Captain Ronald Warwick follows in father’s footsteps

Cunard Line today announced the appointment of Captain Ron Warwick as the first Master of Queen Mary 2 – the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive passenger ship ever – which will enter service in January 2004. Captain Warwick is treading in his father’s footsteps, as Commodore W E Warwick was Master of Cunard’s current flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2, the world’s most famous ship, when she entered service in 1969.

Captain Ron Warwick will take command of the 150,000-ton QM2 prior to the ship entering service in January 2004. The 2,620-passenger liner, being built in France at a cost of approximately £540 million, is the first liner to be built in over three decades. She will assume the regular transatlantic service between Southampton and New York currently operated by QE2.

Captain Warwick, says:
“I am honoured to have been chosen to command the next flagship of Cunard Line. This is something of a Warwick family tradition!”

According to Pamela Conover, Cunard’s President and Chief Operating Officer:

“It is only fitting that we entrust command of the world’s grandest and largest passenger vessel to Captain Warwick, a highly skilled 31-year veteran of Cunard Line”.

Captain Warwick joined Cunard in April 1970 and is currently the master of QE2. This was another ‘first’ in the 162-year history of Cunard Line - when he took command of QE2 in 1990 it was the first time a father and son had commanded the same ship.

Since November 1988, he has also been captain of Cunard Countess, Cunard Princess and Cunard Crown Dynasty.

Captain Warwick commenced his sea-going career at the age of 15 as a cadet at the pre-sea training ship HMS Conway in North Wales. He became an indentured apprentice two years later on the cargo ships of the Port Line whose principal area of trade was Australia and New Zealand. After obtaining his Second Mate’s Certificate in 1961, Captain Warwick spent the next several years sailing with various companies to gain experience on different types of ships. It was his time as Fourth Officer on the Royal Mail cruise liner RMS Andes that left him with the desire to specialize eventually in passenger shipping.

In 1967 he became Chief Officer of a cargo ship, and by 1968 he had obtained his Master’s Ticket. A few years later, in 1970, he joined the Cunard Line and was appointed to the Carmania as a junior officer. Since then he has served in various ranks on the QE2, Cunard Adventurer, Cunard Countess, Cunard Princess and Crown Dynasty. His first command was of the Cunard Princess when she was sailing in Alaskan waters in 1986.

He was Navigator on the first world cruise of the QE2 in 1975 and Chief Officer for a number of years, which included the period when the liner was requisitioned by the British Government for service in the Falkland Campaign.

Captain Warwick was first appointed to the command of the Queen Elizabeth 2 in July 1990, and was Master during the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, on the occasion of Cunard Line’s 150th anniversary celebrations at Spithead. At this point in his career he made Cunard Line history by sailing in command of the same ship as his father, the late Commodore William E Warwick CBE RD RNR who was the first Master of the QE2 before he retired in 1972.

In June 1996, Captain Warwick was appointed to the position of Marine Superintendent of the Cunard Line fleet and then to the permanent command of the Queen Elizabeth 2 on 1 October 1997.

One of Captain Warwick’s most memorable events was solemnizing his daughter’s marriage on board the QE2 in Boston harbour on 4 October 2001. The ceremony was the first legal marriage in living memory carried out by a Cunard Master on board any of the company’s ships.

During his association with the QE2 he originated the first authoritative book about the liner which was published in 1985. The work was revised and updated by Captain Warwick in 1994 and again in 1999.

On 4 July 2002, at the Keel Laying for Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s President and Chief Operating Officer Pam Conover, announced the appointment of Captain Warwick as Captain of Queen Mary 2 – the largest passenger liner in the world and the new Cunard flagship. Captain Warwick will take QM2 out on her maiden voyage on 12 January 2004 – just as his father (Commodore Bil Warwick) did with QE2 on 2 May 1969.

He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, a founder member and Fellow of the Nautical Institute, Governor of the Marine Society and a retired officer of the British Royal Naval Reserve.

[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: Baker ]

[ 07-12-2002: Message edited by: Baker ]

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Originally posted by Britanis:
I wonder if Captain Warwick will indeed close out his career. If so, then that'll be an extrodinary end to an extraordinary career!

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
All this talk of history repeating itself! Lets hope that Captain Warwick does not emulate Captain Smith!

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Oh, don't even say it Malcom! At any rate, the end of his career was hardly extraordinary, he earned such a good reputation only because he was good at socializing!

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Originally posted by cruiseny:
At any rate, the end of his career was hardly extraordinary, he earned such a good reputation only because he was good at socializing!

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I'm confused now, are talking about Smith or Warwick?

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I'm confused now, are talking about Smith or Warwick?

The end of Smith's career was pretty extraordinary, as far as I'm concerned!

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We are talking Smith. I suppose I could have worded my post better, as at first sight the end of Smith's career was extraordinary in the traditional sense. However it was a fitting end to the career of a man who had been the captain of so many ships during so many mishaps should end his career in the ultimate mishap.

Do you follow me now or have I further confused you ?