Pretom Hazara and his fabulous ARCADIA Laundry Team.Hello Again!
The Chinese Laundry - this term actually a cliche used to describe any well run laundry. The laundry on board Arcadia matches and often exceeds most similar establishments ashore in terms of volume, product delivery; all this achieved in a compact size and under variable working conditions on a moving platform!
The laundry operation is managed by Pritom Hazara the Laundry Master (the only other member of the Ship's Company that has the privilege of the title Master to his rank) and what a tight ship he runs. Not only do we all get clean sheets, towels and flannels everyday but also clean crisp table cloths and napkins, not forgetting the well pressed shirt, the dinner jacket and the other half’s elegant evening gown - all this for that memorable formal night on board.
Violet is a star! I first met Violet when she came to help us out at the launch of Aurora when we had all the uniform to alter for over 800 people! Violet has a great sense of humour and her smile brightens up the day. Violet had never been to sea before and settled in very quickly - she is an ace on the sewing machine. She can make cushions that Laura Ashley would be proud of!! Well done Violet - you have me in stitches....!
Laundryman Kartik has en eye for detail.
After all this they still find the time to keep all the ship’s company looking prim and proper in their various different uniforms, day and night. If that’s not all Violet will alter that new dress or loosen that trouser seam for you with an ever radiant smile and her speedy services. Pritom is not alone on this endeavour he is ably assisted by Gidion Mendonsa the Linen keeper and George D’Souza the assistant linen keeper. The laundry team is a 22 strong man team, and is at it 24 hour, seven day operation. They form a vital and unseen part of the people that enhance your Arcadian experience - thank you Pretom and team.
Must go as I have some 'pressing engagements'!
Enjoy,
James.
'a stitch in time saves nine'
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6 comments:
Hi James,
I'd just like to say thank you for your really excellent blog. Wherever you are in the world or wherever on board - it's really interesting.
My parents are sailing with you, taking the 'Full Monty' from Southampton to Southampton. Our family, which means children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren have been in almost daily contact with them through email and today my father heard of your blog and sent us details. I have just spent an hour catching up.
We all follow the Arcadia online with the ship-tracker and webcam. As you will know the Internet is a little slow at sea and we keep our emails mainly to text to make them quicker to download. So your blog will now fill us in with not just the behind the scenes news, but also pictures as well.
We know the Arcadia well, 8 of us from two generations of our family having cruised the Caribbean in November 2006 to celebrate our parents' joint 80th birthdays.
Kind regards from a snowy, but sunny Switzerland (the rest of the family live in Blighty).
Paul Bilton
Hi James
Another great look behind the scenes, you blog is so interesting and it's lovely to see the happy smiling faces of the crew we don't usually get to meet.
Wow, great to see more of life below passenger decks! I could do with a few of the crew to come and do my ironing James!
Of all the cruises I've done with P & O I didn't realise that you actually have a Violet onboard! You don't know how many times I could have done with Violets help! I guessed you had a seamstress/tailor onboard for the theatre company as they have such marvellous costumes. And I'm sure accidents must happen from time to time! Next time I have a problem I'll have to make sure I seek out a Violet!
Do the guys in the laundry team have to work in shifts 24 hours a day? There must be so much laundry!
I did notice in the Marriott hotel that we stayed in up in Manchester that they had these cards with the towels (like you have onboard) to say that if you need fresh towels to put them in the bath/shower. But they also had something similar for the bed linen on the bed. I thought that this was a good idea too. I must confess to not changing my bed linen everyday at home, so why should it need changed every day whilst were away. All you had to do if you wanted your bedlinen changed was to put the card on the bed. Maybe P & O could implement something like this?? Every little helps when it comes to the environment. :-)
Elaine (aurorabore)
Lovely to see the unseen crew who really help make our cruises special.
I have used the tailoress several times and had excellent service and a you say always with a smile and a very polite thank you for payment.
Gill
Hi James, Still enjoying your fantastic blog.Brilliant seeing behind the scenes. I've had the honour of meeting some of your seamstresses on various ships!!!(least said the better!!)
Happy St David's Day to you all.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus i chi gyd.
(Hope someone in the galley can make you some Welsh cakes and Bara brith!!)If not, I'll bring some for you on the Christmas cruise.
Regards to you from a sunny West Wales.
Norma & Peris
Jenny Said...
I agree with Norma we have also been following your blog since day one,and will be joining Arcadia in Singapore on March 20th.Lots of happy cruises spent with Norma,Peris amd the funnel gang on Canberra.
Jenny and Roger Bristol.
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