Yes, Celebrity ROX!

April 21, 2012

I knew that Celebrity Cruise Line rocks, but I wasn’t fully aware that Celebrity ROX!  That is, of course, until I availed myself of this special event. I’m not sure why I avoided it so long. I can come up with several rationalizations. First the event took place once a cruise at 10:30pm. Unless I was working or already involved in some social event with my coworkers, I generally like to be spinning down in my cabin by that time each night. The second reason was that it was sponsored by Jack Daniels. Now, I don’t have a problem with sipping a wee bit of whiskey, but it seemed crassly commercial to have a corporate sponsor for one event. Finally, some of the bar servers had been trying to get me to come to the event because they said it was boring, not enough people ordering drinks. So, overall my interest level in attending this entertainment offering was small.

But one evening over dinner one of our dancers indicated that the Celebrity ROX show was probably his favorite show of the cruise. I was now intrigued enough to know I had to put it on my schedule. I literally plugged it into my schedule so I wouldn’t miss it. The night of the event I was feeling pretty tired by about 9pm, but I took a walk on the top decks to kill time and by 10:15pm knew that I could make it to the appointed time. And I’m glad I did.

The show (weather permitting) takes place around the pool on Deck 12. However, the run up to the event starts much earlier as our activities staff sheds their normal evening uniforms and walk around the ship in jeans, torn black t-shirts and head bands. That is certainly an attention grabber on our ship. The pre-show starts about 10:15pm with the Jack Daniels Air Guitar contest. Guests are pulled from the crowd to do their best air guitar impressions all for the chance to win a custom Jack Daniels Signature Guitar. I arrived toward the end of the competition but was amazed at how lame the air guitar impersonations were, especially with a several hundred dollar prize at stake. In fact, Jess, from our activity staf, who was standing on the stage playing along, far outclassed any of the competitors. In fairness, she is a bit of an entertainer and has had some repetition in this role, but still it was hard to watch the guests and not Jess. The night I attended the contest was actually won by a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, which at least added the ‘awww’ factor to the event.

Then the real show began. Celebrity ROX is billed as an interactive 80s music and dance show. Our production cast singers and dancers exploded onto the pool deck dressed in the predictable dress styles of 80s men’s and women’s rock bands. The main body of dancers took over the dance floor area between the stage and the pool, while the lead singers and dancers jumped up onto the small stages that had been set up on covers over the Jacuzzis. A 20-minute non-stop high energy production of 80s rock anthems ensued. There is also a small bridge across our main pool which became a stage for our frightfully talented and limber dancers. I had strategically positioned myself on the overlook on Deck 14 and was amazed by the intense quality of production that was enfolding beneath me, especially in the warm Caribbean night. I watched as the music attracted guests to crowd around on both decks 12 and 14. Our production cast does a great job of scanning the crowd and identifying when crew members are watching (somehow they can even pick you out from a brightly lit stage in a dark theater . . . go figure.) A couple of them caught me watching which I didn’t yet realize would be a problem.

Then the interactive part of the show began. The dancers began to work their way out into the crowd and pulled willing guests to the dance floor with them. What a dream come true for most guests to get a chance to dance with our amazing cast! When I saw this happening I realized it was the prudent time to leave. But my escape was thwarted by our female dance captain (another Jess) who gave me a classic ‘you ain’t goin’ anywhere . . . get your butt down here’ look. I meandered down the staircase to Deck 12 hoping I could lose myself in the crowd, but that didn’t work. They loved the fact that a uniformed officer was there and fair game. A couple of the dancers pulled me onto the floor and I became a part of the interactive event. Having done Dancing With The Stripes enough times, I immediately got involved in engaging the guests, pulling more of them onto the floor. This was a strategy, of course, on the part of the production cast. With the activities staff and a couple other volunteers (that night, only me) to engage the guests, that allowed them to fade to black and let the party continue. Our Party Band, Kenosis, continued to sing and play, augmented by our Cruise Director, Paul, who has a great voice for handling rock classics. But after 15 more minutes of sweating in my evening uniform, I knew it was time to call it a night.

The high energy, high production quality, and guest interaction made it clear to me why Celebrity ROX was an excellent event. Now, it doesn’t always work as well as it did that night. There was the night in San Juan when a rain squall hit the deck just as the show was beginning. Electronic equipment does not like water. As a result, we tend to default to bringing it inside into the Grand Foyer, which doesn’t work quite as well. The space is more confined and the sound system does not represent the vocals as well when guests are watching from decks 6 and 7. There is a nice bit of schtick that venue allows, though, which is our activities staff dancing in the glass elevators as they continually go up and down during the performance. But still, not the same as dancing on and around the pool.

This, I know, however . . . Celebrity ROX!  Keep it up chicos and chicas.

And the adventure continues . . .

Storing the Caribbean Sun in Our Solar Cells

April 20, 2012

You can tell a change is in the air. In only a couple of days we turn our ship around in NY Harbor for the last time and make the crossing to Europe. With the change of ‘seasons’ comes a change in seasons. No longer will we be in the endless summer of the Caribbean but we will enter Europe in late April. No guarantees of perpetual sunshine there at this time of year.

