'24-7' Inclusion

Introduction

This book shares a number of stories about fellow workers or crew members who live and work together aboard a floating resort. If you are part of any type of team, whether for profit, government, academic or charity, the stories will likely help you to perform better and perhaps help you advance in your chosen occupation. The stories will certainly show what life is like aboard ship, and why it takes a month or so to get comfortable working at sea; but it will also satisfy your curiosity about the many skills needed to be a success in the hospitality or any other industry.

The setting is the Columbus, one of a fleet of six cruise ships operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV). The people interviewed range from old timers to new hires, and they simply tell about their lives, jobs and family, but they all have in common the desire to get acquainted with their fellow crew members who just happen to be from over a couple dozen countries. That makes for some interesting friendships and reading.

The stories describe the process of befriending people who are different; by the last page, you will remember a number of examples showing how you, too, might be able to greet someone, perhaps born in a foreign country or culture, or at least “different” in some way. If you are curious about the cruise business, you have many more reasons to want to peek beneath the waterline of a cruise ship and learn about the lives of those in this industry who have the pleasant task of pleasing passengers aboard ship.

Curiously, the benefits are not limited to large companies. One seafarer we know reported that his mom, a hairdresser, used the smile and greet friendliness and found her solo-worker business nearly doubled as a result. And this book reports many cases where promotions seemed to follow inclusion, teamwork, and leadership.

This book, in traditional print, and eBook versions, shares stories from crew and management on how to deal with life aboard, and how to apply the golden rule of respect for others who may have quite different cultures from yours. The principles shared in this book’s crew comments are applicable to any group of people associated in any type of organization. They are intended to help the reader learn to become a better representative for their employer and even their own families. Respect and smiles help the “smiler” as well as the “smilee”!

Your first introduction will be to the Captain! He is waiting for you to turn the page and start your exciting journey around the world.