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If you want to be the best, start with the best! Royal Caribbean pushes the barriers in bringing the latest in technology to it's entertainment world. If you want to take your skills to the next level, this is the job for you. Imagine getting paid while obtaining world class training, and seeing the globe all at the same time. We hope to welcome you to our team. All aboard!

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Cruiseware — Shipboard Digital X-Ray Gives Mobile Imaging a New Direction By Beth W. Orenstein Radiology Today Vol. 10 No. 11 P. 26

Imagine that a passenger cruising aboard the Celebrity Solstice, which is hundreds of miles from port, slips and falls while dancing. Her foot swells. Is it broken?

Heading back to port and interrupting the vacations of the approximately 2,800 other passengers is not an option, but fortunately the ship has digital x-ray equipment aboard. Using hardware and software, the medical staff on duty can x-ray the passenger’s foot, and the ship’s physician can read it or send it via satellite to a centralized radiology reading location for a specialist’s attention, if necessary.

Last fall, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd began installing ImagePilot CR Systems by Konica Minolta Medical Imaging on its cruise ships. It turns out that the imaging needs of a cruise ship are similar to those of many small facilities.

By 2010, 33 ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet are slated to have fully digital CR suites. Each of its ocean liners had been equipped with conventional x-ray equipment, but the cruise line wanted to upgrade to digital for a number of reasons, including improving the quality of care aboard ship, reducing costs, and protecting the environment.

“We started last fall with two ships, the Celebrity Solstice because it was new and Legend of the Seas because its wet film system broke and it was heading from Europe to the Far East,” says Arthur L. Diskin, MD, FACEP, vice president and global chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises. Oasis of the Sea, which will hold up to 5,400 passengers and 2,165 crew members and be the world’s largest cruise ship, will have ImagePilot when it launches late this year.

Improving Care Diskin says switching from film to digital radiography enables Royal Caribbean to upgrade the healthcare that it provides to the millions of passengers who cruise with its liners each year. Among the passengers and the crew, Diskin says it’s likely that a ship’s medical staff will take at least one x-ray per day. “A lot of it is respiratory, to see whether or not passengers have pneumonia, and a lot is trauma. Did they break a bone or not?” he says. Also, Diskin says if a passenger or a crew member is taken ill or injured while in port, he or she can come back to the ship and get an x-ray rather than searching the port of call for a facility that has imaging capabilities. Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships sail around the world—off the coast of China, India, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. “We have ships in every time zone,” he says.

The physicians aboard the ships are trained in emergency medicine or internal medicine. “Our doctors are good, but they are not experts at reading x-rays,” Diskin says. “Depending on what they are looking for, they may have varying degrees of expertise in reading the x-rays.” With wet films, if they need a second read, they have to take a photograph of the x-ray and send it as a JPEG file to a consulting physician via the Internet. “The process is tedious,” he says. “It’s not accurate, and it doesn’t create the best images.”

With the CR system, doctors can transmit the digital image via satellite to radiologists stationed at state-of-the-art reading rooms on land. “We have contracts with Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, near Royal Caribbean’s world headquarters, and the Cleveland Clinic, so if we want to send them x-rays to look at, we can do that now,” Diskin says. The CR system allows the doctors to burn the digital images on a disk for the passengers to take to their doctor at home, if necessary, Diskin says.

The digital system also improves the quality of the images that are taken. The ships don’t hire radiologic technologists to take the x-rays; the x-rays are done by the nurse or the physician on duty. An x-ray technologist is contracted to train the ship’s staff on how to take the best images. But if the patient is very large or very thin, when using film, it’s not always easy to get the exposure exactly right, Diskin says. “Sometimes they have to repeat the x-ray, which exposes the patient to additional radiation,” he says. With digital, if the image is overexposed or underexposed, “You can adjust for that and it looks OK,” Diskin says. “The key issue becomes positioning, and exposure isn’t a concern. The staff becomes more comfortable doing x-rays because they know exposure isn’t such a fine issue.”

Service at Sea The digital system also solves maintenance and equipment issues for the cruise line. With the old system, if a cassette jams and can’t be removed, a technician may have to come out to wherever the ship is docked. When the ship is at sea or in a faraway port, a service call could be a problem. “The new system’s ability to enable the user to remove jammed cassettes eliminates the need for a service call,” Diskin says. “The plate doesn’t leave the cassette, which, we believe, will lead to longer lifetime use and fewer service calls. Indeed, that serviceability was a key factor in our selecting the ImagePilot.”

The environmental benefits of digital vs. wet film were another consideration for making the switch. “Going digital eliminates the need for chemicals, which is eco-friendly,” Diskin says. “You have to think about those things with cruise ships because you can’t just dump the chemicals over the side. Now we don’t have to transport the used chemicals to and from ports to dispose of them properly.”

