WHO'S ON BOARD: Officers, Staff and Crew

[cruiseacecat]

Since everyone on board who is customer facing reports to the hotel director,it would seem far more important to know who was in that position...but there is this fascination with the captain.

That is certainly a good point. The hotel director is extremely important and he is the final "go to" person in the event of a problem not able to be solved by the other managers. But the Master of the ship really seems to have an impact on crew morale. And it's very nice if you can develop a relationship with both. Just makes the cruise experience that much nicer.

 

Anne

[spencerdrivecruiser]

The HD is the general manager of the ship and is involved in the everything but the bridge and engineering activities.

 

The Capt gets the vessel from point A to point B in a safe manner but has no authority in the casino operations, F&B, Housekeeping. The HD has the majority of workers on the ship in his organization and a huge challenge in keeping everyone happy.

 

Knowing and having a good rapport with the HD will have a greater impact on assuring you have a excellent cruise. If one had to choose between the 2, hands down choose the HD as a friend. There is not much they cannot do for you to make your cruise special.

 

The Hotel Dept can upgrade your cabin, negotiate an upgrade to a suite, comp you wine, specialty restaurant meals, comp you excursions. The Capt has no authority in any of these areas.

Edited September 5, 2012 by spencerdrivecruiser

[c-legs]

The HD is the general manager of the ship and is involved in the everything but the bridge and engineering activities.

 

The Capt gets the vessel from point A to point B in a safe manner but has no authority in the casino operations, F&B, Housekeeping. The HD has the majority of workers on the ship in his organization and a huge challenge in keeping everyone happy.

 

Knowing and having a good rapport with the HD will have a greater impact on assuring you have a excellent cruise. If one had to choose between the 2, hands down choose the HD as a friend. There is not much they cannot do for you to make your cruise special.

 

The Hotel Dept can upgrade your cabin, negotiate an upgrade to a suite, comp you wine, specialty restaurant meals, comp you excursions. The Capt has no authority in any of these areas.

 

I would respectfully beg to differ with your statements that ''the captain has no authority in any of these areas'' ...The captain , as Master of the vessel, is the ultimate authority on board and assumes top responsabilities. You're right in assessing the proper delegated chain of command as regards casino,and other areas of direct day-to-day activities and events....and the resulting responsabilities resting on the HD's , F&B mgr's, chief engineer's and other management personnel's shoulders.

But when the s*** hits the fan, the Master has the last word and takes the hit ( or gets the praise...).

 

IMO

Cheers

[c-legs]

Thanks, now back to the picture vaults... ;)

Would you happen to know who the Party Band is onboard Century as well?

Arno, it's ''Party Band''....at least it was as at 18August, per our colleague

Blue Lagoon.

Last Sunday, at sailaway, they sounded pretty well the same as the one we had while onboard July 1st.

Cheers

Claude

[Blue Lagoon]

Arno, it's ''Party Band''....at least it was as at 18August, per our colleague

Blue Lagoon.

Last Sunday, at sailaway, they sounded pretty well the same as the one we had while onboard July 1st.

Cheers

Claude

 

Hi again,

Party Band on Century during the sailing August 12th-19th was called King's Parade- a very young, British group. So young looking in fact, one would wonder if they were still in high school!! :rolleyes:

[ghstudio]

On all our cruises, I've never found the captain or head of the hotel in one place long enough to "get to know them". I guess we haven't been invited to the captain's table in a long time although we are elite and we always book aqua and the head of the hotel is usually not sitting around chatting with guests, at least where we hang out.

 

Maybe I need to corner these officers at the captain's reception or other events and get to know them better....but somehow I think they would probably like to meet more guests and then get back to their work. So I'm curious how the folks who get to know these officers actually got to know them.....surely you did not corner them....what am I doing wrong?

[C 2 C]

Party Band Update, Top Notch on Constellation, Canonics on Equinox.