As a result you can watch our behavior patterns change as we seek to fill our solar collectors. During the last Caribbean ports there was a greater sense of urgency among crew to get off the ship at least for a couple hours. Part of that was the desire to go to stores to stock up on necessities before heading over to European ports with less familiar product choices and higher prices (yes, even higher than the Caribbean!). But mostly it appeared that people wanted to wear their shorts, t-shirts, and sandals for just a few times more. Even when I could not get off ship for any length of time, I would proceed to the gangway less than 100 feet from my office and head down to the dock for even a five minute stroll in the sun.

It also affected my ‘traffic patterns’ as I went end-to-end on the ship. If heading to a location on the lower six decks of the ship I would spend an extra couple of minutes en route by heading up the stairs near my office to Deck 5 so that I could walk the promenade deck the length of the ship before dropping back down to the lower decks or heading up to my cabin on Deck 6. If I was heading up to the Sky Conference Center I would head all the way aft to ascend to Deck 14 from there so that I could walk the length of the top decks to reach the conference center which was all the way forward. Such are the decisions you make when you realize that the natural Vitamin D allotment may become far more limited in the near future.

Deck 6 Forward is also becoming far more popular. This is the crew open deck area just in front of my cabin. It is very convenient for me as the hatchway is only steps from my front door. It is not an overly attractive area, essentially being a steel deck with limited views, but it does have many lounge chairs and a few hammocks that we recently purchased to allow for a bit of private sunbathing away from the guests. Because of its proximity to my stateroom I have made a point to go there to read or fall asleep in the sun at least a couple of times each voyage. Many days I am out there alone or with just one other person. However, as our time in the Caribbean grows short there is much more activity on 6 Forward. Since we are not sure what the weather will be like when we reach Europe, people seem to be making it a priority to work on their tans. I’m sure it is amusing to those working on the Bridge who have a great view of this deck to see the parade of crew members of various body types, degrees of skin tone, and various stages of dress who are now utilizing this space with greater frequency. Fortunately, God has been good and our weather as we return to Bayonne, NJ has been very conducive to these extra days of sun worship.

Yes, the seasons are changing. It soon will be time to say goodbye to the Caribbean for the year. But like all animals, we adapt our behaviors to the changing conditions. And we are ready.

And the adventure continues . . .

Will My Sign Off Ever Come?

April 19, 2012

Unexpected news interrupted today’s regularly scheduled phone call with shore. Once a month our shoreside T&D manager, Lisa, conducts a one-on-one phone call with each ship’s T&D manager to discuss any issues, successes or needs that exist. Our phone call today started off very much in a traditional vein. About halfway through the call, however, we began to discuss a plan to bring me to Miami prior to my next contract. When she brought up my employee movement record on her screen to see what my vacation dates were she realized that something had changed.

I no longer had a sign-off date listed on my record! Knowing the alarm that this would cause me, Lisa immediately did some research. She quickly identified that my scheduled replacement was a new T&D in the process of making the transition to ship life for the first time. The transition was not successful and she had chosen to resign. Completely understandable, but it left me with an open-ended contract. Since I knew that a T&D on another ship was already overdue by two weeks and still awaiting a replacement,  this news did not make my heart sing.

This is one of the worst parts of working a shipboard contract. While we all have a sign-off date it is never firm until you are walking down the gangway. I have known several people who received word the night before, or even the morning or, departure that they needed to stay on. One crewmate had this happen three straight times! We understand that we can’t leave a position uncovered, but it really is distressing if you are counting the days until sign-off and then that number reset on you. That’s why I’ve decided to stop counting. Doesn’t do any good to make myself any crazier than I am.

The trick is that Rosie is scheduled to join me for the last eight days of my cruise. I can only hope it will be the last eight days. It is too expensive to try to change her ticket. I’m also pretty sure that she doesn’t want to stay two days in Rome alone after my scheduled sign off hits if I am not able to sign off when I expected. Those days in Rome were supposed to be our vacation prior to returning to the States. I really hope they won’t be threatened. Lisa assured me that they are working hard on providing a replacement, but we have had several resignations of newly hired T&Ds recently so this becomes questionable. The absolute minimum number of T&Ds that we need in the fleet right now to ensure everyone can take a vacation is 14. However, I believe as of today we are at 13. Eighteen is the more ideal number to give ultimate flexibility. So, you can see that the odds are not stacked in my favor at the moment.

In the meantime there is work to do. The crew still needs to be trained and business units and people need to be cared for. So, that’s what you do when you know you can’t control anything else. Let the waiting game commence!

And the adventure continues . . .

Farewell St. Croix, I Barely Knew Ye!

April 18, 2012

For some reason during the entire Caribbean season I had not ventured ashore in St. Croix. That was intentional, combining the need to have a few ports each cruise in which I stayed ashore to do more work and the fact that St. Croix from the dock did not look particularly interesting. It came across as a sleepy little island with just a few shops and bars at the port. Since I can never go much beyond the dock I wrote it off as just another Caribbean island, one like so many others. Since today was going to be the last visit to St. Croix I felt I owed it to myself to at least go ashore for a couple of hours, if for no other reason than to get free WIFI.