Once all the liners are outfitted, Diskin plans to have employees’ chest x-rays done aboard ship. “All the crew members will have their annual reemployment x-rays done here and read by a single party, whom we have not yet determined,” Diskin says. “But it will be someone with a developed teleradiology program. We will go with whatever high-quality facility gives us the best financial terms and service.” Having employee x-rays done in house will be a major cost saver and ensure quality, he adds.

The ImagePilot system combines CR technology with PACS functionality, so the cruise line also will be able to store all those images digitally on a server, eliminating the need for physical storage space for films.

Steve Eisner, marketing manager of digital products for Konica Minolta, says going digital is a good investment. Depending on the facility and the volume of work it does, “Many times a system like ImagePilot can be acquired at a cost similar to traditional wet film processing systems,” he says. “But it makes sense for the ships because the image quality will be consistent, and they will be able to get images very quickly to a remote doctor who will read the exam and help in the medical decision making.”

Remote Access “To make matters even simpler,” Eisner says, “we have installed fairly sophisticated software that lives on each computer. It will allow us to not only monitor their functionality, but it also has the ability to send reports back to us. If there is an alert or some potential issue, it will let us know. If they have a problem aboard the ship, they can call us and we will be able to diagnose the problem and hopefully solve it remotely. Our statistics show that we can solve 75% of the issues people call about remotely.”

The system also has an optical cleaner or mechanical sweeper that can clean specs of dust or hair or other artifacts that can get in the way of a good image, Eisner says. “There’s a little brush that sweeps across the optics and clears debris—thus, no need for a service call,” he notes.

Another feature of the ImagePilot is its Autopilot software, which helps the clinicians taking the image view what they need. “With all previous CR systems, you had to identify what is the body part and what is the view and study that you’re going to be doing,” Eisner says. “That tells the system how to process the image so it looks good. With ImagePilot, you don’t have to do that.” The system does not rely on technique or type of exam being done; it looks at the actual image acquired and determines the best way to display that image.

“What this does is reduce the number of steps or clicks that you have to do in order to take and view your image. It also takes a little burden off the technologist,” Eisner says. “We find in some facilities, in certain fields, such as veterinary medicine, for example, these are technologists who are doing all sorts of things, not just x-rays. So, if they are a little off on their technique of taking x-rays, the ImagePilot will compensate and optimize the image display, and they can just move on. So it’s producing very, very consistent quality images and reducing the number of steps technologists have to take to produce their images.”

Works on Land Introduced in January 2008, the Konica Minolta ImagePilot CR System is not only ideal for cruise ships, Eisner says, but also for various private practices, veterinarian’s offices, and urgent care centers where the volume of work is steady but not overwhelming. “It doesn’t do everything that a full-blown PACS system does,” he says, “but it does a lot of the basic things small clinics and facilities need, such as acquire images, view images, distribute them to other computers or to a CD or DVD or other external systems, and serves as a long-term archive. We call it an all-in-one system. It’s very easy to use and very intuitive.”

The ImagePilot system, Eisner says, is not for a multi-hospital installation. “But for smaller facilities, it combines enough PACS capabilities so that they can do 95% of their work in house or send the image out for someone else to look at and do more.”

— Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance medical writer based in Northampton, Pa. She is a frequent contributor to Radiology Today .

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Definitive Guide to Cruise Ship X-ray Radiology Systems

• General info

• by marco October 16, 2016

Radiology on Cruise Ships

Cruise ships have different operational requirements to land-based clinics. Space for radiology facilities is particularly restricted, and bandwidth is extremely limited too. In addition, satellite connectivity can mean loss of intermittent internet connection depending on ship’s location and local weather conditions. Furthermore, intuitive user experience is especially important as the equipment is not in constant use.

Fortunately, radiology equipment has come a long way since the days of film and chemistry, and tele-radiology has matured and improved. This guide will assist cruise ship staff responsible for installing or upgrading shipboard radiology / teleradiology facilities.

The STCW 2010 Manila amendments mandate a high standard of shipboard care and a “prearranged system that medical advice by radio or satellite communication to ships at sea is available at any hour of the day or night.” American College of Emergency Physician (ACEP) guidelines mandate medical staff on call 24 hours a day, and both physicians and registered nurses must have at least three years of post-graduate experience in general and emergency medicine or board certification in emergency medicine, family medicine or internal medicine.

There are three important items to consider when modernizing cruise ship x-ray radiology systems:

• Image acquisition – the x-ray equipment itself
• Teleradiology – secure image transfer and report return
• Remote reporting – reporting of images and radiologist advice

Cruise Ship Remote Reporting

Instead of specialist remote reporting providers, most cruise companies make use of the hospital or centre that provides many other non-radiology facilities to the company, such as medical / nurse / technician training or pathology services to give just a couple of examples. We recommend continuing with this arrangement in most cases, in order to benefit from the continuity of pre-existing relationships.

