“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou
They’ll tell you it’s all about ‘the guest’ anywhere in the hospitality industry. Whether you’re a passionate cruiser or a first-timer just getting your sea-legs, it’s hard to ignore the age-old adage that “It’s the people who make the world go round.” Or, in this case, the crew that keeps the ship afloat!”
Nothing is more obvious, or true in fact, than when you become a passenger on a smaller cruise ship. Here interactions with staff are on an often on a one-to-one basis during the voyage. A recent pre-festive season voyage on Seabourn Ovation, a Phillipsberg, St. Martin from Bridgetown Barbados. Was once again proof positive that what’s important is the journey not necessarily the destination.
While there was nothing all too remarkable from an off-ship point of view, (been there done that), and now that the ship is a few years old, no new wow design features. The story is simply about sunshine, calm seas and the nurturing we enjoyed in our 7-day cruise.
From the Seabourn square guest service and coffee bar teams who couldn’t wait to help us to daily treats or load up the new Seabourn app, to the restaurant service teams from around the world, we were coddled. Chef Jess’s galley tour and first-rate food set the tone for our 7 days. His energy, and enthusiasm, was ever present, as we slow-travelled from one Caribbean island to the next.
It’s the genuine smiles, friendly jokes, and handshakes that turn into hugs that seem to have guests coming back to Seabourn time and again. As one repeater suggested, “it’s the ‘extra mile’ attitude from each and every one of the staff that’s worth every cent. It’s always 6 star… 5 stars plus an extra one because of the people.”
