MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW

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 members of the crew who will be on this sailing.

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

Captain Birger will be the Captain for the first voyage which precedes the start of World Cruise 2013.  This will mark our first sailing with the Captain.  Captain Birger has served as Captain of the Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony Cruise Ships.  Most recently, 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 this year.  He takes the spot vacated with the departure of Captain Glenn Edvardsen who has moved over to a subsidiary of a NYK (owner of Crystal Cruises subsidiary) in his home country of Norway. 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.

Captain John Oakland.


Usually the two Captain's of the Crystal Serenity alternate every other year for the World Cruise so this year Captain Okland will be Captain for the Full World Cruise.  Most recently, we sailed with Captain Okland when we sailed a little over the first half of the 2011 World Cruise as well as sailing with the Captain on the December, 2011 Holiday Cruise and the next sailing of the Panama Canal which directly preceded the start of the 2012 World Cruise.

Photo from a sailing in 2010 when we had the family accompany us on a sailing right before the start of the World Cruise.

From L-R, our son Eric, daughter in law Kara, Keith and Anne Marie, our daughter Jennifer, son in law Gui and Captain Okland taken at the Captain's Quarters.

Hotel Director Josef Lumetsberger.

We have known Hotel Director Josef for several years and most recently sailed with Josef on the 2012 World Cruise.  Like 2012, Josef will be on board for the entire 2013 World Cruise.

Cruise Directors Rick Spath and Cruise Director Gary Hunter.

Cruise Director Rick Spath will be on for the January 4 voyage and then Cruise Director Gary Hunter will be on-board for the entire World Cruise.  Rick and Gary also take turns alternating between World Cruises.

We first sailed with Rick on the 2008 World Cruise and since that time have sailed with Rick on the 2010 and the 2012 World Cruises as well as on the cruise that preceded the start of the 2011 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.

The two of us with Cruise Director Rick Spath.

Anne Marie with Cruise Director Gary Hunter

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 both 2011 and 2012.

Keith and Anne Marie with World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy and Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel.

Anne Marie With Assistant Cruise Director, Scott Mitchel and Hotel Director Christian Krempl

Crystal Dining Room Maitre D's  Mario Gallo and Leo Assmair.

Mario will be on the cruise which precedes 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.

Specialty Restaurant Maitre d' Antonio Santomero.

Anne Marie with Antonio during a behind the scenes tour of the Crystal Serenity in 2012 when some of the senior officers and senior crew members were in areas where they are not accustomed to working such as in this case the ships laundry area.  We have also sailed with Antonino for many years.

Food and Beverage Manager  - Walter Pietschnig

We have sailed with Walter Pietschnig for several years and  he has been on board for a portion of each of the World Cruises we have sailed on.

Enjoying dinner with Walter seated across from Anne Marie and the late Herbert Doppler, formerly Crystal Serenity Hotel Director seated across from Keith.

Food and Beverage Manager  - Victor Conceicao

We have also had the pleasure of knowing Victor for several years.

Enjoying Dinner with Victor at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant on the 2012 World Cruise.   

Crystal Society Hostess Jaque Brown.

This will mark her fifth consecutive World Cruise in this position.

W have sailed with Jaque not only on the Crystal Serenity but also on the Crystal Symphony. 

World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy.

Elise was the Pilates Instructor for the full 2011 World Cruise and then she became the World Cruise Hostess for the 2012 World Cruise.  

On-Board Cruise Sales Consultants Paula Jean Pfitzer and Daniele Puma

We have known Paul 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 Puma on several voyages, on both the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.  During that time we have seen Daniele progress from the front office reception desk, to concierge, assistant to the Hotel Director and to 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

Other Personnel

(Ronnie - Switchboard Operator)

(Nina - Crew Officer)

Four of the Headwaiters Who Work In The Crystal Dining Room

(Peter Who Some Refer To As Tall Peter)

(Giuseppe) 

(Augusto)

(Frantz)


Three Of The Headwaiters Who Work The Specialty Restaurants - No, No, No; Not The Three Amigos

(From L-R Prego Head Waiter Mario and Prego Waiter Costa)

(Prego Headwaiter, Bruno)

(Silk Road Headwaiter, Sigi)

Other Personnel

From L-R  Prego Chef de Cuisine, Christian Kliche and Pastry Chef Harold Neufang)

(Shore Excursion Manager Daniel)

(Head Sommelier, Bart)

(Prego Sommelier and Backup Head Sommelier, Mario)

(Butler, Rao)

(Dinner With Orchestra Band Master Raphael Derkson)

(Dinner Plans With Pianist John Mentis)

Pianist Tom Daniels Who Will Be Performing On The Cruise Preceding The Start Of The World Cruise

(With Rabbi Morrie and Rabbi's Wife Gerri At Historic Caves In Jerusalem)

(Some Members Of The Crew At The Kickoff Celebration Toast  For The Start Of The 

2012 World Cruise)