It’s all the time laborious to say goodbye however even tougher when the individual bidding adieu has spent half a century devoted to the passengers and crew aboard a number of the world’s largest cruise ships.
After a outstanding 50-year tenure with Royal Caribbean, Captain Johnny Faevelen is embarking on his subsequent journey – one which retains him nearer to house.
“It’s with blended emotions I’ve handed in my resignation,” the Norwegian-born captain shared in a heartfelt message posted to his Fb account on January 13, 2025.
His new position, as he jests, can be full-time as a husband, father, and grandfather.
“I can be a 100-percent husband for my beautiful spouse, Sissel. I can be 100-percent father for our two unbelievable kids, Erelend and Eirin. And I can be a 100-percent grandfather for my 4.5 grandchildren, Tord 10, Enny 8, Guro 4, Alfred 3, and our final little grandchild lady, anticipating supply April,” mentioned Faevelen.
The captain additionally shared private photographs, together with when he first joined Royal Caribbean’s Music of Norway in 1975 on the age of 20 and when he first turned a captain in 1994 aboard the Nordic Prince.
A remaining poignant photograph, taken on the day of his put up, reveals Faevelen on the helm of his present vessel, Symphony of the Seas, set to Rod Stewart’s “Crusing.” The picture featured lyrics from the track, “I’m crusing, house once more, ‘cross the ocean.”
Learn Additionally: Royal Caribbean’s Good Day at CocoCay: Full Information
Faevelen, who has practically 150,000 TikTok followers, acquired tons of of nicely needs from former passengers and crew members alike.
Wrote Captain Rumen Yovchev of the cruise line’s Radiance of the Seas, “Captain Johnny, for me was an honor to be your OF1, OFCS, OFC, and SCPT. Wouldn’t be within the place I’m proper now with out your teaching, mentorship, position mannequin, and friendship.”
Mentioned one other, “Captain Johnny what an unimaginable profession you’ve gotten had and such a tremendous Captain! You had been my first captain on the Mariner [of the Seas] & my final Captain on Concord [of the Seas] 14 years later. Your subsequent job sounds fab too! Wishing you all one of the best.”
Faevelen’s final day, which comes on the completion of a 7-night roundtrip Japanese Caribbean cruise from Port Miami touring to the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and Royal Caribbean’s Good Day at Coco Cay, can be January 26, 2025.
The captain is at present on an identical 7-night voyage, taking as much as 5,518 passengers aboard the 228,081-gross-ton Symphony of the Seas to Coco Cay, Puerto Rico, and St. Maarten earlier than he hangs up his captain’s hat.
From Seaman to Grasp
Captain Johnny Faevelen’s half-century tenure at Royal Caribbean started in 1975, when, as he places it, he was “an peculiar seaman.”
Starting as a deckhand and navigating by means of each rank till he finally took command of a number of the largest and most prestigious vessels on the earth, Faevelen has captained a number of iconic ships inside the Royal Caribbean fleet, together with Mariner of the Seas from 2004 to 2020, Attract of the Seas from 2010 to 2016, and Concord of the Seas from 2016 to 2024.
He has been Grasp of the Oasis Class Symphony of the Seas since 2024 and has frolicked navigating the waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Alaska, Northern Europe, Asia, and the coasts of the US.
Apart from his ardour for his household and the ocean, Faevelan can be an avid Harley Davidson rider and golfer and has managed and operated Lindesnes Golfklubb in his hometown of Spangereid, Norway, since 2022.
Cruise Hive needs Captain Johnny a contented retirement!
