Up Close and Personal with
Captain Tihomir Muzic.
Costa Toscana Captain, now cruising in the Emirates and Dubai, talks to us about his island childhood, his beloved Adriatic Sea, his private life, his holidays and how tricky a Paso Doble can be…
Up Close and Personal with
Captain Tihomir Muzic.
Costa Toscana Captain, now cruising in the Emirates and Dubai, talks to us about his island childhood, his beloved Adriatic Sea, his private life, his holidays and how tricky a Paso Doble can be…
When did you realise you wanted to be a ship Captain?
I was born in the northern Adriatic, in Rijeka, but I spent my childhood on the island of Cres, in the Kvarner Gulf, where there are incredible differences in culture and climate in just 80 length kilometers. The sea, ships and history associated with great explorers and world discoveries have always fascinated me. My father and some other members of my family were also sailors. All this has influenced me significantly from an early age. I proudly add that many famous ship owners, captains, and sailors have come from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago since the days of sailing ships.
Is there a port you are particularly fond of?
Having been at sea for so long, I have visited many ports, all over the world. But the more you travel and the more you see, the more you realise how beautiful the differences between various locations truly are. I don't have a favourite port or place, but I do love the Mediterranean Sea with its great history, I am fascinated by how all the different people and cultures of this area meet perfectly.
The more you travel and the more you see, the more you realise how beautiful the differences between various locations truly are.
Speaking of your beautiful Croatia, your homeland, tell us about Split. What is it like? Do you have any tips or suggestions outside the usual tourist routes?
I may not be objective! Just kidding... apart from the nature and beautiful landscapes, with thousands of islands, it is a place influenced by different cultures throughout history. Split is one of the oldest cities on the coast and was founded by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It is very rich in history, architecture, and beauty. I also love Split for its proud people, its many Olympic champions, its citizens who love to enjoy life. It definitely is a place worth visiting. As are Rijeka, Kvarner, Istria and all of Dalmatia. If you choose a cruise holiday with stopovers in Zadar and Dubrovnik, you can take advantage of the many available excursions to visit these beloved places.
You make the holidays of millions of people possible. Tell us about your holidays instead.
Never stop travelling. As the saying goes: travel is the best education. With my wife and our daughters, we travel a lot, both on land and at sea. We love the mountains and our Croatian islands very much. While on holiday, I love to spend time on my home with small carpentry and construction jobs. I also love going to the theatre and cinema with my wife. We enjoy watching sport competitions as well, she is my ideal companion!
There must be quite a queue when it is time to dance with 'the most important man on the ship'... any funny anecdotes?
Fortunately, at the beginning of my career on cruise ships I worked with some very experienced captains. They took all social events such as the 'Gala Evenings' very seriously and I would watch them dance and try to memorise the steps... When I was a young Staff Captain, most of the ladies wanted to dance with me, but as soon as the waltz changed to Tango, Paso Doble or Salsa... I felt like a young deckhand on his first day at sea. Let's just say not exactly an expert!
How do you spend your free time on board?
When we are in port and I have the chance, I go ashore to walk, hike or go shopping. I relax by sketching and I enjoy table tennis and table football. I am not a gym person. I prefer to watch a good movie or a football game.
Do you remember your first cruise as a Captain?
I became a Captain at the end of my career on merchant ships, then I moved on to cruise ships. My first cruise was in the western Mediterranean, leaving from Barcelona with stops in Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Valletta, La Goulette and returning to Barcelona. Everything went smoothly and both guests and crew cheered. For 10 years now, Costa Cruises' ships have been my second home.
For 10 years now, Costa Cruises' ships have been my second home.
Where will the next cruise take you?
For the next three cruises, Costa Toscana, the ship I am on, will remain in the Persian Gulf. Then, in May, again with Costa Toscana, we will leave Savona for the western Mediterranean, stopping in Marseille, Barcelona, Palma, Palermo and Civitavecchia.
This is a difficult one… Mediterranean Sea or Norwegian Fjords?
It really is difficult. Both areas are beautiful in all aspects. I spent a lot of time in the Norwegian Fjords... I love this part of the world so much that I sailed all the way to the Spitzbergen Islands. It is also a challenging sea from a sailing point of view, but this is what we are trained for. So, I would say, Norway in the summer and the Mediterranean Sea in all the other seasons.
For you the sea is... define it for us with three adjectives.
Source of life, indescribably beautiful and eternal.
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing your career?
Protect the sea and honour one of the most beautiful professions in the world with dignity, enthusiasm and pride. Just as the greats did before us.
What is your favourite ship?
It's like asking a parent which child they love the most.
Let's close our interview with your favourite destinations.
The whole world is beautiful and Costa takes you around the world.