one trip, our group of 16 renewed our marriage vows in his quarters, followed by champagne. What a thrill! Also had the privilage of meeting his Wife & sons. VIVA GIUSEPPE ROMANO, Con Amore, Josephine & Joseph Dolce.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Commodore Romano,
My Parents, John and Sheila DelMastro and I have been cruising with you since Sitmar days and unfortunately have not yet had the pleasure of sailing with you in recent years. We as a family have very fond memories of sailing with you and we still have picutres of you, Captain Quartini, Lagomarsini, Tringale, and many of our other favorite Italian Captains on the wall. As a third generation Princess cruiser, it was an absolute pleasure reading this interview. Captains like you are why I’m still sailing with Princess today. My 12 year old daughter is now a 4th generation Princess cruiser and so far, Nico Benetti is her favorite Captain. I hope one day soon I have the pleasure of introducing her to you.
Ciao,
Gloria DelMastro-McShane
October 10th, 2008 at 11:54 am
We had the pleasure and priveledge of meeting CMDR Romano and his officers on the Carribean Princess bridge in April of this year.
We have 12 past cruises in our log book, this was our first cruise on Princess. Our overall experience was above our expections, so much so we booked another cruise while on board.
This article brought back memories of those moments we spent with CMDR Romano, not only on the bridge but at chance meetings throughout the cruise as well.
We wish Commodore Ramano continued success and calm sea’s, and congratulate Princess on having such a fine gentleman as their senior Captain and cruise Ambassador.
Sincerely, Andrew & Peggy
October 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Last month we had the pleasure of sailing on the Caribbean Princess out of Brooklyn, New York along the eastern seaboard to Halifax, Nova Scotia and back with Commodore Guiseppe Romano. At the Captain’s Circle Party we had the opportunity to meet the Commodore, shake his hand and have a picture taken. After reading the story of this great mariner and his love of the sea, it’s easy to see why our voyages on the ships under his command have been so memorable. Bravo Commodore! We hope to renew our acquaintance soon.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Favor – We are going on the Panama Cruise lv Oct 22 and have for the last 25 yrs been passing a bottle of wine to another couple on special occasions. This will be his birthday and we would like the captain to present the wine. The last time the bottle was presented was from the cockpit of a US fighter. If u can make this work pls drop me a email and I will followup with the captain.
thx
phil egner
October 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Hi,
My husband and I also sailed with the Commodore long before he had this distinquished title. It was on the Dawn Princess in the 80’s and we first saw him leaning against the theatre door waiting to be introduced by the cruise director on the night of the Captains Cocktail Party. I just happened to look back during the introductions and saw him standing there. I remembered saying to my husband “look at that very young officier, I wonder who he is”. Imagine my surprise when he was introduced as the Master of the ship. He looked about 15 years old and I see by his picture that he has aged very well. He is a very nice man and most hospitable. We remember him with fondness.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
We have had the pleasure of sailing with Commadore Romano 3 times now. Our first was on the last sailing of the “old” Dawn Princess through the Panama Canal. From the very first day we had the opportunity of chatting with him and also every single day of the 17 day cruise. We even had the chance to meet his wonderful wife who had joined him for that cruise. We have since then sailed on both the Grand Princess and the Caribbean Princess with him and on both occassions he remembered us from that first cruise through the canal. He is our favourite Captain / Commadore at Princess and is one of the main reasons why we always try to choose Princess for our vacation.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Princess is so lucky to have the Commodore still sailing with them! This man is a gem of the seas! SITMAR says it all! I’d trust my life to this man! I started sailing with Princess when I was 8 years old! It’s because of the Commodore and the SITMAR folks that I am still loyal to Princess. The first thing I do when I board a Princess ship is look for remaining SITMAR crew!! Please don’t retire anytime soon Commodore!!
November 4th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Dear Sir..
Thank you very much for your blog interview and I am very glad to read some the commodore Romano profile also I hope some days,I can meet and get join work with his team on a Princess Cruise Ship Line operation.
Best Regard,
Sarfitos Chandra
Note : I am waiting a your feed back to me
November 11th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi John,
Thanks for your blog on the Ruby Princess.
Love your tie!!
Great Videos as well!
Can you ask James Lay (Ruby Princess Cruise Director) a question for me.
I’m curious about exclusive Sabatini’s breakfast for suite passengers.
Is that just for Full suite passengers?
Or, are mini-suites entitled to the same perk?
