Switching Captains mid-cruise?

[ryanpatricksmom]

We sailed the Pride last week, beginning the cruise with one Captain, then a new Captain boarded mid-week. This is the first time that I've ever noticed that happening. I meant to go to the Ship's Q & A and ask why, but I got sidetracked in the casino....oops! It seems sort of unusual to me, but I'm hardly the most seasoned cruiser on the boards. Has this ever happened to anyone else, and were you given a reason?

[big_duck]

Are you 100% sure the new Captain boarded mid-week or just took over. He may have been there for a handover period.

 

Crews rotate all the time usually at but not necessarily at a home port, there doesn't need to be a "reason".

[Blurgh]

Maybe the current Captain was taking over on a ship out of Florida and it's just easier that way. Seems to be the simplest explanation unless he did something firing worthy. In which case you wouldn't have seen or heard from him anyway.

[ryanpatricksmom]

Maybe the current Captain was taking over on a ship out of Florida and it's just easier that way. Seems to be the simplest explanation unless he did something firing worthy. In which case you wouldn't have seen or heard from him anyway.

 

That's what we thought may have happened (not the firing thing, the moving to another Florida based ship). It was just weird to have one

Captain doing the meet and greet festivities on elegant night, and then poof! he was gone, LOL!

 

I always assumed that staff changes, other than entertainers, would be made at homeports. You learn something new every cruise.

[gtalum]

We had that happen on our Legend cruise last July. The starting captain actually retired mid-cruise, and got off the ship in Roatan, where he is living with his wife. The new captain was already aboard and took over. They had a really cool retirement ceremony for the original captain on shore. He was one of Carnival's first captains.

[MemphisFan]

We had the same thing on the Conquest this past week. A new captain came aboard and took over the 2nd part. He said he'd been on vacation, and just came on board in our 2nd port I think it was.

[Cruise-Crazy]

I saw this once. It was announced that it was happening. I forget what port it was in but it was mid cruise.....

[nodogkisses]

This bothers me.

[deborahjo]

Captain on the Splendor became very ill 2 years ago and there was a Carnival Captain in California. He was flown in to take this captains place while the orginal captain got off and flew home. Things happen.

[livestocruisetoo]

On our first Fantasy cruise the captain left the ship in Progresso to fly out of Merida on vacation. The Staff Captain assumed command and it was he that had them retract the stabilizers to right us from our little tilt. It was announced the day before that the Captain was going on vacation.

[Fergus]

This bothers me.

 

Why? Just curious. I wouldn't see anything frightening or suspicious in it - the reasons mentioned, illness, vacation, retirement, are very reasonable.

[zqvol]

We sailed the Pride last week, beginning the cruise with one Captain, then a new Captain boarded mid-week. This is the first time that I've ever noticed that happening. I meant to go to the Ship's Q & A and ask why, but I got sidetracked in the casino....oops! It seems sort of unusual to me, but I'm hardly the most seasoned cruiser on the boards. Has this ever happened to anyone else, and were you given a reason?

 

 

It has happened to me two or three times. Nothing unusual. Captains have contracts just like every other crew member and when the contract ends they rotate off.

[jonbgd]

Captain on the Splendor became very ill 2 years ago and there was a Carnival Captain in California. He was flown in to take this captains place while the orginal captain got off and flew home. Things happen.

 

That was Nov 09

 

The captain of the Splendor had a tough cruise that week He came in hot in PV and hit the Radiance. I was on the Radiance watching it happen

I think the next day he started to have chest pains

[golfadj]

Has happened dto us once or twice no big deal.

 

Would think though it would be easier if the new capt took over at the start of the cruise.

[Hei1980]

Was telling my dd about the Costa Captain abandoning his ship, she then started

calling him THE Skipper………that remark was the only thing funny about this whole distressing situation.

[delluser]

We had that happen several years ago on either the Triumph or Miracle..can't remember which. One captain left at a port to fly home to celebrate some big event (anniversary, wedding or something like that).

[misguidedangel]

The captain's contract is four months long. They can get off the ship at a port of call to fly home or they can get off at the home port for the ship. It has happened to me on one ship where the captain got off on Grand Cayman and the replacement captain got on at Miami.

 

The ships always have TWO captains onboard--Captain and Staff Captain. The Staff Captain is the one that is the boss of all the department heads and he is also qualified to operate the vessel. The captain who is the master of the vessel is in charge of the ship and the safety of the ship, crew, and passengers. There is always at least two officers on deck at all times in the bridge and the Captain and chief engineers cabins are right off the bridge, so if the captain is needed and he can be there immediately.

[nodogkisses]

I feel somewhat better after reading all these explanations. Initially it just seemed weird that they wouldn't change out Captains at the port at the start of the cruise. But now, it seems to make more sense after reading these posts. Thanks everyone.

[maldenmusic]

Probably a logical explanation:confused: