Marella Cruises has announced that it has chosen two of its own crew members as the godmothers for its newest cruise ship, Marella Voyager. In a departure from the typical choice of celebrities, Marella Cruises has selected Chief Purser Tatyana Olkhovska and Senior Destination Services Operations Manager Jacqui Nobile, who together have over 40 years of combined experience in the cruise industry across various roles and ships.
The selection process for the godmothers involved reaching out to leadership teams within TUI, the parent company of Marella Cruises, to identify the most deserving candidates. The criteria for nomination focused on length of service and progression within Marella over time, and ultimately, Olkhovska and Nobile were awarded the honorary positions. The two long-serving crew members will attend the ship's launch and naming ceremony in Malaga on May 31, 2023, where they will have the honor of christening the vessel.
Marella Cruises Managing Director Chris Hackney explained the company's decision, stating, "At Marella, we love to recognize our dedicated staff for the important role of godmother. We could have found a celebrity, but we believe our own hardworking heroes deserve the honor, and we are so proud to have Tatyana and Jacqui as Marella Voyager's godmothers."
“Their drive and passion is a testament to their commitment to Marella Cruises and ensuring the best possible holiday experience for our guests. With more than 40 years in cruising between them, it’s clear they have both dedicated a large part of their lives to Marella and both understand and believe in our mission,” he added.
Olkhovska, originally from Ukraine, joined Marella Cruises in 2003 as a receptionist and has since made significant contributions to improving language skills among other receptionists, drawing on her background in teaching. In 2017, she transitioned into the role of Chief Purser and is now celebrating her twentieth year with Marella, with the added distinction of being one of the two godmothers for Marella Voyager.
On the other hand, Nobile began her journey with TUI in 1994 as an Overseas Representative in Menorca. After discovering her passion for cruise ships, she applied to work onboard and embarked on her first charter in the Caribbean with Marella Cruises in 1996. Now, she is honored to be chosen as one of the godmothers for Marella Voyager.
The 1,912-guest Marella Voyager, formerly Mein Schiff Herz, is undergoing an extensive refit following its transfer from TUI Cruises' German division. It is set to begin sailing with guests in the Mediterranean on June 3, 2023. Marella Cruises is looking forward to the launch and naming ceremony of Marella Voyager, with Chief Purser Tatyana Olkhovska and Senior Destination Services Operations Manager Jacqui Nobile as the ship's proud godmothers.
