Captain James Russell-Dunford was born in Southern England and went to sea as a cadet on cargo ships when he was 18-years old. In 1978 he joined the Cunard Passenger Division as 2nd officer and soon became the youngest Chief Officer of the famed transatlantic ocean liner, QE2. In 1998 he began with Holland America Line and when he is not on duty as Captain of the "Veendam", he lives with his wife in a small fishing village in Cornwall, England and sees their four grown children regularly.

Q - As the Master of the beautiful "Veendam", what are your top 3 daily priorities?

A - Safety of all onboard crew and passengers ; Security of the ship and all onboard crew and passengers ; Overall comfort, well-being and top satisfaction for all guests.

Q - How would you describe a "typical" working day for you?

A - My day starts very early with senior staff meetings followed by unit meetings. I always meet new crew members, I feel it is especially important that they feel comfortable and welcomed. I want them to know that I am not only their Captain, but very interested in making sure they know how important their contribution is to the "Veendam". I make daily rounds throughout the ship, talk with our guests and attend all business and social obligations during the day and night.

Q - When did you know you wanted a career at sea?

A - Actually I had an early interest in flying airplanes, but then decided to follow in my grandfathers steps and go to sea.

Q - When you are not at sea, what are your favorite things to do?

A - I love my family, the sun and the sea - and spend as much time outdoors both relaxing and being active. We love to charter small sailboats and sail around the Greek Islands with family and friends.

Q. How has the cruise industry changed the most since you first began your career?

A. I would say first off - environmentally. We are so conscience of our environmental commitment and make sure we are always doing our best. Next would be affordability. The more affordable cruising has become, we see many more families (from all walks of life) and now a typical cruise is 7-days, not 14 plus. I would also say the gigantic size of some of the newer vessels, offering so many onboard activities and the security concerns and issues we now must deal with on a daily basis.

Q. Are there any destinations you have not cruised to that you would want to experience in the future.

A. I've had the great fortune to sail to most places around the world - however, I would like to revisit the Far East and explore more as both a passenger and Captain. Getting of the ship and walking about a new city in a distant land is very exciting.

Q. And finally, what are your top 3 favorite ports-of-call .. And why?

A. HONG KONG - So different culturally, all the hustle & bustle. RIO DE JANEIRO - Amazing sights, sounds and constant excitement. SCANDINAVIA - Breathtaking natural scenery and friendly people.

***With more than 130 years of cruising experience, Holland America Line is a leader in the cruise industry's premium segment. This summer, Holland America will introduce it's 14th ship, ms Eurodam - and will continue sailing to more than 320 ports-of-call on all seven continents. For more information on Holland America Line, contact your trusted travel expert.