6 4 INTERV IEW When guests stepped onboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship Ambience for its maiden voyage from London Tilbury, UK, to Hamburg, Germany, in April 2022, they were warmly welcomed by crew members. Throughout the cruise, the guests and crew created new friendships and lasting memories with one another – and Ambassador has been replicating that experience on all voyages since. “We are seeing a lot of guests who are new to cruising and who are attracted by our smaller, classic ships and traditional values,” says Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line. “It is important for crew members to represent the values of a cruise line and I believe that our kind, friendly and attentive crew is doing just that. It’s amazing to see the friendships that have been created and the family spirit that runs through the crew.” Verhounig himself began his cruise career 25 years ago, starting as a crew member onboard German operator’s Astor. He then worked his way up the ranks to leadership positions at various companies, most recently serving as CEO and chairman of Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) before it ceased operations in 2020. Reflecting on his experiences, he says that the crew are the most important factor when it comes to creating a memorable cruise A CEO with a crew member mindset Christian Verhounig explains to Alice Chambers why Ambassador Cruise Line’s crew members are its most important asset and shares what guests can expect from onboard experiences on its ships Ambassador encourages its team to be themselves so that they can help to leave lasting memories for guests
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=