Vista on Port Days

On days when Vista is in port and many people are away from the ship, you might assume that activities onboard the ship slow down or perhaps the workers might get a little break. But in reality, that’s when other types of activities rev up!  

 

exterior painting and maintenance

While ship employees work hard at all times, the ship itself is an even bigger beehive of activity doing things that can’t necessarily be done while at sea. Obviously, port days are when the ship must be refueled and supplies get loaded and stored on board. Both of these involve many people and more than a few hours of work to accomplish.

 

it takes many hours to re-load supplies

  

 

While that is going on, the crew is busy carrying out their maritime safety and fire drills. The Cruise Director’s voice comes into every area of the ship (including guest cabins) as emergency drills are carried out. The emergency signal sounds very loud, almost ear piercing. It’s hard to imagine that even the most hearing disabled could not hear it. Blinking blue lights run up and down every hallway while all shipboard employees, dressed in required safety vests are stationed at key points waiting on the Cruise Director’s next instruction. Every employee knows exactly where they are to go and what they are to do and they practice these drills faithfully. It’s reassuring to know that if there ever was a real emergency, ship personnel is well trained.

 

exterior cleaning - a constant job

Also while in port, outside maintenance crew is busy washing decks and balconies, cleaning and painting the ship’s exterior and checking and maintaining every mechanical part of the ship. Of course the culinary staff never gets a break and the laundry service is busy 24/7 washing and pressing bedding for every bed on the ship, laundering towels, tablecloths, napkins, etc. They also keep all staff and crew uniforms clean and neatly pressed, in addition to hundreds of guests personal laundry. Add dry cleaning and shoe shines to that as well.

 

     

 

So the ship’s crew is always hard at work. Many employees are visible as they serve the passengers but many others are hard at work behind the scenes. They are all impressively well trained. They are always courteous, calling us and other guests by name (Mr. & Mrs. Ward) and ALWAYS greet and speak to us, whether they know us or not. 

 

The ship employees workers from many different nationalities and it is a true blessing when they are able to get a job like this and send money back to their families at home. Without question, it is hard work but it is a job, which many of them might not have otherwise. We see a large number of workers from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. –  800 crew members from 47 different nationalities! That’s a ratio of 1 staff member to 1.5 guests. No wonder we are spoiled!