Linda:
Growing up with a travel journalist father, your travel experiences were rich
and varied. What attracted you to cruise ships? And how did you
get your first job as a blackjack dealer at the tender age of fifteen?
That intrigues everyone!
Rich: I believe my love of ships is in my blood! Early in
my father's writing career he was the Ocean Liner specialist for the New York
City paper he was writing for at the time. He covered all the big news
of the liners dating back to the Normandy fiasco, QE1, Queen Mary, America,
and United States delivery and subsequent winning of the Blue Ribband.
His work would later evolve into being Travel Editor of Esquire
Magazine, and having a weekly newspaper syndicated article in over 130
newspapers in the U.S. He also authored many travel books.
Whenever his writing assignments included reviewing a new or existing ship, I
would travel with him on the assignment, as my Mom has never been a huge fan
of ocean travel; so this became a great father and son bonding experience for
us. My first cruise was age 7 aboard P & O's Arcadia, next - age 8
aboard P & O's Canberra - age 9 aboard P & O's Oriana. Needless
to say I was hooked. Also being a New Yorker, as a kid I would tag along
with my Dad to the West Side of NYC when he would visit the great liners.
When I was 15, my dad was contacted by Carnival Cruise Lines P.R. man (Max
Wolkoff, who had met my dad and me on a previous assignment and knew of my
love for ships), who was looking for some press. He suggested that I take a
summer position aboard Carnival's one and only ship, the TSS Mardi Gras. The
summer before another Travel Writer's son, Roger Blum (Ethel Blum's son)
also had a similar job. (Roger is a senior executive with Carnival
today.) Anyway, at the tender age of 15 off I went to work first as a
bar waiter then a blackjack dealer on the Mardi Gras and loved it - what a
summer! At age 16 I joined Holland-America as a kid's counselor aboard
the SS Rotterdam. Continued with Holland-America until I was 19 aboard
the Statendam, Veendam & Volendam.. Joined Home Lines at 19 as Asst.
Cruise Director and Disc Jockey aboard the Oceanic, Doric and Atlantic.
Linda: Your first Cruise
Director position was on the Chandris Fantasy Cruises' Amerikanis when you
were only twenty-one. How has the role of Cruise Director evolved during
the course of your career?
Rich: I was one of the first Cruise Directors that Chandris
hired. Previously the position had been called Entertainment Officer.
Originally the job entailed little more than emceeing the shows, hosting
activities, and socializing with the guests. The position has evolved
into the Cruise Director being in charge of the creation and execution of the
on board entertainment product and full management of the department.
Today's Cruise Director must have many skills. You have to be a talented
emcee, and strong communication and public speaking skills are a must to
present informative port of call briefings for the guests. You have to
be an excellent manager and motivator to handle some very strong personalities
of entertainers within your department. You have to socialize and make
sure that the guests aboard are having a great cruise experience. A good
Cruise Director and Entertainment Team set the overall mood of the ship.
In addition to all this, the CD must liaise with both the onboard (Captain,
Hotel Manager and all department heads) and shore side (Director of
Entertainment, Hotel Operations, etc.) management teams. The best Cruise
Directors must be multi talented. (Public Relations Specialists,
Mediators, Managers, Entertainers, Problem Solvers, Guidance Counselors and
more) all within an 18 hour work day!
Linda:
Along those lines, how has extensive computerization made the day-to-day
duties of Cruise Director more efficient? (I'm assuming that it has!)
Rich: Like any office, the computer has streamlined the day to day
operation of the department. But it's not just the computer that has
made a big difference. It's the computer along with incorporated
satellite communications that has made a huge difference. Daily Programs
are now created by the cruise staff in a fraction of the time as pre-computer
days. Aboard Renaissance Cruises, the entertainment team now even handles the
physical printing of the program as well. The communication between the
office and the ship has been greatly improved via satellite email. If I
need immediate clarification on an issue I simply pick up the phone on my desk
dial a four digit code and within seconds I am connected to the office.
A simple phone call five years ago could take an hour to get through.
The Renaissance ships are mostly "paperless" thanks to computers.
So in answer to the question, most definitely the computer has made our lives
much easier aboard.
Linda:
Your responsibilities include keeping a
diverse mix of guests entertained and happy. How much of a hand do you
as Cruise Director have in selecting the entertainers and types of shows
presented on board the ships you've worked on in the past and on today's
Renaissance fleet?
Rich: For the most part the entertainment is hired by the shore
based Entertainment Director. Once aboard the Cruise Director evaluates
the act and helps the Entertainment Director evaluate whether the individual
fits the product needs of the ship, something that varies dramatically from
Cruise Line to Cruise Line. Renaissance Cruise is fortunate to have one
of
the industries top ex- Cruise Directors in the Entertainment Director
position, Mr. Doug Jones. Doug worked for many years with Royal Viking
Line as one of their most popular Cruise Directors. Doug also started in
the industry at a very young age and was also one of the youngest Cruise
Directors when he was promoted into the position. Having a former Cruise
Director in the position is very helpful, because Doug has a keen
understanding of what exactly is happening on the ship when I need his
advice and assistance.
