To us, this says it all.
If this was a play or even a movie, Crystal Cruises senior officers and members of the crew along with fellow guests would comprise the cast. While this isn't a movie nor a play, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of the Senior Officers along with other staff and members of the crew.
To us, they are the true stars.
To us, they are the true stars.
These outstanding professionals are part of what some of us refer to as our Crystal Cruises Family.
With a crew of 650+ members, plus other contributors who are part of the enrichment program, we can't possibly introduce each and every member to you. However, we thought we would introduce you to some members of the extraordinary on-board team.
Captain Birger Vorland
We first sailed with Captain Birger on the January 4, 2013 round trip Miami Voyage and then again as part of the full 2014 World Cruise Voyage.
Captain Birger has served as Captain of the Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony Cruise Ships. Prior to assuming his current assignment as Captain of the Crystal Serenity, he served as Vice President, Crystal Cruises Nautical Operations for the past seven years and returned to his role as Captain, starting on November 18 of 2012.
Captain Birger has been sailing the high seas for most of his life and has served as a Captain on other vessels as well. We look forward to sailing with Captain Birger during the the two voyages which precede the 2015 World Cruise and the two voyages that follow the conclusion of the World Cruise.
With a crew of 650+ members, plus other contributors who are part of the enrichment program, we can't possibly introduce each and every member to you. However, we thought we would introduce you to some members of the extraordinary on-board team.
Captain Birger Vorland
We first sailed with Captain Birger on the January 4, 2013 round trip Miami Voyage and then again as part of the full 2014 World Cruise Voyage.
Captain Birger has served as Captain of the Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony Cruise Ships. Prior to assuming his current assignment as Captain of the Crystal Serenity, he served as Vice President, Crystal Cruises Nautical Operations for the past seven years and returned to his role as Captain, starting on November 18 of 2012.
Captain Birger has been sailing the high seas for most of his life and has served as a Captain on other vessels as well. We look forward to sailing with Captain Birger during the the two voyages which precede the 2015 World Cruise and the two voyages that follow the conclusion of the World Cruise.
Captain Egil Giske.
Captain Egile Giske will be the Captain for the full 2015 World Cruise. This will mark his first World Cruise as Captain.
We last sailed with Captain Giske in September of 2014 as we crossed the North Atlantic from Southampton to Boston.
Captain Giske has enjoyed a very distinguished career with Crystal Cruises and has been Captain of the original Crystal Harmony. Harmony was retired from the Crystal Cruises fleet and sails as the Asuka II whose clientele are mainly Japanese. Asuka II is part of NYK, the parent holding company of Crystal Cruises. Prior to moving over to the Crystal Serenity in the middle of 2013 to take the place of Captain John Okland who retired from Crystal Cruises, Captain Giske had been the Captain of Crystal Symphony for several years. We look forward to sailing with Captain Giske.
Vice Captain Nenad Willheim
We have sailed with the Vice Captain on several voyages including part of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 World Cruises respectively. We appreciate the time he takes to speak with the guests and to answer a range of questions that we have asked of him.
Captain Egile Giske will be the Captain for the full 2015 World Cruise. This will mark his first World Cruise as Captain.
We last sailed with Captain Giske in September of 2014 as we crossed the North Atlantic from Southampton to Boston.
Captain Giske has enjoyed a very distinguished career with Crystal Cruises and has been Captain of the original Crystal Harmony. Harmony was retired from the Crystal Cruises fleet and sails as the Asuka II whose clientele are mainly Japanese. Asuka II is part of NYK, the parent holding company of Crystal Cruises. Prior to moving over to the Crystal Serenity in the middle of 2013 to take the place of Captain John Okland who retired from Crystal Cruises, Captain Giske had been the Captain of Crystal Symphony for several years. We look forward to sailing with Captain Giske.
Vice Captain Nenad Willheim
We have sailed with the Vice Captain on several voyages including part of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 World Cruises respectively. We appreciate the time he takes to speak with the guests and to answer a range of questions that we have asked of him.