I’m pleased to say that St. Croix was a pleasant surprise. After making my way down the long boring dock I saw that there was a nice little green space that divided the sea wall from the shops. I took a stroll along the sea wall and stopped to sit on a bench surrounded by the greenery and with a beautiful view of my ship at dock to the front. I eventually cut across the greenway to the store fronts and encountered our photographers out for a ride on the free bike rentals we provide for crew on ship. They pointed out a number of small establishments to get free WIFI but when I explored them they were each too crowded for a lazy afternoon. It’s amazing what a cruise ship at dock can do to the local businesses . . . all of it good, of course. So I headed past the shopping area toward the beach that I could see less than ten minutes away by foot. On the way I passed a small plaza with a monument and decided that was the ideal place to stop for a few minutes in the sub-tropical sun and watch the world go by.

But I could hear the beach calling my name. I traversed the last few blocks of ‘civilization’ and kicked off my shoes as I reached the near end of this little oases, only minutes from my ship. As I walked down the beach I passed several gatherings of crew members, most getting ready to head back as our report time was only an hour away. I continued down the beach my eyes locked on a small bar with a small deck hanging right over the sand. When I checked to see the drink specials I also inquired as to whether WIFI was available. The answer was ‘yes’ which made the drink specials even more enticing. The watering hole was virtually empty, so I set up my computer at a table and logged on while sipping a cool Caribbean cocktail and staring at the magnificent blue ocean. As I cast my eyes up and down the sparsely populated beach I saw several groups of Celebrity crew. As they started heading back to the ship each waved to me in turn as I completed contacting the mainland.

With great regret I excused myself from the local dog which had curled up at my feet and packed up to head back to shore. Why hadn’t I taken time to come here before? I’m honestly not sure but I knew I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity again on a future contract. However, I’ve checked the Silhouette itinerary for the next spring season and I concluded that we won’t be stopping in St. Croix, again. Opportunity . . . lost.

And the adventure continues . . .

Walk a Mile, or Three, in Their Shoes

April 17, 2012

The Human Resources department onboard ship exists for the welfare of the crew. That’s why we conduct events such as the Biggest Loser competition to assist our crew members in getting and staying fit. Since Tim has been onboard he is trying to ramp up the number of activities that the HR team directly sponsors to ensure this program’s success. For instance, Lavern is leading an Insanity class a couple of times a week late in the evening in SKY B.

Tim decided that he and I would lead 3-mile deck walks as our way to get involved. These would need to be late in the evening to allow more crew members to attend and to ensure that the deck was mostly clear of guests so as not to interfere with their enjoyment of the outside deck. We chose 9:30pm and our location was Deck 14, where our ‘jogging track’ is positioned. The track is 1/8 of a mile long requiring 24 circuits to complete the 3 mile course. We showed up a few minutes early and had small water bottles available for anyone who needed the extra hydration while exercising.

Eight people showed up for that first walk. It was good to see a diversity of job classifications represented but especially nice to see those who did not usually get to enjoy the guest areas. We set off with all those who were there and encouraged crew members to join us even if they showed up late. Each person could set their own speed. This was about getting people exercising and not about a competition. However, the competitive fires always burn brightly which resulted in some good-natured positioning any time someone would try to pass another on the track. A few decided to jog. For those that alternated a jog and a walk, Tim and I liked to pick up our walking speed when they were walking to be able to catch and hopefully pass them. Invariably, this resulted in them starting to run again as soon as we approached. Since Tim, due to a recent back injury, was not allowed to jog, I continued to walk with him and encourage all the crew members as they completed their laps.

With two laps to go, my natural tendencies kicked in. I started with a quick jog for the second to last lap and then accelerated to a full spring for the last 1/8^th of a mile. It felt good to end the day with energy gained from that last burst of speed. After we finished we all sat and talked for awhile before we each sauntered off promising to commit to making this a new habit.

The next 3-mile was scheduled for two days later, alternating an early morning time for those who could not make it in the evening due to work. This did not prove nearly as popular as Tim and I were the only two who made the appointed rounds. It looks like the evening time slot, while not good for everyone, will be the best time to hold this event. But with our crossing to the Med forthcoming there is no guarantee that we will be able to continue this until later in the summer when the weather at night will be warmer. Still the chance to go ‘play’ on the upper decks with crewmates was a real blessing. And it was a healthy option, as well!

And the adventure continues . . .

Magic Time in Port

April 16, 2012

Despite the corporate ‘intrusion’ on my last day in St. Maarten, the day was still full of memories and surprises. It began when I first headed up to the SKY B conference room for my first class of the day and saw that an old friend was parked nearby. The Disney Magic lay alongside us. The Magic, while not the first ship I had ever been on was certainly a favorite. But the first thing that caught me by surprise was how small she looked. From our pool deck on 12 I literally looked down on her. The next thing I noticed was how old she looked. She first came on the water in 1998, but I believe she went into dry dock just a couple of years ago. It must have been longer as the ship’s hull certainly looked ‘tired’ with rust showing on the anchor chain and not the best Disney paint job at the water line.  However, as I looked at her crew deck I saw the thing that Celebrity crew members would still fight for . . . a small crew only pool to cool off in on hot afternoons! Miami, are you listening?

When I finally reached shore I only had a couple of hours available to play. Part of me wanted to do some shopping; looking primarily for a couple remotes for laptop presentations and also Tim asked me if I could find a waterproof case for his iPod. Additionally, I hoped to get by the Greenhouse one last time and then spending a little time on the beach would be appreciated. Since in St. Maarten all three of those destinations are on top of each other, the ambitious schedule was possible. I started first with a turbocharged shopping expedition along Front Street checking every potential shop from end to end but to no avail. No shopping success and I had burned 45 minutes. With a clear choice to make on how to spend the final hour plus, I headed to the Greenhouse for a nosh and a beverage. The other advantage this offered me was free internet access, of course.