What’s on the menu?
Happy Cruising,
Sandytoes
(Chris)
November 14th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I really inspired me your blog been encouraging me to join a cruise as employee,please advise me how join the princess cruise where and what is the name of agent in Indonesia,thanks for the blog commodore may success always be with you.
happy Cruising
Yanto
November 14th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Good morning Commodore,
How do you do, I proud to be part of your blog, what can I do to be your team on the boat, I saw your boat image on internet ” Fantastic “, I believe will be there soon.
Happy cruising
AZIS
November 17th, 2008 at 3:35 am
I have sailed with Commodore Romano a couple of times when he was Captain. He was so much fun & spent some time teasing me because I drank beer in the morning & milk at night. He thought I was totally confused! I have been on 38 cruises & have to say he is the most gracious & charming of all the Captains I have met. He’s also friendly & has a great sense of humor. I hope to sail with him again someday, but just haven’t caught up with him again. Congratulations on your promotion Commodore Romano.
Always, Carol from California
November 25th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I want to be like the Commodore one day, i hope to start my deck officer training soon. Greig laird, 16, Great Britain
December 16th, 2008 at 9:30 am
hi captain congratulation to your new position , the last time i see you was on the star princess i hope you still remember me you ,used to call me chaparita i’m one of the cabin stewardess on the ship. i’m still on vocation . just extends my regards to your family a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! GOD BLESS .
December 16th, 2008 at 9:36 am
congratulation commodore enjoy your new position i hope to see you again in the future i’m one of the cabin stewardess ,we been in the same ship twice .Regards to your family a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
CONGRATULATION AGAIN!
CIAO FOR NOW
December 29th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Commodore Romano, my name is Martin Rodriguez, Mexican Accommodation Supervisor, currently at home for medical reasons, but everything going well.
I had the pleasure to met you and figured out your human side the Christmas of ¨99 while you were the Captain on Board the Sun Princess, for a small detail that made us happy at that time to a group of crew members from the accommodation dept. and we got our picture taken all toghether with you in the middle, I knew that it was not another picture with the group just because you were the Captain; It was the picture of the Captain with a group of crew members!!!! I mean, you were in the picture because you really wanted to!!!!.
I still have the picture and I’m sure that evberybody there still remember that moment………thank you!!!
Congratulation for your new position and I really hope to sail with you again in a nearly future
All the best for you and your beloved ones.
Happy sailings!!!
December 30th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
What are the statistics of Coral Princess, such as Length, Width, Height and Depth.
Thanks
December 30th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
What are the following dimensions of the Coral Princess?
Length, Width, Height and Depth.
Thanks
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 am
Hi John
Thankyou for your website blog in describing the wonderful life of Commodore Romano
I wonder if you are in communication with him to ask any personal questions.
I am going on the Dawn Princess to New Zealand on 19 January 2009 and on exploring the background of Princess Cruises was delighted to see that they had bought out the Sitmar line.
I was wondering if Commodore Romano was an office to Commodore Jorge Petrescue
“Captain Jorge” was a personal friend to my father when my father was a Chaplain on the Fairsky back in the early 60’s becaues of their friendship “Captain Jorge” offered cruises to my family so that he could have some real sea time with my father. Captain Jorge fell victim at early age to cancer. My family have wonderful memories of Captain Jorge and I just wanted to know if the Commodore Romano ever actually served with Jorge Petrescu
With thanks
Bob Morris
January 12th, 2009 at 9:47 am
My husband and I had the opportunity to not only meet the Commodore, but we renewed our Wedding Vows after 23 years of marriage in February of 2008 on the Caribbean Princess and Commodore Romano officiated the ceremony. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the Commodore really made you feel so special. I will never forget this experience, nor will my husband. It was a pleasure traveling on his ship and when we had the pleasure of seeing him again on our trip, he remembered our names, and came up to us to say hello. The Commodore is a wonderful human being and my husband and I are planning a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale in Feb-Mar, 2010 to the Panama Canal and we are hoping he will be the captain on our ship. There are no words to describe his graciousness, sincerity, kindness, etc. I have sailed on many Cruise Lines, but Commodore Romano impressed us so much, we will never go on another cruise line.