The other Vice Captain who alternates with Vice Captain Nenad Willheeim and will be on board for a portion of the voyage is Vice Captain Marco Car who lives with his wife, and son in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We do not have a photo of the Vice Captain to share with you but have had the pleasure of sailing with him on several voyages.
Hotel Director Josef Lumetsberger.
We have known Hotel Director Josef for several years and most recently sailed with Josef on the 2014 World Cruise. Like 2012, 2013 and 2014, Josef will be on board for the entire 2015 World Cruise.
Josef has worked for Crystal Cruises for twenty five years. He has served in a range of positions, including Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Manager prior to being promoted to Hotel Director. This will mark Josef's 18th World Cruise.
Hotel Director, Hubert Buelacher
Hotel Director Hubert Buelacher enjoyed a distinguished career with Crystal Cruises for fifteen years, including serving as an Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Manager. Most recently, Hubert served a Hotel Director with Seabourn Cruise Lines for over four years before returning in May of 2014 to Crystal Cruises and that is when we first met him. Hubert will be Hotel Director during the Holiday Cruise and on the two voyages we will sail on following the completion of the 2015 World Cruise.
Josef has worked for Crystal Cruises for twenty five years. He has served in a range of positions, including Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Manager prior to being promoted to Hotel Director. This will mark Josef's 18th World Cruise.
Hotel Director, Hubert Buelacher
Cruise Directors Rick Spath and Cruise Director Gary Hunter.
Cruise Director Rick Spath will be on for the December 21 and January 4 voyage and then Cruise Director Gary Hunter will be on-board for the entire World Cruise. Rick and Gary take turns alternating between World Cruises. Rick will then be on the two voyages following the conclusion of the 2015 World Cruise.
We first sailed with Gary on back-to-back cruises of the Mediterranean on board the Crystal Serenity in 2005, and our first World Cruise with Gary was in 2007. Since, then, we have also sailed with Gary on other sailings, including part of the 2011 World Cruise and the entire 2013 World Cruise.
Gary has also been a Cruise Director on another cruise line and before assuming his Cruise Director responsibilities for Crystal Cruises, starting in 2003 with the rollout of Crystal Serenity, Gary performed for many years as a ventriloquist, including performing on Crystal Cruises Ships. Gary still performs once a cruise in addition to his Cruise Director responsibilities. He lives in Florida.
We first sailed with Gary on back-to-back cruises of the Mediterranean on board the Crystal Serenity in 2005, and our first World Cruise with Gary was in 2007. Since, then, we have also sailed with Gary on other sailings, including part of the 2011 World Cruise and the entire 2013 World Cruise.
Gary has also been a Cruise Director on another cruise line and before assuming his Cruise Director responsibilities for Crystal Cruises, starting in 2003 with the rollout of Crystal Serenity, Gary performed for many years as a ventriloquist, including performing on Crystal Cruises Ships. Gary still performs once a cruise in addition to his Cruise Director responsibilities. He lives in Florida.
We first sailed with Rick on the 2008 World Cruise and since that time have sailed with Rick on the 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Cruises as well as several other cruises.
Rick has spent his entire career in the Cruise Industry having began working part-time while still in school. He has worked on several cruise lines including Home Lines, Holland America, and Disney Cruise Lines. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and his four children.
Cruise Director Gary Hunter
Rick has spent his entire career in the Cruise Industry having began working part-time while still in school. He has worked on several cruise lines including Home Lines, Holland America, and Disney Cruise Lines. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and his four children.
Cruise Director Gary Hunter
The two of us with Cruise Director Rick Spath.
Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel.
We first had the pleasure of meeting Scott when he came over from the Crystal Symphony to the Crystal Serenity on the cruise which preceded the start of the 2010 World Cruise. In addition to sailing with Scott for the entire 2010 World Cruise, we also sailed together in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Before Scott became an assistant cruise director he performed for many years as a pianist including in the Galaxy Orchestra where at one point he was the bandleader.
