Celebrity Cruises announced today that the newest flagship Celebrity Ascent, will have two brothers as co-captains of the vessel, Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis. This will be the first time in cruise history two brothers to co-captain a mega cruise ship. The news was shared by Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo congratulating the two captains and thanking them for their accomplishments.
“They have given so much to the Celebrity family over the years that we are like a second family,” Lutoff-Perlo said.
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Dimitrios Kafetzis has spent his entire seafaring career, with Celebrity Cruises where he started as an apprentice officer on Celebrity Horizon, in 1990. Born in Piraeus, he graduated from the Merchant Maritime Academy of Syros-Athens at the top of his class and has held his master’s license since 2001.
Captain Dimitrios has sailed aboard every class of Celebrity Cruises vessel and also was part of the opening teams for Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Apex.
“Today is a momentous day. I am proud that after a more than 30-year career working exclusively with Celebrity Cruises, I can play a part in their history by captaining this fourth in the series - yet, one of a kind - Edge Series ship,” Captain Dimitrios said
“Nearly 35 years after Celebrity Cruises was founded in Greece, they will have not one, but two Greek captains taking the helm of their newest vessel in 2023 and I am honored to take this role together with my brother”
Tasos Kafetzis followed in the footsteps of his older brother's seafaring career and graduated from the Merchant Marine College before joining Celebrity Cruises in 1998. He has been with the company for over 20 years and was part of the start-up team of Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Edge.
“Receiving this distinction with my brother, and as part of the Celebrity Cruises family, is an incredible honour for me and an emotional one, too,’ he remarked. ‘Together, my brother and I share a love of the ocean… To share a special moment together like this is something I could have only dreamed of. I can’t wait to sail away on this incredible ship with our guests onboard and my brother in my heart.”
“Captain Dimitrios and Captain Tasos are our star-powered siblings, a maritime dream team. They have given so much to the Celebrity family over the years that we are like a second family,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “Seeing their emotional reaction to this appointment and understanding what it means to share this pinnacle of their career together was something I didn’t expect and will never forget.
