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Russell A. (Rusty) Pickett is a retired career Naval officer, having spent more than 26 years as a Submariner. He served in a variety of assignments across the country including Headquarters staffs in Washington DC and Norfolk, Virginia . He was Captain/Commanding Officer of the nuclear attack submarine USS L. MENDEL RIVERS (SSN 686) homeported in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as Submarine Training Facility, Charleston South Carolina and Navy ROTC at the University of Notre Dame. As a result of his military experience, Rusty has traveled extensively around the world to all seven continents, more than 60 countries and all 50 states. He has enjoyed more than 80 cruises throughout the Atlantic and Pacific, the Antarctic; and rivers of Europe, Southeast Asia and China!

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from Yale University and has a Master of Business Administration degree from Charleston Southern University. 

​He was designated a “Shellback” aboard USS William H. Bates (SSN 680) in the Pacific Ocean in 1985.

Rusty is very active in the community, having held/holding leadership positions in Kiwanis Club of Charleston; Carolinas District of Kiwanis International, Knights of Columbus; South Carolina Chapter of the Naval Submarine League, Charleston Base - United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, and The Yale Alumni Club of Charleston.

As a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors:
  1. ASTA member travel advisors are globally recognized for their skill, competence, expertise, and professionalism in an increasingly complex ecosystem.
  2. ASTA member advisors regularly utilize educational resources and certifications to continuously increase their skill and knowledge.
  3. All ASTA members abide by the ASTA Code of Ethics, which protects the integrity of the travel industry as a whole, giving consumers confidence that they’re working with a true professional.
He is a member of the following industry associations and consortiums:
Some industry wide certifications include:
Some large ship certifications include:
Some River Cruise Certifications include:
Some land package certifications include:
Although Shellback Cruises is a “cruise oriented” travel agency able to book cruises on any cruise, river cruise or barge company worldwide, we are able to arrange a full assortment of worldwide land/sea packages, custom packages and select land only packages though such companies as Disney and Disney Adventures, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Paul Gauguin, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Globus/Cosmos/Monograms/Avalon Waterways, Blue Sky Hawaii Tours, Funjet Vacations, Abercrombie and Kent, Qantas Vacations, Celtic Tours, CIE Tours, Tauck World Discovery and Tauck Bridges, Classic Custom Vacations, Universal Studios Vacations and many others.
... and many more!
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