 

[C 2 C]

So I'm curious how the folks who get to know these officers actually got to know them.....surely you did not corner them....what am I doing wrong?

 

We have found that officer visibility is much better on some ships than on others. On Constellation a year ago, the Hotel Director and the cruise Director made a point of visiting the elite lounge almost nightly, taking the time to talk to many passengers. On some ships this type of interaction is very rare.

I believe it is primarily through frequent cruising that we have met so many captains and senior officers. It would be very difficult for them to remember individuals from casual contact in the reception line at the Captain's Club reception. However many of them do circulate at that event and others toast the crowd and are gone.

[spencerdrivecruiser]

There is a bit of luck involved also.

 

Years back we were in Old S.J. on a Celebrity Ship and by chance we were in the CVS Drug Store and shopping were the Capt and Hotel Director. They were in street clothes but my wife recognized the Capt. We said Hi and that we were on their ship. We chatted very briefly and did our shopping.

 

THEN, everytime we ran into them on the ship it was like we were longtime pals. It was a longer cruise so we got better aquainted each day. We got invited to the last Capt's Table on formal night by the HD. If we had not run into them at the CVS there is no way we would have been invited not being luminaries with a larger cabin.

 

It snowballed thru the years, one HD emails another and says so and so will be on your ship, they are my friends, etc. and the meeting process starts again. After 10+ years of X cruising you become like family if things work out and there is mutual respect.

 

Bottomline: there is no formula to perfect this process, kind of fate and luck for that initial one on one contact.

[johhnnyt]

I've done a bit of work with the Navy over the years, and am always curious, the structure of the crew as well as the physical elements of the ship, so I do find myself asking a lot of questions. Last cruise I ended spending three hours one morning having coffee with the environmental officer and learning about his work onboard. I also have gotten to know quite a few hotel directors over the years, as I always ask them who would be best to answer my questions, and fascinated about their multi-pupose work.

Been fortunate that the last 6 or 7 cruises been invited to dine with the Captain on each as well, and always interested to learn their backgrounds, some are funny, some stiff, but just about all love to share experiences. It was funny last cruise the Captain gave me all the details on his cabin, how often his family in onboard and his yearly schedule.

No magic formula I don't think other than being interested in their work, and the hurdles they face, and the commonality we all share

[spencerdrivecruiser]

Circa 2003 we engaged in conversation with Capt Petritus (no longer around) on the Galaxy and asked him if he had nice accomodations. He told us "follow me" and showed us a very nice office suite combo. He had a conference table area, office with desk and behind the office an attached bedroom (normal size) without a balcony. Biggest complaint he had was that there no way to open windows for fresh air. To bad they get small balconys so they could get some fresh oxygenated sea air.

[cruiserone]

My husband has learned over the years that I talk to almost everyone. Capt Demitrios was very visible on the Silhouette. He had coffee in the AM with passengers and was visible at many events. At the time we were on the Silhouette Donnette was the CC hostess and she was at every function and socializing with everyone making sure that she met all CC passengers. She was amazing at remembering everyones name. LIke I said the staff on the Silhouette was amazing and I look forward to our trip on the Reflection. Hoping the staff is also amazing.

[lovetocruisee]

I've done a bit of work with the Navy over the years, and am always curious, the structure of the crew as well as the physical elements of the ship, so I do find myself asking a lot of questions. Last cruise I ended spending three hours one morning having coffee with the environmental officer and learning about his work onboard. I also have gotten to know quite a few hotel directors over the years, as I always ask them who would be best to answer my questions, and fascinated about their multi-pupose work.

Been fortunate that the last 6 or 7 cruises been invited to dine with the Captain on each as well, and always interested to learn their backgrounds, some are funny, some stiff, but just about all love to share experiences. It was funny last cruise the Captain gave me all the details on his cabin, how often his family in onboard and his yearly schedule.

