WOW!!! Is this new or customary?

[dsawyer]

Much has been said about Mr. Deering but on my recent cruise on The Noordam, the hotel manager went over and beyond what I would expect from one in that position.

Mr. Stan Kuppens was visible from the very first day. He came to our CruiseCritic party and actually spent time with us and made a point to talk to each guest. He told us he realized the importance of CruiseCritics. :) Now that's an understatement.

Almost everyday, I saw him walking around the ship, talking with the guests. He was everywhere.

As leader of our CruiseCritic group, I was invited to several events such as a coctail party and a question and answer session. Stan was always in attendance. In the question and answer session, Mr. Kuppens wanted feedback as to our group's impressions of the ship and the cruise. An assistant wrote down every suggestion we had.

To top it off, Stan was at the gangway saying goodbye to his guests as they departed on disembarkation day.

Now that's class!!!

I have never experienced such personable contact with a hotel manager on a cruise not even on my previous 2 HAL cruises.

Is this customary or something new?

Maybe I wasn't paying attention on my last 2 HAL cruises. I have never had such personable attention in all 11 of my Princess cruises.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Rarely saw our hotel manager on the Amsterdam.

No one came to our cruise critic party. I know I am not going to start anymore roll call threads - they haven't been anything on our last few cruises.

No was at the gangway to say goodbye to us except the staff member collecting disembarking numbers and the crewman running our ID's through for one last time.

[kakalina]

On our 44 day Veendam cruise Mr. Nick Berger was absolutly amazing! He was in so many places we thought he was twins!

He came to both our CC parties, did a Q&A, stopped by the Ocean bar every night to talk with the pax. He appeared at every get together and started a few of his own. He and his lovely wife Staci made our cruise extra special.

Another wonderful hotel manager is Fritz Gehner. It seems the hotel managers on HAL go the extra mile to extend a welcoming ambiance to the CC members. Not all of them, of course, but many more than most.

Another good reason why HAL is our line of choice.

[funcorn]

Does anyone know who is the hotel manager on the Westerdam?

[bepsf]

Mr. Stan Kuppens was visible from the very first day. He came to our CruiseCritic party and actually spent time with us and made a point to talk to each guest. He told us he realized the importance of CruiseCritics. :) Now that's an understatement.

Yes, We also very much enjoyed Stan's company on our cruise aboard Noordam - very personable and responsive fellow.

Other Hotel Managers could learn a few lessons from Stan and James - more like them please, HAL!

[sail7seas]

In a word, NO...... It isn't anything new for really excellent Hotel Managers to sometimes be exquisitely approachable, visible and involved directly with guests.

Hotel Manager Nick Burger has always been amazing in this regard. He is a terrific Hotel Manager and for the many years we have known and sailed with him, I've always been so impressed with how he seems to be in five places at the same time, how his eagle eyes miss no detail and how much he cares. His care and concern for his guests and crew/staff is so evident. His talents are many. If he rests, beats me when!! And he's so handsome in the bargain!! :)

I say the absolutely ditto for Hotel Manager Firmin van Walle. Such a gracious, elegant gentleman who is so incredibly expert at his job. You'll never meet a nicer man; one who cares more; a better sense of humor and so, so obviously capable. Anyone who has had the pleasure of sailing with him know just what I mean.

Theo Haanen, IMO, is another very fine Hotel Manager. So very, very able and such a nice man.

And the job that Stan Kuppens did with Noordam's takeout and Inaugural Festivities is nothing short of extraordinary. He is so competent that he makes it look easy which we all know it defintely is Not! He seems to be tireless and is refreshed with a five minute 'sit down'. We will always be delighted to find him aboard a 'dam' ship we have boarded.

I dislike writing a list such as this since a 'brain freeze' could (probably) omits someone for whom I have huge respect but for whatever reason, their name escapes me at the moment.