Be cognizant however that the hospital may have internal factors to consider, such as:

• public health provision vs private reporting for your company
• radiologist contracts for private work or for out-of-hours reporting
• extent of the hospital’s medical negligence cover vs that provided by the radiologist

You can make it easier for the hospital to handle these internal factors by providing clear data on number of exams ‘in hours’ and ‘out of hours’ of the hospital’s timezone.

Cruise Ship Teleradiology

Use a system independent of your x-ray provider, but also independent of your reporting provider, in order to maintain business flexibility.

From a technology perspective, the system must be secure, but not be dependent on VPNs as they don’t work well over intermittent connections, and must be proven to work over high-latency satellite connections. It should also have zero on-site installation needed, so you can roll it out without the project management overhead of having to also co-ordinate ships’ docking schedules. Finally, for medically disembarked passengers, a system that allows transfer any site worldwide without special intervention or setup is optimal.

bbRad Serverless is strongly recommended for cruise ships’ teleradiology because:

• it’s a proven solution, as demonstrated by Carnival , the world’s largest line
• it works with any x-ray provider and any remote reporting provider
• ship staff can connect and share with any hospital without any supplier involvement
• your project team can roll out remotely with minimal effort
• it works on low-bandwidth, high-latency satellite connections without using VPNs
• it is fully secure and supported with all required information governance controls

Finally, if your healthcare provider doesn’t offer a reporting service, you would also use bbRad to exchange images and reports with independent radiologists or specialist remote reporting providers.

CR or DR Imaging Equipment

The biggest space savings come from DR (Digital Radiography) where the image is captured directly onto a flat panel detector without the use of a cassette. CR (Computed Radiolography) involves the use of a cassette that houses the imaging plate similar to traditional film-screen systems, but CR can still be surprisingly compact.

The usual provisions for limiting the risk of radiation exposure at the workplace still apply to both technologies.

User friendliness is vital as the equipment is not in constant use. For example Brandywine Imaging, a multi-vendor equipment and consumables dealer describe Konica’s CR control station: ’Any technologist, with or without CR experience can consistently generate optimized diagnostic images with minimal training’

The systems also needs to stand up to physical handling at sea, and all providers will test for this, as shown in this clip drop-testing a Konica Minolta AeroDR flat panel detector.

Large cruise ships can benefit from advanced telemedicine arrangements, as they carry trained medical personnel, modern medical facilities and satellite data connections.

CR or DR systems bring considerable space savings across your fleet and should be accompanied by a proven teleradiology solution such as bbRad Serverless that can connect with your remote reporting provider of choice as well as user-added hospitals for medically disembarked passengers.

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Disclosure: Carnival is a user of Cypher IT’s bbRad system

