Travel Features

Royal Caribbean Names VP of Corporate Communications

2010-07-05T14:38:24Z

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. NAMES MICHELE NADEEM
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named Michele Nadeem to the position of vice president, Global Corporate Communications. Nadeem is responsible for leading Royal Caribbean’s overall global communication strategies and community relations efforts throughout all of its brands, and reports directly to the company’s chairman and CEO, Richard D. Fain.

“We are delighted to have Michele join our team,” said Fain. “We feel Michele’s extensive international and domestic accomplishments and experience in corporate communications leadership roles will make her invaluable when the company needs to deliver clear and consistent messages across the organization and to the public.”

A highly versatile communications professional with over 25 years of experience, Nadeem has achieved success in the fields of transportation, logistics, crisis/issues management, internal/external communications, reputation management, technology (software solutions), analyst relations, public and private sector relations, corporate sponsorships, social responsibility, community relations and healthcare.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 39 ships in service and three under construction.

Captain and Hotel Manager Talk About Leadership on a Cruise Ship

2010-04-05T14:45:13Z

Experience, of Course; But Self Confidence

and Good Humor are Key Leadership Ingredients

When Managing a Cruise Ship

By Ray Brasted

Dimitrios Kafetzis is the kind of person I want being in charge of a cruise ship carrying thousands of passengers and crew across open seas. Not only because he is trained, which he is. Not only because he worked his way up the ranks, which he did. Not only because he has strong leadership qualities, which he does. I also want him in charge because he has a sense of humor and a perspective about life that sets him apart. Those leadership qualities seem to pass down throughout the crew until it reaches passengers. The result? Everyone seems to be having a good time.

With the timing of a stand-up comedian he held the attention of passengers aboard the Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship with wry observations about the ship and his job. After assuring everyone that we would get to our first port, San Juan, Puerto Rico, safely, he offered a toast and we all raised our glasses and sipped our champagne. As he was about to take another sip, he stopped. "If I drink any more you can kiss Puerto Rico goodbye," he deadpanned.

He was the same when we had a chance to interview him for this article. "My main goal when I use humor is to have people paying attention. I feel comfortable with myself and I want to sell the idea of professionalism to others," he added.

Damien O'Conner

Damien O'Connor, the ship's hotel manager, with fifteen years in the industry, said Captain Kafetzis leads by example, and that includes interacting with staff from the officers to cabin stewards. "On the Solstice we are a second family on board. We strive to exceed the expectations of our guests and we do it naturally and happily," he said. He added he believes that is why many guests return to cruise again.

Crew members come from all over the world, representing over fifty nationalities and everyone from the Captain down the line eats in the same dinning room. "Training is ongoing, it never stops", said O'Connor, "and we also promote from within whenever possible."

Unlike most of the staff who work regular shifts, the senior officers are on call 24 hours a day, depending upon port arrivals, unexpected emergencies or changes in the weather. "I don't have a typical day. Each day depends on many factors," Captain Kafetzis said. If everything is a code green, decisions are routine, but if the Captain deems a situation a code yellow or code red, the experience and training of the officers is crucial. "We are ready to do our jobs when there is a real emergency," Captain Kafetzis emphasized.

As the Celebrity Cruise Line plans to roll out new and larger ships, there will be job opportunities for many positions. "We have started to recruit more in the U.S. where it can be difficult to find individuals who can leave their families for months at a time," O'Connor said. But for those who do make the career move, it can be a great experience. "This is a fantastic industry," O'Connor concluded.

Ed. note: Visit www.celebritycruises.com for more information.

U.S. Virgin Islands Host Media Event

2010-03-18T19:31:47Z

A U.S. Virgin Islands Experience

Representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands welcomed media and guests to a special party on March 17 at the Raleigh Hotel on South Beach. The Florida skies turned sunny as they should for an island party.

Guests sipped Cruzan Rum cocktails and cuisine prepared by famed St. Thomas Chef Leslie "Theos" Gumbs.

One of the many events held in the islands each year is the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience which will be held April 13-18. Katherine Pugliese co-founded the event ten years ago with a girlfriend. Katherine and her husband, Frank, own a restaurant on the island.

Visit www.stcroixfoodandwine.com. The event sells out quickly so it may be good to plan for next year. To learn more about the U.S. Virgin Islands visit www.visitusvi.com

Oasis of the Seas - Is Bigger Better?

2009-12-13T18:42:21Z

Is Bigger Always Better?

Okay... how do you start to talk about the largest cruise ship in the world? The Oasis of the Seas, whose home is in Fort Lauderdale, went on its first voyage in early December and that is where the reviews will begin to come out.

On a recent three hour walking tour we found that the inside of the Oasis is impressive. Theaters, pools everywhere, restaurants and, of course, Central Park, an atrium where inside cabins with balconies provide occupants a wonderful view.

We sampled several of the restaurants and checked out the spa, gaming area and clubs. We asked to view the rooms but were told they were not available. We were particularly interested in checking out the rooms designed to be accessible to persons with disabilities but, unfortunately, that was not to be.

Media colleagues who were invited on a two day cruise indicated that the size of the ship gears it more towards families then couples. One reason given is that reservations are needed for the shows and events. When you have over 5,000 people on board it is necessary to schedule everything.

This might not be a problem for some, but does contradict the long accepted concept that when you are on a cruise you have flexibility and freedom to be spontaneous. This is not a practical idea with five thousands fellow passengers trying to get into the same venue that might hold 1,400.

Our impression is that although the Oasis is beautiful, once you step on board you could just as well be in a grand hotel or even an upscale mall. You have to pay for some services such as the steam room in the spa, even if you pay for a massage, and there are other add-ons.

The cruise industry has been ahead of the curve in offering choices and upscale adventures, and there has been a lot of effort to make the Oasis of the Seas an attractive and very special ship. However, with more mega ships coming, it is our sense that there will be marketing challenges.

We are already hearing, "it is beautiful, but it is just too big."

Ray Brasted - Publisher, Ftlauderdalenews.net