Suffice to say, there is a reason these gentlemen have these positions. They do it so well. It's such a big job and the person doing it on a given cruise makes an enormous difference in the quality of the experience IMO

[RustaRoo]

Hotel Manager, Mark Pells, was absolutely superb at our CC get-together. He attended along with the Cruise Director and Beverage Manager. Mark addressed the group and then spent time meeting and chatting with each of our members. Everytime I saw him around the ship he always said hello to me. He was very personable and well liked by those of us on the 3/25 Eastern Caribbean cruise:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Guess we haven't been fortunate to get some of those great hotel mangers on any of our cruises. I don't even recognize but one or two names.

Mark Pells was our hotel manager when we cruised for 20 days on the Volendam in 2005 - did not come to any of the cc parties and rarely saw him.

[sail7seas]

I think I'm sensing something that none of us can possibly know when we are aboard the various ships.

If one group/person says they had a fantastic experience/wonderful interaction with a HM on a given ship and then someone else sailed with the same Officer and had less contact.........

What we cannot know is what issues may be present and being dealt with on our cruise. Perhaps there were a number of medical emergencies? Maybe there were problems with deliveries that did not reach the ship and HM is trying to 'get it fixed'. Maybe there are inspections going on? Maybe there are crew shortages? Illnesses? And on and on......

DH and I obviously have been very fortunate and do not take it for granted. We are appreciative for all the wonderful crew/officer/staff superior experiences we have enjoyed. We've been very lucky.

[dsawyer]

I really would like to email him and let him know what a fabulous job he did. He definitely was the best in his job that I have encountered in my 18 cruises.

Anyone know how to find out his email address? Thanks :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

I have never had any interaction with any Hotel Manager on any ship at any time on any cruise. Our more recent cruises in this century were on the Maasdam and the Oosterdam. Neither time was I even aware who the Hotel Manager was.

Nor did they have an inkling I was a member of CC. But we did arrange a CC get-together in the Sports Bar on the Oosterdam and no staff member showed up.

This is not a criticism in any way. Unless I have a problem of some kind I wouldn't expect Officers to make any particular fuss over me. They were always most courteous and when I engaged our Captain in conversation on Half Moon Cay, he couldn't have been more friendly.

It will be interesting to see if I notice any difference on our Prinsendam cruise this December.

[dsawyer]

Here is what I did for our CruiseCritic gathering (meet and greet).

I contacted Ship's Services and told them when and where we wanted to have our CruiseCritics meeting. I asked for snacks and they gave us coffee, tea, water and huge cookies - all complimentary.

Since we met in The Crow's Nest, there was also a bar server or 2 to provide cocktail service.

I asked for the CD and a ship's officer to come buy to meet everyone. I continuously updated them on numbers as our group grew.

It was a beautiful set-up. We had 20 plus people and both the Cruise Director and the Hotel Manager came by and talked with us.

It was a lovely affair.

After that, I kept getting invitations to events on the ship. I have to confess, I don't know if it was because I was heading the CruiseCritic get-together or because they thought I was a very famous person.

Most of my invitations were addressed to Diane Sawyer - you know- ABC News? I am Dorothy Sawyer. :D

[Cruising Illini]

We have been VERY impressed with Henk Mensink and his wife Crystal for many years. The only problem is that there are now so MANY ships that our paths haven't crossed lately but most recently I read that he was on the Oosterdam and had also been on the Amsterdam for many years. Crystal serves as the Passenger Relations person and generally does various things around the front desk and even at times in the Neptune to train the new girls that work there. They were one of the first married couples hired -- Henk was originally a Food Service Manager before he became Hotel Manager.
Our next trip (June 2) will be on the Amsterdam and I have checked with HAL (Ship's Services) to see if they might be with us but sorry to say it is someone I am not familiar with.

[Copper10-8]

Hans Dernison is another very capable Hotel Manager and has been doing it for a while. Unless, I'm wrong, Food & Beverage Manager, or Culinary Operations Manager as they now call it, is usually the last stepping stone to H/M.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I do have to admit that every time I see "dsawyer" on these boards, the first name that comes to my mind is Diane Sawyer from Good Morning America.

[sail7seas]

Yes, Copper, I think you are correct that Hotel Managers usually are promoted to that position from being Food and Beverage Managers .......or, as you say, now called Culinary Operations Managers.

