In case you have traveled with Windstar Cruises, you’ll already know that its crew is the key sauce that makes a cruise further particular. In truth, crew and workers are so necessary that Windstar has carved out a brand new job for an government whose whole position is to prioritize the crew’s welfare and engagement. Amongst her different obligations, Teresa Haughey publishes a superb Instagram account providing an inside glimpse into what life is like for crew members onboard Windstar’s ships. Simply earlier than she was heading out to board Star Legend (she goals to sail on each ship within the fleet not less than twice a yr) within the Adriatic, she sat down to talk with us.
Your title is crew welfare and engagement supervisor. What does that imply, precisely?
I work alongside our human sources workforce in Miami and Seattle to search out significant methods to reinforce life onboard for our crew. This contains bettering work situations, creating social and wellness packages, and fostering engagement. My focus is on connecting with the crew to know what modifications would make a distinction to them to assist a optimistic onboard expertise that balances their work and their lives.
Whereas I’m onboard, it’s to the touch base with the crew. If we’re going to make enhancements, we’d like to ensure it’s one thing they need and that it’s going to work.
How do you prepare for a place that has simply been created?
My profession has advanced in sudden methods!
I started my life at sea in 1991 as a receptionist, with out ever having seen a cruise ship earlier than. I discovered myself in Miami, staring up at considered one of Carnival’s large ships — it was each intimidating and thrilling. That first month was a whirlwind of adapting to ship life and dealing with folks from so many numerous cultures. I used to be initially from a small city within the Lake District in Northern England, the place I frolicked within the mountains, tenting and connecting with nature — a completely completely different world from life at sea.
After my first 12-month contract, I knew I had discovered my calling. I beloved touring, studying about completely different cultures, exploring new international locations, and embracing the cruise way of life. As I transitioned by way of varied roles — locations, crew purser, chief purser, and finally lodge director — I gained insights into the areas I used to be really captivated with.
After a quick two-year break working in a land-based job in Bermuda, I felt the pull of the ocean once more and returned to my residence (at sea), this time with Seabourn, the place I labored for 13 years. Within the position of chief purser/lodge director, I may make impactful choices that positively affected visitors and crew. It was extremely rewarding to be ready the place I may assist form folks’s experiences. I finally transitioned to Seattle to work in operations, and my journey continues to develop from there. I joined Windstar in 2017 and commenced this position in 2022.
How did you evolve into your present position?
After years in varied positions, I felt I had reached some extent the place I wished to contribute in a brand new method. This position permits me to affect the lives of crew members, and I work with an organization that actually values its folks. Prior to now two years, we’ve made outstanding progress, and I’m excited concerning the initiatives we’re engaged on to additional enhance the crew expertise.
I had taken a step again from the trade a couple of years in the past, then as lodge basic supervisor. I managed a challenge to assist traders construct a small lodge in Norfolk, England, which we did. Guenter Steinbrunner, Windstar’s company lodge basic supervisor, asked me if I want to fill the position of Resort Basic Supervisor for a short while, which I used to be very excited to do. This continued into my current position in crew welfare and engagement, which was a brand new position and one the corporate actually wished to spend money on.
Greatest highlights through the years?
A significant profession milestone for me was changing into Seabourn’s first feminine lodge director. It was an enormous achievement and a defining second not only for myself but in addition for different ladies within the firm, because it helped break down limitations and set a brand new normal. This expertise taught me the significance of illustration and the optimistic ripple impact it may have throughout a corporation. The satisfaction I felt in that position continues to encourage me to champion and mentor ladies at sea, serving to them obtain their very own milestones and redefine what’s potential.
Why does this matter? As ladies begin seeing different ladies make it to the highest of their career, they realize it’s potential. At Windstar, as an illustration, we now have Capt. Belinda (Bennett), two feminine workers captains, a pair of lodge basic managers. Meals and beverage, as soon as a male bastion, has a very good stability now, and we’re seeing extra feminine managers coming by way of.
How did your upbringing affect your profession alternative?
