Sojourn Alaska 2017 - Officers/Others?

Does anyone know who will be on Sojourn for Alaska season 2017? (Captain, Hotel Director, Cruise Director, Asst. Cruise Director, any staff favorites, etc.?) we are boarding in Vancouver on June 1 so I'll *know* in six days but starting my mental preparations now. 😉

We boarded on April 5th and disembark on May 31st. There is a corporate event on board the evening of 5/31 so all pax must disembark in Seattle. For couples (8 pax) currently on the cruise they will rejoin the ship on 6/1 for the next cruise. At most many of the ports there has been a number of new staff, lots of new faces, thus service has been a little spotty. Food has been very good, but the TK insert for the MDR has been so so. Many nights, since we dine at 8:30, the items are no longer available. Not impressed with the TK Napa burger or the Yountwurst hotdog at patio grill. Interesting to note that infared heaters have been installed at the patio grill, Colonnade outside dining area, and the outside area on deck seven. One was also installed for the smoking area on deck nine. MDR has been open for breakfast and lunch almost every day, but closed on a handful of port days. Lunch menu is usually pretty limited, usually only one appetizer, sometimes two, soup and/or salad and 3 entrees. Much less than Seabourn offered in the past. Bar service has usually been very good.

Here's the current list of officers

Tim Roberts, Captain (formerly with HAL) just joined in Kobe on May 11th

Stoyan Kirov, Staff Captain (been on since 4/5)

Helmut Huber, HD (been on since 4/5)

Théan Taljaard, Doctor (joined 4/23)

Marcelo Alfonso, F&B manager (formerly with Silversea, on since 4/5)

Belinda Sibanda, Guest Services Manager (joined 4/23)

Julian Simpson, Chief Purser (took over for Collen Ellis on 5/11)

Sophie Tehrani, CD ( on since 4/5, I believe she is continuing on for the Alaska season)

Julie Lombino, Asst CD (on since 4/5)

Tomas Balough, Restaurant Manager (joined 4/23)

Jeremy Paskins, Executive Chef (joined 5/11)

Hanna Casale, Executive Housekeeper (on since 4/5)

Chris Clarke, Destinations Manager (joined 5/11)

Francois Carstens, Future Cruise Consultant/Seabourn Club Rep

Dusko is the bar manager (not sure of his last name)

In addition, Nicholas (former restaurant maanger) is now in charge of learning and development is on board conducting training as is Altin (former restaurant Manager) who is overseeing restaurant operations.

We boarded on April 5th and disembark on May 31st. There is a corporate event on board the evening of 5/31 so all pax must disembark in Seattle. For couples (8 pax) currently on the cruise they will rejoin the ship on 6/1 for the next cruise. At most many of the ports there has been a number of new staff, lots of new faces, thus service has been a little spotty. Food has been very good, but the TK insert for the MDR has been so so. Many nights, since we dine at 8:30, the items are no longer available. Not impressed with the TK Napa burger or the Yountwurst hotdog at patio grill. Interesting to note that infared heaters have been installed at the patio grill, Colonnade outside dining area, and the outside area on deck seven. One was also installed for the smoking area on deck nine. MDR has been open for breakfast and lunch almost every day, but closed on a handful of port days. Lunch menu is usually pretty limited, usually only one appetizer, sometimes two, soup and/or salad and 3 entrees. Much less than Seabourn offered in the past. Bar service has usually been very good.

 

Here's the current list of officers

 

Tim Roberts, Captain (formerly with HAL) just joined in Kobe on May 11th

Stoyan Kirov, Staff Captain (been on since 4/5)

Helmut Huber, HD (been on since 4/5)

Théan Taljaard, Doctor (joined 4/23)

Marcelo Alfonso, F&B manager (formerly with Silversea, on since 4/5)

Belinda Sibanda, Guest Services Manager (joined 4/23)

Julian Simpson, Chief Purser (took over for Collen Ellis on 5/11)

Sophie Tehrani, CD ( on since 4/5, I believe she is continuing on for the Alaska season)

Julie Lombino, Asst CD (on since 4/5)

Tomas Balough, Restaurant Manager (joined 4/23)

Jeremy Paskins, Executive Chef (joined 5/11)

Hanna Casale, Executive Housekeeper (on since 4/5)

Chris Clarke, Destinations Manager (joined 5/11)

Francois Carstens, Future Cruise Consultant/Seabourn Club Rep

Dusko is the bar manager (not sure of his last name)

 

In addition, Nicholas (former restaurant maanger) is now in charge of learning and development is on board conducting training as is Altin (former restaurant Manager) who is overseeing restaurant operations.

Thank you for that list.

Sophie was the CD on our last cruise. She is absolutely delightful.

Is the Asst. CD 'Julie' or 'Judy'?

I'm glad the cruise specialist is Francois. Great guy and we shall certainly be doing some business with him.

I'm assuming 'Nicholas' is Nick Botha. Another lovely person.

Do you know who is running the Observation Lounge (barman)?

Thank you for that list.

 

Sophie was the CD on our last cruise. She is absolutely delightful.

