Captain Dionysus (like the Greek God) says jokingly when asked what does he do: “My crew does the work, and I take the credit!”. A Greek, that is one quarter American (his grandfather was an American reporter in Greece) and has American born children, has been on the sea since he is 16 years old (over 30 years). He was born to a farmer in one of the Greek Islands and worked his father’s land that extended to the seashore. Like many in his Island, he dreamed since he was a child to go off and join the marine industry. Being “old fashioned”, he claims he always tried to work for the ship owner and not for the corporation that now run the cruise industry. (BTW, He worked for the Israeli owners of the ship Topaz for many years). Today there are only 2-3 companies dominating the cruise industry market. Crew’s slaries have dropped down considerably as consumer prices have been diluted. For the crew members, the standards have really gone down, he claims. The irony is that the industry will continue to expand and there will be more and more cruise ships. The ships that are being built today will be able to carry as many as 500 passengers! “However, we are not ready for it!” he emphasizes.
He has already sailed 9 times around the world, lately with a Japanese group of wealthy individuals who were visiting VIP’s in the different ports he took them to. But he likes sailing with our students, he says, since we are a “lively bunch”. And yet he claims, “the worst cargo on a ship is passengers!”
He believes his job is one of the most difficult there is but also one the proof that “society can work with different nationalities and cultures peacefully and productively.” His crew has over 20 nationalities working. “Mutual respect is the most important leadership skill for working in a multi-cultural team.” He said. “Remember that you cannot force
He worked on many ships and told the students he regards those ships as his children and therefore had loved working on all of them. He also told them he loves his job very much and that they should all strive to work in a profession that they have a passion for. He also told them they are very lucky to have this Scholarship experience and to remember that this voyage may be the highlight of their lives!
He told us that the ship we are on was built in Scotland and has more open deck then the current cruise ships so you can feel the sea more. However, because it has so much word in its interiors, it will be taken off the sea in 2010, which in his eyes will be a pity since he thinks it is a beautiful ship.
Finally, the students wanted to find out whether he has seen the deterioration of the oceans due to environmental problems and climate change during his recent travels. He responded by saying that “pollution is everywhere and is only getting worse… But we all are responsible for it! We are hypocrites if we do not acknowledge that!”
He has already sailed 9 times around the world, lately with a Japanese group of wealthy individuals who were visiting VIP’s in the different ports he took them to. But he likes sailing with our students, he says, since we are a “lively bunch”. And yet he claims, “the worst cargo on a ship is passengers!”
He believes his job is one of the most difficult there is but also one the proof that “society can work with different nationalities and cultures peacefully and productively.” His crew has over 20 nationalities working. “Mutual respect is the most important leadership skill for working in a multi-cultural team.” He said. “Remember that you cannot force
He worked on many ships and told the students he regards those ships as his children and therefore had loved working on all of them. He also told them he loves his job very much and that they should all strive to work in a profession that they have a passion for. He also told them they are very lucky to have this Scholarship experience and to remember that this voyage may be the highlight of their lives!
He told us that the ship we are on was built in Scotland and has more open deck then the current cruise ships so you can feel the sea more. However, because it has so much word in its interiors, it will be taken off the sea in 2010, which in his eyes will be a pity since he thinks it is a beautiful ship.
Finally, the students wanted to find out whether he has seen the deterioration of the oceans due to environmental problems and climate change during his recent travels. He responded by saying that “pollution is everywhere and is only getting worse… But we all are responsible for it! We are hypocrites if we do not acknowledge that!”
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