Before Scott became an assistant cruise director he performed for many years as a pianist including in the Galaxy Orchestra where at one point he was the bandleader.
Crystal Dining Room Maitre D's Mario Gallo and Leo Assmair.
Mario will be on the two cruises which precede the start of the World Cruise. We have also had the pleasure of knowing Mario for many years, first meeting Mario when he was a Headwaiter. Mario performs his Maitre d' responsibilities on both the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.
Leo Assmair will be the Maitre d' for the Crystal Dining Room for the full World Cruise. We have sailed with Leo often and he has been on either a portion or on board for the entire time for each of our World Cruise sailings.
Leo was born in Austria and when not on-board the Crystal Serenity he lives in Austria with his siblings nearby.
Leo was born in Austria and when not on-board the Crystal Serenity he lives in Austria with his siblings nearby.
Left to Right - Food & Beverage Manager Tayfun and Leo
Specialty Restaurant Maitre d' Antonio Santomero.
As Specialty Restaurants Maitre d', Antonio is responsible for the Japanese Silk Road and Italian Prego Specialty Restaurants and also has responsibility for the Lido Cafe. We have also sailed with Antonino for many years. He has worked for Crystal Cruises for close to 25 years. Antonio is from Italy.
Food and Beverage Manager - Tayfun Aybar
Tayfun returned to Crystal Cruises as Food & Beverage Manager on board the Crystal Serenity in early 2014, after being a Hotel Director on a smaller vessel.
While previously working for Crystal Cruises Tayfun served in other related positions including Headwaiter and Assistant Food & Beverage Manager.
We first met Tayfun last year and after one day felt as if we had known him for many years. He is very visible around the ship and approachable and continually spends time all around the ship in the areas that he is responsible for when not working in his office. Tayfun will be on the Serenity when we arrive in December and will remain on for the first portion of the Word Cruise.
While previously working for Crystal Cruises Tayfun served in other related positions including Headwaiter and Assistant Food & Beverage Manager.
We first met Tayfun last year and after one day felt as if we had known him for many years. He is very visible around the ship and approachable and continually spends time all around the ship in the areas that he is responsible for when not working in his office. Tayfun will be on the Serenity when we arrive in December and will remain on for the first portion of the Word Cruise.
Enjoying dinner with Tayfun at the Silk Road Japanese Specialty Restaurant in 2014.
Food and Beverage Manager - Walter Pietschnig
We have had the opportunity to sail with Walter for several years as he has been on board for part of each World Cruise we have sailed on.
Walter has enjoyed a distinguished career with Crystal Cruises. When not at sea, he lives in Thailand with his wife and adorable daughter.
Walter is the swing Food & Beverage Manager. This means that he works on both the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity.
We have had the opportunity to sail with Walter for several years as he has been on board for part of each World Cruise we have sailed on.
Walter has enjoyed a distinguished career with Crystal Cruises. When not at sea, he lives in Thailand with his wife and adorable daughter.
Walter is the swing Food & Beverage Manager. This means that he works on both the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity.
Enjoying dinner with Walter seated across from Anne Marie and the late Herbert Doppler, formerly Crystal Serenity Hotel Director seated across from Keith.
Executive Housekeeper - Andrea Falcova
There are two executive housekeepers who alternate on Crystal Serenity and Andrea Falcova is one of them. They are responsible for all of the cleaning that takes place on the ship including the stewardesses who clean the staterooms and penthouses as well as the night crew and other house cleaning crew that clean all of the public areas through the ship. It is a 7 x 24 operation.
Crystal Society Hostess Alissa Gustafsson
We first sailed with Alissa during the North Atlantic Crossing on the Crystal Serenity. Alissa has been in her current position for around two years. This will be her first World Cruise. Prior to this assignment she was a Junior Activities Counselor. She also worked for five years as a port agent. She is very personable and we look forward to sailing with her during this World Cruise.
