After an extraordinary 50-year career with Royal Caribbean, Captain Johnny Faevelen has announced his retirement, marking the end of an era for one of the company’s most beloved leaders.
The Norwegian captain shared his resignation in an emotional Facebook post on 13th January 2025, explaining his decision to focus on his family.
“It is with mixed feelings I have handed in my resignation,
“I will be a 100-percent husband for my lovely wife, Sissel. I will be a 100-percent father for our two fantastic children, Erelend and Eirin. And I will be a 100-percent grandfather for my 4.5 grandchildren,”
Captain Faevelen (referencing his family including a fifth grandchild due this year)
The 51-year veteran joined Royal Caribbean’s Song of Norway in 1975 as a seaman at the age of 20.
By 1994, he had earned his captain’s hat aboard Nordic Prince.
Over the years, Faevelen has commanded some of the line’s most iconic ships, including Mariner of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas.
Most recently, he has served as Master of Symphony of the Seas since 2024.
Messages of congratulations and admiration have poured in from crew members and former passengers.
Captain Rumen Yovchev of Radiance of the Seas wrote, “Captain Johnny, for me it was an honour to be your OF1, OFCS, OFC, and SCPT. Wouldn’t be in the position I am right now without your coaching, mentorship, role model, and friendship.”
Captain Johnny’s final sailing will be a 7-night roundtrip Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami, with visits to the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.
His last day on board Symphony of the Seas will be 26th January 2025.
Faevelen is also known for his active social media presence, where he has nearly 150,000 TikTok followers.
A photo he shared of his last moments at the helm, set to Rod Stewart’s “Sailing,” featured the poignant lyrics, “I am sailing, home again, ’cross the sea.”
Spending 50 years with a single cruise line is a rare and remarkable achievement, demonstrating unwavering loyalty, exceptional leadership, and a passion for the sea.
Faevelen’s dedication to Royal Caribbean has left an indelible mark on both his colleagues and passengers, making his career a shining example of commitment and excellence in the cruising world.
Congratulations on your retirement, captain!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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