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TECHNICIANS

Open opportunities, lighting technician.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Light Technician’s job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities: 
• Operate the main theater lighting, visual & laser systems, atmospheric & pyrotechnic effects for all shows and activities either manually or on time code (depending on show/cue requirements) 
• Responsible for the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of all lighting systems in the main theater and around the ship
• Fixture cleaning, maintenance, and focus
• Lamp and color media replacement / cleaning
• Replacement of belts, motors, logic cards, fuses, light engines, etc. 
• Regular inspection all entertainment lighting, including fixture rigging, clamps, cabling, and safety chains, in all venues around the ship where entertainment lighting is present, and immediately report any safety concern to both onboard management and shoreside lighting support
• Regular inspection of the laser, fog, haze systems and perform their regular cleaning and maintenance (fluid and filter replacement, etc.) to ensure their proper functioning
• Check and ensure proper time code distribution, network, rig functionality, special effects, and video playback on all devices required for showtime.
• Responsible for the safe manifesting, embarkation, storage, handling, loading, firing, unloading and disposal of all special effects material (confetti, simulated pyrotechnics, fog fluids, etc.) used in the shows as per company policy 
• Fire the simulated pyrotechnic cues for all shows, upon being given clearance by the Backstage/Automation Technician (after proper training and certification provided on board) 
• Perform show load‐ins and loadouts (together with the Backstage, Automation & Audio Technicians) for each show 
• Operate all show‐related video equipment and projection systems during the shows
• Operate, understand, and be able to perform basic repairs of LED video wall systems and learn their signal flow
• Train and oversee the performance of the 2‐4 spotlight operators, coordinate their tasks over the comms during the shows and calling follow spot cues
• Perform regular (weekly) rig checks and be able to identify malfunctioning entertainment lighting, video, and special effects equipment
• Open tickets on Carnival’s Issuetrak portal detailing any new or outstanding problem pertaining to the lighting, laser, or special effects systems in a timely manner
• Keep and maintain a live inventory of spare fixtures, spare parts, and consumables (lamp, fluid, simulated pyrotechnic material, confetti, etc.) and order as needed through proper shoreside channels
• Keep and maintain regular updates to handover notes
• Regularly test and maintain entertainment lighting redundancy systems (backup console, media servers, video processors, etc.)
• Be able to navigate HESS and Chemwatch platforms, understand where policies and procedures are kept, and then adhere to those policies and procedures
• Immediately notify the Entertainment Technical Manager, Entertainment Director, Shipboard and Shoreside Supervisors upon finding any fault or malfunction that could affect the safety of the cast, running crew, guests, or the ship itself during the show, if operated
• Respond to regular work calls to perform (together with the Backstage, Automation & Audio Technicians) theater general cleaning and repairs, in addition to lighting maintenance 
• Be available for different rehearsals, tech runs, etc. as indicated by the weekly work schedule or as requested by the Entertainment Technical Manager with reasonable notice
• Assist organized groups and charters with their requirements pertaining to the Lighting Technician working areas and responsibilities 
• Assist with additional multiple show setups, rehearsals and tech runs during cast change (typically happening every six months for about 2-3 weeks) 
• Familiarize with basic audio/video equipment setup and operation, to be able to take on the “Tech on Duty” responsibility no later than four weeks after first joining a ship
• Be part of the “Tech on Duty (TOD)” rotation providing both guests and crew with entertainment technology related assistance:  
• Set up and strike audio/video/lighting equipment for group functions and meetings in various venues throughout the ship as indicated by the Groups Memo and/or Entertainment Technical Manager
• Set up and strike audio/video/lighting equipment for crew activities in various crew or guest areas, as indicated by the Entertainment Technical Manager
• Set up microphones for other department’s presentations and functions as indicated on the weekly schedule 
• Basic cover (adjust microphone levels, switch lights on/off, play intro, etc.) for some activities (Comedy Club, etc.) whenever the responsible technician is tied up with other more intricate/urgent duties that take priority. 
• Carry the Tech on Duty mobile phone at all times and be reachable for assistance and basic troubleshooting regardless of location (be present on board while docked). 
• Periodically check and sign off on all packages addressed to Entertainment Technical while in home port. 
• Attend any safety, hospitality or job‐related training as required and scheduled by the ship’s command or immediate supervisors, including port‐manning rotation
• Ensure proper and thorough training on all job‐related aspects to the incoming replacement technician during the handover period.
• All and any work‐related duty or task as indicated on the weekly work schedule or requested by the Entertainment Technical Manager via email, phone, or verbal instruction

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good knowledge of electrical theory, be able to read and follow electrical and system drawings and diagrams 
• Good knowledge of intelligent moving fixtures operation, maintenance, and repair procedures 
• Good knowledge of lighting console operation (GrandMa2 and 3, ETC, etc.) 
• Good knowledge and understanding of entertainment light control systems and networks
• Good time management skills to assess issue priorities that pertain to maintenance
• Basic knowledge of computer networking 
• Basic knowledge of lighting design and programming 
• Basic knowledge in PC hardware & software maintenance and repair, including Microsoft suite applications (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Theater background and experience, be familiar with industry terms, standards, rules, regulations, and common practices
• Be able to work under pressure, multitask and make quick judgment calls 
• Comfortable working at heights up to 35ft (10.5m), be able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder, properly operate an AWP, be comfortable with the use of a safety harness and associated safety apparatus
• Be able to work with different shows happening in the same theater throughout the cruise, each one requiring different setups and pre‐checks. 
• Be able to work as part of a team, and work in other theatrical disciplines if needed
• Be able to learn new industry technologies as they become available
• Friendly, professional, self‐motivated individual with a willingness to learn 
• Excellent English verbal skills, able to understand and speak fluently in show‐running environments (over communication headsets, in noisy areas, different accents, etc.) 
• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds 
• Able to work up to 10hrs per 24hr period, 7 days a week
• Able to work on a per contract basis, 6 – 8 months each with up to 2 months of non‐paid leave in between contracts
• Able to provide forward facing guest interaction during certain job functions, side duties or related troubleshooting, with the intent to exceed our guests’ expectations
• Able to comply with shipboard safety and regulatory duties in accordance with maritime law

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Resume outlining previous employment, education or related experience in Word or PDF format
• Proof of Certifications/ Degrees (if any)
• Reference Letters (contact information)

