This week, Cruise Weekly chats with Damien
Lacroix, General Manager of the MS Marina
for Oceania Cruises.
How long
have you been
working on
cruise ships for?
10 years.
When did you
join Oceania
Cruises?
I joined the
Oceania Cruises
family in March 2005.
What is your favourite cruising destination
that you visit as part of your role?
How can you choose? It’s virtually impossible
to choose only one. From the sail-ins of
Venice, Sydney, Hong Kong and Rio De
Janeiro, to the scenery of the fjords in
Norway and Chile, to the glaciers of Alaska,
every destination has something different
and beautiful to offer.
Briefly explain what your job entails and what
passengers can expect from your services on
board.
As General Manager, I am in charge of
the hotel operation and the entire guest
experience. On MS Marina, I am in charge
of 663 crew members. I work closely with
my heads of department to ensure our high
quality standards are met each and every day
and that we remain consistent. Our objective
is to exceed our guests’ expectations.
What do you enjoy most about your job with
Oceania Cruises?
The people I work with and our loyal guests.
What is the most embarrassing request
you’ve received from a passenger?
I once had a guest ask for a sweater while
we were cruising a glacier in Chile to watch
the penguins ashore. He did not realise
that it would be so cold and brought only a
Hawaiian shirt with him.
How do you spend your holidays/vacation
when you return home?
I love to spend my vacations at home in
France with my beautiful wife and daughter.
I love teaching my daughter new things and
hearing her say Papa. I also enjoy cooking for
my family and friends and sharing great wine
and conversation.
