www3traveler

When is your next cruise? It would be fun to be a cruise with you. My next cruise is in January for the Maiden Voyage of the Getaway. Your pictures and review have helped me prepare for it. Thank You very much. I know that it takes a lot of time and effort to post it all. I am glad you had a wonderful vacation.

I am enjoying your review and your pictures. I was on The Sun with Steven Jacobsen as the Hotel Director. I am booked on The Sun in September of 2014 for Her Panama Cruise. I am looking forward to reading the rest of your review and your pictures.

Thank You for posting this wonderful review aand the great pictures.

I have a couple of questions for you:

(1) In order to do Walk The Plank, do you have to complete the Ropes Course first?

(2) Did any of the staff members stand out??

Mandy

Yannis is Hotel Director on The Star. If all goes according to schedule he will leave for vacation in mid August. There is a lot of shifting of staff NOW in preparation for The Getaway.

MrsNancyG, is not the only one who would love to sail with you.

I have a piece of BA news to share: I do not know how many of you got the opportunity to meet the Head Bartender O'neil Pandit from India. This past Thursday evening he competed against 399 other Bartenders from throughout the cruise industry and took 2nd PLACE. It was a qualifier for the World Bartender's Competition.

Mandy

Ooops I just noticed that last sentence in the previous post. I meant to say Breakaway lol.

 

Unfortunately I don't know if I'll be back on her before the end of the year, but I'll certainly get on the Getaway some time next year and will be on the Epic this year. The nicest thing is, I keep running into familiar faces on each ship! That's another perk of sailing the same line. Getting to know people that work so hard in order to make the vacations of others top notch.

I am going to be aboard The Getaway for Her Maiden Voyage on the 17th on of January from Southampton to Miami. Nine straight sea days. Probably will not be warm enough the first few days to try out all the play toys.

xenagural,

I hope that you are planning to go on The Epic soon. My guess is that the powers that be (Denis, Klaus etc.) already know who has been selected for The Getaway. By the middle of September, they will start pulling people. I was told that 9% of staff from every ship was pulled for The Breakaway, which should mean about the same for The Getaway.

I know that in doing your blogs on a variety of Norwegian ships, staff may blur a bit. Now The Breakaway, besides the Captain, Denis and Sean, did any staff member stand out?? I am looking forward to being on the Maiden Voyage of The Getaway in January.

thank you for taking the time to post.

Do you now if Captain Håkan Svedung was still on board during that week?

Captain Hakan Svedung is now one of the Captain's of The Breakaway. He went aboard The Breakaway on the 5th of May.

Officer's of The Gem the week of 11 May-18 May

Captain: Sverre Sovdsnes

Staff Captain: Zeljko Jurac

Hotel Director: Jenny Lim

Chief Engineer: Stefan Malmestorm

Food and Beverage Director: victor Hunes

Restaurant Manager: Marek Bus

Executive Chef: Tyson Pinto

Guest Services Manager: Nomita Rambhuhjan

Group Services Coordinator: Carmela Ferrer

Concierge:Ryan Rabe

casino Host: Robert Russ

Pearl as of 5/5/13:

 

Rune Myers - Captain - not very visible and/or friendly

Prem - HD - did not leave a lasting impression

F&B - Tony Rosa - ditto

CD - Pedro Serra - always a great time

Concierge - Anoop - did nothing for Platinum cruisers

Latitutes Rep - David Ward - formerly a CD, he was entertaining but not overly helpful

I am sorry for your experience on the Pearl. The Panama crossing is very trying on Senior Staff especially if their vacations are coming in Los Angeles. So much extra work to prepare for on coming officers, the Alaskan season, and inspections- Company, Public Health and the Coast Guard. Some Senior Officers really get stressed out on this cruise. I have been through the Panama Canal crossing twice both on The Pearl.

Both Klaus and Denis have been promoted to Regional Vice Presidents of Fleet Hotel Operations. Prior Klaus has been Director of Fleet Hotel Operations. I am not sure yet what the new job descriptions will mean for either gentleman. I would guess that Norwegian will make a more formal announcement tomorrow in New York City.

Denis Prguda was just promoted to regional Vice President of Fleet Hotel Operations.

 

Suzanne

Where will his base be: New York, Miami, Europe or where??

I agree with bob brown, you have more than earned a "Vacation Hero" recognition. Thank You.

Was there a fee charged for "Walk The Plank" and the "Toboggan Water Slide"? did you need to sign a wavier for the water slide?

Sounds like you are having a great trip. Thank you for taking the time to write, take pictures and post.

Thank You!!! I will be doing the Maiden voyage of The Getaway in January. I can not decide whether to spend a night in London or go straight to Southampton. Any thoughts. I will be coming from the Pacific Northwest.

Mandy

Is it too soon to ask if anyone has inside info for the Breakaway Concierge for early November? I heard Ruth was going to be on Breakaway but i don't know if she will be there in November. I love Adrian also!

It is way too know where anyone will be by November. By November those selected to serve on The Getaway will be on their way to Germany to get Her ready to sail. There will be a lot of shift of staff between now and then.

As of today:

The Sun: Staff Captain Teo Grbic

The Gem: Staff Captain Zeljko Jurac

Jim,

Is it possible that Norwegian is "grooming" Denis for something much more interesting??

Mandy

Denis is amazing...going to have to book the Breakaway now!:D

From what I am understanding there will be a number of former "Pearl Family" members on board The Breakaway. I am thinking that I am going to have to go.

What about Denis p. from epic ..he was hotel manager ...where is he now?

It was just announced by Norwegian this morning that Denis Prguda will be the Hotel Director for The Breakaway.

I will also be interesting in seeing who the back up Hotel Director will actually be. I have heard three names so far and they are all Senior Hotel Directors.

We were with Florentina last week, I believe it is for more than a year. I beleive she is ready to retire from NCL and raise her 2 beautiful boys.

It was my understanding that Florentina was taking time off to complete her Hotel Management Degree and spend time with her family. Best wishes to her in both endeavors.

My understanding was that Jenny came The Gem on as the F&B for 2 months and then will become the HD.

Kadek was a butler. I never heard of him being a bartender. He is on until Ryan Rabe replaces him in May.

Do you know when in May Ryan will be back on The Gem?? Hopefully my cruise on May 11th.