No magic formula I don't think other than being interested in their work, and the hurdles they face, and the commonality we all share

 

John,

You are a wealth of infomation.;) I really hope to meet you on our upcoming T.A. ... we'll see, you are a busy man:D

Kevin

[chachabell]

We were on the Summit to Bermuda - 8/19/12. We have no changes to Arno's chart. Attached is a photo of Captains Club Host Lionel, who will leave on vacation in December. Also, Captain Mantzavinos will begin his vacation in November.

[Linda-E]

Hi Diane,

 

We are on the Summit in October. How was your cruise?

[johhnnyt]

John,

You are a wealth of infomation.;) I really hope to meet you on our upcoming T.A. ... we'll see, you are a busy man:D

Kevin

 

 

Look forward to meeting you as well Kevin:D

[dmk]

We have found that officer visibility is much better on some ships than on others. On Constellation a year ago, the Hotel Director and the cruise Director made a point of visiting the elite lounge almost nightly, taking the time to talk to many passengers. On some ships this type of interaction is very rare.

I believe it is primarily through frequent cruising that we have met so many captains and senior officers. It would be very difficult for them to remember individuals from casual contact in the reception line at the Captain's Club reception. However many of them do circulate at that event and others toast the crowd and are gone.

 

We also met the Hotel Director at the Martini on the Constellation this yyear. I believe his name was Julian . What an interesting and engaging man.

The night after we met him he sent chocolate covered strawberries to our room...so thoughtful!

[Sparkle 123]

We also met the Hotel Director at the Martini on the Constellation this yyear. I believe his name was Julian . What an interesting and engaging man.

The night after we met him he sent chocolate covered strawberries to our room...so thoughtful!

 

LOL We met Julian on the Connie last year, he also sent us chocolate strawberries. Must be trying to sweeten us up!! It was a nice gesture though.

[Lois R]

We also met the Hotel Director at the Martini on the Constellation this yyear. I believe his name was Julian . What an interesting and engaging man.

 

The night after we met him he sent chocolate covered strawberries to our room...so thoughtful!

 

Hi dmk:) I met Julian a couple of different times on Summit.

Yes, really nice guy.

[C 2 C]

For those who like to follow the Celebrity fleet, or any other ship, there is a wonderful website marinetraffic.com, that lets you set up the ships you wish to follow, including a map of where they all are.

 

[chachabell]

Hi Diane,

 

We are on the Summit in October. How was your cruise?

Hi Linda -- This was a short cruise for us. Had to fit something in between other events going on with us. The ship looks great since it has been solsticsized, and the staff is wonderful. You will have Lionel as Captains Club Host and the same friendly Captain that we had. Overall, an absolutely great cruise.

[C 2 C]

We were on the Summit to Bermuda - 8/19/12. We have no changes to Arno's chart. Attached is a photo of Captains Club Host Lionel, who will leave on vacation in December. Also, Captain Mantzavinos will begin his vacation in November.

 

Thank you for the post and the picture. If we can get all the pictures of the hosts, I'll attempt to add them to the chart.

This is the first year in the last half dozen that we will miss a cruise out of Bayonne. Last year's was the best and we will miss Captain "Panos".

Linda please pass on our greetings to our mutual friends on board.

[excitedofharpenden]

For those who like to follow the Celebrity fleet, or any other ship, there is a wonderful website marinetraffic.com, that lets you set up the ships you wish to follow, including a map of where they all are.

 

Arno, I'm afraid I am a bit techno-sad at times and I have the app on my iPad and love it. When I see you remind me to tell you my Marinetraffic story when we were in the Straits of Messina last year on Solstice.

 

Phil

[C 2 C]

I just received an email from a friend indicating that

 

Juliana has resigned from Celebrity. Didn't get any details, but she did leave mid contract. I don't know who is taking her place on Silhouette, but thought you would like to know.

[Can'tstopcruising]

I just received an email from a friend indicating that

 

Two of the people I liked best have resigned! Andrew Harris & Julianna.