Automation Technician

• Associate Degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or a minimum of one year equivalent work experience.
• Theater background and experience, familiar with industry terms, standards, rules, regulations and common practices.
• Basic knowledge in PC hardware & software maintenance and repair.
• Basic rigging knowledge, able to inspect and identify issues and hazards (rigging maintenance & repairs are performed by outside contracted companies).
• Comfortable working at heights, able to safely climb to operate electric hoists for various scenery pieces hanging at heights up to 35ft (10.5m).
• Good overall health and physical condition (to be determined by  physician ).
• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder and properly operate a Genie lift.
• Required to work up to 10hrs per 24hr period, 7 days a week.
• Perform show load‐ins and load‐outs (together with the Floor, Audio & Lighting Technicians) for each show.
• Perform a rig check before each show following the preshow checklist procedure:
• Fill out the Automation Technical Reports detailing any new or outstanding problem pertaining to the computer or mechanical rigging system
• Safely and securely operate all of the automated equipment during all shows, as per the provided cue
• Perform cleaning and basic maintenance of the stage rigging system that includes:
• Assist the Floor Technician with scenery and stage floor vinyl spot‐repairs
• Respond to regular work calls (approx. twice a month) to perform (together with the Floor, Audio & Lighting Technicians) theater general cleaning and repairs.
• Be available for different rehearsals, tech runs, etc. as indicated by the weekly work schedule or as requested by the Entertainment Technical Manager with at least 12 hours prior notice.
• Occasionally assist the Light Tech with loading pyro before shows (after proper training and certification being provided on board).
• Assist with additional multiple show setups, rehearsals and tech runs during cast change (typically happening every six months for about 4‐5 weeks).
• Familiarize with basic audio/video/lighting equipment setup and operation, to be able to take on the “Tech On Duty” responsibility no later than four weeks after first joining a ship.
• Be part of the “Tech On Duty (TOD)” rotation (one week/cruise every four weeks/cruises), providing both guests and crew with entertainment technology related assistance
• Attend any safety, hospitality or job‐related training as required and scheduled by the ship’s command or immediate supervisors, including port‐manning rotation.

Future Opportunities

Entertainment technical manager.

The Entertainment Technical Manager manages the Entertainment Technology Department onboard a vessel within the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, providing leadership and guidance for the Entertainment Technicians and identifying the required areas of work; and is responsible for ensuring the performance of all duties.

REQUIREMENTS:

The Entertainment Technical Manager is expected to act professionally and must be able to comply with all shipboard rules and regulations (including but not limited to Safety Trainings/Drills/Rules, Carnival Look, Uniform & Dress Code, Alcohol Policy, Hygiene Standards, etc). To be considered for employment, you must meet the following requirements:

• Previous management or supervisor experience, preferably in an entertainment setting
• Theater and/or Broadcast background and experience, be familiar with industry terms, standards, rules, regulations and common practices
• Basic knowledge in PC hardware & software maintenance and repair
• Good troubleshooting skills with basic repair skills
• Be able to work under pressure, multitask and make quick judgment calls
• Comfortable working at heights up to 35ft (10.5m), be able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder and properly operate a Genie lift
• Friendly, professional, self‐motivated individual with a willingness to learn
• Excellent English verbal skills, able to understand and speak fluently
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Good overall health and physical condition
• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds
• Required to work on a per contract basis, 6 – 8 months each with up to 2 months of non‐paid leave in between contracts.
• Able to provide forward facing guest interaction during certain job functions, side duties or related troubleshooting, with the intent to exceed our guests’ expectations.
• Providing leadership and guidance to onboard Entertainment Technical team in completing daily tasks
• Make and distribute weekly schedule for all members of the Entertainment Technical team
• Make sure he/she and team follow all shipboard/shoreside rules and regulations
• Daily check of team FunTime Records and verifying compliance with Time & Attendance procedure
• Provide weekly Voyage Reports to Entertainment Fleet Technical Manager
• Schedule and oversee broadcast and Interactive TV system operations
• Schedule and oversee show lounge operation and all technical standards of production to ensure the highest production values (rig checks, daily maintenance of lighting rigs, stage cleanliness, audio mix)
• Schedule technical support for all Digital Signage units around the vessel and coordinate with shore side Marketing Department on content
• Schedule daily Seaside Theater maintenance and manage the proper scheduling of provided content
• Daily walks through of all secondary venues making sure proper functionality and usage of all Entertainment Technical equipment
• Manage, submit and update issue tracking system on a daily basis
• Several daily checks of all Entertainment Technical working and storage areas, ensuring they are clean, well maintained and up to Health, Environmental, Safety and Security – Management System standards (HESS-MS)
• Ensure all Entertainment Technical team members follow all HESS-MS procedures. (Proper usage of PPE, pyro manifest submitted in time, AWP pre-operation and weekly inspection, chemical locker inventory, etc.)
• Attend all Hotel Operation and Entertainment Operation meetings scheduled by Hotel Director and Entertainment Director
• Work closely with Groups Coordinator and provide technical daily support for groups and functions
• Work closely with Entertainment Director, Cruise Director and Musical Director to schedule and oversee technical support for daily activities and band sessions
• Make sure he/she orders all needed items from a Central Storeroom in a timely manner (batteries, uniforms, office supply)