There are a few in that position we are anxiously hoping will soon become Hotel Managers as we are so sure they will be very excellent when that happens.

[dsawyer]

I sure wish I knew how to email "Stan the Man." I think I have a crush on him. :o

No, I just want to let him know what a good job he is doing.

[kryos]

Another wonderful hotel manager is Fritz Gehner. It seems the hotel managers on HAL go the extra mile to extend a welcoming ambiance to the CC members. Not all of them, of course, but many more than most.

Wonder if he was on the Zuiderdam September of 2004? If so, he dined with us one evening ... him and Julie Barr, the onboard comedienne. Nice guy ... bought all the wine for the table too ... and when he noticed I wasn't drinking it, had the waiter bring me a Coke.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Typhoon1]

Does anyone know who is the hotel manager on the Westerdam?

The six foot eight inch Ron Bontenbal. You can't miss him, he's visible most anywhere on the ship.

[kaleighsgram]

DSawyer (I always think of Diane Sawyer, also), I agree. Stan was everwhere. After meeting him at the CC get together, he always had a smile and a nice word whenever he saw you on the ship....which was frequently.:)

[Copper10-8]

Has anyone heard of and/or come across the following HAL Hotel managers and/or know if they are still active:

Joost de Raad
Joseph Russo
Fekko Ebbens
Diderik van Regemorter
Willem van de Poll
Willem Cruijsberg
Rene Tuinman
Dirk Verhey van Wijk
Jan Willem Kuipers

Some of these gents might have retired and/or left the company

[localady]

After that, I kept getting invitations to events on the ship. I have to confess, I don't know if it was because I was heading the CruiseCritic get-together or because they thought I was a very famous person.

Most of my invitations were addressed to Diane Sawyer - you know- ABC News? I am Dorothy Sawyer. :D

I'd be thrilled to be invited, even if they had the wrong name!!!;) :cool:

[sail7seas]

Dirk Verhey van Wijk retired at the end of his Maasdam contract last summer.

I seem to remember sailing with Willem van de Poll within the last year a half or so but don't remember which ship.

[Copper10-8]

Dirk Verhey van Wijk retired at the end of his Maasdam contract last summer.

I seem to remember sailing with Willem van de Poll within the last year a half or so but don't remember which ship.




Thank you, Ma'am!:)

[kakalina]

Has anyone heard of and/or come across the following HAL Hotel managers and/or know if they are still active:

Joost de Raad
Joseph Russo
Fekko Ebbens
Diderik van Regemorter
Willem van de Poll
Willem Cruijsberg
Rene Tuinman
Dirk Verhey van Wijk
Jan Willem Kuipers

Some of these gents might have retired and/or left the company
Willem Cruijsberg was on the Amsterdam as of Feb. last

[Copper10-8]

Willem Cruijsberg was on the Amsterdam as of Feb. last

Thank you kindly!:)

[May4]

Diderik van Regemorter was the HotMan on the Zuiderdam in June of 2005.

[Randyk47]

Maybe we're wierd or out to lunch but we rarely have much contact with the senior staff on a cruise. Even under threat of pain I doubt my wife or I could name more than one or two captains, hotel managers, or cruise directors from our cruises. It's not that we hide out, we just apparently don't do the things that involve these folks, at least not directly. Certainly we've met a few, and they've usually been pleasant, but we don't seek them out or try to engage them in conversation. Luckily we've had virtually no problems with our cabins or generally with service on HAL so there's been no need from that standpoint.

[LizB1]

John, as far as I know Willem van de Poll is still HM on the Rotterdam and Fekko has still been doing the WC on the Prinsendam.

[GayleArc]

We had the pleasure of Stan Kuppens joining our table for diner on our April 5th cruise on the Noordam. He was a delightful man and we had a wonderful
dinner with him. Gayle

[sail7seas]

Isn't he off the ship now?
When we last saw him he was unsure if he would be returning to Noordam. I think HM Meinsing was coming? Any idea which ship Stan Kuppens goes to next??? .... or if, indeed, he will return to Noordam?

