Ante Benic grew up in a small town by the sea in Croatia. He always loved the ocean and knew from a young age that he wanted to work at sea.
At 14, he moved to Dubrovnik to study at a nautical school. After finishing his studies and working on cargo ships, he joined cruise liners. Ante enjoyed working with people, which made him want to switch to hospitality.
He spent 12 years with Royal Caribbean, working his way up to an officer. During the pandemic, he moved to luxury yachts. The change was big—but he loved it. On a yacht with only 30 guests, he could give them personal attention and a better experience.
He joined the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in 2024 as a safety officer. He helped build and design the Marina Beach — a floating beach club with a seawater pool and fun water toys. Now, Ante is the Staff Captain, second-in-command, responsible for ship safety, operations, and taking care of the crew and guests.
Life Onboard
Every day is different. Ante wakes up early and meets with the captain and crew to plan the day. If the weather changes, they must quickly adjust, like they did in Santorini when winds reached 60 knots. Most cruise ships canceled, but they found a way to keep guests happy and safe.
Favorite Part of the Job
Ante loves working with a team from all over the world—people from more than 50 countries. Everyone works together like one big family.
Hardest Part
The sea is unpredictable. Weather, delays, and technical issues can happen at any time. Ante’s job is to make sure guests don’t feel any of the stress behind the scenes.
Coolest Part
Waking up in a new place every day! Unlike big cruise ships, Ritz-Carlton yachts visit unique and beautiful ports around the world.
Favorite Destination
Alaska. The nature, glaciers, and wildlife made it unforgettable. It’s also where he started his sea career in 2007. He’ll return there in 2026 with the new yacht Luminara—a full-circle moment.
Best Spot on the Yacht
The Marina Terrace. It feels like a private beach club on the water. Ante helped design it and was the first to swim in its sea pool!
Memorable Guest Moment
During an Atlantic crossing, Ante and his team gave daily talks to guests about navigation. They even used a real map and marked the journey every day. Guests loved it—and one lucky winner took the signed chart home and framed it!
Tip for First-Time Cruisers
Slow down. Don’t rush to do everything. Enjoy the ocean, relax, and take in every moment.
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