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The Entertainment Technical Manager reports directly to the Entertainment Fleet Technical Managers. In addition, she/he should also follow the rules and regulations set by:

• Entertainment Director or Cruise Director
• Ship’s Command
• Entertainment Fleet Technical Managers
• Shoreside Technical Entertainment Management Team
• Manager of Technical Entertainment
• Director of Technical Entertainment

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT:

Carnival Entertainment offers a comprehensive shipboard training program that is focused on developing our technicians for future career growth. As an Entertainment Technical Manager; your next opportunity for advancement would be to Entertainment Fleet Technical Manager. Your assessments for advancement will be carried out by the Entertainment Fleet Technical Managers, Manager of Technical Entertainment and the Director of Technical Entertainment.

Broadcast AV Technician

• Associate Degree in Broadcasting or equivalent work experience.
• AVT or CST certificate preferred but not required
• Experience with at least two of the following: AV system installation/integration, AV system operation, CAT/DTV network operation, Broadcast engineering, AV system support (repair and troubleshooting), Satellite system integration and operation, IPTV operation/support/deployment, operating AV equipment in live production environment.
• Understanding A/V signal types and use, basics of networking technology and AV-over-IP
• Ability to read technical drawings
• Good knowledge in PC hardware & software maintenance and repair.
• Comfortable working at heights up to 35ft (10.5m), able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder and properly operate a Genie lift.
• Good overall health and physical condition (to be determined by physician).

The Broadcast AV Technician’s job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

• Support for Broadcast operations:
• Server ingest of on‐air TV content
• Scheduling playback of on‐air TV content
• Satellite TV reception
• Interactive TV hardware and software support:

Support for live video productions:

Could include live switching, camera operator and/or PTZ camera operator.

• Audiovisual services for special events:
• Support for local entertainment venues (branded and non‐branded):
• Support for Digital Signage Content
• Perform maintenance and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment
• Fill out the Technical Reports detailing any new or outstanding problem pertaining to the ship’s satellite antennas, video, broadcast, interactive or digital signage systems
• Be part of the daily 9am – 11pm “In‐cabin TV Service” rotation, carrying the “AV On Call” mobile phone at all times while on duty and being reachable to provide in‐cabin television troubleshooting both for guests and crew.
• Start and end guest big screen movies while in ports.
• Attend any safety, hospitality or job‐related training as required and scheduled by the ship’s command or immediate supervisors.

Backstage Technician

• Basic carpentry, painting, sewing and electrical skills.
• Perform show load‐ins and load‐outs (together with the Automation, Audio & Lighting Technicians) for each show.
• Manage the backstage and performance areas prior, during, and after each show, ensuring a safe and effective operation for cast, running crew, guest and the ship.
• Train and coordinate the six stage hands on their duties for each show. Manage them and oversee their performance. Assist them with scenery/set piece movement whenever needed either prior, during or after the shows.
• Fill out the Technical Reports detailing any new or outstanding problem pertaining to the scenery, set pieces, props, stage floor, etc. and submit them to the Shipboard and Shoreside Supervisors weekly, copying the Entertainment Technical Manager.
• Ensure that all scenery pieces and automated equipment are being brought in/out of the stage in a safe manner during all shows by giving the necessary clearance to the running crew and Automation Technician over communication headsets.
• Assist with some quick costume changes during some of the shows.
• Ensures that the track sheets for all on‐stage performers, running crew and fire patrol as well as the storage location of all flying units/sets are always being followed as per the Show Manual and that they are never altered or modified without Shoreside approval.
• Responsible for the cleaning, maintenance and repairs of all scenery, set pieces, props and soft goods.
• Responsible for the safety and cleanliness of the backstage area including wing storage areas and lockers, ensuring all rolling pieces are stored correctly and pinned & strapped properly.
• Perform spot repairs of the vinyl stage flooring.
• Perform cast‐shoes sole repairs
• Attend the weekly Production Meeting along with the rest of the technical team.
• Be part of the “Tech On Duty (TOD)” rotation (one week/cruise every four weeks/cruises), providing both guests and crew with entertainment technology related assistance.

Audio Technician

• Operate the main theater audio equipment for all shows and activities
• FOH Mixing of up to 8 singers, 10 musicians and 16 tracks of digital playback accompaniment, all with reverb and delay.
• Monitor Mixing (Stage and In‐Ear) for up to 8 singers, 10 musicians, 18 dancers and 10 technicians.
• Wireless (Handheld and Beltpack/Headset) and Corded Microphones.
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• Be part of the “Tech On Duty (TOD)” rotation (one week/cruise every four weeks/cruises), providing both guests and crew with entertainment technology related assistance:
• Good knowledge of professional audio equipment operation and maintenance procedures.
• Good knowledge of digital and analog audio consoles operation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of show control and time code distribution.
• Good knowledge of digital audio recording systems and their operation.
• Good knowledge of electrical theory, be able to read and follow electrical and system drawings and diagrams.
• Good troubleshooting skills, basic repair skills, and able to crimp and solder connectors.
• Comfortable working at heights up to 35ft (10.5m), be able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder and properly operate a Genie lift.
• Good overall health and physical condition  (to be determined by physician) .

