Meet Our Crew

Get to know the people who take care of you.
21 dedicated women and men with ample experience both in cruising and hospitality.
Waiting to show you what a wonderful cruise is all about.
Captain
Michel Boer, Age 30, Dutch
Michel lives with his wife in Gondonsbaai near Cape Town, South Africa. He started his maritime career on hydrofoils in 1998 as Chief Officer with Fast Flying Ferries and after a few years on the inland waterways became assistant harbor master for the port of Den Helder. In 2002 he went back to sea where he sailed on tankers and cargo ships for Wagenborg as Maritime Officer. For the past 4 years he has been sailing as a Navigation Officer on the cruise ships of Holland America Line. He has completed a total of 7 years nautical training, Amsterdam is still his favorite city as he lived there for 3 years during his maritime training. It's very important for Michel to give his guests the ultimate holiday experience and this starts with a happy crew. His hobbies are diving, cars and of course traveling.


Languages: Dutch, Afrikaans, English, German
  
General Manager
Jan Verkerk, Age 47, Dutch
Jan is managing MY Sherakhan for the 9th season and prior to this he managed MY Jaguar for six seasons as captain. In his many experiences he saw that a happy and motivated crew immediately reflects on the quality of the service and the success of the charter for the guests. The quality of the charter is in very good hands with Jan as a manager. His way of working has always been to keep the crew happy and motivated and the result reflects immediately upon the guests. The quality of the crew and service , their ready smiles and willing manner is a well known fact that makes MY Sherakhan very popular. The crew treats the yacht like it is their own and gives more than 100% of themselves, which is actually making our team very special. Jan respects his team very much and will do everything to keep their spirit the way it is! Jan and his crew are looking forward to another fantastic season on Sherakhan!
Languages: Dutch, English
Hotel Manager
Stephanie Verwijmeren, Age 32, Dutch
After obtaining her degree in Higher Hotel management, Stephanie worked as a project coordinator for the government in education. Having finished this project, she worked in Switzerland for two winter seasons running a chalet for winter sport guests. Being multi functional as hostess, housekeeper, cook and maintaining a chalet, there was a job on board MY Sherakhan for her as a stewardess. In the past years she has learned a lot and has proven to be able to fill in the function of Hotel Manager. She has been with the crew since the summer season of 2006.


Languages: Dutch, English
  
Chief Engineer
Martin van Krieken, Age 25, Dutch
After an intense first season working as First Mate, Martin has worked the past winter season as chief engineer. He will jet again play the role of chief engineer this coming summer season. Growing up near the water and always being busy on or at the water as a young lad, Martin continued his passion later in his live and spent four years completing the Higher Maritime University in Rotterdam. With his degree in his pocket Martin worked mainly on container ships for the next 2,5 years. As engineer Martin can combine his job with his hobby maintaining old timer cars and motorbikes. Martin is a very enthusiastic man. He is a social person and loves to joke around.
Languages: Dutch, English
First Mate
Willemijn Vogelsang, Age 26, Dutch
Willemijn has joined our crew last year and has proven to be a valuable asset to the team. She is very good spirited and motivated. She has completed Maritime University in Vlissingen and sailed for a while on the Stad Amsterdam. Not only does she like it on the water, diving is one of her favorite hobbies in which she has several certificates. Her profession also supports her in her other favorite passing time, which is travelling. Willemijn is a cheerful person to have around you and brighten up your day!



Languages: Dutch, English
  
Chief Steward
Joost Rombouts, 28, Dutch
As a true Burgundian man Joost decided to go to the hospitality college, majored in enterprise and management. After 6 years of working as a freelancer for hospitality projects he ventured out into the ocean onto the Crystal Cruises. He had the opportunity to work as a "chef de rang" on the yachts of Seaborn and on the Seadream Yacht club. After one year on the Sherakhan, Joost sailed the Pacific Seas for a while and now we have the pleasure to have him back as a chief steward on board of MY Sherakhan! Joost was very excited by the challenges offered by yachting and is glad that he now gets to show off his skills and show what great service really is!
Languages: Dutch, English, German
Executive Chef
Ronald Pot, Age 36, Dutch
For the first time this season on board of MY Sherakhan. Ronald started out a hotel management degree and half way through decided that there was not enough cooking involved. Pursuing his passion of food he switched to obtain a degree in cooking. Whilst learning Ronald worked in several restaurant in the Netherlands including one with a Michelin star. After finishing his school he worked for 4 years with the famous Dutch chef Herman de Blijker in three of his restaurants: Foodies, de Engel and Hofstede Meerzicht himself in the position as sous chef. Wanting to expand his skills he found a job opening in restaurant De Eten as a chef. Just before exploring the oceans Ronald worked as a chef in Dexkels. Besides his passion for cooking Ronald likes to snowboard, sail, fish and loves to travel. Ronald is extremely organized and creative.
Languages: Dutch, English
  
Assistant Cook
Napoleon Kuizon, Age 30, Filipino
Napoleon is an extremely caring cook. His main priority is to satisfy the needs of guests and crew. Finishing his Hotel University, Napoleon has worked in galleys for many years on cargo ships and is now making his career change to yachts. He is very spirited and interested in other people and the way things work on MY Sherakhan.










