Contellation Capt. meets with Cruise Critic members

[grandsix]

What a pleasant surprise when Captain Ioannis Papanikolaou showed up unanounced to address the Cruise Critic Connections private get together. The captain was quite gracious and spent approximately 45 minutes talking about his 38 years with Celebrity. He emphasized why good service is importantant to Celebrity and specifically his ship, the Constellation. Captain Ioannis said he did not believe in competition and that if his staff does their job well, the guests will return to Celebrity and therefore, no need to worry about the other cruise lines. The Captain estimates about 60% of cruise guests are first time cruises. He ended by saying that Celebrity is planning many exciting things for the future.

My only regret was not addressing the Captain about the discolored drinking water on deck 10 including the Seaside Cafe (buffet area) as well as at least decks 7,8 and 9. This will be covered on another tread to be posted shortly.

[canderson]

What a pleasant surprise when Captain Ioannis Papanikolaou showed up unanounced to address the Cruise Critic Connections private get together. The captain was quite gracious and spent approximately 45 minutes talking about his 38 years with Celebrity.

He's very soft spoken, quite funny, and a real class act. He was good enough to spend some time with us in April, too. Did he tell you the story about the sculpture there in Michael's club, and the picture that the artist did for him?

[Bobbie John]

I was just on the 10/29/05 sailing of the Connie too and very much enjoyed the captain at the cruise critic get together. His super positive attitude and

demeanor is reflected in the entire crew. I can see why the Constellation is rated as number one!

 

They just need to do something about the chair hogs on deck 10. I was amazed at how the people go up to Deck 10 early in the morning and save several seats for themselves, some in the sun and some in the shade, then leave the ship and go into the ports. There were no seats available for the people who stayed onboard. Deck 10 chairs were full of towels and books for hours and no one sitting in them! It is just ridiculous!

 

Bobbie

[PatC]

Last March my grandson sailed Connie and the Captain took a shine to him. He introduced him at the CC party after Ryan asked the hostess who "drove the ship". She took him over and the Captain, graciously, invited Ryan and his parents to the bridge. My son was more excited then the boy. Anyway, the next day a hostess arrived and escorted them to the bridge where the Captain allowed Ryan to sit in his chair and actually move the handle that "drove the ship" when they were leaving Grenada. At the Captain's Club party the next night he told everyone about his first experience as a young, 4 1/4 year old boy, and his first cruise. He brought Ryan up and had him present the flowers to the woman who had the highest number of cruise.

 

Ryan, who will be sailing Connie next March, can actually pronounce the Captain's name perfectly and calls him "my friend". I can see why everyone loves Connie. We love Summit just as much but are looking forward to some day sailing Connie. Many of the Celebrity Captains are very personable and have been ever since we began sailing with Celeb in 1992. They officers are very visible and always pleasant. Of course, there are some who will disagree, and not everyone is pleasant, but so far, we've had great experiences and will stick with Celeb.

[Joby]

We had a "similar" experience on the 10/17/05 Constellation. We met Captain Papanikolaou at a Capt. Club gathering. He was gracious and had a picture taken with us. He asked Mom how old she was and Mom blurted out "67" (she is actually 76, but I think she was so nervous meeting the Capt. that she transposed the numbers--thus the 67 answer)! We all laughed and said it was just like Mom to give the 67 answer!

 

We then met the Staff Capt. and he also graciously had a picture taken with us and then asked my sister if we had been "in the breeze". My sister looked at him and shook her head yes. I, on the other hand, thought the staff captain asked if we had "ever been to Greece". I thought my sister was nuts shaking her head yes to having been to Greece.

 

I finally asked the Staff Capt. to repeat his question and he had actually been asking if we had ever "been to the bridge". All 3 of us (Mom, sister and myself) said "no". He then proceeded to invite us to the bridge for a tour.

 

We had a great time on the bridge tour! We still laugh about my sister saying yes to having "been in the breeze" or having "been to Greece".

 

I wonder if this is as funny if you weren't there when it took place???? Sometimes a retelling isn't as funny as the original incident.

 

Regardless, we had a great time meeting both Captains and thought both were gracious and very friendly.

[Kate-AHF]

Just another case of bad cellular. :D

[mkirch72]

Unfortunately I will have to disagree. I was on the Constellation for the 2 week transatlantic in April/May 2005 and the Captain was observed treating his crew members very rudely. There was a string quartet playing nightly at the Cova Cafe. It turned out that the Captain and several officers would show up nightly as well around dinner time on the starboard side for what appeared to be a smoke break. I was surprised at how loud they were as many people were gathered to listen to the quartet play.