Linda: As Cruise Director, you've
entertained passengers yourself with a comedy and magic act co-starring your
golden retriever Liberty. That had to have been a hit, but what about
outside entertainers? What criteria is used in their selection? If
an act bombs, how do you handle it when a guest entertainer just doesn't
"go over" with your passengers?
Rich: If a guest entertainer "bombs," it does not
necessarily mean that he or she is not a good entertainer. It only means
that they are not right for your particular product. I have worked with
acts that I have seen get standing ovations on one cruise line and get tepid
responses or worse on others. This is where a good Entertainment
Director is vital. He or she must understand the product and audition
the acts to make sure they fit the bill. Even from ship to ship -
itinerary to itinerary within the same fleet - the product may differ as does
the clientele, which makes it all trickier as not only do you have to
understand the specific product needs but the particular vessel needs as well.
On the rare occasions that an entertainer does "slip through the
cracks" and is just not suitable in any way shape or form for the ship,
the contracts are written so changes can be made.
Linda: Can you give us a peek at shipboard life off-stage?
When you have some time off, how do you and your cruise staff members spend
your leisure hours?
Rich: All ships have special crew lounges and dining rooms,
designed so when you have a moment to yourself you can go into "the other
world" aboard and relax for a few moments. The crew on Renaissance
Cruises' ships are very happy for the most part, so the atmosphere in these
lounges and mess rooms is great. There is usually much laughter and
light hearted moments. When in port (which aboard Renaissance Ships is
most every day!) a walk around the city or trip to the beach is wonderful for
unwinding and relaxing. Yes, sometimes you do have to just get away for
a quick attitude readjustment. A meal off the ship in port is also very
popular. The crew of the ship becomes your family, and I have made some
of my best friends at sea. It is not unusual when signing off the ship
at the end of a contract to travel for a few days with the members of your
team to relax and ease back into land life. The crew member goes through
an unusual phenomena I have named "shipboard decompression" when
ending the contact. You sign off the ship and suddenly it's all too
quiet. No constant hum of the engines and a/c systems, you don't have to
be anywhere within minutes as you always do aboard, so you go through this
"shipboard decompression" which is usually manifested with not being
able to sit still and relax. The longer the contract, the longer the
period of "decompression". My worst one lasted three weeks!
This is why a short trip immediately upon sign-off is needed.
Linda: Many cyber-cruisers surf the 'net looking
for cruise ship employment information. Could you give them some advice
about how to prepare for and then obtain a job at sea?
Rich: First, be certain that the
shipboard life is for you. Long hours and little privacy are the norm.
This is just the reality of being part of a shipboard crew. EVERYONE
knows your business. But the rewards are great. The travel is
awesome. The camaraderie you will build with fellow crew members and
friends that you will make is incredible. Being someone that can make
the difference in a guests' vacation is incredibly satisfying. If you
are American, the opportunities are somewhat limited as the majority of the
services staff are not from the U.S. Positions available to Americans
include: Social Staff, Stage Manager, Broadcast Manager, Youth Counselor,
Receptionist, Port Lecturer, Disc Jockey, Sports Director, Medical Staff,
Shore Excursion Staff, Computer System Specialists and a few others. Day
cruises are one of the best ways to "get your foot in the door", as
most cruise lines want experienced shipboard personnel. Be persistent
and also be ready to go on a minute's notice. Sometimes emergencies pop
up and the jobs go to whoever is available soonest. If you really want
to work on a ship, set your mind on it, and make it happen! There are
also a number of outside crewing agencies that can assist you. You may
also want to take a day cruise as a passenger to see who does what aboard, so
you know exactly which job to apply for and better understand the day to day
operations of a ship. Also check out the cruise line's web site as many
now have shipboard employment information right on their site, and you can
even apply online.
Linda: Is there anything you'd like
to add, Rich?
Rich: The highlight has been and currently is my affiliation with
Renaissance Cruises, for several reasons. First, I am so proud of the
Renaissance product. The ships are incredible, the product superb and it
is THE BEST VALUE IN THE CRUISE INDUSTRY TODAY. Each cruise the guests
are pleasantly surprised in just how good it is. The response from our
past guests has been overwhelming. Second, I have never worked with such
a "forward thinking" company and management team. Renaissance
Cruises has broken the mold as to what a cruise should be. You'll also
find a very happy crew on board our ships, as the company has made crew
welfare an emphasis and not an afterthought., which makes great sense as
a happy crew means a happy ship! On top of all that, the destinations
are second to none. Since joining Renaissance I have seen ports of call
I once only dreamed about.
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