Majestic Princess sailed into Sydney a couple of weeks ago, ready for her six-month season Down Under. She is the largest Princess Cruises ship ever to visit Australia, able to hold 3,560 guests and more than 68 metres taller than the Sydney Opera House.
Majestic Princess will carry close to 70,000 cruise lovers on 18 voyages during the season. At the wheel will be Captain Dino Sagani. Born in Trieste, on the northeast Adriatic coast of Italy, he’s been at sea for the majority of his career. After studying at the Nautical College in Trieste, he joined the Italian Navy and served on a minesweeper during the first Gulf War. After the navy, in 1995, Sagani joined Princess Cruises and was promoted to Captain in 2007. He’s been with Princess for 23 years now.
“I like to spend my time off at home, where I love to get out and sail down the Adriatic Coast with my old sailing cutter,” he says. “The role of a cruise ship captain is so vast and varied; no two days are the same. It’s such a wonderful life waking up in a new port every day and getting to know all our guests onboard. Above all though, my job is to ensure the safety of all guests and crew onboard.”
We spent five minutes with Captain Sagani to get some inside intel on life onboard this majestic ship…
Majestic Princess will be the largest Princess ship ever to sail in Australian waters. Does this affect where she can dock, or make any aspect of your job different?
“Yes, she will be berthed at the OPT [Overseas Passenger Terminal] as she will be too big to fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge!”
What’s your favourite port on the Majestic Princess itinerary?
“Aside from Sydney, I love sailing the fjords – Alaska, Norway etc. The Fiordlands in New Zealand are breathtaking.”
And what’s your favourite port in the world?
“I’ve visited many ports across the globe, but Sydney Harbour is truly like nothing else. To sail past the stunning Sydney Opera House on the port side and have the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on the starboard side is the best possible entry into a world-class port.”
What are some things on the ship that would blow people’s minds?
“There are many new features onboard Majestic Princess, including the amazing SeaWalk. It hovers 39 metres above the water and extends 8.5 metres beyond the edge of the ship and will give our guests the same view as I have from the bridge – it’s an engineering feat! The world-class entertainment onboard includes Fantastic Journey, the most technologically advanced musical and cinematic production show at sea – and the first to feature drones! Majestic Princess is also home to the largest retail shopping space at sea, with more than 1,000 square metres of luxury brands.”
What things do you like to do on board in your free time?
“I always take the time to stop and chat and take photos with guests. I’m Italian, so you’ll often find me at the international café ordering a macchiato. One of the first things I like to do when I arrive in a new destination is to take a walk around the port and visit local cafés, which gives me a great sense of a place. If I know I’m going to be spending a fair amount of my day in port, I like to prepare ahead of my arrival by chatting with our onboard shore excursion team, who are the true destination experts – they always advise the most beautiful and charismatic spots in each place we sail to.”
What’s your favourite thing to eat on the ship?
“The Sterling Steak House, the La Mer French bistro and the Pizzeria are my favourite places to eat dinner onboard. My favourite meal to eat at the Sterling Steakhouse is simply the fillet mignon, although if it’s been a long day I really enjoy treating myself to Porterhouse with creamy spinach, it’s a great combination. My preference is for the steak to be cooked medium-rare; in my opinion it’s the most flavourful way to prepare it. If I really want to treat myself, I eat dinner at La Mer, which is a French bistro with a menu created by Chef Emmanuel Renaut, who holds three Michelin stars. He’s created a delicious menu, showcasing authentic French dishes, one of my favourites being the seared duck breast.” Majestic Princess is the only cruise ship sailing in Australian waters to offer specialty dinner menus by two Michelin star-awarded chefs – as well as Chef Emmanuel Renaut at La Mer, there’s also Chef Richard Chen at Harmony.”
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen during your time at sea?
“While sailing in Alaska, I saw a herd of deer crossing a fjord – it’s a little-known fact that deer are strong swimmers. I wanted to offer our guests the best opportunity to see the Alaskan wildlife, so I safely positioned the ship in a way to give them the best vantage point and see nature at its best! They later expressed that they were so happy to experience Alaska’s untamed beauty in this way.”
What country that you’ve never been to is at the top of your bucket list?
“The Antarctica Peninsula. There are few places that conjure up the mystique and awe that is synonymous with the world’s most isolated continent. Now that Princess has begun sailing there again, my dream is closer to becoming a reality. Hopefully I’ll be able to sail the Coral Princess as it returns to Antarctica on three itineraries during the 2019/2020 South American season.”
What’s the best thing about being the captain of Majestic Princess?
“Being appointed to captain Princess’s newest and largest ship is an incredible opportunity and one of the greatest achievements in my career to date. I feel very honoured that I’ve been chosen to captain the Princess flagship for her inaugural Australian and New Zealand season. I love that no two days are the same. There is nothing more exciting than waking up in a different destination every day. I also love meeting new guests, and catching up with our repeat Princess guests.”