Commodore, Congratulations & Happy New Year to you and your family, and hopefully we will see you again one day. Dot & John Marshall, Phila, PA
January 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Cruises Are Wonderful – Pity About the Ports
A Brief Account of Sonia Rangel’s and Phil Linehan’s South American Cruise – December 2008
By Phil Linehan
When Sonia and I decided time at sea would be a nice treat.
the travel agent advised us about a cruise fleet.
She said for a good time it would suit us just fine
if we considered a trip on the swank Princess line.
Having carefully studied the company’s brochure,
we made reservations for a South American tour.
We would go to Chile, Argentina, the Falklands, Uruguay and Brazil
a journey we were assured would be a great thrill.
At Valparaiso we boarded the sparkling Star Princess
hoping 14 days at sea would rid us of stress.
The ship lived up to our each and every expectation
and our stateroom we found in an excellent location.
The staff, recruited from many countries worldwide,
performed their multitude duties with obvious pride,
It was easy to relax under the pampered attention
of a cabin and restaurant staff worthy of very special mention.
We were lucky in the companions with whom we shared dinner
and in assigning our table the maitre picked a winner.
With lots of laughs and tales told, most of them tall,
the most splendid time was had by us all.
We left Punta Arenas to visit the penguins in their own habitat.
They appeared before us in formal attire, but forgot to put on a stylist top hat.
Our presence they tolerated with admirable restraint
and endured our inane “aren’t they cute!” exclamations without a complaint.
With Magellan’s Strait and Cape Horn I felt quite deceived
although most other passengers were greatly relieved.
I had thought riding out a storm there would be quite a lark
but the sea was as calm as a pond in the park.
Approaching Ushuaia Captain Bob Oliver must have shed a bitter tear
when the port authorities told him his vessel did not have a pier.
The Navy had commandeered it for one of their submarines
which, when spotted, resembled a huge can made for sardines.
The ship’s tenders were lowered and the passengers, never despairing,
for a quick and safe landing were hopefully preparing.
Little did we know another surprise for us was in store
when we found out the tenders could not get to the shore.
We were told to step onto a small unstable craft
of which it was impossible to tell which was fore and which aft.
It appeared to be about to come apart at the seams
as the ocean was seen through the cracks in its beams.
Still, intrepid we were as we gingerly stepped on tip-toe
when they would not let us have the boat we wanted to row.
The tenders very late to the Star Princess her passengers returned
all eager for the good dinner they felt they had earned.
The departure, of course, had been much delayed
as Captain Bob’s ruffled nerves became ever more frayed.
Still, steering a straight course, he rose to the task
and resisted the urge to reach for a flask.
He then set sail for the Falklands, the next port of call,
hoping for no further delay caused by some sudden squall.
The landing in Stanley went off without hitch
with no danger of passengers being dumped in the ditch.
The few hours spent there, with penguins again, were truly enjoyable
with nothing that anyone could consider annoyable.
In a restaurant we were served a most delectable dish
of chips and green peas served up with fish.
We departed for Montevideo where we stayed a short time
having docked at a port that was covered in grime.
The buildings abandoned and falling apart
only induced us to quickly depart.
Then on to Buenos Aires where the start of our visit could not be called good
as the change from the taxi turned out to be dud.
But we quickly cheered up when we were able to dine
on some excellent beef and a good Malbec wine.
Once again our departure was held up, this time for reasons unclear,
as it seemed the B.A, Harbour Master wanted us to stay at his pier.
Then the pilots engaged in a heated debate
as they argued how best to get out of their own River Plate.
To make up for the delay our ship onward rapidly sped
and we were sure something much better was waiting ahead.
We were all most excited as Rio came into view,
anticipating our disembarkation without further ado.
Sadly, our hopes were very quickly let down
as it seemed we would never get into the town.
Passports for Immigration were sorted according to deck and colour coded
and then into neat little boxes were carefully loaded.
The plan was they would be sent back in the very same way
so visitors in orderly fashion could go ashore and make hay.
But those responsible in Rio had something other in view,
or could it be how to do their job they did not have a clue?
They apparently took all the documents and put them into a sack,
tossed it and then emptied it to see which one they first would get back.
They were returned to the ship’s staff in total disarray
leaving all of us waiting in a state of dismay.
Hour after hour we stood before Immigration allowed us ashore
with some perhaps being delayed even more.
We were understandably becoming derisively judgemental
about the authorities’ muck-up that was truly monumental.
Passengers waiting to embark for the return trip at last got onto the Star
after an experience they described as bizarre.
