The Role of the Staff Captain
The Staff Captain is the second in command of the ship, responsible for the Bridge team and the navigation of the ship. He or she is also in charge of the crew who maintain the physical appearance of the ship, the officers who drive the ship’s tenders, as well as overseeing the environmental protocols. Our Staff Captains are also in charge of security.
"Right before our guests are greeted with that perfect glass of champagne, the first crew member they interact with is actually from the Deck Department,” Abhi said proudly. “That security officer that welcomes them with a smile and swipes their ship card is actually part of my team."
What About Those Stripes?
Each evening, our officers change out of their whites and into their formal uniforms: a black, double-breasted coat with six gold-colored buttons and their rank insignia on their sleeves. While the uniform, as a whole, commands a certain air of dignity and respect, as some of you with a military service history know, it’s the stripes that earn you the greatest privilege and responsibility.
Take a look at the below guide to understand the ranks of our beloved officers and how to identify what department they’re from. Perhaps, the next time you’re on board, you can impress your newfound friends with your knowledge of who’s who based on the epaulet’s golden threads.
Hotel Department
As a guest aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™, you will inevitably get to know your General Manager and all of the wonderful officers that report to him or her, from the Food and Beverage Director to the Concierge, that are part of the Hotel Department. However, they are only one of three departments dedicated to making your onboard experience unrivaled. On your next voyage, see if you can spot the Food and Beverage Director with three-and-a-half stripes and the three-striped Chief Housekeeper.
Engine Department
In contrast, you’ve probably not had the pleasure to get to know the team from the Engine Department. These officers work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure your ship is running smoothly. At the helm of this department is the Chief Engineer, whose four golden stripes are highlighted by a burgundy-colored cloth. Perhaps you may run into the Engine Cadet with a half stripe and the aptly named Second Engineer matches his two-stripes.
Deck Department
As you learned from Staff Captain Singh, our Deck Department is quite encompassing, as they are the ones sailing your ship and tending to the physical maintenance of the world’s most luxurious fleet. They also have to make sure we obey international maritime laws – in a nutshell, everything related to the operation of the ship. This team includes the captain, the officers on the Bridge, the security team, and all of the maintenance personnel. Their epaulets are understated, yet elegant with no cloth in between stripes, only a simple golden thread. When returning to your ship from a perfect day ashore, notice the epaulets on the security team welcoming you back on board, and you’ll see one golden stripe. Or, if you have the pleasure of dining with your Staff Captain, you’ll notice 4 golden stripes on the sleeves of his formal jacket.
Where Regent Ranks
Regent Seven Seas Cruises® has consistently delivered unmatched luxury cruises with the very best value for over thirty years. Every lavish amenity is included when cruising aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™. Unrivaled onboard space. Unforgettable shoreside excursions. Incomparable culinary experiences. Exceptional personalized service.
