Rafael A. Ordoñez founded Apollo with a very simple mission statement in mind: To offer the best quality product at the lowest possible price. One single word, - quality - became the mantra that would define Apollo in the most competitive field of the cruise industry.

Ordoñez, a native of Spain, runs Apollo Ship Chandlers with the benefit of over forty years of experience in the cruise ship catering industry, working for and with some of the most successful cruise operations in the world.

He entered the U.S. cruise industry for the first time in 1960, serving as the Chief Purser in charge of all departmental operations on the S.S. Yarmouth of Eastern Steamship Cruise Line. During the next three years, he learned every facet of the business, managing all areas, from assuring passenger's comfort and welfare to overall food preparation and presentation.

He subsequently joined Ivanhoe International, Ltd., in 1963, the first ship catering company, based out of the Port of Miami, where for six years, he served in various management positions. At Ivanhoe, he broadened his knowledge of the business' financial particulars, which led him to embark on his own business venture in 1969, when he founded Apollo Ship Chandlers, Inc.

Thirty years later, his mission statement still holds true. Apollo has prospered from servicing a single ship in 1969 to servicing 16 current ships at once, wields an annual buying power of over 100 million dollars, and boasts a roster of over 5,000 active crewmembers working for the various associated companies under Apollo's management.

Apollo's strive for culinary and service excellence has become our trademark and the cornerstone of our success. The dedication, talent, and loyalty of our employees and management are our most remarkable features and our greatest resource. Apollo's executive staff is comprised of chefs, food and beverage operations managers, purchasing, quality control and guest satisfaction specialists and human resource managers. Some of these top executives are graduates of renowned international culinary schools, have distinguished themselves in international competitions as gold and silver medallists, and have held high positions with the world's leading hotels and restaurants, as well as embassies and consulates.

As a member of the "Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs", Apollo uses only the freshest and finest ingredients from around the world, creating customized menus that are as varied and lavish as they are sensitive to the latest trends in nutrition and dining. While most produce and meats are purchased in the United States, Apollo buys abroad many specialty items such as caviar, French cheeses and many wines. As a company with a blend of European and American Management, Apollo understands it takes a well balanced combination of the foreign and the familiar to constantly surpass the expectations of the more than one million cruise guests it serves each year.

Among Apollo's other business endeavors are Discovery Cruise Line, America's favorite one-day cruise line sailing daily to Grand Bahamas Island: www.discoverycruiseline.com,  and a marine travel agency: Europe USA Travel Inc.

Over the years, Apollo has consistently produced high-performance results for its customers, and has now developed solution-driven products to enhance cruise line and hotel operational efficiency. These unique, Apollo-quality solutions, including software and consultancy services, are designed to translate Apollo's extensive expertise into individual programs that can be adapted and integrated into an individual hotel property or an entire fleet of cruise ships.

We, at Apollo, are proud of our track record, and are further developing our range of services. To this end, we are broadening the scope of our business to offer corporate and consultancy services, from Culinary to Purchasing to USPH preparation.

Apollo is recognized the world over for its culinary achievements by prestigious groups such as Onboard Services Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and Porthole Magazine. We vow to apply the same dedication to excellence to the entire range of services we now offer.