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Zoltina-J - The Cruise Director as Sweet as Nectar

By Cruising With Honey - 21:06

Cruise Jobs

Cruise Director

Zoltina J - P&O Australia

It’s no surprise to most of you that I loved watching The Love Boat as a kid. I’ve written previously of my love for Captain Stubing, and who could resist Isaac’s cheeky, toothy, smile.

But for me, the epitome of cruising was Cruise Director Julie. I wanted to be her when I grew up! Every week I’d be enthralled by those billowy formal gowns, that blow-waved hair and of course her cheery disposition.

Imagine how excited I was when I stepped aboard the Pacific Jewel (the first time) in 2014 and met Julie – I mean Zoltina – well, JULIE to me! Instantly I was transported to that glowing face holding a clipboard. SWOON! Talk about a girl crush! She had the BEST job on the cruise and was the person with all the answers. I may or may not have followed her around a bit…

During that voyage, there was a show that left me feeling a little uncomfortable. It had some adult themes and my girls were young. I actually walked out of the theatre. The very next morning, the phone in my cabin rang.

“Hi, Ms Beram? This is Zoltina.”

(….)

“I understand you didn’t enjoy the show last night. I’m so sorry. Can you tell me about the issue and I would love to understand why you were upset.”

“Ummmm…. Ohhh (clearing my throat) ... Oh it was nothing. I don’t want to complain.”

“Please let me know, as without feedback I can’t fix things.”

And so I explained to her the issue. And would you believe, within a few hours, Zoltina apologised to all the passengers about the show, from then it had a parental warning and she went out of her way for my girls and I to have the very best seats to that night’s family show.

Now I knew why Miss Zoltina had a cult-like following among cruisers of all ages, and all persuasions.

May I present, Zoltina-J Medwik-Daley

Name: Zoltina-J Medwik-Daley

Title: Cruise Director

Current ship: Pacific Explorer

Latest Cruise: South Pacific

Number of cruises: 19 years worth!

Next Cruise: Queensland

Hometown: Manly, NSW

When and why did you first become interested in working/performing at sea? I cruised a lot as a child with my family and I always loved the Cruise Director and the cruise staff. They were the life and soul of the party and always looked happy. I remember saying to myself, “I want to do that job so I can be happy all the time”.

Had you cruised before working on a ship? I did 22 cruises on the good old Fairstar as a passenger with my family, 3 cruises on the Achille Lauro and 1 on the Norwegian Star.

How is working on a cruise ship different to working on land? You live the work. There are no weekends off, no 9-5 hours or nights off. You don’t go home at the end of the day. The people you are on the ship with are your family. You share the good and the bad. Celebrate the holidays and birthdays. It’s a totally different life but it’s one I have known for 19 years. It’s hard work but its rewarding, I love what I do and how we live.

What are Australian audiences like? Have you worked on other cruiselines? Would you consider other cruiselines? Aussies are hands down the best, and I am not just saying that because I am one. We have a zest for life and never let anything stop us from having the time of our life. When we holiday, we HOLIDAY! I have worked for other cruise lines and returning to P&O over 10 years ago was the best decision on my life. I have never looked back.

What do you enjoy most about being at sea? Anything you dislike? I love not having to worry about making my bed, cleaning up, shopping for food and making meals. Best of all I love that I don’t have to commute to work, traffic in Sydney is a nightmare! It stresses me out for the two days I am normally home for. I do dislike the communication. Internet can be slow because it’s via satellite and same with the phone. Also being away from my family for long periods of time takes its toll, especially when your family starts having babies or your partner works on a different ship.

How many cruises have you completed? How many do you have left? This contract I have done 4 and I have about 18 to go at a guess.

Longest number of days at sea? Do you get sea sick? I’ve done seven days at sea in a row. I do not get sea sick unless I am in a hot, brightly lit room at the front of the ship.

What are your living quarters/cabin like? My office on the Pacific Pearl was a hard office to go to in rough seas for that reason. Depending on the ship. On the Pacific Eden, Aria, Jewel its a one-room, very nice and quite big, on here the Pacific Explorer and Dawn is a two-room cabin which is perfect for all the stuff I bring.

Performing at sea must have its challenges. Can you share a funny/scary story? What is the atmosphere like among the entertainment team? Rough seas can be a challenge. A moving stage is hard enough to stand still on let alone dance on. I am very lucky to have a great cast on board and a great department ready to do whatever when the seas challenge us. I have been through 20 metre seas (70 foot), so when we get five meter it doesn’t faze me. Nothing will ever been as scary as those seas I experienced.

Favourite port? Port Vila in the South Pacific. Internationally it would have to be Santorini in Greece.

Biggest misconceptions cruisers have about cruising and cruise entertainers? That we are on holidays. It’s a real job with a huge responsibility. We are here to make the cruisers have a great time.

Favourite ship? They all have their own personalities. I am currently a big fan of the Pacific Explorer as the crew are awesome.

Have any of your family/friends cruised while you were on board? What was their reaction? Yes all of them except my brother. They loved it and my mother does not stop raving about me, it's really embarrassing.

Where do you holiday? LAS VEGAS or NASHVILLE!

