Welcome to your Monthly Newsletter - October 2024

Lens beyond the Guests… Welcome Empress Crew to this October issue of your Newsletter and here is a small snippet of what happened in October.

Message from HD’s Desk...

A Vibrant Month of Celebrations at Sea! As we sail through another remarkable month, it’s heartwarming to reflect on the wonderful moments we’ve shared together. October brought with it a spirit of celebration and camaraderie that truly showcased our strength as a crew and as a family.

Our Diwali celebration was nothing short of magical. It was inspiring to see our ship lit up, not just with lights and decorations, but with the joy and togetherness each of you brought. The festive spirit and your efforts in making every guest feel like they were celebrating at home was truly heartening. The warmth and hospitality you radiated created a Diwali celebration that will be remembered by everyone on board.

Adding to this festive cheer was our lively cricket tournament! Watching each department come together in friendly competition was a testament to the strength of our bonds and our healthy spirit of teamwork. Thank you to everyone who participated, cheered, and helped organize this fantastic event. The passion, energy, and sportsmanship were as high as the seas were calm, reminding us that a little friendly competition can bring us closer.
Let’s carry forward this momentum into the coming months. With each of you contributing your unique talents, we are creating experiences that are memorable not just for our guests but for each of us. Keep up the outstanding work, and let’s continue to make waves together.

Empress's CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Friendly battle for the coveted trophy!! Teams from across departments competed in a spirited cricket tournament, with the Housekeeping department emerging as champions and the Sanitation team as worthy runners-up.

BOLLYWOOD PARTY NIGHT

The crew danced the night away to their favorite Bollywood tunes, bringing energy and color to the evening.

Dusshera Crew Party Night

The festival of Dussehra was celebrated with a lively party, marking the triumph of good over evil with music, dancing, and delicious treats. A Crew Party for the Crew was held in Crew Bar with DJ playing some latest hits in Hindi & English for the crew to enjoy and relax.

GARBA PARTY

Crew members donned traditional outfits and enjoyed an evening of Garba dancing, embracing the festive spirit.

RANGOLI COMPETITION

A Fun-Filled Evening of Team Spirit!
Our talented ladies created beautiful Rangoli designs, showcasing creativity and skill. Congratulations to winners Ashwini, Shruti, and Pooja!

International Chef's Day

On Empress we celebrated International Chefs Day on 20th Oct, we celebrated each of you—the heart and soul of our ship’s dining experience. Your skill, dedication, and passion turn each meal into a moment of joy, and today, you deserve every bit of the spotlight.

It was wonderful to see you celebrated in such a special way, cutting a cake surrounded by our guests, who were thrilled to share in your moment. Watching our guests join in, mingling, and enjoying the day with you is a true testament to the warmth and connection you bring, not only through your dishes but through your spirits.

Your work does more than just nourish; it creates memorable moments for everyone on board, reminding us all that food has a magical way of bringing people together. You make every meal a celebration, and today, it was fantastic to see you celebrated in return.

Thank you for your hard work, your creativity, and the love you put into each plate. Here’s to you, our culinary stars!

Ex Army Personnel Sailing

We welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Hari Pal Singh Gill and his 23 Ex Army Officers of SS-36 course who passed out on 27th Aug 1983 batch from Officers Training Academy, Chennai sailed with us on our beautiful Empress to celebrate their 41st Year of Commissioning. As we sailed the seas together, their stories of resilience and leadership reminded us of the values that shape our lives: courage, discipline, and an unshakable commitment to duty.

This journey was not just about the places we visited, but the deep sense of respect we gained for those who have served selflessly. To our veteran friends, thank you for your service, for inspiring us, and for showing us what true strength and humility look like.

DIWALI GIFTS…

Each crew member received a Diwali gift as a token of appreciation for all their hard work, spreading warmth and joy throughout the ship.

DIWALI CREW DINNER

A grand Diwali Bash brought everyone together, and the crew enjoyed special Diwali treats in the messrooms, dressed in their traditional attire, making it a memorable celebration at sea.

DIWALI BASH

All crew coming together to celebrate Festival OF Lights in Connexions in their colourful festive attire dancing to the tunes belted out by our DJ … Fun event enjoyed by all…

HOUSIE

The Housie game night was filled with excitement, with plenty of prizes awarded to our lucky winners.

NEW CREW ORIENTATION

We welcomed new crew members on board with a special orientation, making them feel at home over tea/coffee and chats.

HAPPY VACATION TO SIGN OFF CREW

Excitement for those crew who were heading on for their well deserved vacation time with their families.

Birthday celebrations in OCT

LIBRA – People born during this period are detailed oriented, practical, analytical, organised, hardworking, reliable and modest are some of the traits of a VIRGO. Virgos are firecely LOYAL to their friends and loved ones, often going out of their way to support those they care about !!!!

Employee Of the Month in Oct

NOMINEES
Jill Justin – Laundry man
Naresh Paila – Galley Utility
Mr. Elango Senthilkumar – CDP (Chef de Partie)
Vinayak Upadhya – Waiter

WINNERS

ENGINE – SANJEEV PERIERA – Plumber
BARS – JINTO JAMES – Hotel Utility bar
STORES – RANGAPPA MANAGULI-Stores Utility
HOUSEKEEPING – SAMSON PEREIRA – Deck Steward