Gratuities on board

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

Good info,  not what I heard second hand on Equinox..it was a tough time for crew for sure. 

Did a lot of employees quit during the pandemic and go elsewhere?

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, zitsky said:

Did a lot of employees quit during the pandemic and go elsewhere?

This was also covered in the Silhouette Q and A.

As the first ships came back into service it was easy to fill them but the process became increasingly harder. Around 80% of crew returned but issues with  covid vaccinations and visas made it impossible for some crew to return. The problems have led X and other lines to search for staff outside the countries they have traditionally used and recruitment offices have been set up in the Caribbean and South America. The problems in Ukraine and Russia has also affected recruitment. Contrary to popular myth the new ships don't get all the experienced staff and indeed many of the most experienced people choose to stay on M or S class ships - the longer crew have been employed the more choice they get. Crew simply can't be moved from ship to ship as their visas are usually linked to one ship /contract. 

[the penguins]

7 hours ago, zitsky said:

I’ve been on several Celebrity cruises but I don’t know how to find these talks?  Are they listed in the Daily Planner or the phone app?

These opportunities tend to occur:

1) on cruises with z lot of sea days - trans atlantics/Pacific.

2) with cruise directors who actively put together something different for example John T Grantham and Eddy Jenkins.

3) when other senior staff are prepared to do that little bit extra.  For example Guest Relations Director Julie Sherrington was a prime mover in setting up the Q and A on Silhouette. Everyone who cruises on Celebrity "knows" Julie and many of us have had the pleasure of cruising with her in person. I say "in person" as Julie is also the voice in the lifts/elevators and other prerecorded announcements on all Celebrity ships.

Try asking the Cruise Director if they can lay on something to cover the topics discussed.