As I sat at the bar engrossed in my computer three young men came and sat down next to me. It took just a couple minutes of conversation to identify them as crew members of the Disney Magic. We spoke for awhile and I learned that they were all on the activities staff, each in their first or second contract. As we compared ship life I realized that while the Disney ships are certainly still an attraction to me that I was glad I was a Celebrity crew member. They also informed me that the Magic would be doing runs primarily up and down the Eastern seaboard. It sounded to them, and to me, that Disney was turning the Magic into a ferry boat, bringing northeasterners to their Walt Disney World vacations. I’m sure that there is much more to it than that, but that was the impression with which I was left.

Running out of time, I chose to walk back to the ship through the touristy marketplace hoping to find a t-shirt to remember my enjoyable days in St. Maarten. As I walked by one shop I was surprised to hear Colorado based conversation off to my left. I paused long enough to identify the source and spotted a young family speaking to an older couple, who was apparently from our ship. They were comparing their experiences and both were from Colorado. As I edged closer the older couple left and I continued the conversation with the young family. It turns out that they are from Colorado Springs, he teaches airmen to fly gliders, and they live only five miles from my home! They were guests on the Magic, but the couple was admiring the Silhouette and talked about how they may need to take a cruise without their children in tow someday soon. They loved the Disney ship for the kids but wondered what a more adult centric ship would be like.

As I finished my stroll back to the ship I reflected on the coincidences of the day. We docked right next to the Disney Magic. I sat right next to three Magic crew members. I met a family from Colorado who were guests on the Magic. Since the Magic was the ship that first got me thinking about working on a cruise ship, the coincidences seemed remarkable. Was she affirming my choice? Or was there another message to hear?

And the adventure continues . . .

Don't You Care?

April 15, 2012

Having worked in ‘corporate’ offices before, I know the feeling that divisions often project toward them. As a result I try to be understanding when Corporate makes what I consider an unreasonable request. But this one really annoyed me.

There is a wonderful program on all Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise ships called Care Team Associates. These are specially trained crew members who are tasked with assisting a guest or crew member who faces a serious crisis while at sea. For those of you who have worked in care ministries on shore, think of Stephen Ministries offered at many churches. I quickly became a trained Care Associate and have offered both sections of the two part certification training onboard Silhouette. We currently have a dozen crew members so trained.

So I was more than a little annoyed when I received an email from the program coordinator shoreside that said he would be coming onboard ship in our last St. Maarten in order to train all associates in the CARE #2 module. First, I felt this was unnecessary as all associates were already trained. Second, while he said that a ship our size should have 20 trained associates; I felt that a dozen were sufficient, especially since we hadn’t been called upon to serve in my almost four months onboard. Finally, though, he was asking to do the training during our last port visit to St. Maarten, one of the favorite crew places to go ashore. So not only did I view this as unnecessary, it was a damned sight inconvenient.

With Tim’s permission, I pushed back on his email, telling him we did not need the training and it was bad timing for our crew getting ready to cross to Europe. I thought I made my case beautifully but he responded as if he hadn’t read it. He would be coming and it would be in St. Maarten. I was ticked. I looped back one more time but received the same unwavering answer. Now, I was beyond annoyed. I felt that this was a corporate ‘boondoggle’ to have someone stay in beautiful St. Maarten for a week and spend two hours on each ship as we rotated through. Yet, each time I replied he seemed to respond with even more conviction despite my impassioned pleas. With no options, I informed the 12 crew members of our anticipated guest and their required attendance.

The response was swift and predictable. All but four of the crew members requested dispensation so that they wouldn’t have to attend. Didn’t I realize, they reasoned, that they were already trained and, after all, this was their last St. Maarten???? Of course I understood, but now it was time to call in personal favors. I asked each of them, as a favor to me, to please show up at this training and defer their trip ashore by two hours.

I met our trainer at the gangway and while polite was still not enthralled with his presence. However, employing the mantra of ‘fake it till you make it,’ I determined to be an excellent host. We proceeded to SKY B where coffee and pastries were set out for our training. (The art of bribery by food is as alive and well at sea as it is on shore.) The training got off to a slow start, but as it continued I was impressed with our presenter and found a few nuggets in place that would benefit even our previously trained team. The two hours passed reasonably quickly and definitely added value. Despite my desire to head ashore after dismissing my crew, I offered to have lunch with our guest before he left the ship.

That’s when he told me how annoyed he was getting with me during our emails for the push back I was providing. He understood completely my points but was receiving even greater pressure from his management to ensure the training took place. As I felt caught in the middle between him and my crew, he felt in the same position between his management and me. We laughed recognizing that we each were simply playing the role assigned to each of us in the grander scheme of things. Neither one of us were the bad guy, we just both had conflicting objectives we needed to fulfill. As I walked him back down the gangway I felt I had made a valuable new associate.

And I still had time to make it into St. Maarten. But that’s a story for another day.

And the adventure continues . . .

