This is the sixth installment of our new bimonthly column Crews on Cruise, spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.
Ante Benic was born and raised in a small, beautiful town on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. “The sea was always a big part of my life,” he says. “Since I was a kid, I knew exactly where I wanted to end up.”
At age 14, Benic moved to Dubrovnik to attend nautical high school. After serving for one year as a cadet on cargo ships, he returned to the city to complete his university degree in Maritime Nautical Education. And that’s when his career at sea officially began—first back on board cargo ships, and then on cruise liners. The jump to hospitality was inevitable, he says. “I’m a people person—I love to connect with the guests on board.”
Benic put in 12 years with Royal Caribbean working up the officer ranks before transitioning to megayachts during the pandemic. The difference was jarring at first but suited him well. “With big ships, nothing is personal,” says Benic. “But when you have only 30 guests on a megayacht, it’s all about the guest experience.” Although the move meant starting over again, as a Third Officer, he moved up quickly—earning a promotion to Chief Officer within six months.
After three years working on the megayachts (and meeting his share of celebrities), Benic joined the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection as Safety Officer (they’re the ones in charge of security and those oh-so-important emergency evacuation drills) in October 2024. He started on Ilma when it was still in the shipyard; Evrima came next, followed by the line’s brand-new ship Luminara. Today, Benic’s title is Staff Captain, which is second-in-command, and is tasked with responsibilities such as overseeing the ship’s nautical operations, managing crew human resources, and checking in with guests.
Beyond his day-to-day duties, Benic was also involved with the design and implementation of the Ritz-Carlton’s Marina Beach, an inflatable marina that is deployed when the yacht is at anchor in select destinations. The 2,400-square-foot system is the largest floating platform that AquaBanas, maker of superyacht toys, has ever designed. A floating beach club of sorts, it includes luxurious lounge areas, a seawater swimming pool, and a host of water toys such as SEABOBs and kayaks. Though launched on Ilma last year, it’ll roll out fleetwide this summer—something Benic is extremely proud of.
Ritz Carlton yachts can accommodate approximately 450 guests across 10 decks, and many ships of this size lack direct sea access. The Marina is just one example of how “they don’t want to be a cruise ship,” says Benic. “They want to provide a yacht-like experience to their guests, and that felt very natural to me.” The luxurious fleet of three sails to glitzy, lesser-visited ports of the likes of Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, Virgin Gorda, and Bora Bora, with itineraries spanning the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, Alaska, and Northern Europe.