How would you describe the quality of entertainment in ships in general? It’s high grade. We do not have the Don Lane Show or Hey Hey anymore so this is really the only place where people can entertain the masses.

Do you have a favourite show? My favourite show is the Rock show on the Pacific Explorer.

What do you enjoy doing on your days off? Do you get to enjoy port days? Yes we get to enjoy the ports most of the time, but if I am honest, as the job is go go go and we are ‘on’ all the time, I try and catch up on sleep as much as I can in port days, or get some sun, (which reminds me I haven’t been outside in a while).

Do you enjoy the buffet? How do you stay fit? I love me a good buffet, who doesn’t? I have to watch what I eat. I take the stairs and do workouts in my cabin when time allows me. Our gyms are great too if I ever get a chance to go in.

Final thoughts? Being a part of someones happy memories is the greatest thing in the world! We all come from different walks of life, we all have stuff going on back home whether it’s good or bad, our job is to deliver our very best work. You cannot fake what we do. The smiles are real, the, “Hi, How are you?” are real, the getting to know you are real. I love what I do and have loved it for 19 years. I am incredibly lucky to work with some amazing people both on the ship and in the head office in Sydney. The ship is only as happy as the souls that are on her and that is my goal, to make sure everyone, both crew and guests are happy.

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Cruise Tips

Cruise Lingo

By Cruising With Honey - 23:05

Cruise Lingo

A Glossary of Nautical Words

Traditionally, seafaring folk have quite a salty language. Pirates say “arrrrh” a lot, sailors are known for their scuttlebutt, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired by mariners to write a ridiculously long poem peppered with nautical terminology that has now seeped into our everyday language.

It’s not surprising that land-dwelling folk (like you and I) might fund ‘Ship-Talk’ a little confusing. I remember when I cruised the first time, how perplexed I was that people were milling around for some mustard! So, for your convenience, I have compiled a list of ship words and terms that will help you navigate your cruising adventure.

Aboard: On the ship.

About: Turning the ship about.

Aft: Rear or back of the ship. Also known as the Stern.

Air draft: The distance from the surface of the water to the highest point on a ship. Important to see if the ship can pass under structures such as a bridge.

All hands: When all crew are working on the ship.

Ashore: Off the ship.

Atrium: The central passenger area, equivalent to the lobby of a hotel. You'll find the reception desk, shore excursion desk and other guest services in this multi-deck area.

Beam: The width of a ship at its widest point.

Berth: On a ship, a berth means a bed. In a port, it means where the ship is docked.

Bow: Front of the ship. Also known as Forward.

Bridge: Navigational control centre of the vessel. Manned 24 hours a day and usually off-limits to passengers.

Bulkhead: The structural interior of the ship.

Cabin: Also known as Stateroom or Suite. This is your room aboard the ship and has a number and category. The number starts with whichever deck it is situated. E.g. 5424 is on DECK 5. Cabin category: The type of room you have.

Inside – no window

Outside or Oceanview – window or porthole

Balcony – private balcony attached to your cabin

Suite – larger cabin with separate living and sleeping area and other amenities.

Cabin Stewards: Attendants who clean and service your room. I also refer to them as angels.

Captain: The person who is in charge of the ship. Also known as the Master. Code Orange, Code Red: These refer to norovirus outbreaks. Code Orange refers to early stages of a reported infection. Code Red refers to a wider outbreak of norovirus, which results in the closure of pools, whirlpools and self-service dining and requires the crew to scrub down all public areas each day.

Cruise Countdown: The exciting measure of time before a cruise. Cruiser: a passenger or guest on a cruise ship.

Cruise-a-holic: A person who has caught the cruising bug. There is no known cure except to book more cruises.

Cruise card: A plastic, credit card sized card issued to every passenger on embarkation day. This card will give you entry to your cabin, purchase anything aboard (linked to your account which can be settled by cash or credit car) and allow access on and off the ship. This is you ID aboard the ship.

Cruise director: Heads up the ship's entertainment staff and often emcees events.

Cruise To Nowhere: The perfect weekend getaway! A cruise where there are no ports of call.

Deck: Floors of the ship. Decks can have names, be numbered, or sometimes lettered. Most ships have no Deck 13! Debark: Leave the ship or vessel. Also referred to as disembark Dock: Where the ship moors.

Draft: Depth of water required for the ship to sail without touching the ocean floor. It is measured from the waterline to the lowest part of the ship. Drinks packages: A selection of alcohol and soft drink bundles, available to purchase upfront at an extra, daily cost.

Embark: Board the ship or vessel (YAY).

Fantail: The rear of the ship that overhangs. First seating: The earlier of two meal services in the main dining room. The second seating is the later service.

Fleet: The ships that sail under the same cruiseline.

Funnel: The smokestack on some cruise ships.

Galley: Ship’s kitchen. Gangway: Ramp or staircase you use to embark or debark from the ship.

Helm: Where the ship’s steering equipment is located.

Gratuities or Tips: Sometimes included in the fare or as an extra on your bill.

Home port: The port where passengers join a ship's cruises most of the time.

