Crystal Captain Birger Vorland Completes Final Voyage
The longtime mariner concluded his career with an eight-day Crystal Serenity sailing from Marseilles to Civitavecchia.
Birger Vorland completed his final voyage aboard Crystal Serenity on an eight-day itinerary from Marseilles, France, to Civitavecchia, Italy. Vorland said he wanted to retire while still performing at his best.
According to the report, Vorland started working aboard ships at age 19 after following his father’s career path. He moved from cargo shipping to cruises in 1983, worked at Cunard and joined Crystal Cruises in 2002.
Vorland was in command of Crystal Serenity when the ship traveled through the Northwest Passage from New York to Vancouver in 2016. He described meeting people of different nationalities and backgrounds as one of cruising’s fascinating features.
For passengers, Vorland recommended preparing carefully even for Caribbean itineraries and asking as many questions as possible before reaching port. He said some travelers in the Caribbean drink too much and fail to return to their ship, while adding that Crystal Serenity experiences very few such incidents. Vorland also said he keeps miniature black flashlights in his carry-on luggage, never in his checked bag.