Let us hope that, once the embarking passengers were all safely in,
someone was at hand to pass Captain Oliver a stiff Tonic and Gin.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Sailed on Fairsky.I met John and he is a great person .It was the best time we ever had in our lives.We were treated like kings and queens.I have sailed on others lines and I still tell people about my trip of the Sitmar Fairsky.It was the greatest.I love to sail on Princess Lines now as to me they are a five star line and know how to treat their guests.I can’t wait till I can sail again.
Thank You Princess Lines
January 27th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Very good interview. I finally had the time to sit and read the interview. It was done very well and gave a lot of insight into Commodore Romano. I had the opportunity to meet Commodoe Romano a few years back, while on the cruise we were able to visit the bridge for a tour and were given some very interesting and valuable information about cruising and maintianing the ship from day to day. Commodore Romano was very friendly and willing to answer any questions about the ship and cruising in general. I have to say the smile on his face just being able to share his duties with passengers made everyone on the tour that day feel good and feel as though the crew were there not only for themselves but because they wanted everyone on the ship to experience their passion for the sea.
Thank you for the opportunity to read some history on Commodore Romano and thank you Commodore Romano for being such a wonderful person and captain of your ship.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Hello to all.
I work whit Captain Romano on the FAIRSTAR in the south pacific cruises of the SITMAR CRUISES.was are staff Captain on this time…we are a best person and best friend, i am never gorget this time, because i am one young Portuguese boy, and make manni Friends of the around world..I am remember the Captain Romano alwais with a smail in the face to all crew.
Congratulations to the CAPTAIN ROMANO, we are a best COMODORO, I think.
HUGS.
Fernando-Povoa de Varzim-Portugal.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
It’s not easy to decide which of man’s creations is the most beautiful. It may be a work of art, or a garden, or a building, or perhaps,
one of Jessica Simpson’s breasts.
The last item is a poor choice. I have no desire to read an interview that begins this way. Too bad this lacks class.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
My husband Bruce had the incredible honor of having then Captain Gieuseppe Romano perform our marriage ceremony on board the Caribbean Princess on Jan 10, 2005. He was utterly charming and he made our day incredibly special. We have sailed on other Princess cruises and have always been truly thrilled that it was Now Commodore Romano who married us.
Nancy Johnson
April 7th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Dear John and Commodore Romano:
We are cruising on the 24th of May 2009 out of NY and celebrating our 52 wedding anniv. on board the Caribbean Princess and look forward to meeting the Commodore. We are a party of 7 and would like to go up on the bridge if possible.
Thanks for the wonderful interview John. I have the same interests as he has as far as the ultimate table is concerned. My hobby is building model sailing ships from scratch and am working on the HMS Triton (1762) . See you when on board Commodore.
Gerry
April 19th, 2009 at 8:47 am
We had the honor of sailing with Commodore Romano when we sailed the second time with Princess on the Caribbean Princess out of Ft Lauder dale about 2 years ago. He is truly a people person. The one thing I noticed immediately about him is how he walked the ship and spoke to EVERYBODY every time he was visible. He was a visible manager. How he greeted ALL the crew members and passengers the same and with respect. In today’s world of management with dog eat dog about egos he is a rarity amongst managers that truly have real people skills and are down to earth without a ego.
GREAT JOB and CONGRATS!
Paul Laube and Dale Parker
April 20th, 2009 at 11:51 am
[...] John Says: Hello Steve First of al let me thank you for introducing some cruise virgins to the world of Carnival. I am sure that before long they will be Platinum cruisers like yourself. Half Moon Cay is a terrific slice of paradise and I can’t wait to go back there again. Now, as for the captains…..well…..they are still the most important people on the ships. Yes we may have all the innovations and iconic entertainment and dining options but these are all still on a ship. And that means we need to have someone in total command and that is the captain. Their world is very different and I promise you and all the bloggers that in the very near future we will be taking a closer and more frequent view from the bridge………….so look out for that in the days ahead. I am not sure how long you have been reading the blog thingy but I wanted to give you a couple of link thingies to keep you going. These are from blogs past that included some fantastic interviews with our ship captains. The first two are Carnival captains and the last one features a brilliant interview with the senior captain (or commodore) of the Princess fleet…………..here they are. http://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/01/29/a-dream-job/ http://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/09/01/captain%E2%80%99s-blog%E2%80%A6%E2%80%A6stardate-september-1st-2007/ http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/09/08/the-commodore/ [...]
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