CREW LIFE AT SEA TEAM
At Crew Life at Sea, we are passionate about connecting skilled professionals with life-changing opportunities aboard cruise ships. Founded by industry veterans with decades of onboard experience, our mission is to bridge the gap between exceptional talent and the unique demands of the maritime industry. Our team is a dynamic blend of cruise industry experts, recruitment specialists, and tech-savvy professionals who understand the challenges and rewards of working at sea. We take pride in providing personalized support to both candidates and employers, ensuring a seamless journey from application to onboarding. Together, we are committed to transforming dreams into reality—one career at a time.
Raymond Crystal
CEO
Ray began his career in 2001, working in the Entertainment and Deck Departments aboard cruise ships, where he gained extensive knowledge of the cruise industry. Over the years, he worked with some of the most prestigious cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Disney, Regent, Princess, and Silversea.
During his time at sea, Ray developed a deep understanding of the essential requirements and unique needs of the industry, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Combining his expertise in video production, graphic design, and technology, Ray turned his dream into reality by founding Crew Life at Sea, a recruitment agency dedicated to connecting talent with opportunities in the maritime world.
Melissa Cohen
Director
Melissa’s career journey began at Crew Life at Sea, where she initially worked in the social media department. During this time, she actively engaged with the community, gaining valuable insights into their needs and aspirations for working onboard. Motivated by a desire to make a more direct impact, Melissa transitioned into recruitment, eager to help individuals secure their dream jobs at sea.
With a deep passion for working with people and guiding them to succeed in interviews, she dedicated herself to recruitment, steadily advancing in the field. Through her hard work and dedication, Melissa eventually rose to the role of Head of Recruitment, where she continues to thrive in helping others navigate their career paths.
Definate Neshumba
Office Manager
With an effortless smile that lights up any room, meet Definate is a loyal and sociable team member who brings over a decade of experience in customer service, administration, and documentation to Crew Life at Sea. She holds an BA Honours Degree from Midlands State University and has previously honed her skills working for an NGO, a law firm, and a modeling agency. Definate’s compassion led her to train as a caregiver, showcasing her innate dedication to serving others. Known for her adaptability, gracious demeanor, and unwavering determination, she consistently strives to deliver her best and elevate the team’s success. Her organizational skills and professionalism ensure seamless operations, while her love for sports reflects her vibrant and energetic approach to life.
Inspired by visionaries who achieve great goals, Definate is driven to contribute meaningfully to the company’s vision, embodying excellence in everything she does.
Chadley Oppelt
Project Manager
Chadley is a dedicated Junior HR Officer with a Diploma in Human Resource Management. He gained valuable HR experience during his internship at his previous employer, where he developed expertise in HR Utilisation, Development, and Management.
Chadley began his career at Crew Life at Sea as a recruiter, handling interviews, shortlisting, and talent selection for maritime roles. After obtaining his diploma in November 2024, he was appointed as Junior HR Officer, assisting the HR Manager with daily operations and managing criminal checks for crew members. Chadley is passionate about fostering strong employee relationships and streamlining recruitment processes, with a solid foundation in both public and private sector HR practices.
His passion for HR is evident in his dedication to continuous learning and his desire to support both employees and the organization in achieving their goals. Chadley thrives in dynamic environments and is always ready to take on new challenges with a collaborative and positive mindset.?
Danielle Johnson
Recrutier
Danielle is a Recruiter at Crew Life at Sea, leveraging her psychology background to assess fit and support candidate growth. She began in learning and development and then pivoted fully into talent acquisition. Today she runs end-to-end recruiting—building talent pipelines, sourcing and screening candidates, coordinating interviews, and guiding offers, while keeping the candidate experience warm and efficient.
Danielle is dedicated to helping people excel and connecting great talent with the right opportunities.
Zandile Zothe
Project Manager / German Recruiter
Zandile is deeply passionate about people and thrives on building meaningful connections, both personally and professionally. With a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology, Sociology, and Linguistics, she has always been drawn to roles that combine human interaction with making a positive impact.
As a German recruiter, Zandile primarily focuses on recruiting German-speaking candidates but also supports hiring for other roles. Leveraging her linguistic expertise, strong understanding of human behavior, and insights into societal dynamics, she ensures that the hiring and onboarding process is seamless and inclusive for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
She takes pride in helping candidates embark on their journeys in the cruise industry, supporting them in gaining financial independence and achieving their career goals. For Zandile, recruitment is more than a profession—it’s an opportunity to empower individuals, connect with their aspirations, and contribute meaningfully to their success.
