The Yacht Captains & Crew

Captain Robert Bellanich – Owner

Capt. Rob Bellanich

My father, a native of Croatia, was a Merchant Marine who came to the United States by boat in 1962. He later purchased a 26-foot boat after settling in Union City, New Jersey. As a youngster, I was so enthralled by my father’s vessel that I later went on to serve five years in the U.S. Navy. “I guess it’s always been in my blood”.

I started NY Boat Charter, Inc. in 1998 after purchasing a 42′ Motor Yacht and living on it full time. I catered to smaller groups, no bigger than six, who wanted to take a cruise on the Hudson River and see Manhattan, without the crowds on other public dinner and sightseeing boats.  I hired a chef and chartered to couples wanting to get engaged, popping the question during sunset anchored by the Statue of Liberty.  Many of my clients would come back and ask about getting married on a yacht, so my wife Lezlee and I decided to broker larger vessels.  In 2002,  we decided to purchase our first dinner yacht called the Festiva.  Festiva is comfortable for up to 80 guests for a sit down dinner on one deck, and a large dance floor on the second deck. Noticing a high demand for larger groups, in 2007 we decided to purchase the luxury motor yacht Royal Princess. My passion, and love for the sea shows on every trip I take on the water!

Captain Derek Gordon – Captain/Engineer

Captain Derek Gordon has been working in the marine industry for more than 25 years. He has worked in most marine vessel roles including crew, ship’s engineer, first mate, vessel security officer, owner and captain. Gordon has had a long love affair with the water, starting as a kid waterskiing on the Hudson River to his adolescence working in shipyards to his adulthood founding a marine engineering and electronics integration company in his late 20s. He has bachelors degrees in various areas but his love has always been the sea.  He even proposed to his girlfriend under his speed boat while diving a coral reef down in the Bahamas. Gordon married his wife, Julie, on a charter boat right here in New York Harbor, right in front of the Statue of Liberty twenty years ago. To this day, when Captain Gordon is not at the helm of the MV Royal Princess as Captain, he is working as Chief Engineer for Atlantis Marine Technologies. Most of his systems have been certified by the USCG and many copied by commercial marine electronics vendors. Each year, he adds to his impressive list of certifications and credentials as he improves his marine skills on offshore and inland waters. When he is not working he is spending time relaxing on his boat with his wife and kids.

Captain Tim Dickerson – Captain

Capt. Tim Dickerson

Captain Tim Dickerson is a native of New Jersey, holds his 100 ton Masters and is also captain aboard the dinner boat “Festiva”. Recently he was licensed as Marine Surveyor. In his off time you will  probably find him aboard his own boat enjoying his family and a cold beer.

Julie Shebroe - 1st Mate / Engineer

Julie Shebroe

Julie Shebroe was born in Stonybrook on Long Island, and moved to north Jersey at a very young age. Starting at the age of two she went on long fishing trips to the New Jersey shore with her family, which was the beginning of her love of the sea. As she grew older, she sailed around the Caribbean with her aunt who once lived in St. Thomas, and it was then that she decided that she was going to pursue a job in a marine-related field. In the fall of 2008, she began her first of four years at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, MA. Julie is now studying to become a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Marine Engineer, with a minor in Maritime Business. Since the beginning of her education at Massachusetts Maritime, she has been out to sea for two fifty-day tours of the Caribbean, during which she and her peers were taught the ABC’s of shipping and boat handling. She is also CPR and First Aid Certified, and has many Basic Safety boat certifications on her resume. Aside from her desire to be an engineer, Julie is now on track to take the USCG 100 Ton Master’s course to obtain a Captain’s license. In search of sea time, Julie came across the MV Royal Princess in June of 2009. After an amazing first day with the boat and it’s crew, she knew she would fit right in. Her love for the sea, along with her passion to learn has made working on the Princess a job she will always enjoy.

Come join us, and Bon Voyage!!