An Evening in San Juan

April 14, 2012

There is something magical about ports at night. Part of it is probably that we aren’t in many of them. In fact, during this entire Caribbean season the only port that we are in after the sun set is San Juan, Puerto Rico. Maybe the scarcity is what makes it so special. To go ashore in the late afternoon and evening is definitely something we look forward to.

As we put together our plan for the cruise at our team meeting, Tim made it clear to our other team members that he and I would be heading to San Juan in the evening. That preemptive statement made it clear that at least one of the other team members would stay ashore to provide HR coverage. Since Dwight doesn’t like to be ashore at night (it makes him think he missed the ship sailing!) we were covered. The workday, of course, was full. Since we didn’t dock until 2pm the rhythm of the day was more like a sea day. But once we docked the anticipation of completing work and getting ashore built. I worked through lunch hoping that nothing would delay us of heading down the gangway by 4pm.

One of our goals was to meet up with Becki, the Celebrity Summit HR Manager, for dinner as Summit was also in port that day. Summit arrived earlier than us and would be leaving by 8pm. Becki felt she would have time to complete several errands and then join us for dinner before rejoining her ship. Tim and I talked to the local immigration officers when we arrived and determined that we would check out a restaurant named, Raices, which served local culinary specialties. With our plan firmly in place we called Becki to tell her we were on our way and would meet her for dinner at 5pm. When we got to the restaurant they were so busy they would not be able to take us for another half an hour. No problem, we thought, and called Becki to tell her of the slight delay. She was still racing around the city with a driver and told us that since she was running late this last half an hour should aid synchronizing our schedules. Tim and I decided to take advantage of the delay by heading to a local brew pub just two blocks away for a pre-dinner drink. Showing great discipline we consumed only one and headed back figuring that Becki was on her way. We called her from the restaurant only to find out that she was not going to be able to make it. She still had one stop left and was now concerned about not making it back to Summit in time. After sufficient razzing her for standing us up, we said goodbye by phone and heading in for local treats.

The dish we chose to try was in a coconut shell style bowl filled with mashed plantains and topped with savory shredded pork. It was definitely ‘local’ and although the mashed plantains were ‘different,’ it grew on me as the dinner wore on. It was definitely a local establishment and met the bill for the evening repast.

This was still Puerto Rico and the CVS Pharmacy beckoned. Normally this is a place we like to stock up on necessities and given that we were heading to Europe at the end of this cruise this stop took on even more importance. As we entered the CVS, though, I saw the blood pressure machine and since I had done no conscious health maintenance during the contract I checked it out. It was great to see that both blood pressure and pulse rate were in ideal ranges! Although I felt Tim’s was high, he told me it was very low for him which made us believe that an evening in Puerto Rico was good for the both of us. We quickly stocked up on necessities. For me that included the prerequisite Butterfingers, peanuts, and basic toiletries. Based on the recommendations of our spa staff I added a facial scrub. If I now look five years younger it may be because I have now scrubbed five years of dead skin off my face. I also added Spanish olives to my shopping list, another salty treat I had missed.

Since we were not able to see Becki we decided to walk along the dock the ¾ of a mile to where Summit was and watch her sail away. She left just after dark. With the lights of San Juan coming up around us, the hordes of teenagers hanging out at the sea wall, and the beauty of Summit as she sailed passed, it created a enduring memory for our last night in San Juan., Feeling full, properly provisioned, and esthetically engaged, we walked back to Silhouette as we ended our evening. By the time we dropped our goods in our cabins we realized it was close to our sail away time. We changed and went top decks where we watched as San Juan slowly disappeared astern.

And the adventure continues . . .

A Final Labadee

April 13, 2012

On our last swing through the Caribbean for the season, the voyage would be filled with ‘lasts.’ Today was our last visit to RCL’s private ‘island’ of Labadee in Haiti. Despite the fun I had last time here, it had taken me awhile to warm up to this port of call. However, I knew that I would miss it once the warm sun, sandy beaches, and calm ocean were no longer a near-term option.

My plans to get ashore were almost scuttled by the work load. I had two classes scheduled in the morning that I felt would leave me free to get ashore by 12:30pm. With an onboard time for crew of 3:30pm due to our 4pm sail away, this would give me a good 2 ½ hours ashore. However, when I returned to the office, the progression of one-off tasks and people with questions and concerns made me wonder if I would get ashore. Finally, just short of 1:30pm I clocked out and raced to my room to change and get off the ship.

Without much time to spend I knew I wanted my focus to be solely on the beach and water with no other distractions. The challenge to avoiding distractions was to avoid the Artists’ Village which is right on the path to Columbus Cove, my targeted destination. The local artisans can be a bit ‘aggressive’ in their sales techniques (my least favorite part of the island) and the simple effort of politely yet firmly dissuading them would chew up valuable time. Fortunately, once you visit Labadee you discover that there is an alternate path that hugs the coast and almost entirely skirts the village. With a stride full of purpose I took this alternate path only requiring me to dip onto the back edge of the local ‘shopping mall’ for a few seconds. Of course, the few seconds were enough to be spotted and ‘invited’ to view the local wares but I never broke stride as I made my lack of interest known and headed over the last rise to the beach.

