Company insight
Part of the crew, part of the ship
Norman Schmiedl, CEO, COLUMBIA blue, writes about the fi rst rule of cruise ship management: keep the crew happy.
D
efining success for a cruise ship is very straightforward: if your crew is happy, your guests
will be happy, and your product will be successful. At COLUMBIA cruise services, years of experience managing diverse fleets has shown the strength of this connection. It is vitally important not only to find the best crew, but to keep them. Recruiting can be challenging today, especially with young people because they may not be familiar with the seafaring tradition or they may not want to give up land-based amenities. COLUMBIA has been using AI to help narrow down applications if it is facing a situation where thousands of applications have come in for 1,500 jobs.
AI can definitely help, but then you look for the person who is really attracted
Norman Schmiedl CEO,
COLUMBIA blue
to cruise. There is camaraderie and excitement that you won’t find in any other job, plus the opportunity to save money, since food and accommodation is paid, while also seeing the world. Once you find the right crew, that’s where the challenge really starts. It’s important to take care of them. Keys to a happy crew are to not only provide good accommodation and healthy food but also gym facilities, internet connectivity, good pay and, above all, treat them with respect.
This is the way At COLUMBIA blue, one way we make sure the crew and all employees feel valued is that the company continues to integrate initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in its corporate strategy, recognising its role in driving innovation and collaboration. COLUMBIA blue is a leisure services group with expertise that includes cruise ship management, luxury hospitality, global health and superyacht management so that is a wide range of expertise and COLUMBIA wants to ensure there is a supportive environment that will keep these talented people happy. COLUMBIA has
Working on a cruise ship provides opportunities for seeing different parts of the world.
World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
reinforced its initiatives, such as increasing gender
diversity at sea and expanding recruitment to reflect diverse nationalities and backgrounds. Its policies, including flexible work options and anti-harassment measures, ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace for all.
The company actively promote diversity in leadership roles; COLUMBIA prioritises the recruitment of individuals from diverse backgrounds and invests in retention through leadership development, mental health support and bias training. Its initiatives, such as the Female Cadetship Programme, are designed to ensure equal opportunities and foster a diverse, high- performing workforce.
Get on board
COLUMBIA celebrates cultural and inclusion-focused events and supports flexible work policies for shore-based crew with diverse needs. Its leadership team includes women in key positions, and it focuses on training programmes that promote inclusivity. COLUMBIA also actively recruits from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, and it knows the importance of a good mix of people within a cruise ship crew because they are so reliant on each other.
The cruise industry is unique, and it can provide an extremely rewarding career. On board a cruise ship, it is especially important to ensure the crew can rely on each other and feel they are respected and valued. COLUMBIA believes that the emphasis on creating a culture of respect throughout the company sets the stage for an on-board experience that makes crew want to stay with the cruise industry. Ideally, you want your crew to be brand ambassadors, imparting a positive feeling to guests, and that will only happen if the crew is happy and believes that you value them. For cruise ship managers, it all starts with taking care of the crew. ●
https://columbia.blue 29
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