When you have traveled with Windstar Cruises, you’ll already know that its crew is the key sauce that makes a cruise additional particular. In truth, crew and employees are so vital that Windstar has carved out a brand new job for an govt whose total 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 no 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 staff 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 want to verify it’s one thing they need and that it’s going to work.
How do you practice 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 one in all Carnival’s huge ships — it was each intimidating and thrilling. That first month was a whirlwind of adapting to ship life and dealing with individuals from so many numerous cultures. I used to be initially from a small city within the Lake District in Northern England, the place I hung out within the mountains, tenting and connecting with nature — a completely totally different world from life at sea.
After my first 12-month contract, I knew I had discovered my calling. I beloved touring, studying about totally different cultures, exploring new international locations, and embracing the cruise way of life. As I transitioned by means of numerous roles — locations, crew purser, chief purser, and ultimately lodge director — I gained insights into the areas I used to be really enthusiastic about.
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 house (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 selections that positively affected friends and crew. It was extremely rewarding to be able the place I may assist form individuals’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 numerous positions, I felt I had reached some extent the place I needed 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 really values its individuals. Previously two years, we’ve made exceptional progress, and I’m excited concerning the tasks we’re engaged on to additional enhance the crew expertise.
I had taken a step again from the business a number of years in the past, then as lodge basic supervisor. I managed a venture to assist buyers construct a small lodge in Norfolk, England, which we did. Guenter Steinbrunner, Windstar’s company lodge basic supervisor, asked me if I wish to fill the position of Lodge Normal 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 needed to spend money on.
Greatest highlights through the years?
A significant profession milestone for me was turning 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 girls within the firm, because it helped break down boundaries and set a brand new commonplace. This expertise taught me the significance of illustration and the optimistic ripple impact it may have throughout a corporation. The pleasure I felt in that position continues to encourage me to champion and mentor girls at sea, serving to them obtain their very own milestones and redefine what’s potential.
Why does this matter? As girls begin seeing different girls make it to the highest of their career, they realize it’s potential. At Windstar, for example, now we have Capt. Belinda (Bennett), two feminine employees captains, a pair of lodge basic managers. Meals and beverage, as soon as a male bastion, has a great steadiness now, and we’re seeing extra feminine managers coming by means of.
How did your upbringing affect your profession alternative?
I grew up in a energetic 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 effectively to ship life, the place you’re all the time surrounded by individuals. You’re employed, play and stay with the identical group, so that you type bonds rapidly. Whereas it may be difficult for some, I discovered the transition simple and the connections I’ve made alongside the best way have been invaluable.
If you end up spending time onboard, what are typical methods you interact with crew?
I do one-on-ones, we join by means of meals, lunch and dinner, I’m going out for espresso, social occasions on board resembling karaoke competitors, celebration of Indonesian Independence Day, This yr we’re creating a brand new vacation showcase for the crew to give attention to their very own tradition, sharing experiences from their very own holidays.
After I go onboard this week (notice: 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 steadiness.
As a result of we’re introducing two new ships within the subsequent two years, we have to step up recruitment. So we wish to share with potential new crewmembers what it’s like on our ships, what it’s prefer to play every specific position, what current crew get pleasure from 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 staff how we are able to enhance their lives onboard. If we’re going to make enhancements — we want to verify it’s one thing they need and that it’s going to work.
We additionally think about month-to-month wellness: taking a look at totally different subjects with our medical and management groups, and focus in on totally 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 the very 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 all the time a good time! Even one thing so simple as grabbing a Starbucks with the staff is fulfilling; it’s these small moments that make the expertise particular.
What reminiscences and anecdotes have come out of your experiences working with the crew?
Windstar’s crew is extremely gifted, and I’m all the time blown away by their performances at our crew exhibits, the place they volunteer to entertain the friends. The passion they put into these exhibits is a testomony to their ardour, and every efficiency is humbling to look at. At Windstar, we pleasure ourselves on being “180 levels from unusual,” which suggests going above and past to make an enduring optimistic affect — a typical our crew embraces wholeheartedly.
I’m typically requested by friends how the crew present works. Members of our staff volunteer — as a result of now we have such gifted crew, there are all the time too many, so producers steadiness the present for each cruise. They wish to be certain that we provide totally different sorts of performances and in addition guarantee that all members who wish 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 friends and employees, is how proud they’re to showcase their skills, providing to passengers a distinct aspect of themselves, an entertaining aspect, and it breaks down the barrier with the friends. I get teary each time I’m going onboard — and I’ve seen someplace between 50 and 60 totally different crew exhibits!
We placed on other forms of particular occasions that present totally 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 bought to fulfill managers and colleagues, they toured the ship. For our friends who stayed onboard on these days, it was unbelievable. All of them needed to fulfill their households.
What’s your favourite itinerary, and inside that, your high ports of name?
That is all the time 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 tender, white sands are unparalleled. Swimming alongside sharks and stingrays is unforgettable, and the native tradition is wealthy and well-preserved, with the individuals deeply pleased with their heritage.
How are you and Windstar’s crew connecting on social media?
Social media has develop into a vital device 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 offers us the proper platform to showcase that. There’s no safer or extra thrilling option to journey the world than with a devoted crew by your aspect.
Verify us out on Instagram (Teresa@seawithWindstar); Fb’s coming quickly.