Columbus Cove is obviously popular with our guests yet both ends of the beach can provide some relative calm. I quickly camped out at the end of the beach nearest the trail head and let myself melt back into a lounge chair to be warmed by the Haitian sun. After about 20 minutes the call of the beautiful water beckoned me. I waded out along the gently sloping ocean bottom until I was chest deep in the water. It felt remarkable. As opposed to my last visit I had remembered to remove my ship key ring with all my access cards from the pocket of my swim trunks which made this ocean experience immediately far more positive. With a gentle kick off the bottom I began to swim gently parallel to the shore in the glassy cove. After a few minutes I flipped onto my back and simply floated in this idyllic environ.

Properly cooled I went back to my chair to let the sun dry me with one eye steadfastly on the clock. As I looked down the long beach I realized it would be more than half a year, at least, before I returned to this spot. So, I decided to walk the waterline to see what I could discover. That’s when I discovered the biggest change from my first trip to Labadee. When I first ventured there I was mostly inconspicuous and almost universally viewed as a guest rather than crew. But as I walked this time I encountered small groups of crew members scattered along the beach. First there were the young Safety officers who were playing like the college age boys they are in the surf. Not all of their play would pass the ‘safety is everyone’s business’ test. Then I encountered the Greek engine and accommodations officers who urged me to stay and have a cold beverage with them. With time short, I continued my trek past the AV technicians, photographers, the spa employees, and a herd of dining and bar staff. Each group was engaged with lively banter and invitations to join in. A very different experience from three months earlier.

I stepped back into the deeper surf and began a lazy swim back up the beach, but the sky above increased my sense of urgency. Storm clouds had begun to gather and thunder echoed in the mountains above the island. When I reached my lounge chair with the intent to catch a little more sun the changing weather changed my mind. Since the clock had already struck 3pm, it was clear that my time in Labadee for this season was at an end.

On ships there is never a guarantee of a return to a favorite port. Yes, the beach time in Labadee was clearly becoming one of my favorites. Will I ever return? If I’m on a Caribbean run with Celebrity again the answer is ‘likely.’ But, as in life, there are no guarantees.

And the adventure continues . . .

Don't Read This If You Are Hungry - A Night at Murano

April 12, 2012

All of the specialty restaurants onboard Celebrity Silhouette are a real treat. Each of the restaurants provides a unique and tasty experience. But Murano Restaurant considers themself the pinnacle of this experience, as they focus on fine French cuisine with exceptional service. The other restaurants would no doubt, and appropriately, disagree. But having completed three months of my contract I had eaten at each of the specialty restaurants, except Murano. The one night that my team chose to splurge and eat there I was away at Dani’s Ring Dance.

But finally my time to dine at Murano was nigh. My friend and co-worker, Lavern, had recently won Dancing with the Stripes and with that victory the award of two free specialty dinners. Knowing that I had never dined at Murano she invited me for a night out so that I could taste the last of the specialties. Knowing the big meal was coming I appropriately paced myself with a light lunch to ensure that I would have room for any of the options that were available.

The night started on a humorous note as the Maitre D’ escorted us to our ‘romantic table for two!’ Lavern and I have become good friends but we chuckled at the romantic evening notion. However, the restaurant is known as a romantic spot for couples so we chose to forgive his presumption. The key to this night would be the food and service, in the company of a good friend. In fact the restaurant claims that it is the one restaurant without a view as it wants your focus inward, on the food and service, and not outward on the view.

After getting lost in the richness of the menu, I chose to start with their Lobster Bisque. It didn’t disappoint. It was rich and creamy with the perfect blend of flavors. The epicurean tour was off to a fine start. For a second appetizer I set aside my usual temptation to go with a Caesar salad and ordered the Baked Goat Cheese. I will not say that I’ve been a big goat cheese fan, but this dish was the veritable ‘party in your mouth.’ It was simply amazing and I essentially licked the casserole dish clean. Okay, I didn’t actually lick it . . . but I wanted to.

For dinner I ordered the filet mignon. Their specialty is a lobster dish that is prepared tableside, but I chose to forego that for my carnivore tendencies. The filet was prepared perfectly and the sides did not disappoint. Finally, dessert came and I chose a Grand Marnier soufflé. As you can see, I did not skip any savory dish, and did not skimp on calories. Lavern ordered a completely different set of courses and was equally amazed. For the first time in my fine dining life I did not have a single dish that did not completely hit it out of the park!

Equal to the food preparation was the service. The team service ensured that dishes for each member of the dining party were delivered exactly at the same time.  All the restaurant personnel, who of course are our co-workers and co-residents, were stellar. As we looked around the restaurant we realized that we were not unique in our experience. The happy voices, the positive comments, and the non-verbal signs of affirmation made it clear that Murano was succeeding in their mission.

I now had ‘hit for the cycle’ regarding Silhouette’s specialty restaurants and had not been disappointed. Thank you, Lavern, for treating me to this special night of fine dining. I’ll need to win DWTS again so I can return the favor.

Now it’s time to digest . . . .

And the adventure continues . . .

An Odd Beginnning to a Final Voyage

April 11, 2012

The last voyage of the Caribbean season was upon us and things felt a little strange. First, we knew that our dependable routine was about to change. Second, we weren’t sure how much we were looking forward to our upcoming six day Atlantic crossing once this cruise was over. But the seasons change on land and they do for us, as well.

