Today’s picture is just a bragging picture. It always looks so glamorous to work on a cruise ship and walk around in the fancy uniform when one is a Senior Officer on a cruise ship. The fact is, the fun working on the cruise industry disappeared a long time ago. Sure it is still interesting and one can see the world if working on the … Continue reading At work on a Cruise ship.
This picture is, as most will recognize, taken from the Bridge over the Corinth Canal, in Greece. This transit was always a spectacular happening, for Passengers and crew alike. The picture was taken by our ship’s photographer. But I had the opportunity to be with him that time, which was the only time I was allowed to do that. The “towing lines” you see on … Continue reading Corinth Canal.
Working on a cruise ship, is more than just pretty uniforms with a lot of gold stripes on your shoulders. The days can be very busy with a lot of stuff happening. And contrary to what urban myths tell you, Cruise ship offices need to take part in dozens of various job activities, which is not always that fancy. The pictures in this little blog … Continue reading A regular day on a cruise ship.
Relax, it was just a drill. The weekly drill all ships in the world must conduct, according to international maritime law. And the kind of drill should be fairly easy to guess. Yep, it was a Biohazard drill (or chemicals). It goes back to early 2000s when this was a real deal around the globe. Especially the scare and fear for these kinds of attacks. … Continue reading When the alarm bells are sounding.
I have over the years been asked many times about how it is to work on a cruise ship when bad weather sets in. Well, as I always would reply, it kind of depends of the ship’s size and how bad the weather is. But regardless of this we will notice the weather one way or another. It might only be some slight rolling (side … Continue reading When bad weather sets in.
The date is 19th of October, 1995 As I walked up the gangway on M/V Seabourn Pride, in Piraeus, I was greeted by the Second Officer whom I was supposed to replace (relieve) as he was soon going on vacation. But first we needed an overlap, or a “handover period” in order for me to understand what my new job on this particular type of … Continue reading The journey begins.
Todays picture is called “Ship Handling”. A former Captain of mine and myself thought we should have some fun, and we made two pictures, and called them “Ship Handling training”. And he sent the pictures to the Main Office, where most people thought it was funny, except one person. His immediate superior shoreside. I guess, we cant make everyone laughing. Here is the other. Surely, … Continue reading Today’s picture.
Today’s picture reminds me of a simpler time. A simpler time for us who work in the Cruise Industry. The picture here is in the end of the so called Good old days, where customer satisfaction was the highest priority, before it slowly started to change. These days, the most important is to prevent lawsuits and other issues which might be of negative impact. Report … Continue reading Today’s picture.
Today’s picture reminds me of a simpler time. Yes there were such things as simpler times folks. 🙂 I think the picture is taken on one of the many islands in Indonesia, and it might be around 1997. I notice that my “sports” uniform is not exactly according to the Company dress code. Working in the Cruise Industry those days, were less stressful than it … Continue reading Today’s picture.
Today’s picture is of myself and one of the ship’s deck hands, Mr. Ramon Cabugon. Ramon (from the Philippines) later on became the ship’s Bosun (Boatswain). The reason why I always remember this picture, is because it is one of the first ones after I went over to a new type of work (from the Navy to Cruise industry), where I seriously can say I … Continue reading Today’s picture.
The picture I want to show today, without to much explanation, is one of my absolute favorites. The picture was taken when we were in Alaska with my job, a cruise ship. This is what one call a perfect shot. Look at that color on the ice which was floating in the bay, in front of the glacier. Ice blue! Pictures like this, always remind … Continue reading Today’s picture.
I have been several times to Alaska with my job onboard cruise vessels. And one thing is for sure, when you look at the mega ships in the fjords and bays, you get a feeling you really are part of mass tourism. You observe the small towns from the deck and it is like a moving blanket over the town, which actually are 1000s of … Continue reading Alaska, worth visiting with smaller vessels.
Today’s picture is to illustrate that when you are an Officer on a cruise ship, you have a lot of roles to fill. Doesnt matter if you are educated and employed as one of the Navigators, you need to do other parts as well. I was part of one of the ship’s Fireteams for a few years as well. The picture of myself with this … Continue reading Today’s picture.
Today’s picture, is of myself, the very first time I visited Yangon in Myanmar. Or, as som maybe still call it, Rangoon in Burma. I believe the picture was taken in December 1995. Nice shorts. 🙂 We stopped sailing to Myanmar, after a few seasons. This due to the increased tension in the country, and the fact it was not political correct to bring money … Continue reading Today’s picture.
The newly stretched Star Breeze for Windstar Cruises is undergoing her first set of sea trials for Windstar Cruises having become the first of three ships to undergo the company’s $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. The stretching job at Fincantieri saw the addition of a new mid-section with 50 new suites, two new restaurants, new engines, and additional upgrades. The total capacity of the expanded ships will … Continue reading First Look As Newly-Stretched Star Breeze Leaves for Sea Trials
This Thursday 24 September will be World Maritime Day. Watch the online celebration here: https://bit.ly/33OTO4Hwith lively discussions surrounding our theme, Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet, with our impressive guests. “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet” is the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the … Continue reading World Maritime Day – Thursday 24 September.
If you ever have been on a cruise, you will most likely know about the phrase “Tender Operation”. And you will remember this with not always the most happy memories. Although, many can find it interesting, by observing how the Crew perform this service. This can be the most smooth operation ever, or a very rough operation which will sometimes be stopped due to the … Continue reading When a cruise ship use the tender boats – Tender Operation.
Anyone who has been transiting through the Suez canal, will remember it for some time. And anyone who does it a second time will think, ahhhhh not again. Because this is one of those operations which can be exciting at first, and then very boring after a while. For me, it was exactly like that. So my pictures are from the first time many years … Continue reading Transit through the Suez Canal.
Just a little listing of the ships I have worked on, over the past decades. They have been my homes away from home, and I have the last 25+ years probably spent 15 years away (onboard) and 10 years home (ashore). First one out, was the M/V Seabourn Pride, working for Seabourn Cruise Line. Next one out was the M/V Seabourn Legend. A ship that … Continue reading My homes away from home, my ships in my career.
Although most cruise ships always seek out the areas with the best weather, and the best seasons as well, bad weather will once in a while be unavoidable. When that happens, it can become a really bad experience for many of the passengers and crew members as well. Some will be put off in regards to cruising, for the rest of their life, and some … Continue reading When a cruise ship experience bad weather.
The Traveller 