Your Crew
CAPTAIN Jon Kingsley, Jr & CHEF Suzanne Romano
Captain Jon
Right after crossing the stage at his 1987 high school graduation in Houston, Jon wasted no time. He hopped into his packed truck, determined to chase adventure. Twenty-three hours later—after two warnings for speeding—he arrived in Miami, Florida, ready to follow his dreams. His journey began aboard a 50-foot Bertram Sportfish with one goal: to fish in every major billfish tournament in the Caribbean. Living aboard full-time, Jon crisscrossed the Bahamian and Caribbean islands three times, from Walker’s Cay in the north to Grenada in the south, stopping at many islands in between.
After four years of life on the water, college, a business career, and family obligations brought him back to land. But even then, Jon couldn’t stay away from the sea—most weekends and holidays found him back on the water. Eventually, he became captain of the vessel, logging over 6,000 hours on the engines and continuing to freelance on boats up to 63 feet. By 2015, however, the fast-paced tournament lifestyle started to lose its shine. That’s when Jon’s interest turned to sailing—a huge shift for someone who once called sailboats “blow boats!”
Semi-retired from business, Jon sharpened his sailing skills, became an ASA instructor, and returned to the Caribbean. A pivotal moment came when he repositioned a 47-foot Leopard catamaran from Grenada to Turks and Caicos, solidifying his passion for sailing and making it part of his DNA.
Now at a stage where he wants to give back to the lifestyle that has brought him so much joy, Jon is eager to share the knowledge and experience he’s gathered over the years. Teaching others is his way of passing the torch, hoping to inspire a similar love for adventure in those he instructs.
Jon holds a USCG 100T Master’s license, is an ASA instructor, FAA private pilot, and an advanced scuba diver (NAUI, SSI, & PADI). And when he’s not in the air or on the sea, he’s a dedicated family man. To close, one of Jon’s favorite quotes from Anthony J. D’Angelo sums up his outlook: “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
Chef/First Mate Suzanne
Chef Suzanne began her journey into the food service industry while in college, working for a large family-owned restaurant chain in Houston, TX. Gaining knowledge of the hospitality and culinary world, she started as a hostess and worked her way up to kitchen manager. Always eager to learn, she continues to educate herself to stay up to date on the latest culinary trends and techniques. Her attention to detail ensures that she creates healthy, gourmet meals using fresh, locally sourced, and organic ingredients. Exploring new cultures and flavors inspires her to bring innovative culinary ideas to Soggy Doggy's charter guests. She is also known for her homemade pasta sauces, breads, spice blends, dressings, desserts, and charcuterie boards.
Suzanne's love for culinary creations is equally matched by her passion for nature, water, and the outdoors. Exploring new places, traveling, snorkeling, and swimming with turtles are at the top of her adventure list. Certified in CPR and first aid, she also holds SWCT and food safety certifications.
A wise mentor once told her, "Figure out what you love to do, then find a way to make a living doing that." And she has done just that, feeling blessed to "work" in paradise.