Crystal Society Hostess Jaque Brown
Jaque is originally from Canada and when she began her career with Crystal she worked at the Casino before moving to the position of Crystal Society Hostess. Jaque was the Crystal Society Hostess for each of the World Cruises, starting in 2009 and this will be the first time since 2009 that she is not on board for the World Cruise. Jaque will be on board for the first two voyages which precede the start of the World Cruise.
Chief Accountant, Brigitte Klar.
We have sailed with Brigitte on several World Cruises and as recently as the North Atlantic Crossing.
World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston.
Stacey has worked on cruise ships for a long time, having been a dancer with another cruise line before joining Crystal Cruises. Eventually, after an injury Stacey became World Cruise Hostess and served in that capacity during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Cruises. She also worked as an Assistant Cruise Director. She moved to Los Angeles headed up Crystal's Crystal Society Program and Customer Relations and then started up another new position for the company. In 2013 she worked as an Assistant Cruise Director for another cruise line before joining Crystal Cruises again in January of 2014 as the World Cruise Hostess.
We love Stacey's positive outlook on life and her sense of humor.
We love Stacey's positive outlook on life and her sense of humor.
We were able to get together with Stacey a couple of times before the Start of our upcoming adventure.
On-Board Cruise Sales Consultants Paula Jean Pfitzer and Daniele Puma
We have known Paula Jean for several years and have sailed with her on both the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony. When we first met Paula, she was a Crystal Society Hostess.
Likewise, we have sailed with Daniele for several years. Daniele is from Italy and worked for another cruise line before joining Crystal Cruises. Since that time he has worked in several positions with increased levels of responsibility including at the reception and concierge desks, as assistant to the Hotel Director and in his current position.
This is a very experienced team as you can tell from our comments about knowing so many of them for quite sometime.
At any given time, there will be around 600 members of the crew on each voyage so it is not possible to list each and ever member of the wonderful Crystal Cruises Crew. As we provide our daily updates from on-board the Crystal Serenity we will mention crew member names and post photos of them.
In the meantime, here are some photos of a few members of the Crystal Serenity Crew.
Lido Deck Stewards Who Work In Various Areas Throughout The Ship
Liebert
Nat
Demi
Reggie
Martin
Darwin, Nat and Max
Darwin on Left and Eduardo (Ed) on Right
Nat
(Lido Deck Stewards Max, Nat and Eduardo)
Lido Deck Stewards Ross On Left and Benjamin On Right
Several Of The Lido Deck Stewards After The Tug Of War Event
Demi and Jun
Musa who works in the various lounges.
Antonio who assists at the Fitness Center
On-Board Florist Nora
Anne Marie with Florist Nora.
Security Officer Ajoy.
One of the outstanding members of the night crew.
Marvin
Ronnie, who now works in the Engineer Department
Crew Officer Nina and IT Officer Steve
Five of the Headwaiters Who Work In The Crystal Dining Room
Igor Who Makes A Great Caesar Salad
Peter Who Some Refer To As Tall Peter
Giuseppe
Augusto
Frantz
Bojan
Prego Waiter Costa
Silk Road Head Waiter Sigi
Silk Road Waiter Albert
Other Personnel
On The Right Pastry Chef Harold Neufang
Shore Excursion Manager Daniel
Head Sommelier Bart Dufor
Prego Sommelier Mario who also backs up Bart as Head Sommelier
Bar Manager, Florent Gosselin
One of three Head Butlers; Rao
Rao with Head Butler Engin
Orchestra Band Master Raphael Derkson
Pianist John Mentis
Pianist Tom Daniels
Golf Pro John Clark
Urara
(With Some Of The Members Of The Singers and Dancers
Following One Of The Production Shows)
(With Rabbi Morrie and Rabbi's Wife Gerri At Historic Caves In Jerusalem)
Joe & Maria Kita (Joe and Maria Teach Yoga and Joe also Teaches Memoir Writing)
(Some Members Of The Crew At The Kickoff Celebration Toast For The Start Of The
2012 World Cruise)
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