We all enjoyed a good night’s sleep after all these standbys while going up the river. Although the rainy season is supposed to have started we id not see much of it yet, as yesterday was a clear sky day and today it was the same again. Only just before departure we saw the first thunder storm gathering momentum above the city of Manaus. We were the only cruise ship in port and there aren’t many expected in the coming weeks, until the season gears up in late January. Ahead of us is another floating pier, called the Torres pier and alongside was a cargo ship, loading and unloading containers, which listened to the beautiful name of log-in. We were all wondering if her sisters would be called pass-word, username or something similar, derived from the computer world. It turned out that the name of the owner company was LOG, hence the ships names that started with the brand name. Somehow in the past, they were a bit more creative and respectful with naming ships.
Table with Hotelmanager Francois Briarda.
Although the ships cruise schedule is very full and hectic nowadays, not even counting the extra burdens of an Amazon expedition, we always want to make time for the crew. The members of “Club Prinsendam” as I call them are the most valuable asset that we have and they deliver the product that our guests appreciate. Thus it is important that we welcome new crewmembers in our midst in the right way and make them feel welcome. If a new-new crewmember joins, then he/she is picked up at the gangway and shown around by a buddy. It means that somebody is not walking around totally forlorn in a strange environment. Then the human Resource Manager runs the person through a whole number of familiriasation programs. Some compulsory by law but a lot that have to deal with the company’s way of working and life on board. All things that help to settle down quickly.
Service with a smile, not just for guests but also for fellow crewmembers.
When, after a while, there is sufficient new crew on board, we throw a “welcome on board” luncheon for them, so that they can see that they are not alone in being new and it give s the opportunity to meet the ships staff. This time we had Manaus day selected for this purpose as it was a quiet day between the upstream run and the down stream run. The dining room was closed to the regular guests, as most were ashore and a three course meal was being served. Ships staff joined in, at each table for a bit of R&R and for the crew to learn that the ship staff does not live in an ivory tower on cloud 9. There is a natural reservation in each human being to keep a distance to senior persons. It is the same ashore and at sea but if you want to find out what is going on with the crew and what concerns live among them, you have to reduce that distance and eating is always a very good way of doing that.
I never mind to have my picture taken with beautiful girls. Front office and HK staff.
Thus we had our luncheon and it gave the ship staff a chance to talk with the new crewmembers in an informal way and to gently quiz them about why they went to sea, how they got on board, if the hiring process pleasant and if they encountered any difficulties. If needed I pass all the concerns mentioned on to Human Resources ashore and I know that the Directors and Managers there, do follow up quickly on what is communicated to them from the ships.
We left at 1600 hrs. and managed to pull out just before a real downpour started over the city. We will now sail down river with the current with us, and will be “flushed back” to open se as it where.
Tonight at 11 pm. we will change pilots and then tomorrow we will be in Parintins.
All photos by Human Resources Manager Mike Willock.
December 14, 2010 at 12:20 am
Here’s another lump sum of comments, Captain! When you mentioned you were sailing over one of the deepest points on earth I pulled out an old map I have of the Pacific Ocean floor. To my horror I discovered that the deepest point of the world’s oceans is at the south tip of the Mariana Trench, ESE of Guam. It’s a good thing I never knew 🙂 Sailing over somehow feels better than flying over! The creepy crawlies you attract with your elegant ship are crickies? It just shows that much is relevant and subjective. I grew up with the critters and I still think their sound is soothing! Are there also “rain frogs” around the Amazon, Captain? I don’t know their official name but they start orchestrating with their friends in the neighbourhood after a verocious downpour imitating the mysterious sounds of the gamelans of the islands. Last but not least; my heart warms, Captain, how you write about the gentle way you and your staff welcome the new crew members. They are a gentle people that I personally treat like ‘flower petals’. My experience of having lived in a 3rd world country doing volunteer work with people that have held their head high can bring out different personality traits; it all depends …