Who is the captain of the Pride of America?

Ron Chrastina captains the Pride of America through some pretty tight spaces. Bringing the America in must be quite a challenge, wouldn't you say? Well, it's really just a matter of scale.



The Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Line's unique U.S.-flagged vessel, is commanded by a rotating team of experienced captains rather than a single individual year-round. In 2026, the ship's leadership typically includes senior officers like Captain Ronny Borg or Captain Michael Caston, who alternate shifts (often 10 weeks on, 10 weeks off). Because the ship operates exclusively within the Hawaiian Islands and is subject to the Passenger Vessel Services Act, the captain and the entire crew must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The captain of this specific ship faces unique challenges, including navigating the tight harbors of Kahului and Nawiliwili and managing the frequent "inter-island" transitions without the traditional "sea days" found on most cruises. If you are sailing in 2026, you can find the current captain's name on the "Welcome Aboard" signage in the atrium or in the daily "Freestyle Daily" newsletter. The captain also traditionally hosts a "Captain's Meet and Greet" or an introduction during the first evening's theater performance to welcome guests to the islands.

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The salaries of Cruise Ship Captains in the US range from $18,053 to $476,518 , with a median salary of $86,503 . The middle 57% of Cruise Ship Captains makes between $86,503 and $216,093, with the top 86% making $476,518.

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Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas As of 2023, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. Launched in 2022, the Oasis-class vessel can accommodate up to 7,084 guests in 2,867 staterooms and carries as many as 2,204 crew members.

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Its sister ships include Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, but unlike those sister ships, Norwegian Escape is the only Breakaway Plus-class ship that does not have a race track on board.

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Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.

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Generally, the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships are held by officers, department heads, and those working on commission. However, many other variables affect earning potential, such as cruise line, ship size, clientele, tips awarded, and prior job experience. Contracts are another factor.

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It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation.

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Within the last 111 years, over 20 cruise ships and ocean liners have sunk.

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Six months before its maiden voyage, Royal Caribbean's massive new ship, the Icon of the Seas, is already generating an incredible response – and when you take a look at the pictures, that's absolutely zero surprise. The ship is reportedly five times bigger than the Titanic, boasting 20 decks.

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Only six of the 230 recorded attacks were against cruise ships. None have resulted in capture. A well-known incident occurred in 2005 when the Seabourn Spirit was fired at in a hijack attempt. The attempt was unsuccessful but is famous largely because of the footage of the event.

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