View Full Version : ???? Westerdam Captain / Hotel Manager / Cruise Director ?????
debjo
May 24th, 2006, 04:33 PM
GREETINGS TO ALL WESTERDAM CRUISE FANS!
In researching my upcoming October 2006 WESTERDAM Eastern Caribbean Cruise, I'm wondering who the current CAPTAIN, HOTEL MANAGER, and CRUISE DIRECTORS are and what recent Cruise Critic "cruisers" have thought about the people holding these positions?
Will the current executive staff on-board the WESTERDAM be the same personnel that we will have on our October Caribbean cruise? Or, since they are currently sailing in Alaska, should I expect the executive staff to change when the WESTERDAM moves through her Panama Canal itinerary and on to the Caribbean?
Once again, thanks for all of your insights! :D
Debjo
sail7seas
May 24th, 2006, 04:37 PM
The itinerary of the ship doesn't influence a change of senior officers....crew/staff.
Vacations influence who will be aboard. Whoever is Captain, Hotel Manager and Cruise Director could well change twice before you arrive in October. If a Captain were leaving this week, another would board for probably in the range of three months. He would then leave and perhaps the current Captain would return.
Ships Services may tell you who is scheduled to be aboard for your cruise but the planning often changes....sometimes with little notice.
debjo
May 24th, 2006, 04:58 PM
THANK YOU sail7seas...
...for your VERY quick answer...you are always VERY helpful!
Debjo
bepsf
May 24th, 2006, 05:16 PM
HAL Captains are on a 6-month opposing rotation - 2 captains are assigned to the ship, one for the first 6 months and the other for the other 6 months.
CD's I believe are on 4 month contracts with typically a month off in between. I dont recall the rotation of HM's...
sail7seas
May 24th, 2006, 05:32 PM
Brian......I don't think many are on for six months. Most contracts for Captains and Hotel Managers are not that long. More like 3-4 months....with exceptions.
gwenmarie
May 24th, 2006, 05:38 PM
Just returned from Westerdam Alaska and have my cruise log: Captain Henk Keijer, Hotel Manager Rene Tuinman and Cruise Director Drew Murdock, hope this helps. I really do not have a comment either way on these three,but did like the Cruise Director.
CCCM
May 24th, 2006, 07:05 PM
debjo,
I can add these to the list for when I contact ships services in September. Just let me know. :D
kletskop
May 25th, 2006, 12:35 AM
Just returned from Westerdam Alaska and have my cruise log: Captain Henk Keijer, Hotel Manager Rene Tuinman and Cruise Director Drew Murdock, hope this helps. I really do not have a comment either way on these three,but did like the Cruise Director.
Ditto here. May 7th cruise. Really liked the cruise director, don't have any comment either way on the captain or hotel mgr. All i know is that they are from Holland.
arlenez
May 25th, 2006, 07:48 AM
Hi:
DH and I cruised on the Westerdam last month and although we never met the Captain or the hotel manager, Drew Murdoch was the best cruise director that we ever had on any of our cruises.
Regards,
Arlene
debjo
May 25th, 2006, 02:10 PM
THANKS gwenmarie...for posting the names of the current Captain, Hotel Manager & Cruise Directors on the WESTERDAM.
AND TO gwenmarie, kletskop & arlenez...I really appreciate your "thumbs up" for the Cruise Director. We've been on a couple cruises where the CD was nearly invisible!
FOR CCCM...I think it would be great if our Meet & Greet could be attended by any (or all) of these executive staff members, provided they are the ones that will be on the WESTERDAM in October. Guess we'll just have to keep track of this, since we still have 5 months to go and they could be "rotated" off to another ship or vacation.
For bepsf & sail7seas...thanks for the information on the probably lengths of service that these executive staff positions may have on a ship...that's "stuff" I didn't know! You've both broadened my knowledge a bit more!
Debjo
gaunerdog
May 25th, 2006, 02:28 PM
Just back from the 5/14 Westerdam cruise. I felt the Captain was personable and gave daily talks regarding positioning,weather,etc. If the hotel manager supervised housekeeping in any way then he did a good job because the cabins were kept in great order. After 22 cruises, I felt the cruise director was among the worst. Even though he was articulate he clearly lacked enthusiasim and personality.
debjo
May 25th, 2006, 04:52 PM
I've got another "Captain" question...
As we've experienced on other cruiselines...is there an opportunity, such as the Captain's Cocktail Party, when the Captain "receives" the passengers and you are allowed to have your picture taken with him?
Thanks gaunerdog...
...for your "impressions" on the Captain, Hotel Manager & C.D. from your most recent cruise. Every little bit of information is helpful for my growing "expectations" of my upcoming cruise!
Debjo
RuthC
May 25th, 2006, 04:59 PM
I've got another "Captain" question...
As we've experienced on other cruiselines...is there an opportunity, such as the Captain's Cocktail Party, when the Captain "receives" the passengers and you are allowed to have your picture taken with him?
"Allowed"? Oh, yeah. Just try to avoid it! :rolleyes:
sail7seas
May 25th, 2006, 09:46 PM
Ruuuuuuth !!!! Careful. He'll order all chocolate removed from any table you are seated at !@! 9#&% :)
No little morsels left on your pillow!!!
Krazy Kruizers
May 26th, 2006, 10:06 AM
We have been on several ships when the Norvo virus was present and the captains still allowed pictures taken with him at the Captain's welcome party. But on the Amsterdam - no pictures taken with captain. Very disappointing.
gwenmarie
May 26th, 2006, 10:55 AM
Last week on the Westerdam I shook hands twice with the captain,hotel director and had plenty of pictures offered with the captain. I have never had this happen on the last 4 HAL cruises due to the NWVirus on board. Maybe the Alaska cruises are different this way. The mariner reception was at ll:30 am near the end of our cruise and although nice, drinking champagne at this time was interesting.