New cruise ship Royal Princess will have a British captain at the controls when it is launched next June. Tony Draper, who has also served with Cunard and P&O, will be leading a team of senior officers with more than 100 years of combined experience.
Draper is originally from Scotland and now lives in Cornwall with his wife Joanna and young daughter Alysia. He and Joanna first met when he was second officer aboard Island Princess, onr of the original Love Boats.
He began his sea-going career with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, the civilian-manned supply and logistics division of the Royal Navy. He followed up gaining his Master’s Certificate in 1994 by following his second ambition- to learn to fly – and earned his commercial pilot’s licence in the same year.
Since 2006 he has commanded a number of Princess ships, including Ruby, Crown, Caribbean, Dawn, Sun, and Coral Princesses.
At his side as second-in-command on Royal Princess will be Staff Captain Tim Stringer, originally from Bedford. He has worked on eight Princess ships, and has been closely involved with the planning and construction of the vessel.
oyal Princess debuts in Southampton on June 16, 2013, and will sail on a maiden season of Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer, followed by Caribbean sailings in the autumn.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
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