This is part four of a four-part series, Behind the scenes with Celebrity Infinity crew members. Also see:
- Part 1: Q&A: Stateroom attendant and head of housekeeping
- Part 2: Q&A: Director of food & beverages and a Celebrity Infinity waiter
- Part 3: Video interview with the ship captain of Celebrity Infinity
- Part 4: Q&A: Hotel director of Celebrity Infinity (below)
Q&A: Hotel director of Celebrity Infinity
What's your name?
Marios Georgiadis.
Where are you from?
Cyprus. Nicosia, the capital.
What's your job on Celebrity Infinity?
My job is hotel director, overseeing hotel operations on the ship.
A lot of people don’t know that a cruise ship has a hotel director. What goes into that job?
Normally when you tell guests that you are the hotel director, they think you take care of their rooms, but it's basically the equivalent of a general manager of a hotel on land, making sure we have a smooth operation and that the team is delivering great service to our guests. Also, monitoring revenue and the budget.
Who do you oversee here, in what areas?
The biggest one is food and beverage, and after that is housekeeping. The cleanliness of the ship, the public areas. There's the onboard marketing and revenue areas, the spa, shops, art, the loyalty program. We also sell cruises on board for those wanting to book their next vacation with us.
What takes up most of your time on a typical day?
I am working around the ship starting at 7 or 8 o’clock in the morning, checking that everything is smooth. If it is a port day, I ensure the gangway is up and that we start with the tours. If it is a day at sea, that the ship looks tip top for the guests and that the restaurants are ready for breakfast. And we go on from there.
What are some of the challenges you face?
From weather related challenges, to immigration queries, it can vary, but ultimately we’re here to make sure everything goes smooth and nicely.
What made you want to work on a cruise ship?
Ever since I was a kid I was in love with the sea and traveling in general. I enjoy meeting people from different cultures, I like being on the move and working in a dynamic environment that takes me around the world. I am genuinely inclined toward hospitality and seeing people enjoying themselves. The calling was loud and clear. I fell in love with cruising. It’s a great way of living.
What do you like best about working on a Celebrity ship?
Meeting different people. People discovering interesting new places every day. And I like the dynamic of juggling lots of balls at the same time. No problem.
What do you do during your free time during a cruise?
If it’s a nice quiet day, you can go out in port. Have lunch, have a coffee. Go shopping. But that doesn't happen very often, to be honest with you. On this sailing, when we get into Juneau, it is a great day to get off. We’re in walking distance of downtown and all the guests are on tours, with perhaps 300 guests remaining on board, so then I can go. But for a port where we are tendering, I wouldn’t go as I want to be here.
What is your favorite port of call?
My favorite area is the Mediterranean, especially the eastern Mediterranean. The Greek islands, Italy, Croatia. It’s a beautiful part of the world. But the most impressive port I have seen, that is a wow, is Bora Bora.
It's out of this world, unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. The lagoon there, going on for kilometers, is amazing. The clarity of water. Where I come from in Cyprus, we have amazing beaches and the water clarity is, in my opinion, much better than the Caribbean or other places around the world. But when I’ve seen Bora Bora, it’s amazing. The sea life, the abundance of life there, it’s incredible.
What's your top tip to cruisers about Celebrity Infinity?
Well, I think Qsine is an amazing place, especially when sailing to Alaska. Because there is sunlight until late, people have 360-degree views there and you have a nice dinner. You can taste flavors from different parts of the world, Asian to Mediterranean to French. It is a culinary experience, a culinary trip around the world. Sometimes you can see whales and a nice sunset while sailing through the Inside Passage. You have some very cool views.