The first odd part of this final winter season voyage was that the Turnaround was so easy. After five months sailing out of Bayonne, NJ, we seemed to really have the process down. The work that at the start of the season would take a full day with no breaks resulting in exhaustion after 14+ hours ending after 8pm in the evening had become transformed to a fairly comfortable work day. All crew sign offs and ons were processed by noon. This allowed time for administrative tasks, normally reserved for the evening, to be accomplished before we brought our sign-ons back together for their pre-departure and medical training at 2:30pm. We were so relaxed that Tim and I decided to grab a freshly grilled hamburger for lunch up on the pool deck before the guests came on in force. By 5pm, we were essentially complete for the day and decided to bring to an end one of the shortest work days of my contract. (Okay, in fairness we started at 6:00am with only the half an hour meal break, so it was still a 10 ½ hour day!)

To celebrate we chose to have an early team dinner at Bistro on 5, our creperie. We changed into our evening uniforms and arrived just after 5:30pm, less than a half an hour after we had left port. Five minutes into our dinner, things became even more unusual. The medical emergency code was broadcast over the PA and asked the response team to report to a guest stateroom. Given that HR may need to get involved if a CARE Associate was needed in the event of a serious emergency for guests, Tim called Guest Relations to get more information. None was yet available, but we knew we were now on call.

Fifteen minutes later we felt the ship begin to slow and then begin to trace a large arc at the far end of New York Harbor which we had just reached. Word came down to us that a 97 year old guest, out of the hospital for only one week, had decided that she was not going to miss her cruise. Unfortunately, while unpacking, she lost her balance, fell and hit her head on the bedside table.  Although conscious and able to call for assistance, the injury was such that we needed to get her back ashore.  We were going back! The Captain came on the PA and advised the rest of our guests of our plan. The departure from New York was now delayed as we cared for this guest in need.

Our team dinner finished we decided to proceed up to Sky Lounge for a ‘sail away’ drink, which had now become a ‘sail to’ beverage. Along the way we answered guests’ questions, but all our passengers were glad that we were making the ‘right decision’ to return the guest to shore for medical care. Along the way we passed the Azamara Journey who was departing on her ‘reverse’ Titanic memorial cruise. We were sure they were baffled to see us steaming back into port as they were leaving.  However, we never made it back into port. You see, we weren’t allowed to.

When a cruise ship makes an unplanned detour to pull back into port, especially one like New York, it raises the question as to whether that ship is no longer under the command of its rightful authority. Bottom line question, ‘have we been hijacked and is this a terrorist plot?’ So, we were held short of the bridge we cross under prior to getting close to the dock. We would not be traveling under a heavily traveled bridge in NY Harbor for safety reasons. As we sat in the Sky Lounge we watched as NYPD helicopters circled our ship at very close range to perform a visible inspection and to get a confirming view of our Bridge. Once they determined we were safe, we still weren’t allowed to return to port. Only then did a Coast Guard cutter pull alongside to offload our injured passenger.

I understood the security precautions being taken, but it was still a surreal experience. Finally, with a three hour delay behind us, we turned our ship back around and began our journey again, wondering what other new adventures might be in store on this final Caribbean run. One thing we knew for sure . . .

. . . the adventure continues . . .

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

April 10, 2012

Despite the generally Kumbaya nature of my blog entries, things don’t always go so well when you are a floating community of 1200+. For those of you waiting for the detailed ‘Tell All,’ however, it ain’t gonna happen. I love my crew mates too much for that. We all make our mistakes and have the stories we would prefer not to be shared, and I absolutely won’t share those. No one lives a life that is as unblemished as you would like to believe. Trust me.

But there are moments on ship that Rodney King’s infamous comment, “Why can’t we all just get along?” rings in my ears. For those of you who don’t understand the reference . . . look it up. It is perfectly understandable that when you take over 1200 people from over 70 nations, have them work for seven days a week for 6 to 8 months at a time, that there will be moments when either tensions or simple human nature will make things not go as well as you hope. And when you are part of the Human Resources team, you get to see and experience the hidden underside of ship life more than you care to.

Let’s start with the clash of cultures. When I teach our Cultural Diversity class I make a point to stress that we ultimately have become one culture, the Celebrity Culture. I do encourage all of our crew members to take advantage of the amazing gift we have received of being able to work with people from so many nations. Where else beyond the United Nations will this happen? Yet, there are some cultural archetypes that mix like oil and water. There are some cultures that are more ‘assertive’ in their emotional and communicative styles. Other cultures are far more reserved. I won’t point out any particular cultures (you know who you are) and, in fact, individuals can belie their cultural archetype. However, patterns do emerge. When a person from a very expressive and passionate culture chooses to express their displeasure with someone from a more restrained culture, the response is predictable. Invariably, we have an aggrieved crew member in our offices seeking support and/or counsel. Our goal is to normally bring both parties in to try to defuse the situation. Sometimes we are successful. Sometimes . . . not so much.

“I didn’t hit her; I just pushed her in the face.” That is probably my favorite statement from my first contract at sea. After a conversation with HR a female crew member of the more passionate persuasion chose to make her point in the corridor with a crew member of a more reserved demeanor who was making her crazy in her passivity. I know both crew members and liked each of them. But they were truly like oil and water. Miss Aggressive failed to remember that we, like Las Vegas casinos, have cameras everywhere! When the aggrieved CM reported back to us it was easy to check the film, which resulted in a Master’s (Captain’s) hearing for the ‘face pusher.’ That line was the highlight of the Master’s hearing and for many to come. Sadly, it meant a CM was leaving us early. Diversity training doesn’t always sink in.