Hlumelo Stana
Project Manager
Hlumelo is an Assistant Recruiter at Crew Life at Sea, where she plays a key role in assisting with the recruitment process, managing candidate outreach, and ensuring a seamless experience for both clients and candidates. She takes pride in contributing to the company’s success by identifying talented professionals who align with Crew Life at Sea’s mission and values.
With a natural ability to listen and a reserved, yet approachable demeanor, Hlumelo excels in building strong, trust-based relationships with both colleagues and candidates. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and spending quality time with friends, finding joy in simple pleasures and meaningful connections.
Hlumelo brings a thoughtful and dedicated approach to her work, constantly learning and growing in the recruitment field, while also contributing positively to the company culture
Atenkosi Sikota
Head of Onboarding
With a strong commitment to hard work and reliability, she has built a solid foundation in both event management and business administration. Holding a National Diploma in Event Management and a BTech in Business Administration, she combines her academic qualifications with hands-on experience in administration.
During her internship at a previous employer, she gained invaluable exposure to a range of administrative functions. Her responsibilities included managing reception duties, liaising with various departments, conducting surveys, and capturing data, all while ensuring the accuracy and quality of the information gathered.
This experience sharpened her organizational skills and attention to detail, making her highly proficient in managing diverse tasks in fast-paced environments. She is passionate about bringing efficiency to the workplace and is eager to contribute her skills and expertise to any team or project she is involved in
Andile Sibanda
Head of Talent
Meet Andy, a motivated and enthusiastic individual with a passion for growth and learning opportunities. With an N6 HR certificate in hand, Andy has built a strong foundation in human resources, which has fueled her love for working with people. Her deep interpersonal skills, paired with her natural cheerfulness, make her a standout team player who greets every challenge with a smile.
Andy thrives in environments where problem-solving is key, always approaching obstacles with a positive attitude and a solution-oriented mindset. Her ability to connect with others and understand their needs makes her the perfect fit for helping make dreams come true for those who aspire to work on cruise ships.
Andy is excited to bring her skills, energy, and enthusiasm to Crew Life at Sea, where she looks forward to contributing to the success of the team and helping others embark on life-changing journeys.
Greg Luxolo Dikeni
Social Media Manager
At 25 years old, Luxolo Dikeni better known as “Lux” has grown into a key member of the creative team. Having been with the company for over a year, he has built a reputation for capturing authentic moments and transforming them into compelling stories that showcase the spirit of life at sea.
Starting out as the team’s video editor and “Camera Guy,” Lux has since expanded his role to include Social Media Manager, where he combines his technical expertise with digital storytelling to engage and inspire audiences worldwide.
A graduate of AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium, Lux began with a strong foundation in sound and editing before evolving into a versatile creative professional. Known for his reliability, hard work, and constant drive to learn, he continues to bring fresh ideas and energy to every project ensuring that both behind the camera and across digital platforms, the crew’s story is told in its best light.
Luca Clarizio
E - Commerce
Luca Clarizio is an Italian e-commerce graphic designer at Crew Life at Sea. He pairs sharp visual craft with data-aware thinking to build product pages, landing experiences, and campaign assets that convert. Well-rounded across brand design, UX, and performance creatives, Luca moves comfortably from Figma wireframes to polished Adobe assets and front-end handoffs. Known as a calm, collaborative “good guy,” he keeps timelines tight, files tidy, and the brand consistent across web, email, and social.
Beyond the pixels, Luca anchors his work in a clear process—quick discovery, low-fi exploration, then testable variants. He partners with recruiting and marketing to translate openings into focused landing flows, packages modular asset kits for social and email, and maintains a tidy Figma component library for speed and consistency. His habits—A/B testing, light motion, mobile-first layouts, and WCAG-friendly color/contrast—drive measurable improvements in click-through and form completion. Bilingual in Italian and English, he’s comfortable working across time zones and jumping in wherever needed to keep launches on course.
Ogone Gaoraelwe
Recruiter
Tenacious, driven, and bold, better known around the office as “OG”, brings fresh energy and focus to everything he does at Crew Life at Sea. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship, OG blends academic insight with real-world adaptability to help connect the right people to the right opportunities, while managing projects that drive real impact.
At just 23 (soon to be 24), OG stands out for his strong work ethic and commitment to quality. Whether he’s recruiting top-tier talent or coordinating complex projects, he’s always focused on delivering excellence. His dynamic nature and learning mindset make him highly adaptable in the ever-evolving maritime industry.
Passionate about cultivating a healthy, results-driven work environment, OG believes that success comes from both collaboration and accountability. His ability to build genuine connections and foster team cohesion is a key part of what makes him an asset to the company.
When he’s not working, you’ll likely find OG out on a run, catching a football match, or spending quality time with friends. He brings the same passion to his personal life that he does to his professional one, which is always moving forward, always striving for more.