Tomorrow Iona sets sail on her maiden cruise. Ahead of this momentous occasion, we’ve been catching up with a few of our colleagues on board to hear their stories.
Meet Captain Wesley Dunlop; he’ll be at the helm when Iona sets sail!
How did you feel when you found out you’d be working on Iona?
For someone who is rarely lost for words, I don’t mind admitting that I was utterly flabbergasted and did in fact ask if they’d dialled the wrong number! Joking aside, it was without a doubt the proudest moment of my career to date and I’m still on cloud nine. To be at the helm of the largest, most innovative, most environmentally friendly and most stunningly beautiful ship ever built for the British cruise market is the ultimate honour for any captain.
How does Iona compare to the other ships in the fleet?
Iona is the result of the best of the best. From the naval architects and designers, to the team at the shipyard, 180 years of heritage have gone into making her the most exciting addition ever to the British cruise industry and holiday market.
How do you approach the task of becoming a leader on board a brand new ship?
Being a leader on Iona will no doubt bring its challenges. The introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a new step for us all, but I’m relishing those challenges. As we’ve prepared for her launch, my team and I have undergone a whole new set of training programmes and spent many months gaining the knowledge and experience needed to operate our new ship.
What’s your favourite thing about working at sea?
I absolutely adore my job. From a very young age I always knew I wanted a job where I could travel the world, and I’ve been so lucky to have visited the four corners and pretty much everywhere in between. Combine this with working with the finest crews afloat, on the most beautiful and innovative ships, and I genuinely wake up every morning and pinch myself. I can’t believe how fortunate I am.
What are you most looking forward to?
I can’t wait to see the expressions on our guests’ faces when they step on board Iona. With her stunning design, beautiful vistas and all the fantastic facilities she offers, I just know they’ll be saying “Wow, this is the life!”
Thanks Captain for sharing your story! We wish you and all our colleagues on board Iona a fantastic summer of creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests.
Iona Photo: Herman-IJsseling