Languages: Filipino, English, Japanese, Spanish, German, Dutch
Boatswain
Juanillo (Wally) Paciente, Age 31, Filipino
Juanillo, or Wally as we call him, joined Sherakhan four seasons ago. Wally finished maritime school in the Philippines in 1999 and since sailed on cargo ships in Europe. Wally enjoys working with people and has the greatest smile in the world!
Languages: Filipino, English
  
Deckhand
Marius Busniauskas, Age 23, Lithuanian
After Marius finished his high school in 2004 he took up a job in a car repair shop. Marius later joined the crew of Sherakhan as deckhand. His interest and ambition lay at sea as he plans to go to nautical school and graduate as a deck officer.
Languages: Lithuanian, Russian, English, German
Deckhand
Reginald Dogoen, Age 34, Filipino
Reggie, as he is called on board, is a very intelligent and quick learning person. He has a marine engineering graduate. Before he became a seaman he worked on a farm. All ready as a young child he knew he wanted to become a seafarer. He has experience in marine engineering on tugboats ( 2 years ) and cargo vessels ( 8 months ). In his free time he likes reading a book or watching movies. Reggie is a hard working highly motivated man.
Languages: Tagalog, English
  
Trainee/ deckhand
Martijn van Barneveld, Age 20, Dutch
Martijn is in his last period of college at the Nautical College in Rotterdam. He has already done one trainee period on board of a heavy lift cargo vessel and has chosen to do his other trainee period in the yachting, to get a broad horizon on the shipping industry when finishing college. Besides sailing, Martijn enjoys scuba diving a lot.


Languages: Dutch, English
Hotel staff
Sylvia de Regt, Age 23, Dutch
High school was enough for Sylvia, she wanted to work and see the world. She started a job at Bastion Hotel in the Netherlands. She came across the Jaguar, Jan Verkerks former yacht, and worked on the Jaguar for one season. Back in the Netherlands she joined Bastion Hotel again as replacement manager. Having tasted the fun of sailing Sylvia longed to go back onto the sea. Sylvia is responsible for the housekeeping on board MY Sherakhan. She is a pleasure to have on board, being social and extremely hard working.
Languages: Dutch, English, German
  
Hotel staff
Stase Vaitkeviciene, Age 61, Lithuanian
After bringing up her children, Stace started working in the housekeeping department in a restaurant in Klaipeda. In the morning she was cleaning the restaurant and in the evening she took care of doing the dishes. The crew of the restaurant saw her as their mum, as does the Sherakhan crew. A practical lady with practical solutions for all the housekeeping problems. A lady which cannot be missed on a yacht like MY Sherakhan. On board she is responsible for the whole laundry department since 2005 and helps her colleagues where ever she can.
Languages: Lithuanian, Russian, English
Hotel staff
Manon de Wit, Age 21, Dutch
Talk about spirit! This girl has definitely got it. She is a great entertainer and a talented musician. This makes her very good with entertaining guests on board and she can also make any kind of drink you like. Manon has quite some experience in the hospitality industry and knows very well how to use this on board MY Sherakhan. Good laugh and endless energy!

Languages: Dutch, English
  
Hotel staff
Nicky Frederiks, Age 23, Dutch
Starting out last summer season as a trainee, Nicky has come back to work for the MY Sherakhan. We are very glad to have him back on board, since he turned out to be an excellent host and cocktail maker. He is also eager to take responsibilities and doesn't walk away from a challenge. Most remarkable about this young man is his ever positive spirit. He seems to be able to blend in whatever environment you place him in. Nicky is charming and very good laughs.
Languages: Dutch, English
Hotel staff
Tatjana Suvorova, Age 25, Lithuanian
Tanja got her economic degree and decided to go sailing. Starting on the Crystal Cruises for a year, she came on board MY Sherakhan, starting her third season now. She also has some experience in the Casino being a coupier/ dealer. In her free time she likes handicrafts.



Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian, German
  
Hotel staff
Rowena (Weng) David, Age 32, Filipino
Weng is going to work on MY Sherakhan for her 8th season already. After completing her studies mass communications in 1998, Weng worked on the cruise boats Star Cruises and Aida, to later join the crew of MY Jaguar. She is multifunctional and works in housekeeping and service. She is a lively, fun person to have around. Above all her specialty is to entertain the kids and they love her!

Languages: Tagalog, English, Dutch
Hotel staff
Rieneke Hovenier, Age 30, Dutch
An enthusiastic lady joining MY Sherakhan for a third season. Rieneke gained lots of experience in the service department working 5 years for the former business of Jan Verkerk: Verkerk Charters in the Netherlands. She has managed to obtain two degrees: one in detail business and one in marketing management. As dancing is one of her favorite pastimes, she taught children various dancing styles. Travelling is another passion and has been to many places like Indonesia, Mexico, USA and Brazil. Rieneke is a social and spontaneous girl and a joy to work with!

Languages: Dutch, English
  
Hotel staff
Rene(le) Simon, Age 28, Filipino
Renele is living independently in Manila, since she started her first job after High School. She has all different kinds of work experience like service crew, cashier, sales lady, inventory clerk, stewardess and masseuse in a 3 star Hotel. She is also an active member of voluntary work like the Red Cross. And she is a flag bearer instructor for a drum and buggle corpse. This is Rene her first season onboard the MY Sherakhan in the function of Masseuse/Stewardess. Rene is a small and single lady with a positive mission in life, an easy to please and a down to earth person. She is happy and enjoying the work on board. Her hobbies are music and books.
Languages: Filipino, English
Shore Based Manager
Kathelijne Eijzenbach, Age 40, Dutch
Kathelijne has made herself indispensible since she started to work as Shore Based Manager for MY Sherakhan in August 2007. She makes sure all the paper work is correct and successfully manages the quality controls MY Sherakhan gets being a Solas registrated passenger ship. She also takes care that the crew is on the right place at the right time in order to make charters fully staffed with experienced crew.

Languages: English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish