favourite hotel manager on HAL?

[covkid]

do you have one?

[innlady1]

do you have one?

 

I must admit...I don't even recall the names of the Hotel Manager on our two Noordam cruises!

[RedmondCruiser]

There have been several HM that have done an outstanding job. Hans Dernison was on an Alaska cruise and he was very engaging. Most I cannot remember - On a 2004 Alaska cruise the HM had some of us, who had several days with HAL, gather in the Piano Bar on the Rydam for a Q & A period. Very nice touch.

Also the HM on the Maasdam on our October B to B did a great job. We met him at the VIP cocktail party and enjoyed his company.

On our last cruise on the Westerdam we hardly ever saw the HM, who had no VIP cocktail party on a 19 day cruise, which was a first.

[MikeT718]

For my money the Best HM HAL ever had was Mr. James Dearing:) I cannot say enough about him and Princess has him all to themselves..I was very sorry to hear of his move..And I do understand he had to do what was best for him

[cp556]

Two great HMs come to mind:

 

Robert VerSteeg aboard Statendam during our Alaska cruise in 2006. He was out on the pier working with stevedores who were in the midst of some job action and delaying baggage delivery to the ship ... and Robert made sure every bag was cleared. Later in the cruise, Robert was everywhere ... and most cordial and professional.

 

And Mark Pells aboard Zuiderdam last year. Mark was so very good at his job. One image is his boarding a tender in Acapulco to escort a seriously ill passenger ashore.

[CoconutFish]

Fritz Gehner and Mark Pells, both professional and interested in their jobs.

 

Best combination of Hotel Manager and Captain: Mark Pells and Captain Van Donselar on the Zuiderdam. With Pam Kern, the Guest Relation Manager, this was the best, most enthusiastic team we have seen.

[Krazy Kruizers]

There was a VIP party on the 19 day Westerdam cruise - very few people were invited. Ron Bontenbal was the HM who did not circulate among the few of us that were there.

Best Hotel Manager we have had -- Francois Birarda on the Veendam this past March.

[RedmondCruiser]

There was a VIP party on the 19 day Westerdam cruise - very few people were invited. Ron Bontenbal was the HM who did not circulate among the few of us that were there.

 

Best Hotel Manager we have had -- Francois Birarda on the Veendam this past March.

 

If you don't get invited it did'nt exist. 269 days and building.

[TedC]

James Dearing was very visible and extremely helpful. Unfortunately, he's no longer with HAL

[kakalina]

I also must admit to two favorites.

Fritz Gehner who was HotMan on our first few cruises and Ceese Tesselaar the HotMan on our last few cruises. There are many I like but I think these two stand out as the best of the best.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I also must admit to two favorites.

Fritz Gehner who was HotMan on our first few cruises and Ceese Tesselaar the HotMan on our last few cruises. There are many I like but I think these two stand out as the best of the best.

 

 

Thanks for reminding me -- Ceese Tesselaar is also a great Hotel manger. Have sailed a few times with him on the Ryndam!!

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

I adore Douglas Hernandez of the Oosterdam.

 

We met him years ago when he was with NCL aboard the Dawn. At that time Dawn was fabulous, now O is even more! :D

[rkacruiser]

Memorable Hotel Managers: I believe these gentlemen made a significant positive difference in my cruise experience. (These are listed in no particular order.)

 

Hans Dernison

Fritz Gehner

Henk Mensink

Firman van Walle

Nick Burger

Fekko Ebbans

 

Apologies to those Hotel Managers in my very early years of cruising with Holland America Line whose names escape me. Had it not been for their superior attention to the details of providing excellent hotel services for their guests at that time, today's Holland America Line hotel managers would not be working to make the "Signature of Excellence" a reality for the guests of the early 21st Century!

[leoandhugh]

Henk Mensink as the Hotel Manager paired with his wife Cristal as the Guest Relations Manager make what we consider an unbeatable combination. Both are personable, capable, helpful and very approachable when you have a problem situation. And they both mingle freely with guests at luncheons or parties:)

[Juanita462]

Henk Mensyk and his wife Krystal were superb

and made our last cruise a delight. Krystal solved a problem for us in

a timely manner and both are very personable and friendly.

[sail7seas]

Oh my goodness.......

 

We have sailed with so many wonder Hotel Managers through the years and some of them time and time again.

 

I think the list of great ones goes on and on.... only once or maybe twice were we disappointed with the Hot Man on one of our cruises.

 

To name names is awful. I'd hate so much if I had a brain freeze and left off one of our favorites .....which would make me feel terrible.

 

Among our favorites are:

 

Firmin van Walle

Stan Kuppen

Douglas Hernandez

Theo Haanen

Francois Birarda

Henk Mensink

Kees Streuding

 

Some that are listed above by other people we have never sailed with so can't name them. I am certain that some of the names we hear repeatedly, we also would be impressed with but until we sail with them ourselves...... Some we have not sailed with in such a long time that we hardly know them today.

 

We hugely miss sailing with:

Nick Burger with whom we sailed many, many times. One of the best HAL Hotel Managers ever.

 

Mike Mahn was also a fantastic Hotel Manager but don't think he is currently sailing with HAL. FAbulous Hot Man.

 

It's a really tough job and IMO most of them do it magnifently, some are extraordinary IMO

 

 

 

[kakalina]

Oh my goodness.......

 

 

 

We hugely miss sailing with:

Nick Burger with whom we sailed many, many times. One of the best HAL Hotel Managers ever.

 

Ah Sails, just think how happy Nick and Staci are with their new baby and being all settled down in Seattle now. I hear they are both well and happy.

[sail7seas]

Yes, they are very happy. The baby is almost a year and a half now. :)

 

[Sage]

There have been so many good ones, but the one that stands out for us and is our favorite is Firmin van Walle.

[May4]

Another heart-felt vote for Firmin van Walle! He gets high marks from me for a well run hotel dept, of course, but he's also very kind and gracious.

 

I was very appreciative of the good job that HotMan Nick Burger did prior to his move to Seattle. A diningroom steward once described him as "a very wise man.

[sail7seas]

I can't agree more that Firmin van Walle is a great Hotel Manager and incredible gentleman. Looking forward to sailing with him again in August..... If he's aboard, we KNOW it will be a great cruise!

 

 

[Candy]

Fritz Gehner and Mark Pells, both professional and interested in their jobs.

 

Best combination of Hotel Manager and Captain: Mark Pells and Captain Van Donselar on the Zuiderdam. With Pam Kern, the Guest Relation Manager, this was the best, most enthusiastic team we have seen.

 

We have been fortunate to have Mark Pells as the HotMan on our last few cruises. He's an extremely approachable, visible, yet professional officer. Does anyone know where he'll be in November?

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[Typhoon1]

I have to agree with Candy. Mark Pells was a great HM on our last RSVP charter. He even arrranged for free cocktails at our CC Meet & Greet which was organized by Peter (Boytjie).

[Copper10-8]

We have been fortunate to have Mark Pells as the HotMan on our last few cruises. He's an extremely approachable, visible, yet professional officer. Does anyone know where he'll be in November?

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

 

Schedule shows him on Zuiderdam until mid-August. Depending on when your NOV cruise is, he might be back or he might still be enjoying his vac

[DesertSunset]

Willem van de Poll !!!

Kees Streuding

Theo Haanen

 

and yes, in the day... Nick Burger...