Jurgen serenades Island Escape

The busiest man on board Splendour of the Seas during its dry dock is Jurgen Bailom (left); as Hotel Director in charge of Royal Caribbean’s $300 million fleet revitalisation programme he has to co-ordinate more than 1,000 workmen and 760 crew to ensure that everything is completed on time.
Making sure every square inch of 170 miles of new carpet has been laid; the cabins all have their new furniture and flat-screen TVs installed, and the kitchens for the five new restaurants are fitted and working involves constant chasing, intricate inspections and regular meetings.
The routine was broken a week ago when Jurgen saw a familiar shape across the other side of the dock in the Navantia yard in Cadiz, Spain.
Cruise ship Island Escape (above), which is taking a break for the winter, had arrived; Jurgen served on board the vessel during the ’90s when it was Royal Caribbean’s Viking Serenade. Working with him then was Marious Georgiadis – by coincidence now Hotel Director on Splendour.
“It brought back lots of memories when the ship arrived,” said Jurgen. “We had some wonderful times together on that ship.”
Unlike Splendour, Island Escape – which featured in the 2002 TV documentary series Cruise Ship – is not in Cadiz for a refit. A spokesperson for operators Thomson said :” The Island Escape is out of service for the winter, currently there are no major refurbishments planned. She will be back in service on March 27.”