Celebrating Our Incredible Team: Decades of Loyalty at Captain Cook Cruises

Celebrating Our Incredible Team: Decades of Loyalty at Captain Cook Cruises

At Captain Cook Cruises, we’ve always prided ourselves on creating unforgettable experiences for our guests on Sydney Harbour. But behind every departure, new itinerary, or innovative vessel stands the true heart of our company: our devoted and passionate team. It’s a remarkable testament to our culture that 44% of our full-time employees have worked with us for over 20 years, and five of our employees have been with us for more than 35 years - an incredible milestone in any industry.

A Tribute to Our Long-Serving Team Members

Graham McKay, Captain of Sydney 2000
Graham has been with Captain Cook Cruises for an incredible 38 years. He has captained the iconic Sydney 2000 for 25 of those years. Under his calm and skillful leadership, countless guests have experienced Sydney Harbour at its finest.

Sue-Ellen Forster, Marketing & Product Management
Over her remarkable 38-year journey with Captain Cook Cruises, Sue-Ellen has worn many hats. She transitioned from creating newspaper advertisements to mastering digital marketing and social media, always staying ahead of industry trends.

William “Willy” Yang, Maintenance Team
Willy has dedicated over 40 years to keeping our vessels in top-notch condition. His tireless work painting, sanding, and repainting reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence and ensures the Captain Cook Cruises fleet always looks its best.

Dennis Yang Te Fuh, Head Chef
Dennis has spent 38 years rising through the culinary ranks - from kitchen hand to Head Chef. His passion for great food and service is evident in every dish served onboard, and he has mentored countless team members along the way.

Marissa Cremen, Head Chef on Sydney 2000
Marissa has devoted 31 and a half years to refining our onboard culinary experience. Her creativity, consistency, and leadership have helped define the exceptional standard of dining our guests enjoy.

Angelina Bagdassarian, Charters & Celebrations
This April marks 30 years since Angelina joined Captain Cook Cruises. During that time, she has organized countless private charters, corporate events, milestone celebrations, and hundreds of weddings - making her integral to our charter operations.

Embracing Change and Growth

From the very beginning, change became the norm at Captain Cook Cruises. We designed new vessels every few years, explored emerging harbourside precincts, and developed fresh cruise experiences as new markets and cultural opportunities arose. Led by Captain Trevor and Geraldine Haworth, we continuously set ambitious benchmarks. Sometimes it took years of promotion for new cruise offerings to mature, but once they did, their success was undeniable.

When the company transitioned to SeaLink Marine and Tourism, ultimately becoming a public enterprise, it represented a significant shift. Before stepping away, Captain Trevor and Geraldine ensured we were left in the capable hands of visionary leaders. Jeff Ellison, and now Clint Feuerherdt, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of SeaLink Marine, have continued the tradition of championing innovation, customer satisfaction, and team welfare.

A Progressive Workplace

Despite being part of a traditionally male-dominated maritime industry, Captain Cook Cruises has always prioritized inclusivity and diversity, championing women in pivotal Administrative and Marine roles.

Reflecting on her 38-year journey, Sue-Ellen Forster shares:
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been taken on this wonderful and often crazy ride. In an industry generally dominated by men, Captain Cook Cruises has always been progressive in employing women in key Administrative and Marine roles. Working under the Haworth family instilled in me a strong work ethic based on trust, loyalty, and respect, balanced with a great deal of fun. If I can instil just a little of that in the following generations, then I will retire a happy woman.”

Sue-Ellen’s words capture the spirit of our entire crew - a devoted community bound by hard work, passion, and camaraderie.

Looking to the Future

Today, under the exceptional leadership of our General Manager, Nick Lester, we are well-positioned to sail confidently forward. His guidance through the post-COVID years has helped preserve the values instilled by the Haworth family while ushering in new opportunities in modern tourism.

As we chart a course for the next 50 years and beyond, it’s comforting to know that Sydney Harbour remains in good hands. With our blend of long-serving stalwarts, fresh talent, and innovative leadership, Captain Cook Cruises will continue crafting memorable moments for generations of travellers.

To our incredible, loyal team and all who’ve chosen to cruise with us - thank you. We look forward to welcoming you aboard - whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth - to celebrate Sydney Harbour in the company of those who know and love it best. Safe travels, and here’s to the next chapter of our ever-evolving journey on the world’s most spectacular Harbour.

Celebrating five decades on Sydney Harbour

Join the celebration for your chance to win up to $24,000 Cruise Cash, half of which will go exclusively to our Captain's Club Members as our way of saying thank you!

Here’s to 55 years of magic on the world’s most beautiful harbour – and many more to come!