Hi captain Steffan! What was it that first made you want to embark on a career at sea?
As a young boy, my family members who had worked on ships were always telling me exciting stories from their time at sea and their adventures fascinated me. Coming from Sarpsborg, a small town in southern Norway, I’d always wanted to go out and see more of the world and after being so captivated by the stories from the sea, a maritime career felt natural.
What are some of your career highlights?
One of my earlier career highlights was when I was promoted to 2nd Officer, it’s something I will never forget and it was a really proud moment for me. As, of course, is my most recent and final promotion, when I was given the command as the captain of Balmoral in February last year. It was such a privilege and something that I’d always dreamed of doing since I started my career at sea.
Can you tell us a bit about your career in the cruise industry?
After completing my qualifications, I set about becoming a seafarer and first started out on cruise ships as Quartermaster in 1995 on Monarch of the Seas with Royal Caribbean International, then the following year, I was promoted to 2nd Officer on their ship, Song of America. I also worked for Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises until early 2000 when I decided to try the offshore industry, where I worked until 2016 when I applied for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and started as a Senior Safety Office followed by roles as Chief Officer, Staff Captain and finally as a Captain of Balmoral.
Do you have a favourite feature on Balmoral?
I think the best thing about Balmoral is her size, she can accommodate up to 1,325 guests but is still small enough to enter most ports. There’s always an intimate atmosphere onboard where our guests can get to know each other and crew can get to know our guests well, whereas on larger ships this is often not the case.
And what about your favourite restaurant onboard?
That’s a hard question! But I have to say, my favourite restaurant is the main dining room, Ballindalloch. The food served there is amazing and no matter what you order it’s always impressive. Our two speciality dining restaurants, Vasco and Colours and Tastes, are also amazing, with Vasco serving Goan food and Colours and Tastes serving a colourful array of Asian-fusion cuisine. Our crew onboard really make each of our dining options special, whether it’s the buffet or the main dining room, it’s always a pleasure watching how all the waiters work so well together as a team and always with a smile.
How can our readers make the most of their time aboard Balmoral?
There are so many ways in which our guests can spend their time on Balmoral, whether it’s spotting wildlife out on deck with marine conservation charity ORCA, stargazing with an expert guide or joining our talented team of chefs and galley crew in our Kitchen Creations sessions to learn more about local delicacies in the areas we’re visiting or relaxing in one of our two pools and having a coffee and cake in the Bookmark Café - there’s always something to do. In the evenings, after trying out some of our delicious dining options, our entertainment team always puts on an incredible show to see you into the night.
Why should people sail with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines?
When I talk to our guests onboard, they all mention how amazing and friendly our crew are. I truly believe that the crew on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships really is the best, service is always exceptional and delivered with a friendly and genuine smile. If you come on a cruise with us, you will feel welcome from the first moment you step onboard. The food, itineraries, onboard experiences and company is always exceptional.
We have no doubt that you have visited many incredible destinations around the world. Do you have a favourite?
I’ve been lucky to visit some incredible places in the world and maybe not as much a destination, but one of my absolute favourite places to cruise through is the Panama Canal transit. It’s a wonderful experience with a very interesting history, being on a cruise ship sailing through a tropical jungle from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific is an amazing experience. But in terms of destinations, scenic cruising through the Norwegian fjords is something I truly enjoy, the natural beauty of the fjords is something always breathtaking no matter how many times you’ve seen them.
And which destinations are you looking forward to visiting aboard Balmoral?
Currently, I’m really looking forward to visiting the ports off the west coast of South America as this is a place I have not yet experienced so far in my career, as I write this, we’re just at the beginning of our 78-night South America and the Antarctica voyage, so I’m looking forward to some exciting ports of call.
Lastly, what are you most excited about for the future of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines?
Looking to the future, I am excited to see were Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be sailing next in our 2024 and 2025 itineraries. I can’t wait to take Balmoral to new and exciting destinations and I hope to see even more of the world together with our guests and the great team onboard.
Thank you for your time, Steffan.
