INSIDE VIEW:
A CONVERSATION WITH
CAPTAIN EDWARD PERRIN
OF
REGAL PRINCESS
by Richard H. Wagner
A CONVERSATION WITH
CAPTAIN EDWARD PERRIN
OF
REGAL PRINCESS
by Richard H. Wagner
|
Captain Edward Perrin has been fascinated by ships since his boyhood in Dorset, England Following this passion, he has sailed cruise ships around the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and the Caribbean. His credentials include a year as second in command of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 as well as the command of several Princess ships. Now, he is master of Regal Princess.
As master of Regal Princess, Captain Perrin is responsible not just for sailing the ship but also is the CEO of the entire operation. The cruise experience offered on Regal Princess is Princess Cruises' relaxed by sophisticated style of cruising. However, what is Captain Perrin's vision for presenting that style of cruising on Regal Princess. “I always say in my speeches, 'we want you to go home with happy memories of the ship and the places we take you to.' I think any business is hoping that the service that they provide is enjoyed and liked.” On Regal Princess, “I have had nothing but positive feedback.” Channeling such feedback back to his officers and crew, helps to ensure that the feedback will continue to be positive. “It makes our job fulfilling when you think that the effort that goes in to providing the service that we provide is enjoyed. I love the way the whole ship's company, whether they are front of the house or back of the house, can share in the knowledge that the effort and the work they are doing is worthwhile. If the crew is happy I think it sort of rubs and rolls over [to the benefit of the passengers].” The Captain noted two areas that have received much positive comment. First, guests appreciate the number and variety of alternatives in dining, accommodations, entertainment, activities and leisure facilities offered aboard Regal Princess. “When you meet people, you really notice the enthusiasum that so many different people will give. [It ranges] from the people spending a huge amount of money in the suites through to people who have come on a real budget. There is a niche there for everybody.” Second, there is the lack of crowding. “There are a lot of people here. In the summer, we had 4,100 people and you didn't notice. Sometimes I walk around and say 'where is everybody?” This is attributable not only to the amount of space on Regal Princess but to the fact that several alternative ways to spend your time are offered simultaneously in different parts of the ship. As a result, the passengers are distributed around the ship rather than concentrated in one place and the flow of the passengers through the ship is enhanced. |
Looking at Regal Princess from a mariners' perspective, Captain Perrin is entthusiastic. “It is a wonderful sea ship. In quite rough weather, she really holds steady and is not rolling about. We had a little bit of rough weather coming down [to the Caribbean] - - quite a strong headwind, it was quite a big sea and swell out there - - but you don't notice it. You get into this cacoon of how the ship protects you from all of that. It is very steady.”
“It is not top heavy, which a lot of the new cruise ships tend to be. As a master, you are always worried about listing too much. Here, she is more resilent to that than a lot of the other similar ships. You can go around a corner fast and she stays upright.” Regal Princess was built with a conventional system propulsion system of twin screws and standard rudders. The propeller shafts are turned by electric motors that obtain their electricity from four diesel engines. “When we push it up there, she'll quite easily do 22 knots. She steers very well.” “The way the ship has been built to be environmetally-frrendly and save fuel is excellent. Fuel economy is wonderful. I'm very impressed with the hull. The re-cycle ability of the ship, the wastage is minimal. [For example] the excess heat from the engines is used to produce water. ” Regal Princess is also a pioneer in advanced cruise ship safety. She was built to meet the requirements of Safe Return to Port. “Royal Princess, the sister ship, was the first in the world to be built to those requirements. [Regal] is the second of our ships to be built with this Safe Return to Port function.” Under Safe Return to Port, a ship is designed so as to be able to transport its passengers and crew to safety after surviving a devastating incident. For example, suppose there was a fire in the engine room. On earlier ships, such a fire could leave the ship without electricity, stranding it at sea unable to proceed and with no services. Under Safe Return to Port, “within one hour of putting the fire out and saying that is contained, we can basically say 'that compartment is lost, what we are going to do now is convert the ship into its own lifeboat.” “It is not designed for luxury, it is not designed for huge enjoyment but we can provide everybody onboard with lighting, air-conditioning and toilets. We can cook for people, we can provide all the services that you would expect for living. Then the ship can do six knots for a thousand miles to a safe port of refuge. You are basically sailing around with one section of the ship that you have abandoned. ” “It would certainly be a lot more comfortable to make the ship into the Safe Return to Port mode than to take to the lifeboats. It is a very complex and clever system. Is a huge improvement.” |
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Cruise ship interview - - Princess Cruises - - Regal Princess - - Captain Edward Perrin