 

Is the Asst. CD 'Julie' or 'Judy'?

 

I'm glad the cruise specialist is Francois. Great guy and we shall certainly be doing some business with him.

 

I'm assuming 'Nicholas' is Nick Botha. Another lovely person.

 

Do you know who is running the Observation Lounge (barman)?

It is Judy - fingers go faster than the brain.

It is Nick Botha.

Claudio was in charge, who is now engaged to Sophie. Dirish (sp?) is now is now in charge (he was the club bartender on a prior cruise). An excellent bartender.

On a side note - lots of Diamond members on these 3 legs. About 70 or so with about 20 or so Diamond Elite members. The have held special cocktail events for us on each of these 3 legs.

Sophie/Judy have been excellent and they both did several shows.

It is Judy - fingers go faster than the brain.

It is Nick Botha.

Claudio was in charge, who is now engaged to Sophie. Dirish (sp?) is now is now in charge (he was the club bartender on a prior cruise). An excellent bartender.

 

On a side note - lots of Diamond members on these 3 legs. About 70 or so with about 20 or so Diamond Elite members. The have held special cocktail events for us on each of these 3 legs.

 

Sophie/Judy have been excellent and they both did several shows.

Thanks for the update. My anticipation of our upcoming cruise is all the more.

Thanks for that excellent update!

I'm excited that we'll have both Sophie and Judy onboard. They are two of my absolute favorites!

It sounds like several updates for Sojourn to get ready for Alaska. I wish that she'd been through dry dock before the season but I'm excited for Alaska nonetheless!

Claudio is a great bartender. Dariush is also good, and if you get to know him quite funny. I agree Francois is very good - we have sailed with him many times over the years. IMO, Sophie runs hot and cold, sometimes very friendly, others very superficial - as if she must talk to someone, just my opinion YMMV.

Sophie is leaving this week in Vancouver, off for seven weeks, back later in the season. She said Jan is coming on board in the meantime.

We boarded on April 5th and disembark on May 31st. There is a corporate event on board the evening of 5/31 so all pax must disembark in Seattle. For couples (8 pax) currently on the cruise they will rejoin the ship on 6/1 for the next cruise. At most many of the ports there has been a number of new staff, lots of new faces, thus service has been a little spotty. Food has been very good, but the TK insert for the MDR has been so so. Many nights, since we dine at 8:30, the items are no longer available. Not impressed with the TK Napa burger or the Yountwurst hotdog at patio grill. Interesting to note that infared heaters have been installed at the patio grill, Colonnade outside dining area, and the outside area on deck seven. One was also installed for the smoking area on deck nine. MDR has been open for breakfast and lunch almost every day, but closed on a handful of port days. Lunch menu is usually pretty limited, usually only one appetizer, sometimes two, soup and/or salad and 3 entrees. Much less than Seabourn offered in the past. Bar service has usually been very good.

 

Here's the current list of officers

 

Tim Roberts, Captain (formerly with HAL) just joined in Kobe on May 11th

Stoyan Kirov, Staff Captain (been on since 4/5)

Helmut Huber, HD (been on since 4/5)

Théan Taljaard, Doctor (joined 4/23)

Marcelo Alfonso, F&B manager (formerly with Silversea, on since 4/5)

Belinda Sibanda, Guest Services Manager (joined 4/23)

Julian Simpson, Chief Purser (took over for Collen Ellis on 5/11)

Sophie Tehrani, CD ( on since 4/5, I believe she is continuing on for the Alaska season)

Julie Lombino, Asst CD (on since 4/5)

Tomas Balough, Restaurant Manager (joined 4/23)

Jeremy Paskins, Executive Chef (joined 5/11)

Hanna Casale, Executive Housekeeper (on since 4/5)

Chris Clarke, Destinations Manager (joined 5/11)

Francois Carstens, Future Cruise Consultant/Seabourn Club Rep

Dusko is the bar manager (not sure of his last name)

 

In addition, Nicholas (former restaurant maanger) is now in charge of learning and development is on board conducting training as is Altin (former restaurant Manager) who is overseeing restaurant operations.

Number of new, to me, names. It will be interesting to see what other crew changes are made in Seattle.

I am sure that one of the reasons Jan is coming on board is having done numerous seasons in Antarctica she has the zodiac loading and unloading procedures down to a fine art. And with Chris along, who was with Jan as well last season I feel very confident that these outings will run smoothly.

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DC cruiser, We are on the Sojourn Aug. 26th 14 nts. Are you sailing all of that time or do you leave the ship at some point. I read your posts on our Aug. 26th roll call. Enjoy, Heather

Very pleased to read that Nick Botha is back at Seabourn.

DC cruiser, We are on the Sojourn Aug. 26th 14 nts. Are you sailing all of that time or do you leave the ship at some point. I read your posts on our Aug. 26th roll call. Enjoy, Heather

We disembark on 5/31 in Seattle. On another note Robin West and expedition members joined in Juneau for the Alaska cruising season.

We're on the August 1st sailing and hoping Jan will still be onboard. (yn)