Pam’s Perspective: Through the Looking Glass

Jun

Pam’s Perspective: Through the Looking Glass

Amber Buchanan Travel Recommendations 2011-06-29

Through the Looking Glass: Crew On Board Cruise Ships

You see a glass with water that is only at half of the capacity it can hold. Do you see it as half empty or half full? Some would say that those that see it as half full are optimistic and those that see it as half empty view things from a more pessimistic perspective. However, it is just one glass of water that can be viewed in two different ways. When encountering crewmembers, do you see them as they are in their specific work function or do you see them as a person as well outside of their job? On board a ship, crew do not judge each other by the cars we drive, the section of town we live in, and the clothes we wear as these variables are all pre-determined which may differ how those are judged on land. The looking glass is different.

There is an expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” meaning that what you see on the outside does not necessarily represent what is in the inside. This could not have been truer when I asked at team meeting what they did for work before their life on the ship. The answers varied but were an impressive resume of occupations that included a pharmacist, private business owners, a hotel general manager, call center representatives and supervisors, restaurateurs, accountants, etc.

Years ago on another HAL ship there was a grand piano on a crew deck that was being offloaded in the next port. Walking in this area, I heard beautiful live music, a Beethoven concerto perhaps but it was exquisite concert music. Trying to find where this was coming, I noticed a cabin steward playing the piano. He later told me he was a concert pianist at home.

Crewmembers are on board for various reasons with different sacrifices and gains and maybe not for the obvious ones viewed on the surface. The next time you sail with us, take the time to ask one of our dedicated crewmembers what they did before they came to ships. Inside the book might reveal more than its cover.

Pam Kern van Donselaar, MSW, is Eurodam’s guest relations manager.

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