Upstairs/Downstairs

February 12, 2012

Old time cruise ships maintained a definite cast system. The ships were clearly stratified by position and each position was associated with a specific physical location on the ship and generally a nationality that staffed those positions. Think about the movie, Titanic. Do you remember how the people who lived in 1^st class had nothing to do with the people in ‘steerage?’ Do you recall the scenes of the Irish immigrants partying down below decks? The same thing was played out among crews, as well. Those that served the 1^st class passengers would have nothing to do with those who served below.

When I first started cruising as a passenger in the early late 80s, we quickly noticed distinct nationalities populating each service profession on the ship. Most of the sailors were Indonesian or, perhaps, Indian. Housekeepers were almost exclusively Filipino. Assistant waiters were mostly from Central Europe, while head waiters were from Italy or Spain. Ship’s officers were often from Northern Europe. Fortunately, this national stratification has slowly been evolving, and cruise lines have a greater diversity of nationalities in each position.

Celebrity Cruise Lines, and I will assume most cruise lines, strives to create equal respect among all her crew members. But the reality is that rank still hath its privileges. While every company gives greater privileges to its senior managers and executives, I have never seen it so clearly distinguished. In fact, there is a privilege grid that describes the specific benefits that each of us receive. There are odd derivatives in this schedule. For instance, I can eat in any restaurant except one café, and all bars except for Michael’s Club. I can eat from the Ocean View buffet, but must have hands off the sushi. I may walk up and down guest staircases, but not in guest elevators, unless I am accompanying a guest. Not that I’m complaining, though. You see, there are many crew members who never see the nicer parts of the ship.

Crew cabins are also assigned and working your way up through an organization describes a physical reality. Most crew cabins are on decks 1 and 2. Cabins are generally assigned by position. Once you wear two-and-a-half stripes, or represent a concessionaire, you are moving up. I believe I’ve already told you that I’m on Deck 6, and my cabin is in between the Cruise Director and the Food & Beverage Manager. This often made me a little uncomfortable, as I felt my position was nowhere near the prominence of theirs. Even though they have portholes and I don’t, I felt slightly out of place in their neighborhood. That is, until I discovered a truth I didn’t yet realize. Out of a crew of 1230, there are only 40 people who wear 2 ½ stripes or more! I guess you don’t know what you don’t know, and being knew to the cruise industry, I wasn’t aware of the gift that I had been given.

It now made clear to me why so many entry level employees call me ‘Sir David.’ No, I haven’t been knighted, but there is a definite respect to those who wear the funny boards on their arms. But anyone who knows me knows that I’m not one who likes to revel in the power of the position. So my goal is to be the great equalizer, giving as much time and attention to the Utility Cleaners as I do to the Captain. I generally climb the crew staircases, not even taking crew elevators, as this gives me more time to engage the cleaners that are cleaning those areas.

Given my position, I am called to walk equally with our guests and officers as I am with our newest entry level employees. I am no superhero. I would truly rather eat in one of our specialty restaurants than in the Crew Mess. I enjoy the perks of my job. But I never want to forget the people who I’m here to serve. The cleaners, stateroom attendants, and the dining room staff are my heroes. They are the ones who make or break the experience for our guests. And fortunately, most of our officers understand that.

And our Captain . . . he gets it, too. He mostly eats in the Crew Mess and is the first to throw his arm around any crew member who crosses his path. That’s the sort of leadership I can follow.

The adventure continues . . .