Uniall

56 minutes ago, Travel Junkie Judy said:

 

Ha ha John,

You got me on this.

I thought you started the new threads each year - going to 2019 Officers, etc.

 

Anyway, I started a new one for 2019.  

https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2629555-2019-list-of-ncl-officers-hotel-director-concierge-crew-etc/

Hi Judy

Yes, many years ago I restarted the next years thread on January 1.  Since then, many others have done the grunt work.  This was your turn.  LOL

1 hour ago, lkjacobs said:

I’m not sure exactly what you are asking, but I can offer a couple of notes. 

 

Jovo and Pam (his more-than-amazing HD Secretary) have left the Bliss for vacation, after which they will head to Germany to oversee construction of the Encore that they’ll launch in November. Mark Maeling is, and will be, the HD going forward on the Bliss. Marc Spijkerboer has returned from vacation as F&B Director, though I think he’s heading for the Encore in the fall with several other Bliss senior officers.

 

With the necessary staffing of the Encore and Joy, there inevitably will be a lot of movement of senior officers and promotions of others into such positions. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Joy is particularly curious, since I’ve heard nothing other than retention of their Hotel Director (not a Chinese national) when it’s repositioned to the US. The last time I checked, NCL had not even lined up the major shows for that ship, let alone a management team. 

Regarding the Joy, it's rumored the primary on board language will remain Mandarin after its repo to the US.  If your are bilingual English/Mandarin you can get a 50% booking discount as a volunteer Greeter/Interpreter.  .

.

;

;

.

LOL, I'm jesting.

No trips planned.  Sharon Rae's physical rehab is still in play for another month or so.  I'm scheduled for left knee surgery a week after Thanksgiving and the right knee in February or March.  I hope we can start booking cruises for next Summer & Fall.

Steve Jacobson is a rock ribbed Midwestern American who grew up in the Chicago area and majored in Hospitality Industry at a Milwaukee college.  He is very direct, sincere, and straight forward.  He is not a fawner, pretentious, or touchy-feely.  Perhaps those traits are valued more by Americans.   I remember being the last to disembark in New York and he bid us farewell with grin on his face by saying:  "We should have been all clear 15 minutes ago.  I go on vacation today which started 15 minutes ago.  You owe me, Big Time."  To an American, those were words of endearment and friendship. 

4 hours ago, AlicanteMac said:

Unlikely to be Bruno.  If you're really unlucky, Steven Jacobson will be the HD!

I am truly surprised by your apparent negative critique of HD Steve Jacobson.  I consider Steve to be among NCL's top five HDs.  In fact, I have booked cruises in the past solely because he was scheduled to be aboard.

@source's question raises an interesting perspective.  What if NCL stopped assigning "Ships" to continents and started assigning "Crews: to continents.  Example: Any update o n the Officers assigned to Australia this season?  LOL

Whatever happened to Rule #1: If it ain't broke, don't fix it ?

Just off the Getaway yesterday.

 

 

Joao Gigante - Hotel Director

Plamenko Bakic -Asst Hotel Director

Ricardo Pinheiro - Food and Beverages Director

Zack Fiesch - Cruise Director

Jose Regaliza - Executive Housekeeper

Irma Reyes - Guest Services Manager

Tyson Pinto - Executive Chef

Hernan Gonzales Rios - Restaurant Manager

Silavski, Dejan -Beverage Manager

Shaun Harrison - Cruise Next Masnager

Hanno - Concierge

Cassie:

You took me literally. I was being figurative. I had seen your post of officers. But even with "pink" high lighting of CD, I ignored it. From my personal experience and for my personal taste, a Cruise Director can do very little, if anything at all, to improve my cruise enjoyment. To me, they are usually full of themselves with egos that are fed enormous daily quantities of deity food by their adoring syncophant staff. I'd rather get to know the HD, F&BD, & Con who can provide services I need and instruct the CD to leave me alone.

:cool:

Thanks for the current list of officers. Does anyone have a comment on Zack Fiesch?

Duh, Who Dat? ;p

I don't recognize his name. He may be a newcomer.

But, I never spend much time with Cruise Directors.

The only time I found them to be important was the equator crossing festivities. They decided who got the front row and participant seats.

I always agree but surely top 3

 

Carlos Adrian David all as good as each other

That's true but we don't want David's ego to take on a life of its own …;)

Thank you for your reply! I’ve never had David - how is he?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

In my opinion, David is among the top 5 Concierges in the NCL fleet

Current Captain, Hotel Director and Cruise Director on the Jade?

Will be back on the Jade next week, and hope someone knows who the current captain, hotel director and cruise director are?

Thank you! :)

I have a friend on the JADE right now. IF I can get any information from him, I'll post it here.

