Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed the senior officer team that will bring Seven Seas Prestige into service, assembling seven experienced maritime and hospitality professionals to lead the first ship in the cruise line's new Prestige Class.
The new luxury ship is scheduled to begin sailing later this year, with its maiden voyage set for December 13, 2026. Seven Seas Prestige is particularly significant for Regent as it introduces the company's first new ship class in a decade.
At the helm will be Captain Luksa Kristovic, who will lead a team of 630 crew members alongside six other senior officers. Together, the leadership team brings more than 150 years of maritime and hospitality experience.
Kristovic, a native of Dubrovnik, Croatia, began his career aboard bulk carriers after completing a Master's degree in Maritime Navigation and Business in 1999. He moved into the cruise industry in 2003 and became a captain a decade later.
Joining him is General Manager Stéphane Carriou, who previously helped launch both Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur as Food & Beverage Director before being promoted to General Manager.
The technical side of Seven Seas Prestige will be led by Chief Engineer Germain Bouvet, a Regent veteran of more than 26 years. Bouvet has a particularly interesting connection with the cruise line's fleet. Before joining Regent, he worked with Bureau Veritas and was involved in the construction of Seven Seas Mariner in 1999. He is now overseeing the technical construction of Seven Seas Prestige at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard.
Staff Captain Alexander Tiniakov also brings newbuild experience to the team. A graduate of Odessa National Maritime Academy, he joined Regent in 2011 as a Deck Cadet aboard Seven Seas Navigator. He later participated in the launch teams for Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor, was promoted to Staff Captain in 2021 and most recently served aboard Seven Seas Grandeur.
Leading the ship's culinary operation will be Senior Executive Chef Michael Meyepa, whose career includes luxury hotels and more than two decades at sea. Meyepa joined The World of ResidenSea in 2002 and became Executive Chef in 2006.
Food and Beverage Director Alin Aricescu, from Constanța, Romania, began working at sea in 2001 and joined Regent in 2010 as a Head Waiter, progressing through the ranks to his latest senior position.
Completing the team is Cruise Director Dru Pavlov. Born in Ottawa and raised in Vancouver, Pavlov studied theatre at the University of British Columbia before beginning his cruise career as a DJ in 1999. He became a Cruise Director in 2002 and joined Regent in 2022.
Regent President Wesley D'Silva said the leadership team was selected to bring the company's newest generation of ships into service and establish the onboard standards for the new class.
Captain Kristovic also marked the announcement with a message from the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, where Seven Seas Prestige is currently under construction.
“It is an immense honor 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,” Kristovic said.
With its senior officers now named, Seven Seas Prestige moves another step closer to welcoming its first guests and crew when the new Prestige Class officially enters service in December.
