Chapter One #2
“You’re all set,”
she declares as she hands me back my ID .
“Thank you, and have a great day, Shonda.”
She looks at me sideways like, how did he know my name? I’m observant and appreciate it when people wear name tags. I gather my bags and continue toward the ship.
I make my way down the long white corridor, through several guarded doors, and onto the dock. The walls are covered with pictures of all the exotic destinations these cruise lines visit. Pictures of white sandy beaches, the ice fields in Alaska, the blue water in the Caribbean, and colorful shorelines in Europe cover the walls. I look up and see passengers leaving the boat through the glass gangplank.
I look down at the length of the ship and see the pallets of food being loaded and trash being unloaded. Luggage is being moved on carts, and the guys managing the gas lines are monitoring the refueling progress.
There’s an entrance for crew and workers toward midship. I look up and notice several crew members suspended in the air with hoses and brushes cleaning the ship. There’s always something to do, and keeping a highly operational and functioning ship takes experience.
As I approach midship, I’m greeted by a distinguished gentleman wearing dark blue slacks and a crisp white shirt. His white hair is cut short, and his ocean-blue eyes cause women to swoon. He stands out not only because he’s 6’4”
but because his epaulets are the only ones with one large gold bar, three slimmer gold bars, and an anchor.
“Good morning, Captain,”
I announce as I approach.
“Welcome aboard, Mr. Russo,”
he replies with a larger-than-life smile.
As I walk across the small gangway, I place my bags down.
We both grin and give each other a large bear hug.
I’ve known Captain Pieter VanderHooven for most of my life.
He’s been with the company for nearly twenty-five years and was the first captain I sailed with when I started working during summer breaks.
He started his career in the Dutch Navy and found his way to Pinnacle when his military service was over.
Well-educated and versed in all things maritime, he’s a crowd favorite and loves interacting with our guests.
The number of pictures that end up on our social media platforms with him and guests is unbelievable.
#CaptainVanderHooven, #bestcaptainever, #Captainblueeyes, and the hashtags go on.
Make no mistake, between all the selfies and guest interactions, he’s a constant professional and takes the safety of his passengers and crew very seriously.
“It’s great to see you,”
I say as we hug.
“You as well, and congratulations, Mr. CEO,”
he replies.
“Okay, enough of that,”
I say as we separate. “How are you? And how’s Margot?”
“She’s relishing her role as Oma, enjoying time with the grandkids. Marie is now five, and Jens is three. She wants us to call her sometime this week so she can say hello.”
“Sounds great. Just let me know when, and we will make that happen. ”
“She’s so proud. We’re so proud of you and looking forward to this next chapter in your career, Andrew,”
he imparts like a proud father.
“Thank you. You know I wouldn’t be here without your mentorship and support.”
“Well, you’ve earned it, and we’re ready to help in any way we can to continue supporting you and this company.”
There are a couple of other crew members standing in the area who have watched our exchange. I turn to them, and without missing a beat, Pieter introduces me to each of them. I had asked Pieter earlier this week to keep my visit low-key for two reasons. First, I want to get a realistic idea of what our customers are experiencing, and second, I am supposed to be on a hybrid vacation. I’m sure he has alerted his senior officers, but there are nearly 1500 crew members on board. They don’t all need to know who I am, but they’re all essential in making sure we deliver an exceptional experience.
“This is Kathryn, our staff captain,”
he introduces.
“Welcome aboard, sir,” she says.
“If you need anything, Andrew, just let her know,”
Pieter chimes in.
“Nice to meet you, Kathryn. I think I just read that you have been with us for five years, correct?” I ask.
Surprised I knew, she replies, “Yes, sir.”
My father has always been well-respected in our office and on our ships because he takes the time to meet with the officers and crew. Developing those relationships was critical when he was building this business, and that’s why our average employee tenure is well above the industry standard.