[dsawyer]

Isn't he off the ship now?
When we last saw him he was unsure if he would be returning to Noordam. I think HM Meinsing was coming? Any idea which ship Stan Kuppens goes to next??? .... or if, indeed, he will return to Noordam?


You can't have him - he's mine! :D

[Oceanwench]

Rene Tuinman was the HM aboard the Westerdam when we sailed this past November.

DH & I spoke with him several times, including an hour-long conversation in his office. He is very generous with his time.

He was highly visible during the cruise -- at least to those of us who knew who he was! He was also at the gangway wishing us all a safe journey as we disembarked.

[sail7seas]

You can't have him - he's mine! :D

:D Too Funny!!!! Just asking casual questions......that's all!!! :) Just idle curiosity!!! :)

[Copper10-8]

Thank y'all for the info!:)

[GayleArc]

Stan was going home the day we got off. Can't remember where he said he was going next but pretty sure it is not back to the Noordam.

[LizB1]

In speaking with Stan just before he left for vacation on April 15th he said he doubted he would be returning to the Noordam. I believe he said probably either the Westerdam or Zuiderdam, but he wasn't sure.

Henk Mensink (and Crystal) are now on the Noordam and will be back (after his vacation) for the Holiday season. It was such a pleasure to see them again as he was F&B Mgr. when we last sailed together. They joined the ship in St. Thomas and came to our cocktail party in the Crow's Nest where we had a long chat.

Stan also told me that he trained under Henk...whom I understand trained under Fekko Ebbens. Guess this is why they are so good as HM's.

[sail7seas]

Last time we sailed with Henk Mensink and Crystal was on Amsterdam for back-to-back Christmas/New Years cruises the last year that Amsterdam did the World Cruise. They were coming off the violent outbreak of NoroVirus where the ship was taken out of service and World Cruise was beginning the day we disembarked. Needless to say, it was not the 'normal experience' aboard what was a very costly holiday cruise.....for LOTS of reasons.

[RevNeal]

Stan Kuppens told me that Henk Mensink would be coming to the Noordam as Hotel Manager when he left, which was this month. He should be aboard now ... and, where Henk goes Crystal is there too. :D I believe Stan indicated that the Noordam was to be Henk's standard appointment, at least for the year. That would also fit with something that Henk said to me while I was aboard the Oosterdam in January, as well as something he mentioned in an e-mail I received from him a few weeks later.

As for Stan's immediate future ... he may be trading off and on with Henk, or he may be on other Vistas, I don't know. What I do know is that he has been named the Hotel Manager for the launch and maiden voyages of the new Signature Class ship, meaning that once they start building her he will be heading over to Italy to be part of the supervisory crew. :) I gathered this also meant that he would be involved in an advisory capacity with the actual design. :)

[gizmo]

Last time we sailed with Henk Mensink and Crystal was on Amsterdam for back-to-back Christmas/New Years cruises the last year that Amsterdam did the World Cruise. They were coming off the violent outbreak of NoroVirus where the ship was taken out of service and World Cruise was beginning the day we disembarked. Needless to say, it was not the 'normal experience' aboard what was a very costly holiday cruise.....for LOTS of reasons.




Were you not pleased with this cruise ?

I was on the Amsterdam, the first sailing after the "Major Cleaning" that took place for 10 days. It was early Dec.

This cruise is at the bottom of my list. :(

[HeatherInFlorida]

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

Gizmo, I love this :) ... it's so true.

[dsawyer]

"."

"Do one thing every day that scares you"



Heather, do you mean "Book a cruise even though you can't afford it?"

I go along with that. :D

[MikeT718]

We were on the April 15 sailing or the O'Dam and I can tell you that Mr. Deering was a very pleasent host and also very informative. He met us for our 3:00 wave and he also met us for our CCer's Meeting in the Crows Nest on Sunday at 12:00.
What I did miss though was when we were on the Zaandam last spring durring breakfast and lunch you could find senior members of the crew dinning with the pax. as a mater of fact DW (LucyT1207) and myself had breakfast with the Captian.:) This time on the O'Dam we saw none of that. as a mater of fact when we were looking for a table one lunch time a member of the CD staff got up and left the table with a full tray of food:confused: