Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Unveils the Leadership Team Guiding Seven Seas Prestige™ into Service

Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line, announces the senior officer team that will lead Seven Seas Prestige™, the inaugural vessel in Regent’s first new ship-class in a decade, into service ahead of her highly anticipated debut this December. Led by Captain Luksa Kristovic, the seven senior officers bring more than 150 combined years of maritime and hospitality expertise, years of experience working together across The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet®, and a shared commitment to shaping every detail of the guest experience. Together, they are helping bring Seven Seas Prestige to life while guiding the 630 crew members who will deliver Regent’s renowned Heartfelt Hospitality™ to guests on board.

“Seven Seas Prestige represents Regent’s next chapter in our relentless Pursuit of Perfection, and we are proud to place her in the hands of a team with the experience and passion to bring that promise to life,” said Wesley D’Silva, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Captain Kristovic and his fellow officers embody the standards of excellence, care and attention to detail that define the Regent experience. We could not be more confident in this team as they lead Seven Seas Prestige into service and set a new standard of ultra-luxury cruising.”

To mark the announcement, Captain Kristovic filmed a special message from the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, updating guests on the ship’s progress and reflecting on what it means to command the newest vessel in the fleet. Captain Kristovic’s video can be viewed here.

“It is an immense honour to be named Captain of Seven Seas Prestige and lead such an exceptional team as we prepare to introduce Regent’s first new ship class in 10 years,” said Captain Luksa Kristovic, Master of Seven Seas Prestige. “From her all-new suite categories and beautifully designed public spaces to new dining experiences that will further elevate life on board, Seven Seas Prestige represents an exciting new era for Regent.”

At 76,550 gross tons, with just 411 suites and 630 dedicated crew members, Seven Seas Prestige will offer one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry. Forty per cent larger than previous Regent ships yet accommodating only 10 per cent more guests, Seven Seas Prestige will deliver truly Unrivalled Space at Sea®. Each successive Prestige-class vessel will build upon the hallmark design innovations and elevated guest experiences, ensuring Regent’s position at the forefront of all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruising.

Introducing Seven Seas Prestige’s Senior Officer Team

Captain Luksa Kristovic
Captain Kristovic’s love of the sea began as a boy growing up in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a seafarer’s city that has long welcomed cruise ships to its shores, an early influence that would shape the course of his career. After completing his Master’s in Maritime Navigation and Business in 1999, he joined his first ship as a cadet on a bulk carrier before moving into the cruise industry in 2003 and discovering his true calling, becoming a Captain in 2013, fulfilling a lifelong ambition. He now resides with his family in São Paulo, Brazil, where he enjoys biking and swimming.

General Manager, Stéphane Carriou
General Manager Stéphane Carriou was born near St. Malo, France, and trained at one of the country’s top-ranked culinary schools for hotel management. At 24, encouraged to pursue a career at sea, he embarked on what would become the majority of his professional life afloat. Stéphane joined Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 2017, where he helped to launch Seven Seas Splendor®and Seven Seas Grandeur® as Food & Beverage Director before being promoted to General Manager. Away from the ship, he enjoys motorcycling and long-distance swimming, and takes great pride in working alongside his crew to exceed guest expectations at every turn.

Chief Engineer Germain Bouvet
Chief Engineer Bouvet has spent more than 26 years with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. He trained at the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime in Nantes, France, earning a dual qualification as both Captain and Chief Engineer, a foundation that gave him equal command of navigation and marine engineering. Before joining Regent, he worked as a Principal Surveyor with Bureau Veritas in Saint-Nazaire, where in 1999 he became closely involved in the construction of Seven Seas Mariner®. Over the following two decades, he has served as Chief Engineer across the fleet and now oversees the technical construction of Seven Seas Prestige at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, a rare privilege he is experiencing for the second time in his career. He lives on the French Riviera, just outside Monaco, with his wife and son.

Senior Executive Chef Michael Meyepa
Chef Michael Meyepa’s career began with Sun International Hotels across the Comoros Islands, The Palace Hotel and Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town. In 2002, he moved to life at sea aboard The World of ResidenSea, the world’s largest residential cruise ship, rising to Executive Chef in 2006. For Chef Meyepa, cuisine is defined by integrity: whatever the dish, it should be prepared with determination and passion to achieve the very best result. He is excited to lead the culinary team aboard Seven Seas Prestige as the ship enters a new chapter for the brand.

Staff Captain Alexander Tiniakov
Staff Captain Alexander Tiniakov discovered his passion for the sea at age six when his father, a Chief Engineer, brought the family aboard the cruise ship where he worked and introduced him to the navigational bridge. A graduate of Odessa National Maritime Academy, he began his career aboard ferries before joining Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 2011 as a Deck Cadet aboard Seven Seas Navigator®. Since then, he has held a variety of bridge and leadership positions, contributed to the launch teams of Seven Seas Explorer® and Seven Seas Splendor®, and was promoted to Staff Captain in 2021. Most recently serving aboard Seven Seas Grandeur®, he now joins the team preparing Seven Seas Prestige for her debut. Alexander resides in Alanya, Türkiye, with his wife and daughter and looks forward to welcoming guests aboard Regent’s newest ship.

Cruise Director Dru Pavlov
Born in Ottawa and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Dru Pavlov studied theatre at the University of British Columbia, where he won Best Director at the Vancouver One-Act Play Festival and served as president and on-air host of the university’s radio station, CiTR FM. He began his cruising career as a DJ in 1999 and was promoted to Cruise Director in 2002. Since then, Dru has sailed on 28 ships across all seven continents, a career at sea that also introduced him to his wife, Melanie. He joined Regent Seven Seas Cruises in February 2022 and has since become known for creating memorable moments for guests through his warmth, energy and natural stage presence. Dru recently relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where he’s now trying to convince Melanie that they should buy a boat of their own.

Food and Beverage Director Alin Aricescu
Food and Beverage Director Alin Aricescu hails from the harbor city of Constanța, Romania, where his career at sea began in 2001, and a deep passion for hospitality soon followed. He joined Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 2010 as a Head Waiter, drawn by the line’s reputation for ultra-luxury cruising, and has brought unwavering dedication and meticulous attention to detail to every role since. Alin regards food and beverage service as the heart of the Regent experience, and with the debut of Seven Seas Prestige, he is focused on leading his team to new heights of quality, consistency and genuine hospitality.

For more information about Seven Seas Prestige or to book a voyage, please visit RSSC.com/Ships/Seven_Seas_Prestige, call 023 8082 1390 or contact a professional Travel Adviser.