Sadly, the abuse of alcohol is a common problem on cruise ships. This is not a ‘tell all’ statement, for if you haven’t figured this out, this makes sense. We have a group of people away from home living in a place where food and drink are discounted. One manager told me that the Hospitality Industry consists of ‘functional alcoholics.’ While I don’t believe that is empirically true, there is a propensity to consume ‘adult beverages’ that must be appropriately dealt with.  Our ship does have a clear and enforceable alcohol policy. In fact, even ‘off duty’ you are not allowed to have a blood alcohol level of above 0.08, which is the drunk driving limit in most US states. This is when you are off duty, and definitely we aren’t driving cars. But not surprisingly, as in shore side society, this can be often exceeded. The reality for crew members is that if you do not display aberrant behavior, make it back to your cabin, and can sleep it off before work, you will be okay. However, not all CMs are wise enough to follow that prescript. As a result, we have been going through a period when we have had one over the limit case every two weeks.

HR is required to be present for every breathalyzer test on ship. When a CM is reported as being possibly intoxicated they are escorted by Security to the Security Chief’s office for a test to be administered and HR is called to be present. Normally it is the HR Manager, but if he/she is not available, the Training & Development Manager is the next in queue. I have sat in on three of these tests, now, and they are not fun. The crew member realizes at that point that they have messed up royally and are likely to be terminated. I must give kudos to our Security Chiefs for they have shown themselves consistently to be compassionate, gentle, and fair to each person brought before them. Even when the test ‘blows positive,’ and each for which I have been in attendance has, the Security Chief is almost tender in their care for the crew member, offering them water and an escort back to their cabin so they can sleep it off.

In two consecutive cases Tim and I believed it was bad ju-ju to be friends with an HR team member. One morning at breakfast I received a call from Security to witness a test. It was a person who was friends with Tim. Two weeks later Tim walked into my office with a copy of the breathalyzer test pointing at the name. It was a CM who I had recently become friends with. In each case there is a heartfelt sadness as we know that the crew member is on their way to a Master’s Hearing and a ticket home from the next port. We know the Captain would like to be compassionate, but this is a safety issue on the ship if a CM shows up for duty intoxicated or fails to report for the same reason. We understand how easy it is to ‘slip up.’ It is at that intersection at which HR lives.

Why can’t we all ‘just get along’ and fly right? The simple answer is that we are human, and there are 1200+ of us humans living together on a ship.

And the adventure continues . . .

Three Months Down

April 9, 2012

Three months ago I started my first contract with Celebrity Cruise Lines. I started the contract with many questions and virtually no answers. Would I succeed at the job? Would I successfully transition to living the life on a ship? What would be the impact of being away from friends and family for months on end? Would this be a one-time shot or would I return for more than one contract?

All these questions, and more, seem to be answered in the first three months of my contract. First, can I succeed at the job? The first third of the job was pretty straightforward and allowed me to make my connection pretty quickly. Delivering rote training classes, simple facilitations, are right in my wheel house. Since I’m very comfortable with corporate software programs, the administrative tasks were no great issue, either. The second part of the job had to do with business consulting for the various departments in the operation. My knowledge of general business has been a great help and this first contract is helping me quickly learn the cruise business. While I am bringing some value added already, this is an area that I believe will be significantly better when I return for a second contract and beyond. The third part of the job is simply caring for people, both crew and guests. This is where my former pastoral work really makes a difference for me. While I’m not changing the world, I have been able to positively affect a few people, both crew and guests. So, on balance, I feel this is a job I can do and will get better at doing as time goes on.

What about the transition to life on the ship? It is, without a doubt, a dramatically different life than what I’m used to. However, living in a small cabin instead of a big house was a remarkably easy change for me to make. Having spent time on retreat in monasteries and retreat houses has shown me how little I need. I’m probably one of the few new crew members who under-packed for my first contract. I’m likely to bring a few more ‘necessities’ the second time. I have really enjoyed meeting new crew members from around the world. Yes, there are times my introverted side kicks in and I really don’t want to deal with people. But my work in the parish has taught me how to fake it till I make it, if necessary. Working seven days a week is really not an issue for me. With traditional work, forensics coaching, and ministry, I already do that. I do find myself missing friends and family, at times, but email and Facebook when I’m ashore has been a nice lifeline. I do very much miss working with the Forensics team. That is the single biggest negative of this job. But I do like waking up each morning in a new and beautiful place. This feeds my yen to travel. And not having to cook, make my bed, do laundry, or do significant cleaning for four months is a nice side benefit.

Working out family relationships is also a challenge. However, with both children away at college they had already left home. So my leaving home was a bit less dramatic. Finding the way to live a marriage with the distance is a challenge, one that has been addressed by many military and seafaring couples for years. The good news is that starting on my second contract; I can have a guest for up to 45 of my 120 days at sea. And for this contract, Rosie will be joining me for my last eight days, courtesy of a compassionate manager.  Who knows, maybe ships will be in her future, too.

Will I return for a second contract? The intent has always been ‘yes.’ I believe I needed at least two contracts to properly evaluate this new job option. But, right now, I believe that the positive far outweighs the negative, which means I could see myself doing this for some time to come.

If I can only figure out the Forensics coaching thing . . .

And the adventure continues . . .