High praise for Jamaicans on best rated cruise ship

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says the two Jamaican senior managers working on board Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas must be commended for their role in the vessel being named the Best Overall Cruise Ship for 2023.

Bartlett said that restaurant supervisor, Janet Dinnall, from St Ann, and executive sous chef, Consie ‘Omar’ Cover, from Portland, continue to be special ambassadors for Jamaica as well as important assets to the overall success of Royal Caribbean, one of the biggest cruise companies in the world.

“The fact that Wonder of the Seas, only months removed as the largest cruise ship in the world [replaced by its sister ship, Icon of the Seas] has been voted the best for 2023 speaks volume of the quality work both Janet and Omar have been putting out as senior employees of Royal Caribbean,” he said.

“The food and beverage department remains one of the most important parts of the hospitality sector and which usually determines guest satisfaction … whether in a hotel or on board a cruise ship. Janet and Omar have both been entrusted and empowered to get it right as leaders of their respective teams and clearly came through with flying colours,” he added.

Wonder of the Seas took the top honours among vessels across multiple cruise lines nominated by readers in 2023 for the Cruise Hive Awards. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas also scored first place for the most anticipated cruise ship for the new year. The vessel is scheduled to make her inaugural cruise on Saturday, January 27.

Bartlett said that Jamaican workers continue to make their mark working on board cruise ships, noting that they have been braving the high seas for decades, earning a decent living and being able to provide for their families back home.

“The cruise lines, notably Carnival and Royal Caribbean, have been employing Jamaican workers for decades. They always spoke glowingly about our work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile,” Bartlett added.

“We, as a nation, have been grateful for the ambassadorial roles they have been playing as well as their contributions to our local economy by way of remittances,” he said.

The Cruise Hive Awards started as an annual feature in 2014, although the Best Overall Cruise Ship category began in 2021. Voting opened on October 1, 2023, and closed on December 22, with Cruise Hive readers casting votes in eight categories. The award programme was created to offer insight from real cruise fans on different cruise lines and experiences to help others better plan cruise vacations.

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