At three thirty, most of the passengers were on the ship. Dave Richards appeared behind the Front Deck of the Pursers Office. Pressing a button on the PA system, his voice rang out across all areas. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the SS Oceanwave and Florida Tropical Cruise Line. This is Dave Richards, your Cruise Director for your vacation with us. I'd like to welcome you onboard this two-day cruise to Freeport, Bahamas and hope you have an amazing time with us. Before we depart on time at 4pm today, I'd like to inform you that lifeboat drill is starting right now on deck. Please locate your lifejacket in the closet in your cabin and kindly make your way outside using the staircases. Our staff will escort you to where you need to be. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you around the ship." Dave Richards looked up at Edward and Mercy, who were both on duty. "All right -- let's do this!" He walked out.
Twenty minutes later, every passenger was out on deck on Fourth or Fifth Deck. Staff Captain Kostas inspected the troops, walking around making sure everybody was present and correct and had tied their lifejackets on properly. The Cruise Staff were in their places, directing passengers to the relevant muster stations closest to their cabins. Making his way towards the aft of the ship, he chanced upon Carmen standing to attention. "Everybody present?"
"Yes, sir," replied Carmen, with a smile.
Kostas looked at her. "Good," he replied.
"Staff Captain?"
"What?"
"Could I have a word with you after lifeboat drill is over?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Carmen smiled. Her new plan was about to begin.
Back down at the Pursers Desk, Edward saw a tall, medium-build man in a golf shirt and brown slacks, with sensible shoes approach. He had brown, mousy hair, some wire-framed glasses and a moustache. Mercy approached the desk as he appeared. "Good afternoon, sir," she began, brightly. "How can I help you?"
"Hi," said the man. "I'm Madson Banner."
The SS Oceanbreeze moved slowly forward. Passengers crowded the railings, waving to relatives in the Terminal. The stern cut through the waves leading out to the sea, a wake of white foam marking its passage behind, the Panamanian flag fluttering in the breeze at the rear of the vessel.
"Yes, I'll be cruising with my wife and son," said Banner. He was in the Chief Purser's office.
"Great!" responded Rachel Johnson. "I hope it'll be fun for them."
"I'm sure."
"Do you want to speak to the Hotel Manager or anyone?"
"No, no, not now. Work can wait." He looked at her pointedly. "Rachel, I do hope there won't be any trouble this cruise. There's a lot of stress shoreside. I don't like what I'm hearing."
"Of course. I very much hope there won't be."
"Lately, I've been made aware of a few "issues", shall we say, with certain staff. Some passengers disembarking have come by the office to complain. A couple have threatened lawsuits. We can't afford to develop a reputation. My reception staff do their best to smooth things over -- but I'm not happy. A steady stream has been established that wasn't there before."
"I understand. However, like I said before, the Hotel Manager is the final authority onboard about these issues. I do what I can."
"So I've seen." Banner paused for effect, then continued. "Since I'm here, I plan to put a stop to any further incidents and will be discussing these with not just you but also the Hotel Manager, Cruise Director, Captain and Staff Captain. I expect to hear plans of how to rectify this situation."
"I'm sure that we will give the matter the time and respect it deserves."
"I hope so." Banner looked behind him at the back office and Front Desk. "Right, I'd best be getting back to my cabin to see what's happening; I'll see you around."
"It's good to see you again, Madson," smiled Rachel.
"Likewise. See you later." With that, he got up out of his chair and left.
Rachel watched him walk out. "Time to make some internal phone calls," she said to herself.
Fifteen minutes later, Dave Richards showed up in the back room. He was dressed in a tuxedo, ready for the evening show in the Rendezvous later. "You called?" he asked Rachel.
Rachel came out of her office. "Yes. Did Ramon leave the ship?"
"Yes, he did."
"How did it go?"
Dave shrugged. "About as well as could be expected."
"Well, perhaps it's for the best. Anyway, the Captain would like a short meeting with you and some of your staff. Madson's onboard and he wants some answers about what we plan to do, so the Captain wants to fend that off."
"Who exactly?"
"You, plus Lucia, Carmen, Pablo and Estella."
"Hmph! What time?"
"Five."
"That's in only half an hour. Where?"
"The Movie Room."
"Right. I'll arrange it." Richards went over to the Front Desk to use the PA system.
At five o'clock, Captain Papandreiou walked into the Movie Room. Dave Richards was standing near the back wall, while his four staff were lined up against the backs of the last row of seats for the Movie Room.
"Captain," began Dave.
"Sit down, please, Dave." Turning to face the staff, he said, "So! I have called for you and arranged this meeting with Dave and yourselves! I don't feel happy that I need to do this -- and maybe you don't, either! However, Madson Banner is onboard with us this cruise and I want the minimum of fuss." He looked around at them.
Pablo looked at Lucia. Estella looked at Carmen. Lucia looked at Dave. Carmen looked at the Captain.
Continuing, Papandreiou said, "I don't know how to say this -- at least, not politely -- but awareness has been building among officers, staff and crew, that you four maintain some relationships between each other."
Dave shifted in his seat. The staff variously tried to avoid looking at the Captain too much.
"These relationships have proven to negatively affect staff morale, inconvenience Department Heads, create unnecessary drama onboard and even involve innocent passengers, some of whom have complained to the shoreside office. Reception staff shoreside have had to explain away your behaviour and report things you have done to various office personnel, the cruise line has been threatened with lawsuits and now word has reached Madson Banner. Today he has told us that he wants an end to this and, in truth, so do I. So listen up! I know all of you are fairly new to seaborne life. You're not used to having to live at the place you work. Typically, shoreside staff deal with work stuff at the office, then leave it there when they go home. They don't bring work problems home with them and they don't bring private or relationship matters to the office. Professional and private remain separate. Here we live an unusual life. For the crew, it's relatively simple. They stay below decks and never meet passengers. Officers and staff are different. You and I are customer-facing. So the rule is this -- when you're in front of passengers, you're professional. When you're below decks, that's private. Public areas are your workplace. You are expected to act like you're at work. You DON'T bring relationships or private issues into public lounges like the Miramar, Rendezvous or the Barbizon Restaurant. Keep it below decks at all times. Below decks is your home. You can live your private life the way you want. You can conduct relationships with each other if you wish, as long as it never appears in public. What happens in your own cabins is your business. We don't interfere unless passengers see it and complain. Above all, be discreet. Is that clear?"
All four of them nodded.
"So, how can we address Banner's concerns? What can I say to him? The usual thing is to rigorously enforce a division between public and private. I will request your duty rosters from Dave and deliver them to the Staff Captain, who will go around at the times when you are off-duty to see if you are around in public. If you are, he'll send you below. Second offences will involve a fine of one hundred dollars taken from your monthly pay packet. How about it?"
"Captain," said Pablo. "Is this for all staff or just us?"
"Hmmm!" replied the Captain. "What do you think?"
"I think it's better if all staff obey," remarked Carmen.
