Celebrating the People of Azamara®
The captains. The staff. The crew. The smiles. The attitude. The genuine friendliness.
Ask Azamara guests what they love most about their voyages, and you'll hear answers like these. So we thought we’d tell you more about the people who make an Azamara voyage so different from the rest. Because we think they're pretty special, too.
Be sure to check back to meet more members of our award-winning staff and crew.
Captain Magnus Davidson
Captain Magnus Davidson became Master of the Azamara Journey in late-2015. His love of the sea, travel, Destination Immersion® experiences, and good food, as well as his easy manner and quick sense of humor makes him the perfect new addition to the Azamara family. Welcome Aboard, Captain Magnus!
Captain Gianmario Sanguineti
With a father who was the captain of an oil tanker, a career in the Italian Navy, serving as First Officer on a tanker, and over 20 years’ experience sailing cruise ships, a love of working at sea runs deep in Captain Gianmario Sanguineti. In fact, he “wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Captain Carl Smith
This year he'll be the first Manx captain to bring a cruise ship home to the Isle of Man. Learn more about the one-and-only Captain Carl Smith.
Captain Antonio F. Toledo
You could say that Captain Antonio F. Toledo is a bit of a renaissance man. He speaks four languages, loves scuba diving and snowboarding, and is an environmental conservationist, as well as a big follower (literally) of Columbus. See what else is on the horizon for Captain Antonio.
Captain Johannes Tysse
It was almost a foregone conclusion that Johannes Tysse would be a sea captain. Learn how the job he dreamed about from an early age is a platform for creating unforgettable experiences for Azamara guests.
Captain Filippos Adelfoulakos
Captain Filippos Adelfoulakos is joining Captain Magnus Davidson as Master of Azamara Quest. His love of the sea, world-travel, and warm smile make him an ideal selection for the captaincy. In his spare time, Captain Filip enjoys sailing around his native Greek islands, snow skiing and basketball. Welcome aboard, Captain Filip!
Hotel Director Heike Berdos
Consider our Hotel Directors. Friendly, observant and highly experienced, they’re also genuinely interested in our guests. No issue is too small (or big) for their personal attention.
Hotel Director Ryszard Gusmann
Hotel Managers are the sum of their training, experiences and opportunities. Ryszard (pronounced ‘Richard’) Gusmann understands this perhaps better than anyone.
Hotel Director Philip Herbert
He was born in Kenya, a land of big game and wildlife. It's funny how a lion figures into one of his best stories at sea, too! Learn the back story (and favorite stories) of the witty and entertaining Philip Herbert.
Hotel Director Tomasz Jadczyk
Beginning his career in the cruise industry in 1991, Tomasz brings a wealth of hospitality experience from both land and sea. He says the best advice he's ever received permeates his approach to guest service, and he can't wait to go on safari with his wife next year.
Hotel Director Elisabeth Vogel
With a background in 5-star hotels and Jordanian palaces, German-born Elisabeth Vogel brings an exceptional commitment to outstanding service to Azamara PursuitSM as hotel director. Discover how she spends her time on shore, and the cuisine she can’t get enough of.
Cruise Director Eric De Gray
A passion for model railroading, a competitive ice skater, a degree in musical performance on the bassoon, and a successful career in writing, directing and performing in musical shows. Eric de Gray is not your typical Cruise Director. Which is why he’s such a great fit for Azamara Club Cruises.
Cruise Director Ernest Marchain
Las Vegas is his home base, but he loves to travel the world with Azamara. Find out Ernest's favorite part of being a Cruise Director, the compliment he loves to hear from guests, and what's on his playlist.
Cruise Director Tony Markey
Some people are naturally curious and eager for new experiences. Tony Markey is like that. Born with itchy feet, as his mother would say.
Cruise Director Amanda Poulson
This self-professed Wisconsin Girl and Cheesehead has previously performed in New York City and started her own theatre company in her home town. She loves building relationships with guests and her fellow crew just as much as she loves immersing herself in Azamara’s unparalleled destinations.
Corporate Executive Chef Robert van Rijsbergen
Grab a snack, because you’ll get hungry as you read this interview with Azamara’s Corporate Executive Chef Robert van Rijsbergen. He was born for this early and lifelong passion for fine cooking and the sea. Bon appétit!
Executive Chef Monica Whitaker
She's a fourth generation Mexican-American and comes from a big family in Texas with five sisters. Growing up, her grandmother was always cooking Mexican feasts for people and she was at her side when she could be.
Executive Chef Iwan Pennings
Originally from the Netherlands, Chef Iwan spent his family vacations along the Adriatic Coast of Italy and found his way into the kitchen of the hotel he stayed in. No stranger to the demands of cooking for large groups, he’s worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and has a favorite dish in mind if he ever lands on Top Chef.
Executive Chef Michael Calilung
Growing up in the culinary capital of the Philippines, Chef Michael Calilung was inspired by beautiful food he saw on TV, and supported by his mother to pursue his international career as a chef. With a passion for discovering new ingredients and dishes, Chef Michael considers the Azamara crew his family at sea.
Executive Chef Colin Jones
Chef Colin fell in love with travel, food, and life at sea from being on ships with his father. Not one to sit around, he loves embarking on outdoor adventures with his wife. Read on to learn the dishes his guests say are their favorite, and a recipe he loves to make.
Executive Chef Dhani Limboo
Hailing from mountainous Northern India, Chef Limboo’s family instilled a love of cooking in him at an early age, and encouraged him to follow his passion and talent across India and the United Arab Emirates. When not on board, you can find him cooking for his family at home using the freshest local ingredients.
Executive Chef Nathan (Shijunath Swamynathan)
Hailing from God’s country—beautiful Kerala, India—Chef Nathan is an avid foodie with a passion for fresh ingredients, vegetable gardening, his family, and outdoor exploration. A stickler for quality and technique, he expresses his culinary creativity on board with his love of international flavors and simple dishes inspired by Chef Alain Ducasse’s Cuisine of Naturalness.