If she didn’t work for the company, I’d probably ask her out. Her honey-blonde hair is pulled back into a tight bun, her dark blue pencil skirt hugs her slim hips, and her eyes are as green as the grass at Wimbledon. Not only is she attractive, but she is also very smart. She studied in the US before returning to the UK to serve in the Navy. And don’t get me started on her British accent. We recruited her from one of our competitors as we are continuously looking to build our bench for the future. She will have her own ship sooner than she realizes.
She hands me a ship phone and a black key card. “Sir, the phone is operational throughout the ship and is linked to our satellites, allowing you to make calls anywhere in the world. There is a laminated cheat sheet with our extensions in your stateroom. Your key is for your stateroom and will also grant you access to all areas of the ship as needed. If anyone approaches you, simply show this key, and you’ll have no problems. This key can be used for meals, drinks, and incidentals, though it cannot be used in the casino.”
“Come on!”
I reply. “You sure? My credit is pretty good.”
“Captain’s orders, sir, sorry,”
she explains in her British accent.
“I know this is a busy time for both of you,”
I say, as I know passengers will start boarding in about ninety minutes. “Is my cabin ready? ”
“Yes,”
they both reply. “Cabin 15001 forward, Mr. Russo,”
Kathryn replies.
“Let’s just stick with Andrew, okay?”
She pauses, not quite sure how to respond, and says, “Yes, sir.”
“Okay, I’m going to go get settled and will catch up with you a little later. Mind if I join you on the bridge when we leave, Captain?”
I ask, sounding like I did when I asked my dad if I could drive his Mercedes when I was sixteen.
“Of course,”
Pieter replies. “We depart at four p.m.”
“Yes, sir,”
I reply. “See you on the bridge, Captain, and thank you, Kathryn, for your help.”
“My pleasure, sir,”
she replies politely, still not grasping the whole Andrew name thing.
“Hey, where’s the cruise director?”
I turn and ask.
Pieter says, grinning, “She has her staff meeting this morning and will find you as soon as she’s finished.”
I grab my bags and walk through the short corridor toward the elevator bank. I can see the activity of crew members down the hallway moving with a purpose. The elevator chimes, the doors open, I press 15, and the elevator carries me to the top of the ship.
I haven’t been on this ship since the update last spring. New carpets, paint, fixtures, furniture, and layouts headlined the massive project, but well worth the $42 million investment. The new restaurants are getting all the publicity within the travel and cruise communities. The other star of the ship is the spa, which is updated with multiple steam, sauna, and ice rooms, along with a large outdoor relaxation space with hanging beds, jacuzzi tubs, and oversized lounge chairs. I plan on spending a lot of time there this week.
I make my way down the corridor all the way to the end, where the hallway starts to curve like the bow of the ship. I find my room, swipe my card over the door, and the indicator light turns green. I swing the heavy door open to find a spacious cabin. This cabin is reserved for VIPs, our business partners, and family.
I make my way through the large, well-lit living space into the separated bedroom. I take my portable speaker out, scroll, find my Summer Chill playlist, and hit play. JT (Taylor, not Timberlake) starts us off with a little “Carolina in My Mind.”
I finish unpacking and hear a knock at the door.
“Hey,”
a familiar face greets me as I open the door.
“Ally-Cat,”
I reply and give her a big hug. She hates it when I call her that. She insists it makes her feel like a woman headed home from a one-night stand, hair in a nest, walking barefoot carrying her heels. Whatever.
She is dressed in her officer’s suit as she serves as the cruise director. Ally stands 5’10”, usually keeps her raven hair in a ponytail, has a smile that never ends, and has a personality to fill any room. She absolutely shines when speaking from the stage, introducing our fabulous entertainers or engaging with guests during one of the many games played during the week .
Ally has been on a ship for the past ten years. Even though she and Andi are older, both had conversations early on that neither wanted to be the CEO. It’s not that Ally couldn’t do it. In fact, she would be the next logical choice, but it’s just that she truly loves being on the water. Her husband, Marcus, from Switzerland, is one of my closest friends and is the executive chef on the ship. As far as Andi, she wanted to prioritize her family.
