Today was another beautiful day at sea. The ship is still lightly pitching on waves produced by the old weather front ahead of us but all our guests seem to enjoy the motion, which is not un-comfortable but does remind us that we are on a ship and not ashore. This sort of weather really convinces you that a cruise ship is the best way to see the world. In each port your hotel is parked right where you want to be and at sea you have a view that no realtor can sell you. No wonder that cruising is so popular and is still increasing in popularity. We have this cruise around a 1000 guests onboard (out of the 1170) who have made at least two or more cruises with the company. The number of days sailed for some guests go way over 700 and last cruise we had a lady on board, called Mama Lou by all of us, who managed 2465 (thus far…..)

A major part of the attraction for our guests is the crew on board. Apart from doing their job, everybody jumps at the chance to do just that little bit extra that makes the guest feel special.
I find still it an amazing thing that our bar tenders manage to remember the favorite drinks of our guests, when they return to the ship for their next cruise, even when it is 5 or 6 months later.
It is an personal aspect that guests love, as it makes them feel straight away at home.
Culinary is doing extra things, beyond what the company requires, with an extra food outlet. Although the items are available on the menu cycle, a sushi bar during one lunch time and a curry bar on the next day, do give some extra focus for the guests and extra enjoyment.

Last night I received a nice compliment from one of our guests regarding one of the cadets. The gentleman had dropped a rather expensive –unused-cigar over a ships inner railing, where it had landed on a ledge below and out of reach. However the cadet realized that he could access the area via a route from below and acted straight away. Small things can have a big impact.

A totally different occurrence took place during sunset, when I conducted a small and private ceremony for guests who wanted to disperse the ashes of both the parents of one of them. We get these requests quite often and the company is always happy to oblige. This particular one was special as it concerned a married couple, who met on an ocean crossing and had stipulated to be buried at sea together when the time came. At a time and location of the guests choosing, the ashes are dispersed over the side and I normally give an appropriate speech, which includes a little poem that I found on the internet:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry:
I am not there, I did not die.