LES Technician

- General knowledge of professional audio equipment operation and maintenance procedures

- General knowledge of digital and analog audio consoles operation

- Basic knowledge and understanding of show control and time code distribution

- Basic knowledge of digital audio recording systems and their operation

- Basic knowledge of electrical theory, be able to read and follow electrical and system drawings and diagrams

- Basic knowledge of lighting console operation (GrandMa, GrandMa2, ETC preferred)

- Basic knowledge of lighting instruments

- General knowledge of projection operation

- Basic knowledge in PC hardware & software maintenance and repair

- Good troubleshooting skills with basic repair skills, be able to crimp and solder connectors

- Must be able to safely climb an A‐frame ladder and properly operate a Genie lift

- Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds

- Required to work up to 10hrs per 24hr period, 7 days a week

- Able to provide forward facing guest interaction during certain job functions, side duties or related troubleshooting, with the intent to exceed our guests’ expectations

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• Operation of robotic or handheld cameras, live video switcher, computer workstations, control room producer, or production show assistance.
• 1-3 years of experience working in a live production environment as a camera operator, shooting live with PTZ cameras and handheld camera, and as a Vision Mixer Operator/Technical Director.
• Excellent shooting and editing skills, knowledge of editing systems/programs.

The Video Technician’s job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

• Operate and maintain robotic (pan, tilt, zoom), handheld cameras and control room equipment to produce live video content to a series of display surfaces.
• Support for live video productions.
• Participate in all load ins and load outs for all Center Stage productions.
• Train for rescue track operation for aerial performer emergencies and rescue plan.
• Audiovisual services for special events.
• Support for local entertainment venues (branded and non‐branded).
• Perform maintenance and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment.
• Fill out the Technical Reports detailing any new or outstanding problems pertaining to cameras, equipment, or daily operations.

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Mom shares terrifying ordeal that saw son, 12, airlifted from Carnival cruise ship with perforated bowel

A mother has shared details of the terrifying ordeal that saw her dangerously ill 12-year-old son airlifted from a cruise ship by the US Air Force .

Angela Bridges’ son Aiden fell ill on the Carnival Venezia cruise ship around 400 miles off the North Carolina coast with a perforated bowel.

Medics on board did what they could but the crew declared a critical medical incident and the US Air Force was called in, with the helicopter arriving “within hours” to take him to a hospital.

“I was just screaming and crying over the helicopter blades,” Ms Bridges told Good Morning America (GMA) on Thursday. “It was very scary.”

She added: “I feel so much gratitude, gratefulness, toward all the people that have been integral to my son’s recovery. It’s not just the Coast Guard, or the Air Force or the doctors or the nurses, it’s all of those people.”

The family were on their way back to New York from the Caribbean, when Aiden fell seriously ill on 4 May.

His mother told GMA that medics carried out an x-ray to work out what was wrong with him.

“They did that and she said ‘it looks as though he has a perforation in his bowel,’” Ms Bridges explained. “She said ‘basically the next thing that we need to do, immediately, is get him off the ship.’”

Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130J Combat King 11 planes took off from Patrick Space Force Base in Florida.

The mission required three intricate helicopter air-to-air refuellings since the ship was so far out at sea.Aiden received life-saving treatment on board the helicopter, his mother said, before being taken to a hospital in North Carolina.

His condition is currently unknown.

“Everyone in the wing mobilised with exceptional speed. By uniting our efforts, we saved crucial time, delivering life-saving assistance six hours ahead of other response teams,” rescue pilot Captain Dylan Gann said.

The helicopters flew a total of 1,200 miles throughout the operation, while the ship adjusted its course in order to meet the aircraft.

“The amazing thing about this rescue is actually how smooth it went. We went from zero notification, to having aircraft ready, to having aircraft in the air,” Lieutenant Colonel Dave Underwood told ABC News.“And the young man is in the hospital in just a matter of hours.”

The cruise liner arrived in New York City as scheduled on Monday.

The Independent has always had a global perspective. Built on a firm foundation of superb international reporting and analysis, The Independent now enjoys a reach that was inconceivable when it was launched as an upstart player in the British news industry. For the first time since the end of the Second World War, and across the world, pluralism, reason, a progressive and humanitarian agenda, and internationalism – Independent values – are under threat. Yet we, The Independent, continue to grow.

I'm a CEO who ran my company from a cruise ship for a month. It requires a lot of discipline, but I'd do it again.

