Cruising with Celebrity Cruises Staff and Crew

As we've taken a momentary pause in cruising, I can't stop thinking about my favorite staff and crew we've met over the years on Celebrity Cruises. We have cruised on other cruise lines, although our first cruise with Celebrity Cruises in December 2012 on Celebrity Reflection, has kept us faithful. My boys were 13 and 11 at the time. Since then, we've taken five more Celebrity Cruises vacations as a family. Because of the pandemic, we've sadly had to postpone our most recent cruise but we are excitedly booked for August 2021 to the Caribbean on Celebrity Equinox.

Each of our cruises were made extra special by the attention and service we received from the Celebrity Cruises crew and staff. I want to recognize as many names as I can remember. PLUS, for the very first time, I'm showing off some of our personal family photos with memorable staff and crew onboard Celebrity Cruises. In response to the dramatic and sudden halt of cruising, the Celebrity Cruises staff and crew deserve much recognition. Whether we were in a standard stateroom or a premium suite, they always made us feel like a "Celebrity". A HUGE thanks from me, my family, and My Virtual Vacations, for taking time away from your own family to make our cruise memories and vacation dreams come true. ​

​Do you recognize any of the names and faces on these ships? Give a shout-out in the comment sections below with a personal memory or a special "thank you" to share with them! 

#CelebrityCrewMissYou

Eastern Caribbean-Holiday Cruise, Celebrity Reflection, Dec 22-Dec 29, 2012

Ship's Photography with Captain Nickolas Pagonis

Bermuda Cruise, Celebrity Summit, Jun 22-Jun 29, 2014

Rafael and Tumusio, Waiters on Celebrity Summit 2014

I still use this Celebrity Cruises cookbook. It's the BEST.

Signed by the Executive Chef and our wonderful waiters, this cookbook is still a treasure to me.

​More of our memorable staff on Celebrity Summit:

• Michael's Club Concierge: Cesar Sanz
• Captain’s Club Hostess: Ashley Whitaker
• Celebrity Suite Butler: Sebastian
• Room Steward: Andrew
• Master: Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis 
• Cruise Director: Ken Mills
• Executive Chef: Rijo German
• Waiter: Rafael and Tumusio

Western Caribbean Cruise, Celebrity Reflection, Mar 26-Apr 2, 2016

Chelsea, My first, favorite, and former Celebrity Cruises Vacation Planner

Tato Garcia, Executive Chef on Celebrity Reflection 2016

Mariano, Stateroom Attendant, Celebrity Reflection 2016 (He took GREAT care of my boys!)

​More of our memorable staff on Celebrity Reflection:

• Master: Captain Panagiotis Skylogiannis
• Staff Captain: Dimitris Petras
• Hotel Director: Ralf Strub
• Guest Relations Manager: Julie Sherrington
• Cruise Director: Richard Spacey

Eastern Caribbean Cruise, Celebrity Equinox, Aug 20-Aug 27, 2017

Dave, Sales Associate on Celebrity Equinox 2017

Ferdinand, Barista on Celebrity Equinox 2017 (Mixed a great drink at Slush)

Cast of "Topper" onboard Celebrity Equinox 2017 (An amazing show!)

​More of our memorable staff on Celebrity Equinox:

• Michael's Club Concierge: Jole Jacoby​
• Michael's Club Bartender: Barbara (at the end of this cruise, Barbara was retiring after 25 years of service)
• Suite Manager: Anca 
• Butler: Emir
• Wait Staff, Luminae: Nino
• Wait Staff, Luminae: Felix
• Wait Staff, Luminae: Serkan

Alaska Glacier Cruise, Celebrity Solstice, Jun 21-Jun 28, 2019

Kumar, Future Cruise Sales, Celebrity Solstice 2019

Sam, Maître d', Nicasio, Waiter, and our wonderful Hostess. The Best Luminae Staff on Celebrity Solstice 2019

I wish I had captured her, but amazing Lewelyn, Sommelier

Luminae on Celebrity Solstice

Lewis, Cruise Director; Brittany, Activities Director; Captain Tasos Kafetzis, Master of Celebrity Solstice 2019

More of our memorable ​staff on Celebrity Solstice:

• Michael's Club Concierge: Alexandra
• Naturalist: Brent Nixon
• Current Master of Celebrity Solstice 2020: Captain Alex (I haven't had the pleasure yet, but enjoy following him on Instagram!)

When planning our cruises, I can't thank the amazing staff enough who work behind the scenes to plan perfect cruise vacations for us and other families along the way. We have worked with Celebrity Cruises team members directly, such as Joyce Lopez, Lauren Motola, Jamie Barreto, Ana Maggiolo, as well as numerous other Celebrity Vacation Planners when calling the toll-free number (1-888-307-8413) over the years. They are ALL just as passionate about Celebrity Cruises as I am and I'm proud to now call them friends. 

As all cruise enthusiasts are, I'm devastated to have cruising come to a sudden stop and having to re-plan and postpone my dream vacation that I've been so anxiously anticipating. Yes, cruising will have it's share of changes in the future. But I am confident that Celebrity Cruises and the staff and crew will make sure guests still enjoy lasting wonderful memories of their family vacations. I hope to be back onboard soon and see some of these smiling, familiar faces again!