RCL needs a chief meteorologist

[Biker19]

10 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Isn't James van Fleet the one that caused all the problems with Hurricane Harvey in Galveston?

Yes.

[not-enough-cruising]

11 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Isn't James van Fleet the one that caused all the problems with Hurricane Harvey in Galveston?

Oh yeah

[notscb]

10 hours ago, robmtx said:

 

Moving forward, Royal needs to create official company social media accounts for the Chief Meteorologist and then promote those accts as the ones to follow. That way we're not following someone's personal stuff. 

This- it wasn't even on him that RCL didn't make an exclusive account that they could control and maintain history of, and I'm surprised an oversight like this happened.

[not-enough-cruising]

5 minutes ago, notscb said:

This- it wasn't even on him that RCL didn't make an exclusive account that they could control and maintain history of, and I'm surprised an oversight like this happened.

It doesn’t matter. You can’t espouse your personal political views on the same

social media platform that you give official company information. JVF’s downfall was his own doing, and this was t the first time. 

[notscb]

Just now, not-enough-cruising said:

You can’t espouse your personal political views on the same

social media platform that you give official company information.

Sure you can- it was his personal account. RCL didn't make him use a corporate account, and he clearly didn't sign anything saying he couldn't post non-official content. I'm not saying it's a good choice, but there was clearly nothing stopping him- versus if RCL had a chief meteorologist account that they could go in and edit/delete/control in addition to that person.

[not-enough-cruising]

Just now, notscb said:

Sure you can- it was his personal account. RCL didn't make him use a corporate account, and he clearly didn't sign anything saying he couldn't post non-official content. I'm not saying it's a good choice, but there was clearly nothing stopping him- versus if RCL had a chief meteorologist account that they could go in and edit/delete/control in addition to that person.

Clearly you can not - as is evidenced by his current employment status. 
He was disciplined more than once before he was cut loose. 

[time4u2go]

On 6/25/2023 at 6:45 PM, cusematt4 said:

Does anyone know ... if they actually indeed plan to fill this position? 

Really no need to.  There's so many weather resources available now.

[twinmommy08]

I wonder if he will pay his lawyers this time if he sues for wrongful termination. He was fired from his last gig, too 

[chengkp75]

7 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

To hire him was more a Marketing topic anyway,

Bingo.  Nearly every ship in the world uses one weather advisory service or another, there are many to choose from, look for who gives the best service.  And, these are all specialist maritime weather routing and advisory people, not some TV personality.

[TexasRon]

There was a bit of kerfuffle involving involving one of the media companies in our area and an anchor regarding their “official” social media accounts.  The end result is they had to use company-owned accounts and those were taken back by the company when the employee left.

 

They can, and do, still share things on their own accounts but it is often not even their main personal account.

 

The bottom line is that you can be judged on everything you post online.  Seems like people would learn that more quickly than they have…just don’t post stuff that will get you in trouble.

Edited June 27, 2023 by TexasRon

[smokeybandit]

Funny thing is, if the wind didn't blow some deck chairs around, this is probably a non-issue.

[topnole]

On 6/25/2023 at 6:45 PM, cusematt4 said:

Hi all,

 

After the anthem storm incident years ago, it was reassuring to know that there was a meteorologist on staff full time to monitor weather.  This was something unique to Royal caribbean that helped make us and others feel safe.

 

We were very disappointed to see Royal caribbean part ways with the chief meteorologist they had hired after this incident years ago, James Van Fleet.  Aside from his awesome updates on social media, it was comforting to know he was monitoring weather for all ships, in addition to captains and shoreside crew.

 

Not only did Royal caribbean part ways with James Van Fleet, but they did so without having a replacement, although it appears that they may be looking for someone to fill the spot based on a job posting.

 

Now, Royal caribbean is once again receiving bad publicity with the Independence of the Seas sudden storm and flying chairs incident.  I’ve had a number of new cruisers question this, and to make things worse, Royal Caribbean and the flying chairs bad weather incident is a top story on the national nightly news tonight.

 

Even if there’s only a small chance James or someone in his position may have helped catch this and give some warning in advance, it once again shows how valuable having someone in this position is.

 

Does anyone know why Royal caribbean parted ways with James and if they actually indeed plan to fill this position? 

A meteorologist wouldn’t have helped one bit regarding that recent furniture flying on the Independence.  If then not having one makes anyone feel unsafe on a cruise, I’m not really sure what to say.  The technology now and is better than ever and having an in house person was all PR.  If that makes you feel safe,

great.  But it is window dressing and unnecessary.   

[RoundGuy2771]

 

 

Oh my.

 

RCI doesn't have a "Chief Meteorologist". No one is watching the weather now. Abandon Ship, Abandon Ship!!

[neverbeenhere]

Been using this meteorologist for years, it beats the TV weather guy at 68% 

[3kidsncats]

3 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

It doesn’t matter. You can’t espouse your personal political views on the same

social media platform that you give official company information. JVF’s downfall was his own doing, and this was t the first time. 

