Royal Caribbean ships flew their flags at half mast last Friday to honor the passing of Captain James MacDonald, a cherished leader and beloved figure in the cruising community. MacDonald was at the helm of Harmony of the Seas when he experienced a fatal heart attack.
What Happened to Captain James MacDonald?
Harmony of the Seas was on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise when MacDonald required immediate medical attention. The Oasis-class ship made an unscheduled detour on April 30 to Cozumel, Mexico so that MacDonald and his wife could debark. He was later moved to a Miami hospital for further care.
On May 16, MacDonald sadly passed away. Royal Caribbean shared the news in an internal announcement that commended their employee of 34 years for his dedication, expertise, and commitment.
“Over the years, he was instrumental in the development of thousands of our crew, including many sailing captains. He was also key to leading our success in Texas cruising where he will be missed by crew and guests alike,” the letter reads.
The news was quickly picked up and shared by news outlets, friends, and guests who had known the captain.
Mourning Captain James MacDonald
| “A true legend in the boating industry and a friend of many across the 7 seas. I had the opportunity to talk to him many times while working onboard Royal Caribbean and the conversations may have been short, but it made everyone’s day,” wrote Thomas Estepp on Facebook. “My wife and I have cruised with James a lot both on the Liberty and The Harmony out of Galveston, and we loved his charisma and that deep Texas drawl… We chatted with him a lot as he was one of the few Captains who walked around the ship from time to time,” another cruiser posted. “Our favorite captain… We often saw him at the Captain’s Corner talk and we know he started from the bottom and made his way up. He always walked around and looked over his ship and was just a generally all-around nice guy,” shared George Whipple. |
Captain James MacDonald, a St Petersburg, Florida resident, joined Royal Caribbean in 1990. He was the first captain of Radiance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas. Many of the cruise ships he commanded were homeported in Galveston, Texas.