 

The captain was observed by myself and several other passengers giving loud, curt, one-word orders to wait-staff for drinks. One person said she saw a waiter with a full tray of dirty cups/glasses heading back to the counter when the captian snapped his fingers at him and then barked his drink orders.

 

Unfortunately, my observations of this captain were not as favorable as everyone has posted so far. He may be wonderful with the guests, but if what we saw of his interactions with the crew, he must lead by fear instead of inspiration.

[Ine]

I cannot really talk about the captains on Celebrity. We didnot see or meet him the last time.It was one of the things we noticed.

 

However on our various sailings with HAL the captain was very "visible", often walked around the ship many times, talked a lot to everybody and was very approachable. (sp?).

 

I thought it was maybe a difference in attitude of various countries?

[JORAY]

Captains are just like us, some are outgoing and some are not.

 

We have been around two Captains, two were every outgoing and walked around the ship talking to guests, the other was not outgoing but every business like.

 

I think after having been around the three that their command of English is also a factor. The one who was quiet was really a "wolf in sheep's" clothes because once he knew his lack of English was not a factor in a group he was more outgoing and we could discuss many subjects.

 

Keep in mind that these Captains have a lot on their mind -- 2000 guests, 1000+ staff and a $$$$ ship to keep safe and operating on time.

 

The same is true of the Hotel Mgr's some we never see and some we see walk around checking conditions in busy times on the ship.

[samkmm]

I wanted to throw my 2 cents in about Capt Papanikolaou. What impressed us most about his coming to our connections gathering, was that when he asked for questions he stayed until everyone who had one had a chance to talk to him. It wasn't a 3 questions and I have to get back to the bridge session.

[AndyB1935]

Unfortunately I will have to disagree. I was on the Constellation for the 2 week transatlantic in April/May 2005 and the Captain was observed treating his crew members very rudely.

 

I think you must have had a different Captain on that cruise. We have sailed with Captain Papanikolaou six times. I have never seen him drink or smoke in public.

 

A large number of staff and crew have mentioned to us that they love to sail with him and consider him to be the best of all the Celebrity captains.

 

One staff member also said that he is considered to be the best Mariner as well, which is not surprising since he has 38 years of experience.

 

Andy

[eddiesgal]

Though we've only had the honor of sailing with Captain Papanikolaou one time, I've sailed 8 other times and have yet to see a Captain that was as gracious and as easily accessible as he. It was our distinct pleasure to meet him and we hope to sail with him many times in the future.

Kim

[German Wunderkind]

I think you must have had a different Captain on that cruise. We have sailed with Captain Papanikolaou six times. I have never seen him drink or smoke in public.

A large number of staff and crew have mentioned to us that they love to sail with him and consider him to be the best of all the Celebrity captains.

One staff member also said that he is considered to be the best Mariner as well, which is not surprising since he has 38 years of experience.

I'm sorry to tell you that it is the same Captain.

I was on the same sailing as mkirch72 and I cruised Constellation in 2004.

In 2004 I observed the Captain often at one of the tables in the Champagne bar with some senior members drinking and smoking like a chimney. In 2005 he was sitting like mkirch72 described at the Cova Cafe. Maybe he had a bad time on the transatlantic because he had a much ruder behavior than in 2004.

 

I was on a bridge tour where he showed suddenly up and interrupted his first officer to ask us I he (the first officer) was telling the truth and if had already explained how the ship was navigated with the voyage management system.

When we said no (because the first officer was still explaining all the technical equipment in the center of the bridge) the Captain took harshly over and explained the bridge for the rest of the time leaving the first officer to conn the ship.

As he was finished he asked us (very politely by the way) if someone had sailed to the Norwegian fjords. We said no so the Captain went to a computer and started a PowerPoint presentation about the Constellation cruise to that area. He really loves that cruise.

 

Normally he was polite to the passengers but at the Captains talk a passenger asked why a beamer in the cinema was still out of order after nearly arriving in Dover.

Somebody on stage tried to explain that they did not have a spare light bulb when suddenly the Captain rose and started to speak to the passenger who asked the question.

In his voice you could hear the anger about that question and he nearly barked to the passenger if this would be a problem for the safety of the ship and if not why the hell the passenger was so upset about a simple light bulb.

Of course it was not a safety issue and a very awed passenger sat down trying to explain that some activities had to be cancelled because the beamer did not work. But he never had a change because the Captain (standing 5 feet above him on stage and barking into his microphone) simply was in rage that someone questioned the safety and seaworthiness of his ship.

 

Later someone from the management on the ship told me that he is very proud of his ship and that it is very hard for him to see someone criticize his ship.