ik ben een grote fan van het blog van cruise director john heald van de freedom (elke dag word dat bij gehouden)zoals jullie hier al eens gelezen hebben.

ook interviewd hij altijd mensen in de cruisewereld meesal van carnival.

dit keer werd er iemand geinterviewd van de holland america line

misschien leuk om te lezen.

ik vond dat in ieder geval wel

marij

And now, today?s interview. It is a one of the very best I have ever done and that is thanks to the answers which you will see have been written with flair, passion and show a true love for what this man does. What does he do????oh, did I not mention that, well he is The President & Chief Executive Officer Of Holland America Line, the one and only Mr. Stein Kruse

1. Can you tell us about your life so far within the cruise industry from the start until where you are now. I also understand you worked in Japan. Please tell us about your journey so far.

I was born in Oslo, Norway and after completing my compulsory military service I wanted to study abroad and ended up attending university in the US. In 1982 I was recruited as a Management Trainee and joined a venerable old passenger ship company, Norwegian America Line. Not that I knew very much about the cruise industry, but I guess they thought the idea of a U.S. educated Norwegian working and learning the many different areas of the cruise business was a good one. I worked onboard their two cruise ships Sagafjord and Vistafjord and in their offices in Oslo, New York and Hamburg. Generally I did what young management trainees are supposed to do - learned the ropes from the bottom up.

As consolidation began to take place in the cruise industry, NAL was acquired by Cunard Line and I worked for Cunard Line in New York until I got a call from an old friend who wanted me to join a fledgling start up cruise line - Sea Goddess Cruises. This company was promptly snatched up by, yes, you guessed it, Cunard Line, and I found myself right back in New York. Fortunately the Cunard Line management must have liked me because, rather than ?punish? me for having left, they promoted me and made me Assistant Vice President in charge of Passenger Services. Wanderlust again called in 1989 when I joined another start up cruise company, Seven Seas Cruise Line and moved from New York to Singapore with my New Orleans born girlfriend, soon-to-be wife, Linda, and assumed the role as Senior Vice President, Operations.

The company was jointly owned by a wealthy Japanese investor and a large Japanese shipping company, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha - (?K? Line) - you?ve probably seen their red and white containers in various ports you?ve visited around the world? Their idea was to develop western style cruising for the Japanese vacationers, but their original business plan had some challenges with it, and after shuttling between Singapore and Japan for a year or so and pointing this out, they made me President of the company and challenged me to fix the problems I had identified. We relocated the company to San Francisco, then a year or so later merged with another small, Florida-based, fledgling cruise line - Diamond Cruise. The company was controlled by a group of Finnish investors and the Carlson Group out of Minneapolis and was headed up by a friend of mine, Mark Conroy. We named the new entity Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; today it?s a well known luxury cruise brand - Regent Seven Seas.

The Japanese owners had by now decided they wanted to exit the cruise industry and asked me to arrange for a sale of their investment in Radisson Seven Seas, which I did. Realizing that I had engineered myself out of a job through this effort, ?K? Line asked me to attend the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and when I re-emerged in the business world I was named ?K? Line?s North American Chief Financial Officer, a job I held until Holland America Line called one day and suggested I should consider returning to the cruise industry. I moved to Seattle with my wife Linda and my two children, Victoria and Alexander, to become Senior Vice President, Fleet Operations for Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises. That was in 1999, and in 2003 I was named President and Chief Operating Officer and in 2004 I succeeded the legendary Kirk Lanterman as Chief Executive of Holland America Line. How?s that for a ?brief? recap of the past 25 years?

2. You must be very proud to be the President of one of the most recognized names in the cruising world and before we talk about specifics, what is it that makes Holland America so special.

I am indeed very proud of the position I hold, and I really think Holland America Line is a very special company. But it is the one asset type we don?t place on our balance sheet that is the main reason for our company?s longevity, and success - our human assets. A company doesn?t stay around for 130+ years by accident. The 15,000 men and women who work for Holland America Line are truly what make this company so special. I always say, ?it?s not just about doing things right, it?s about doing the right things.? This translates into every facet of our business and certainly to the 700,000+ guests who sail with us each year. And, this is one of the many reasons we enjoy the highest repeat rate in the cruise industry.

3. The HAL ships are spread out all over the world. Can you tell us what is the shortest and the longest cruise you offer?

In 2008 we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our first world cruise which we originated in 1958. And, on Jan 4, 2008, our 1,380-guest flagship, ms Amsterdam sails on a 114-day voyage featuring 39 ports in 29 countries on six continents. The itinerary comprises a true circumnavigation of the globe, cruising nearly 36,000 nautical miles round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific, New Zealand, Far East, India, Arabia, Mediterranean, Black Sea and North Africa before crossing the Atlantic via Bermuda to return to North America.

Typically our shortest cruises are Pacific Northwest coastal cruises as we reposition to and from Alaska. And, in 2008 we are offering a 3-day cruise on our new Eurodam round trip from New York. So from 3 to 114 days - quite an amazing array of cruise choices.

4. Do you know how many different ports your ships cover in a year?

In 2007 we will visit 314 ports of call in 97 different countries, territories or dependencies. In 2008 we will visit 328 ports of call in 113 countries, territories or dependencies. We truly cover the world.

5. I have heard a lot from guests who have sailed here with me who have raved about your ? Signature of Excellence ? program. Please can you tell us all about what appears to be something very special?

