Hagen Damaschke takes command of the Sea Cloud Spirit: An experienced captain sets sail

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Experienced captain Hagen Damaschke to helm the Sea Cloud Spirit

Hagen Damaschke, long-time captain of the cruise ship MS Europa, has joined Sea Cloud Cruises (SCC) and will command the Sea Cloud Spirit for at least four voyages while continuing to work as an Elbe pilot. Further assignments are already planned. “We are delighted that we have been able to recruit such an experienced captain who excels in both ship management and guest care,” explains Daniel Schäfer, Managing Director of SCC.

Damaschke is already familiar to many cruise guests, having captained the MS Europa, a 5-star ship, alternately with a colleague for over a decade before becoming Elbe pilot in the Elbe estuary in 2014. Although he has extensive experience in the upscale cruise industry, he considers it a special privilege to now take the helm of a classic yet luxurious windjammer. “It is unique to allow guests to experience the sea and the feeling of freedom so directly, while at the same time enjoying the best comfort,” emphasizes Damaschke.

He developed his deep understanding of the needs and wishes of passengers over many years as a captain and sailor. After his nautical studies and several years in container shipping, Damaschke switched to the cruise industry in 1996 and sailed as an officer on expedition cruise ships, including to the Antarctic and Arctic. In 2001, he took command of an Arctic voyage as captain for the first time. Two years later, he joined the MS Europa, which he captained until 2014.

His first voyage on the Sea Cloud Spirit as staff captain left a lasting impression on Damaschke. He was particularly impressed by the professionalism and passion of the crew. “The moment when the sails are set by hand and the wind lets the ship glide gently through the water is simply magical,” enthuses Damaschke. His next voyages include the trip from Malaga to Las Palmas (November 2 to 11) and an Atlantic crossing (November 11 to December 4, 2024), which is considered the highlight of the Sea Cloud Cruises program. Further voyages between Costa Rica and Panama, as well as through Central America to Miami, are scheduled for February and March 2025.

The nostalgic maritime atmosphere on board the Sea Cloud Spirit brings back memories of Damaschke's childhood. His grandfather ran an inland shipping company, and it was on these ships and on the banks of the Spree that Damaschke developed his love of the sea. “It was only logical that I trained as a seaman after school and eventually became a captain,” he says. He now describes being on the Sea Cloud Spirit as the highlight of his career.