The cold front moved faster over Cuba and Grand Cayman than expected. This had the pleasant result that the winds died down very quickly in the Gulf of Mexico. That helped in turn to reduce the wave area of 8 to 10 feet high waves in the middle of the Gulf to dissipate faster. As a result I could adjust the ships average speed and we had a very comfortable ride to Tampa. The ship is pitching a little bit (Bow going up and down) but it is a pleasant motion.
Today I had something special on my hands, something I had not experienced in my 26 years with Holland America. The Veendam has the employee of the year on board, or better said the recipient of the Presidents Leadership Award. As I explained in one of my earlier blogs; the company has several ways of recognizing crew for outstanding performance. The selection of the employee of the month is the best known one. However the President and CEO of the company Mr. Stein Kruse also selects once a year three employees who will receive the Presidents Leadership Award. One award goes to the fleet, one award to a person in the office and one award to a person in Holland America Tours, the latter being the hotels, the buses, the trains etc etc.
With 13 ships and two more coming, there are over 9000 employees at sea. Thus it is a great honor if you are the employee chosen to receive this honor. Everybody can make suggestions to the office and bring candidates forward. A committee of wise men and women read the motivations and arguments that go with each nomination and then a final selection is made.
The recipient receives a company pin with 10 precious stones, a engraved glass plaque, the congratulatory letter from the President and a cheque of $ 5000,— The latter is normally the most appreciated. It is then up to the ships captain to make the appropriate recognition and to ensure that the crewmember is duly recognized. As you can understand I am very happy to have the employee of the year on board. I consider TEAM Veendam the best crew in the fleet and now having the EOY on board gives that argument a considerable bit more weight.
The employee of the year is our ships printer, Mr. Balthasar Rafales. The printer has a job that unfolds fully behind the scenes. It is a one mans job, except for on the world cruise when there are two. If this man falls ill, half the communication to the guests come to a grinding halt, as nothing gets printed anymore and stop gaps have to be made by using copy machines. When I just started sailing in 1981, I once worked a few days as the ship printer, as it turned out that I was the only one who could read in mirror and could operate a Heidelberg printing machine. I had just learned that the weeks before from the real ships printer as I had been fascinated by that old fashioned machine; that still printed with lead characters. Because of that only just acquired skill I was quite the bees-knees for a while with Hotel manager and Purser hovering around making sure that I was oke and not falling ill as well. So I know from past experience that the printer has a very vital job on board as a cruise ship operation relies on proper communication a lot via printed matter.
I presented Balthasar, who goes by the name of Balt here on board, his reward during the disembarkation talk when we had the crew farewell. As expected he received a standing ovation from our guests and caused a lot of envious eyes from the whole TEAM Veendam behind him on the stage, when the $ 5000 cheque was presented. Balt is a very worthy recipient as he is always doing a job that ranks under the 125% header and he is capable to anticipate problems arising and correct them and ring the bell when print requests are coming to his shop that are incomplete or do not make sense.
Congratulations to Balt. I have added a section under the My Ship page with a post about Balt in more detail.
The good ship Veendam had a beautiful last day at sea, with calm seas, a gentle rocking swell and glorious sunshine.
Tomorrow we are back in Tampa to do one seven day west Caribbean cruise, followed by the next 14 day cruise.
November 18, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Congratulations to Balt!
But what about the two who missed the ship in Aruba?! Don’t leave us hanging here!
November 18, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Congratulations to Balt. We just got off the Veendam on Nov 4 after a 7 day cruise and felt the printing was up to the usual standards. Having sailed more than 50 days with Holland America and being Canadians we enjoyed reading news related to our country in our drop box wilst on our cruises. We will be sailing again next September on the Veendam but this time in Alaska for our third time. We will look to see if Balt is on board and make a note of saying hello personally. But as always the rest of the crew is special and make our days on board ship the greatest. As always the best cruise line in the world.
November 19, 2007 at 3:52 am
How excellent that someone from “behind the scenes” wins such a prestigious award. And what a great boost for all those unsung heroes who, rarely seen by passengers, work so hard to make our cruises so enjoyable and safe. Well done, Balt!
November 19, 2007 at 9:51 am
Dear Captain Albert,
I believe you are becoming something of a celebrity with this log. I am certainly a fan and think it will make a great book, and then a movie with perhaps Kevin Kline or George Clooney playing your part.
The reason I am writing is because my husband loves ships. We had our own boat in Alaska and I see his heart soar when he is running it and we are in the open ocean.
As a traveler yourself, I wonder if you are able to see how other ship’s are piloted, or is that so secure no one ever gets a look at the technical side of the sailing? If it were possible, I would love for my husband to see this tour, for he is, of course, only coming on the cruise to please me.
He is a master diesel mechanic and very appreciatable of how things (and ships) work.
If this is at all possible, it would be wonderful, if not, thanks for the consideration. We are jouneying on Nov25 and look forward to being in your care. We are Marrianne and Rick Bacon in Cabin 018.
November 19, 2007 at 10:13 am
CONGRATULATIONS Balt!
What a wonderful honor from Holland America and one well deserved I’m positive! Your attention to detail, accuracy and problem identifying skills lauded by HAL are very important to certain passengers like myself.
Please enjoy the recognition by your company, coworkers and clientel…..Thank You ….I’ve not enjoyed your Veendam yet but hope to! A solid representative upon the entire Fleet is most appreciated!
Best of Luck Balt….treat yourself too 🙂
Tom