“I assume Pieter has alerted the officers of my visit, but I want to keep as low a profile as possible,”
I ask. “We’ve got a couple of meetings, but I also need to recharge and relax a little.”
“Should not be an issue,”
she replies. “Have you eaten yet? I know a guy,”
she says, smiling.
Delaney
I know I missed all the security announcements, takeoff, beverage service, and the landing as the woman next to me nudges me awake. I traveled on planes a lot when I was younger, and sleeping on them was never an issue. In reality, it was a necessity.
We land on time, and I feel no rush as I want to make sure to thank the pilot. I turn my phone back on and text my mom.
Delaney
Landed
Mom
Good, how was your flight? Did you sleep?
Delaney
Yup…will call when I get to the ship
As I approach the cockpit, I notice the same gentleman I was waving to just two hours ago standing at the door.
I smile as I approach. “Thank you so much!”
“Delaney Fitzpatrick, Rio, women’s gymnastics,”
he states with confidence.
“Yes, sir,” I reply.
He looks at the flight attendant standing next to us, who is pretty oblivious to what he just said or who I am. I mean, I’m not Mary Lou or Simone, but I did come home from Rio with gold.
“If you want to watch something remarkable, Google women’s vault Rio, and I bet this woman’s clip is the first that comes up,”
he says in a very proud tone. “My daughter is a huge fan. Any chance you would sign this?”
he hesitantly asks as he pulls a small piece of paper from his pocket.
“Absolutely, but I’ve got a better idea, and only if you’ve got the time?”
He nods.
“Let’s call her!”
Well, I think we made her day. The screeching in her voice and the two minutes it took to find a complete sentence were a clear indication that she would remember this call for a long time. She was a gymnast, and her daughter has just begun tumbling. I hug the captain, and we take a selfie and part ways in the terminal. After all, he’s the reason I’m in Fort Lauderdale on time.
I make my way around the construction in the terminal and then downstairs to baggage claim. I can already notice a difference in the temperature. It’s hot. When I see my bag circling on the baggage carousel, I open my UBER app and head to pick-up. Following my UBER instructions, I navigate to the “innermost curb between Terminals 1 and 2”
to meet Jasmine, my 4.9-star driver.
I lean over the curb and look for the grey Honda Civic that the app tells me is 250 feet away. I flag her down, and she pulls over with her window rolled down.
“Delaney?”
I take my bags to the trunk to confirm the license plate ending in 3LF. As a single woman traveling alone, I always check the plate.
“Headed to the port?”
Jasmine asks.
“Yes, please.”
“Where are you going?”
I’m not really into chatting, but I engage as I don’t want to take a hit on my UBER rating.
“Western Caribbean,”
I respond. “Just looking for a little R he obviously works out.
While all these things make me tingle in all the right places, it was his sincere concern expressed during our exchange that intrigued me the most. He genuinely wants to make sure I was okay, not hurt. I don’t get the sense that this guy is clumsy, and truth be told, he probably didn’t see me because I fly well below his line of sight. Regardless, he crashed into me, and even though he offered to pay to have my shirt cleaned, I don’t think I will ever wash that cover-up again! Well, that’s a lie. I’m short on clothes, so I’ll definitely need to wash it.
With a clean top, I spend the afternoon touring the boat, getting familiar with the layout of the ship – discovering restaurants, pools, the spa, and the fitness center. And while, yes, I’m learning my way around the boat, I’m also looking for Mr. Godiva. Or at least that’s my working title. Chocolate has always been my weakness. Maybe he’s here with his wife? That wouldn’t be good. I mean, good for them, bad for me. But I didn’t see a ring.
Thinking back to our brief interaction, it didn’t appear that he recognized me as an Olympic athlete. I know some athletes have egos the size of Texas and get depressed when people stop recognizing them. I’m just the opposite. If someone doesn’t recognize me, I feel like the interaction and relationship are more genuine. Of course, it will come out eventually, but I don’t want it to be the foundation of how people meet me.
It’s just day one, and I want to know more about this man!