• Tony Fernandes, CEO of UEGroup, managed his company from a cruise ship for 21 days.
• Fernandes experienced challenges with slow internet and communication but found workable solutions.
• Despite the hurdles, he finds value in being offline at times and plans to continue cruising.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tony Fernandes, a 60-year-old founder and CEO of UEGroup based in San Francisco, about his experience working remotely on a cruise ship. It's been edited for length and clarity.

My wife and I are in the post-kid, post-pet phase of our lives. Our kids have gone off to college and we had a beloved dog and house rabbits that have passed away. After they passed, that really opened up a window for us to travel — and we did — but extended travel is new for us.

In November, I embarked on a trip where I spent several weeks leading my company from a cruise ship with my wife. We ultimately circumnavigated the globe on two different cruises and with air travel. Leaving California, we went through Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

It's been a cool experience. But I found that while working on the ship , you do need some discipline — especially on a 21-day cruise.

You have to create a time for work and a time for play

We didn't realize it, but when we upgraded our internet, it upgraded our drinks package. So, it turned out we could get bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne for free.

We had a couple of lunches and dinners where we enjoyed Champagne , but we also developed a rhythm where we had work time and playtime. It wasn't rigid — but there were times when my wife, who does finance at UEGroup, and I knew we had to get things done.

Related stories

Working can set you apart from people who are on vacation. That doesn't mean you can't work in your bathing suit or have a beer before you start your work, but it puts you on a slightly different footing than some of the other people on the cruise.

Expect very slow internet service

One thing I didn't realize prior to the trip was that the cruise ship had only one satellite connection shared by thousands of people. The internet was oppressively slow at times.

For our next long trip, I'm looking into getting a data satellite phone so I can put an antenna on my patio facing the right direction for the satellite. I've still got to figure it out, but there were times when it was really important for us to communicate, and we couldn't.

We're now very mistrustful of statements the cruise lines make about the quality of their internet. For example, we upgraded our Internet, but it turned out the cruise line's definition of upgrading was that we could have more than one device, not that there was any better speed or reliability. You've got to read the fine print about how they define an upgrade.

I would also recommend asking what kind of download and upload speeds to expect.

Create a backup plan for meetings and other communication challenges

Internet access can be unpredictable even with research and planning ahead, so we had backup people for important meetings back at the office. If we weren't able to show up, there was someone prepared with the slide deck. I can't say it didn't create awkward moments at times — and it is one of the downsides — but you can plan for it the best you can.

When my wife was dealing with a bank and needed to get a two-factor authentication code without working SMS, there wasn't much she could do. So, that was a challenge as well.

At some points, I was forced to go ashore and buy SIM cards to leverage local cell service, but this requires research. Depending on the country there might only be one cellphone service that works there, or you might be able to get SIM card brands that work for a larger area.

Being offline can end up being a good thing

I find it hard to be offline, but because the connectivity was so bad sometimes, it just forced it to happen. We were in the middle of nowhere, and it wasn't going to change. In a way, being offline was good because I could just tune out.

My wife and I plan to cruise more in the future and even recently bought a home in Portugal near a cruise port that we're going to commute to using cruises as much as possible.

When we did the math, taking a cruise from California to Portugal was less than two business-class air travel tickets. Plus, you get meals, entertainment, and no jet lag — it seems like the way to go.

If you live or work on a cruise ship and would like to share your story, please email [email protected] .

Watch: Microsoft's chief brand officer, Kathleen Hall, says the company's employees are its best product testers

• Main content

Cruise ship worker accused of attacking, stabbing people with scissors on board vessel

JUNEAU, Alaska ( KTUU /Gray News) - A South African citizen was arrested by the FBI in Juneau Tuesday after he allegedly stabbed a cruise ship passenger and several employees who attempted to stop him.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska said 35-year-old Ntando Sogoni was employed on the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship Encore and was observed by other staff attempting to launch one of the ship’s lifeboats. He was then taken by security to the ship’s medical facility for an evaluation.

In the medical center, Sogoni reportedly physically attacked a nurse and a security guard. He then allegedly entered an examination room, grabbed a pair of medical scissors and attacked a woman receiving treatment, stabbing her in the arms, hand and face. When two security guards intervened, the court documents allege he stabbed one in the head and one in the back.

Once he was under authority’s control, Sogoni was held in the ship’s jail before being taken into custody and being charged with assault with a deadly weapon in maritime and territorial jurisdiction. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine the total sentencing.

Court documents say that the employee had just joined the ship’s crew at its Seattle port of call on May 5. The incident occurred approximately 16.5 miles from Vancouver Island. There is no word on whether the incident has delayed the ship or on the condition of those hurt.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and FBI Juneau Resident Agency, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case.

Copyright 2024 KTUU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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