WILD KINGDOM

Captain: Nick Montello

CAPTAIN NICK MONTELLO | AMERICAN
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Captain Nick has been on the water since he was a kid, and a captain since he was 21 years old. He has transported boats ranging in sizes from 50-150 feet throughout the Northeast and Southeast coasts, Bahamas, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. He has extensive knowledge of inshore and offshore fishing and is also a certified deep water diver. Nick has previously run vessels PERSISTANCE, OCEAN SANCTUARY and SOLSTICE to name a few. He has a high customer service knowledge and satisfaction rate, excellent boat handling and navigation skills and an excellent safety record with guests, crew and vessel. He’s got a big smile, a calm and approachable demeanor, and loves to laugh; a true comedy enthusiast, Nick’s favorite is Don Rickles. While on board Captain Nick’s main priorities are ensuring 100% guest satisfaction, and safety. Captain Nick and his crew ensure that each of their guests has an amazing time on board WILD KINGDOM with world-class service and action packed itineraries.

CHEF JEFF CIUCEVICH | AMERICAN
Chef Jeff is from Athens, Georgia. Jeff has been cooking for twenty+ years in restaurants, hotels, yachts, and private estates and has been onboard WILD KINGDOM for two years. Jeff's passion for cooking was ignited as a kid cooking with his grandmother, and that passion shines through in his food to this day. After high school, Jeff obtained his A.S. in culinary arts and his B.S. in hotel/ restaurant/ institutional management. Jeff is a multiple award-winning chef in yacht competitions. He is trained in classic French cuisine but also counts Latin and Southern cuisine as additional influences. When he is not cooking, Chef Jeff enjoys traveling, surfing, spending time with his family, and experiencing new cuisines around the world.

STEWARDESS
Freelance

STEWARDESS VIRGINIA BATRES | AMERICAN
Virginia was born in California and moved to south Florida at a young age. With her passion for the ocean, moving to the east coast was a perfect fit. After studying and working in hospitality, she decided to pursue a more adventurous career and joined her first yacht position. Two and a half years later, if she's not on a boat, she enjoys her free time traveling to exotic places, being crafty, and scuba diving. Virginia is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish. She has been onboard WILD KINGDOM for two years. Her previous employment includes I LOVE THIS BOAT, freelancing on various yachts, and a stewardess at Over Yonder Cay in the Bahamas. This experience has helped sharpen her eye for detail and fine dining, making sure all guests feel welcome and creating a comfortable and delightful experience.

MATE ROBERT MARTIN | AMERICAN
Growing up in a little town south of Boston called Duxbury, Rob was constantly around boating. As a child and all throughout high school, he was an oyster farmer out of Duxbury Bay. He has been working in the yachting industry for six years having been the first mate on private and charter yachts ranging from 93' to 130'. For the past few seasons, he has worked in the Bahamas and Caribbean, mainly based out of St. Thomas and the BVls, where he was the first mate on charter yachts. His passion is taking guests fishing out on WILD KINGDOM’s tender, using his experience and skills acquired from working on sports fishing boats.