Maroje Brajcic - Captain
Captain Maroje Brajcic was born and raised in the small town of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Coast. Coming from five generations of captains, he knew as a little boy his life would be at sea. Captain Brajcic graduated from the Dubrovnik Marine Academy 1989, then started as a deck cadet on a cargo vessel, eventually making his way aboard cruise ships. After almost thirty years traveling the world by ship, he still looks forward to every day at sea. He is the happiest when sailing into his home port of Dubrovnik. In his time off, he enjoys deep sea fishing with his wife, gardening, taking care of his olives trees and producing olive oil. He also enjoys cooking for family and friends.
Vitaliy Silvachynsky - Captain
Captain Vitaliy Silvachynsky was born in Odessa, Ukraine, a beautiful city on the northern coast of the Black Sea. Coming from a family with a long seafaring tradition, it wasn't long before he decided to follow in their footsteps and pursue a life at sea.
At the age of 17, he enrolled at the Odessa Maritime Academy. During his summer breaks, he worked as an able seaman aboard cruise vessels to gain practical experience and deepen his understanding of seamanship.
Captain Silvachynsky graduated in 1986 as a Deck Officer and spent the next 33 years travelling the world while advancing his maritime career. In 1998, he obtained his Master License and has since held senior leadership roles aboard cruise ships around the globe.
He is married with two children and one grandson. When not at sea, he enjoys playing soccer.
Victor Conceição – General Manager
Born in Lisbon, Portugal to a family with a seafaring and hospitality background, Victor’s initial focus in school was in Engineering, but his interest in Hospitality spoke louder, so he decided to focus his studies on Hotel Administration. Victor began his career at sea in 1992 and what was initially intended to be a one-year venture became his life. Victor is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish and has a daughter and two sons. He splits his time between Portugal and Serbia and loves when the ship visits Lisbon, his favorite port of call. He also has a special interest in food and wine. Victor loves to cook for as many people as possible – after all, food and wine always taste better when shared with loved ones!
Kevin Symes - Executive Chef
Chef Kevin Symes, from Limon, Costa Rica, began his culinary journey in 2001 at the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje. After honing his skills in small restaurants and hotels, he embarked on his first cruise in 2003 as a cook. In 2005, he moved to Cape Town, South Africa, working in prestigious establishments like Hotel Le Vendome and Simon’s Restaurant, where he became Head Chef. Kevin later served as a private chef for figures like the President of Central Africa and Sir Richard Branson. Returning to Costa Rica in 2012, he was Executive Chef at Cala Luna Hotel. Joining Oceania Cruises in 2022, Kevin advanced to Executive Chef aboard Nautica. While at home, Kevin enjoys the quiet life with his family, DJing, and outdoor adventures.
* Senior officers rotate on and off the ship, so these are subject to change depending on your specific sailing.