Carlos is the Concierge

Got email from Carlos informing me he moved as Concierge to the Jade to be aboard when we made Ambassador.

Sadly, I had to inform him we had to cancel the cruise for "out of the blue" unexpected medical problems. He told him to stay on Jade into Fall of 2018 and Winter of 2019 when we finally finish Ambassador

ooops

I must have missed something when I was on the Escape in 2016 and Adrian was the concierge. Nice enough guy, but what was it that made him above and beyond? I'm not sure I understand why he is considered so fantastic. Nice enough guy, smiled when I walked by, but I don't recall a greeting or personal attention. I was solo on the Escape and I don't even remember talking to him. I only encountered an assistant when I canceled a tour. I had much more interaction with my butler and remember him fondly.

I will let Uniall comment if he wishes but

 

Service provided with charm, charisma, efficiency and a wonderful greeting. He always makes us feel special (we are not) and treats each guest as if they are the only ones. He is uniquely well informed and will go beyond to assist a guest.

 

He is not alone as I and other have said David C and Carlos Z are in the same league but provide the service in their own unique way.

 

If you had interacted with Adrian you would appreciate his excellence.

I think the solution to this conundrum is self apparent when reading a single sentence in each of your posts. If some one smiles at you when walking by, say hello and ask how their doing. That kick starts an interpersonal relationship.

oops

That is great news indeed. If he is around in the summer we may choose Yacht Club with MSC.

 

Last we heard from Prem he was very happy at HAL - these are the best and NCL will keep losing these people until one day someone sits up and smells the coffee.

While I agree with everything you say, the chances of NCL waking up and smelling the coffee are very dim.

The corporation is now controlled by a group who intentionally and with malice aforethought fired the "good customer relations" executive and hired the "show me the money" executive.

Thanks this is so insightful but does bring about the matter I raised with NCL. They have two styles of senior Crew those from the old school for the Jewel class and smaller and those for the bigger ships. I doubt the Great Armando da Silva would ever like or want to be HD on the Epic. For some being on the big ships is Kudos for other it is unnecessary agro for the same money!!.

 

Uniall would you agree though that David C is fine example of someone who could do both concierge roles.

 

There are some than can do both but talking to one HD he said moving between the classes is not easy as NCL have different expectations.

I absolutely agree David Contreras can do both sizes of ships. But, as his father and I have agreed, we can't let David know we think that for fear it would go to his head. ;p

Thanks - we are obviously in tune. I have never met Carlos (I thought Adrian was the senior after Ruth but I bow to your knowledge) I accept as we had not met Carlos I made a wrong assumption. We have heard he is excellent.

You are very correct about Adrian. Why else would he be selected to bring out new ships? Carlos is indeed very good at what he does, but Adrian is the cream of the crop.

You are both correct about Adrian being a great Concierge. He is efficient, exacting and the consummate professional. He's what you would expect of a Concierge in a 5 Star World Class hotel. He is able to provide his amazing service on the largest ships in the fleet.

On the other hand, Carlos is personal, warmly engaging, and anticipatory of your needs. He is what you would expect of a Personal Assistant. His style of service is more time consuming and works better on mid size ships. He is also the senior concierge and harkens back to the smaller pre Epic fleet days

Thanks - we are obviously in tune. I have never met Carlos (I thought Adrian was the senior after Ruth but I bow to your knowledge) I accept as we had not met Carlos I made a wrong assumption. We have heard he is excellent.

There's some interesting Norwegian folk lore regarding Ruth & Carlos. The story, as reported to me by one of the participants goes back 30 years ago.

In 1988, Norwegian Cruise Line opened a small office in London staffed by four people.

Office Manager:

Andy Stuart (President CEO),

Staff:

Armando DeSilva (HD)

Ruth Hagger (Retired Concierge)

Carlos Zarate (Concierge)

if he is the same Carlos that we had on the Sun in Sept. 2016 - he is FANTASTIC - Loved him. One of the reasons I want to know who will be on the Jade for March 23 sailing is hoping we will luck out and have Carlos again...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...hoping he will be on the BLISS for our MAY 2019 sailing as well...Can he please just adjust his contracts to suit us???

 

Yes, I know he can't...but he is that good...

Yes, that was OUR Carlos on the Sun. :halo:

Still wondering about the Getaway

SolidGoldCruiser

To help pass the time while you "wonder" about the Getaway, here's some:

Solid Gold "Wondering" music from the 1950's,

before the "Music Died". :cool:

Hey John,

Lynn (JerseyGem) and I remember that. Thanks for the hospitality!

Randy

Randy

You and Lynn we're, and still are, most welcome. We and our cruise mates were delighted to share some fun and frolic with our fellow CCers. Sadly, our cruise mate is now a widower with the untimely passing of his lovely wife, Liz.