Celebrating Day of Seafarers Onboard Carnival Dream

A delegation of seafarers from various government agencies in Belize celebrated the Day of Seafarers on a Carnival cruise ship. Today, Carnival Dream docked off the coast of Belize City on one of its scheduled visits to give three thousand passengers a taste of Belize. And while they were docked, a group of Belizean seafarers boarded the vessel to celebrate the Day of Seafarers with its crew members. The celebration included a meeting with the captain and his crew members, as well as a tour of the vessel’s fifteen decks to get a closer look at the many services offered on Carnival Dream. News Five’s Paul Lopez joined the team onboard the ship. He filed the following report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A seafarer is defined as anyone who is employed to serve aboard any type of marine vessel. Carnival Dream cruise ship is one such vessel. Carnival Dream has more than one thousand, three hundred crew members. On June twenty-fifth, all those crew members were recognized in commemoration of the Day of Seafarers. And today, several Belizean seafarers boarded Carnival Dream off the coast of Belize City to join in on the celebration.

 

Kenisha Allen, Vice President, WIMAC

“Today we have with us members of the Coastal Zone Management, several government departments, ports and shipping agencies.”

 

The collaborative celebration was organized by Kenisha Allen, the Vice President of the Women in Maritime Association Belize Chapter. Allen explained that the individuals who work in the maritime sector but are not employed on a marine vessel are still considered seafarers. Allen also highlighted the crucial role of women in the sector.

 

Kenisha Allen

“For today I would just like to say that our association is motivated to highlighting the crucial role of women as well in maritime and highlight their achievements as they chart their own course. So for all seafarers, especially women, we are working towards a more inclusive and equitable maritime industry.”

 

 

The theme for the 2024 Day of Seafarers is “Safety at Sea”. It is something that the captain of Carnival Dream is all too familiar with as he steers more than three thousand, five hundred passengers through the Caribbean Sea to various destinations. He was showered with tokens of appreciation from the many Belizean seafarers that boarded the vessel today.

 

 

 

Zvonko Anic, Captain, Carnival Dream

“Thank you so much on behalf of all the carnival family. We are really honored that you chose us for the seafarters national day. This also gives us the bond with the locals and with you as the authorities. WE are really pleased to come in Belize because I can say for my side, I had the opportunity in the past to go with my wife on two excursions beautiful country. We were on this cave tubing and zipline and all the guests that are coming on this cruise they are looking for Belize as a beautiful country and lots of nice excursions and nice people. I consider all team members on board are seamen because on the end their job leads to the sea and as authorities and agents as well because you are supporting our operation because you are the one making our job and our life easier when we come and have the port calls.”

 

Today’s activities aboard Carnival Dream included a tour of its fifteen decks, its onboard dining experiences and social lounges, as well as its casinos, theater and balcony. The crew aboard Carnival Dream works around the clock to serve its guests. And today, they gave these seafarers from Belize the V.I.P treatment. Edmond Staine is the Seafarers Manager at IMMARBE.

 

 

 

Edmond Staine, Seafarers Manager, IMMARBE

“This is a very joyous occasion for us to celebrate the day of the seafarers on board the Carnival Dream. It has been a mandate of ours for years now to ensure that whenever the seafarers come to Belize we are able to celebrate with them and show them how we appreciate them. So this was a collaboration between WIMAC and IMMARBE and of course other agencies were along, the coast guard, the fisheries department, a well rounded group that came to show love to Belize and we really appreciate the opportunity to do this on behalf of the government of Belize. We hope that people from the ship and the master appreciate this token because it took a lot for us to put together. We wanted to show them love.”

 

Kenisha Allen

“We champion safe working conditions. It is so crucial for preventing accidents, preserving lives and maintaining the smooth flow of global commerce. As a member of Women in Maritime, the Belize Chapter, it recently launched in May and we share a responsibility, the forty-two members alongside myself. We promised the launch was just the beginning. We have a bright maritime future and we will keep that promise by any means necessary.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.