If it was his personal account, then yes, he can talk about his family life and personal views.  This is a huge pet peeve of mine. My husband is a performer, and he has personal accounts, and official work accounts.  People follow both, then literally tell him on his personal pages that they aren’t there to hear about his opinions, life, etc. — and that he needs to stick to his work content only.  Sorry doesn’t work that way.  They follow his personal accounts because it makes them feel connected (he has work history with some big national bands) but then complain because it’s a personal account.  Fortunately for him, he owns his company, so he has full autonomy on what he can and can not say- if Royal (or any other corporation) reasonably wants control over the content, then as was suggested by another cc’er, the company needs to create an official social media account strictly for that purpose — this issue is completely on them for not doing that in the first place.  Just because someone is in the public eye does not mean they don’t have the same right as everyone else to use their personal accounts as they see fit. 

[3kidsncats]

3 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Clearly you can not - as is evidenced by his current employment status. 
He was disciplined more than once before he was cut loose. 

Yes, you can.  You may not stay employed, but it is still your prerogative 

[Merion_Mom]

As smokeybandit posted on page 1, they are soliciting applications.  I know a few people who are applying.  😄  (although I told her about the position, my daughter is not one of them 😉 )

[Saab4444]

51 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

As smokeybandit posted on page 1, they are soliciting applications.  I know a few people who are applying.  😄  (although I told her about the position, my daughter is not one of them 😉 )

And they will re-hire one also just for Marketing reasons….

[A&L_Ont]

6 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

As smokeybandit posted on page 1, they are soliciting applications.  I know a few people who are applying.  😄  (although I told her about the position, my daughter is not one of them 😉 )

Family discount?🙃😃

Edited June 27, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[not-enough-cruising]

9 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

Yes, you can.  You may not stay employed, but it is still your prerogative 

You just proved my point, thank you 

[not-enough-cruising]

9 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

If it was his personal account, then yes, he can talk about his family life and personal views.  This is a huge pet peeve of mine. My husband is a performer, and he has personal accounts, and official work accounts.  People follow both, then literally tell him on his personal pages that they aren’t there to hear about his opinions, life, etc. — and that he needs to stick to his work content only.  Sorry doesn’t work that way.  They follow his personal accounts because it makes them feel connected (he has work history with some big national bands) but then complain because it’s a personal account.  Fortunately for him, he owns his company, so he has full autonomy on what he can and can not say- if Royal (or any other corporation) reasonably wants control over the content, then as was suggested by another cc’er, the company needs to create an official social media account strictly for that purpose — this issue is completely on them for not doing that in the first place.  Just because someone is in the public eye does not mean they don’t have the same right as everyone else to use their personal accounts as they see fit. 

I agree with you, people have the right to use your personal account as you see fit, however:

 

1. when you give company news on your personal account, it becomes a de facto business account.

 

2. You’re right to say what you want on your personal account is in alienable, however, your employer can dismiss you for it; happens often

Edited June 27, 2023 by not-enough-cruising

[BecciBoo]

On 6/25/2023 at 5:45 PM, cusematt4 said:

Independence of the Seas sudden storm and flying chairs incident.

Nothing any meteorologist can do could've helped that incident.  You can't always predict a squall like that.  The best they could've done in the time they had was make an announcement to get everybody under cover when they saw it coming, and they may have, the video didn't show it.  My best guess is the Cpt. was already trying to get away from the pier before it hit.  She was almost sideways in the channel when it hit.  I've been in one of these, but they were johnny on the spot, had the deck doors locked and nobody outside when it hit us.  These things can blow up in seconds which this one obviously did.

Edited June 27, 2023 by BecciBoo

[twangster]

Ironically even after his termination JVF has posted warnings for cruise passengers in South Florida.  This one on June 17 for Port Everglades and the Port of Miami warned passengers to explore outer decks early then shift to inside.  

 

[robmtx]

Found it - 

[3kidsncats]

4 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

I agree with you, people have the right to use your personal account as you see fit, however:

 

1. when you give company news on your personal account, it becomes a de facto business account.

 

2. You’re right to say what you want on your personal account is in alienable, however, your employer can dismiss you for it; happens often

My point is less about employers — although that can be a significant component of consideration when choosing what to post, or not.  As you say, people have been fired over their social media comments regardless of whether said personal accounts contain anything relevant to the employer.

 

My point is more for the people that state things like “don’t post abc about your personal life because I’m just here for xyz business info” while engaging on someone’s personal account.  THAT is what irritates the you know what out of me.  We have had people who combine their business and personal lives in one account (a dentist comes to mind as someone we had a big issue with) who feel free to post quite aggressive political viewpoints on their page(ie, threatening harm to people of opposing views) then come onto my husband’s page and tell him he needs to stop any political or non-music posts, oh and keep your wife in line.  The one particular person I’m referencing was pretty egregious (even threatened us with his “mob” connections 🙄) but you get the idea.  Whatever the business someone is interested in following someone for, if it’s a personal account then you have to accept the personal along with the info you’re looking for — or don’t follow that person.