I grew up in a full of life Irish Catholic household with seven siblings, which meant there was by no means a uninteresting second. I loved the fixed power, and this helped me adapt properly to ship life, the place you’re at all times surrounded by folks. You’re employed, play and reside with the identical group, so that you type bonds shortly. Whereas it may be difficult for some, I discovered the transition simple and the connections I’ve made alongside the way in which have been invaluable.
If you end up spending time onboard, what are typical methods you have interaction with crew?
I do one-on-ones, we join by way of meals, lunch and dinner, I’m going out for espresso, social occasions on board corresponding to karaoke competitors, celebration of Indonesian Independence Day, This yr we’re creating a brand new vacation showcase for the crew to concentrate on their very own tradition, sharing experiences from their very own holidays.
After I go onboard this week (observe: Teresa traveled with Star Legend in late November 2024), we’ll be making movies of “a day within the life,” the place we take each place onboard, and inform their tales, in three-minute movies, of their work-life stability.
As a result of we’re introducing two new ships within the subsequent two years, we have to step up recruitment. So we need to share with potential new crewmembers what it’s like on our ships, what it’s prefer to play every specific position, what present crew take pleasure in about their work and play.
Whereas I’m onboard, it’s additionally to the touch base with the crew, to share with our human sources workforce how we will enhance their lives onboard. If we’re going to make enhancements — we’d like to ensure it’s one thing they need and that it’s going to work.
We additionally consider month-to-month wellness: taking a look at completely different matters with our medical and management groups, and focus in on completely different facets of life onboard — health courses, psychological well being, hygiene, goal-setting and monetary methods.
How do you handle to have private time onboard? What are one of the best easy experiences?
One of many perks of this job is the chance to discover the world. I attempt to go to the ports the place we dock and sometimes head out with crew members to seize movies and photographs of them having fun with the native sights — it’s at all times a good time! Even one thing so simple as grabbing a Starbucks with the workforce is fulfilling; it’s these small moments that make the expertise particular.
What recollections and anecdotes have come out of your experiences working with the crew?
Windstar’s crew is extremely gifted, and I’m at all times blown away by their performances at our crew reveals, the place they volunteer to entertain the visitors. The passion they put into these reveals is a testomony to their ardour, and every efficiency is humbling to observe. At Windstar, we satisfaction ourselves on being “180 levels from extraordinary,” which implies going above and past to make a long-lasting optimistic affect — a regular our crew embraces wholeheartedly.
I’m typically requested by visitors how the crew present works. Members of our workforce volunteer — as a result of we now have such gifted crew, there are at all times too many, so producers stability the present for each cruise. They need to ensure that we provide completely different sorts of performances and likewise ensure that all members who need to carry out get that chance. From a crew perspective, they audition with the leisure supervisor, have one rehearsal after which carry out.
The present is an hour. And what all of us like to see, each visitors and workers, is how proud they’re to showcase their abilities, providing to passengers a unique aspect of themselves, an entertaining aspect, and it breaks down the barrier with the visitors. I get teary each time I’m going onboard — and I’ve seen someplace between 50 and 60 completely different crew reveals!
We placed on different kinds of particular occasions that present completely different views of our crew. For example, when Windstar was within the Philippines and Indonesia, we invited the households onboard to see their office. We placed on a giant buffet, they received to fulfill managers and colleagues, they toured the ship. For our visitors who stayed onboard on these days, it was unimaginable. All of them wished to fulfill their households.
What’s your favourite itinerary, and inside that, your high ports of name?
That is at all times a tough query as a result of there are such a lot of lovely locations! However, as a seaside lover, I might say French Polynesia is my favourite. The pristine blue waters and smooth, white sands are unparalleled. Swimming alongside sharks and stingrays is unforgettable, and the native tradition is wealthy and well-preserved, with the folks deeply happy with their heritage.
How are you and Windstar’s crew connecting on social media?
Social media has turn out to be a vital instrument for connecting our groups and sharing our journeys. It permits our crew to see what different ships are doing and helps us inform our story to a wider viewers. I would like everybody to expertise the magic of life at sea, and social media provides us the right platform to showcase that. There’s no safer or extra thrilling approach to journey the world than with a devoted crew by your aspect.
Verify us out on Instagram (Teresa@seawithWindstar); Fb’s coming quickly.
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