Hotel Manager: Director of all hotel operations such as housekeeping and passenger services.

Hull: Outside shell of the ship.

International Dateline: An imaginary line running down the Pacific Ocean that separates one day from another.

Itinerary: Schedule of destinations and days at sea on your cruise.

Karaoke: A must for every cruiser. If you see me, I’m usually singing “Rock The Boat.”

Keel: The main structure of the ship. It extends lengthwise along the center of the ship's bottom.

Knot: The measurement of a ship's speed. 1 knot = 1.852 on land.

Lido deck: The open pool deck on a cruise ship, typically the top deck. On most ships their are higher decks often the deck with a walking track and sometimes an observation lounge.

Mid-Ship: Middle section of the ship. Also amidship. Muster: Is to assemble the passengers and crew of a ship for a safety drill. A muster drill is done at the beginning of a cruise to instruct the guests about where to go to get into lifeboats in case of an emergency. A muster station is where everyone meets.

Norovirus: The most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. To avoid it, wash your hands often and use antiseptic hand sanitiser.

Onboard credit: OBC - Credit that is added to your onboard bill during your cruise. You can spend it on anything while on the ship or a credit on your credit card statement.

Pitch: The forward and backward rise and fall of the ship as it moves.

Port: Left side of the ship as you face Forward. If you remember LEFT and PORT both have four letters, you’ll never get mixed up. Port can also mean the port cities you visit on a cruise.

Port day: When the ship stops at a port for a day. Sometimes, overnight.

Porthole: Round window in oceanview cabins.

Post Cruise Depression: Usually strikes the day after debark when you realise you must cook your own meals, make your own bed, there are no towel animals in your room and you cannot purchase cocktails with a plastic card.

Promenade: A deck big enough to allow passengers to walk around. On some ships the promenade serves as a jogging path, while on others it is a public space where you might find shops or restaurants.

Purser: Financial manager for guest services.

Refurbishment: An update to the ship’s decor on board. May include layout changes and occasionally a whole makeover of the ship.

Repositioning cruise: A one-way itinerary that brings a ship from one region of the world to another.

Roll: The movement of a ship from side to side.

Sailaway: The beginning of a cruise, when the ship leaves port.

Sea day: Ships stays out at sea and does not make a port stop.

Sister Ships: Ships built of the same design, owned and operated by the same cruise line.

Shore excursion: A tour or guided activity in which guests can take part in while ashore at a port.

Specialty Restaurant: Many ships you have the option of dining at a specialty or alternative restaurant that offers a higher end or niche dining venue, generally for an additional price, but not always.

Stabilisers: Winglike retractable devices that extend from the sides of a ship to reduce roll and create a more stable ride.

Starboard: Right side of the ship as you face Forward.

Swell: the rising and rolling motion of the surface of the sea away from shore, a non-breaking ocean wave.

Tender: A small boat used to transport passengers from the ship to shore. Tenders are used when the harbor isn't deep enough for the ship to dock. Tenders may be modified ship's lifeboats or local boats used in some ports.

Towel animal: Room stewards create towel animal in guests' cabins. Common towel animals include: swans, elephants, snakes and monkeys. And one left in my cabin during my Pacific Eden cruise that I still can’t figure out!

Turnaround day: The day a cruise ship is docked, usually in its home port on the day of departure and the day of return.

Upgrade: When you cabin has ben changed to a better category. Often, much praying to the Upgrade Fairy is needed.

Wake: The beautiful and often hypnotic patterned track left in the water at the stern created by a moving ship.

Whinger: A passenger who finds fault in everything on a cruise. Usually found lining up at guest services to complain that the coffee is too hot.

World cruise: A cruise of many days that sails around the world. Passengers can choose to cruise the entire time or just on select one-way segments.

If I have left any important words out, let me know. Bon Voyage!

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Join Cruising With Honey aboard the Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit

Birthday Cruise

Zoltina-J - The Cruise Director as Sweet as Nectar

Cruise Jobs

Cruise Director

Zoltina J - P&O Australia

Favourite port? Port Vila in the South Pacific. Internationally it would have to be Santorini in Greece.

Favourite ship? They all have their own personalities. I am currently a big fan of the Pacific Explorer as the crew are awesome.

Where do you holiday? LAS VEGAS or NASHVILLE!

Cruise Lingo

Cruise Lingo

A Glossary of Nautical Words

Countries I've Cruised

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Ahoy! I'm Honey

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Join Cruising With Honey aboard the Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit

Birthday Cruise

Zoltina-J - The Cruise Director as Sweet as Nectar

Cruise Jobs

Cruise Director

Zoltina J - P&O Australia

Favourite port? Port Vila in the South Pacific. Internationally it would have to be Santorini in Greece.

Favourite ship? They all have their own personalities. I am currently a big fan of the Pacific Explorer as the crew are awesome.

Where do you holiday? LAS VEGAS or NASHVILLE!

Cruise Lingo

Cruise Lingo

A Glossary of Nautical Words

Countries I've Cruised

Sign Up

Subscribe to our mailing list

Ahoy! I'm Honey

Follow Us

recent posts

Disclaimer

Follow on instagram