Back in 2003 we took a close and very focused look at all facets of our company and determined that as markets and customers were changing, so must we change. Signature of Excellence began in 2004 as a very innovative $225 million initiative, investing into our product, our services and our brand. And, although the ?initiative? was very successful - creating new and distinctive spaces on board and enhancing the overall guest experience - it has become much bigger than that initial effort, and has today become in a way our brand promise. In fact, our company mission now reflects this pursuit of excellence. It is ?through excellence that we create once in a lifetime experiences, every time.?

6. I have also read that you are starting an open seating dinning plan at dinner. What do you believe are the benefits of this service?

We tested our program, As You Wish dining extensively and received very positive responses from our guests. The benefits are around choice. As You Wish dining is an innovative program that allows guests to choose from the best of both worlds - either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a completely flexible dining schedule. One level of the two-tiered restaurant will offer a flexible/open dining service from 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and the other will host two seatings; a traditional early and main seating.

7. Holland America has a rich tradition all over the world and obviously in Holland itself. The ships are named from provinces in the Netherlands, which one do guests have the hardest time pronouncing?

That?s a toss up between Zuiderdam and Oosterdam! At the office we have a couple of sayings that help. Zuider is ?Zider?, like apple cider. And, we pronounce Ooster ?oaster? like toaster, not ?ooster? like rooster!

8. Now, I am very excited to hear about the Eurodam which will be a new member of your family. What are the major features of the ship? I also understand that you are starting a blog of your own all about the concept and which will offer updates on the building of the vessel. Please tell us more.

The Eurodam will be delivered to us in June 2008, and she will be a gorgeous ship. While it follows our developed style of evolution rather than revolution it will have many new features - new stateroom designs and categories, new restaurants and dining venues, exciting and elegant shopping and more. I encourage all of your readers as soon as they?re done reading your blog for the day to visit www.eurodamnews.com to learn all about the Eurodam and see it as it is being created!

9. I hear that you cruised on the Carnival Valor. What were your impressions of a Carnival Cruise and did you have fun?

Did I ever! I sailed on Carnival Valor late last year. What a great ship and what a super product. I was impressed with the layout of the ship - it was so easy to get around despite it being a big ship. The food and service was excellent and I loved the entertainment. And people really had fun. It was truly fabulous to see the brand promise of Carnival being delivered in the product and service. Keep up the good work!

10. I know that you are proudly from the country of Norway. So, for those of us who have never been or would like to know more, please can you put your Norwegian Tourist Guide Hat on and answer these questions.

A. What are the three most beautiful and important places to visit in Oslo.

You have to see the Vigeland Park, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Viking Ship Museum. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is absolutely unique. Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian artist who dedicated his life?s work to creating a city park unlike any other in the world. His ?The Little Angry Boy? and ?The Monolith? are world class sculptures and you can just walk up and touch them. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump is amazing, and what great views. Our former King Olav, the present King?s father, actually jumped in Holmenkollen. King Olav was a great athlete in his youth. And the Viking Ship Museum takes you back a thousand years to the days when the Norwegian Vikings roamed and pillaged their way around the world in long, wooden boats.

B. I imagine taking a cruise to the Fjords must be very special, does Holland America offer such a cruise and if so why does everyone say it is so amazing.

It?s simply stunning. You can sail for hours into some of the deepest and longest waterways in the world, and then at the end find picturesque villages, waterfalls and scenic beauty untouched by modern development. I have taken friends and my American relatives into some of these fjords and the universal reaction is one of awe.

C. Please let us know one Norwegian food delicacy we should try.

We?re not exactly known for our food delicacies but when in Rome??, I mean when in Norway, do as the Norwegians, and try the multiple ways herring is presented. And if the herring doesn?t completely agree with you, chase it with some Norwegian Aquavit, but go easy on the stuff - it?s like firewater!

11. Finally, fill-in the blanks please.

THE LAST BOOK YOU READ WAS

T.R. Pearson?s amazing book ?Seaworthy?; about William Willis? solo sailings on rafts across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. What stories!

THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW

?Pirates of the Caribbean: At World?s End?. I took my two kids - I think I had the most fun!

COFFEE OR TEA

Yes please.

BEER OR WINE

Red Wine, although I don?t turn down a cold beer on a hot day!

ICE HOCKEY OR BASKETBALL

What?s Ice Hockey?

AND, IF YOU COULD SIT AT DINNER WITH FOUR FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM TODAY OR YESTERDAY AND CHAT ABOUT THE CRUISE INDUSTRY & LIFE?..WHO WOULD THESE PEOPLE BE.

I think I?d want to have some real cruise industry insiders for this dinner. I?d ask Warren Titus, former President of Royal Viking Line and the first President of Seabourn Cruise Line to join. He?s over 90 years old now but is still going strong. He?s had an incredible life and is one of my mentors. I?d love to be able to have Micky and his dad Ted Arison together. Although Ted passed away several years ago I?d love to be able to see these two incredibly successful and visionary guys together discussing how far our industry has come, and what tomorrow?s Carnival Corporation will look like. And to ensure we had some really good red-wine served us we should have Bob Dickinson, the long time President of Carnival Cruise Line and another icon of the modern cruise industry attending and acting as sommelier

I would love to see Bob serving the wine and I guess also I will be doing the washing up at that dinner???oh well.

I think all of us agree that that interview was written by someone who truly loves what they do and I am sure that after reading it there will be many of you who will want to pick up the phone and try the Holland America Experience for yourself.

Thank you Sir, I will be forever grateful for your time and wish you happiness, success and lots of herring.