Does P&O have a Commodore?

[CaroleF]

Does P&O have a Commodore at the moment? I know Commodore Burgoyne (?sp) retired earlier this year but I've not seen any announcement about a replacement.

Carole

[david63]

More to the point - does P&O NEED a commodore?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember it having one before Steve Burgoyne. I had a feeling it was a post created to mark his long service. But if it does I'm up for the job. I'm at sea most days.

[david63]

I have a vague recollection at the back of my mind that they have had Commodores in the past - but it has not necessarily been a continuous post.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Perhaps similarly an honorary post then to reward others with long records?

[Manoverboard]

I used to be a Commodore but I tend not to mention it on this Cruise Forum ...

[Gill W]

I have a vague feeling that Rory Smith was Commodore before Steve Burgoine.

Incidentally, I learnt something whilst on Azura. In the past, they had a Commodore Cruise Director, who was Bill Allison. Just a useless fact I thought I'd throw in!

[Mervyn and Trish]

I used to be a Commodore but I tend not to mention it on this Cruise Forum ...

Moby, the question was about Commodores, not commodes!

[Southwinds]

There is no Commodore...word is ...cost cutting... It may also be that previous incumbents were on final salary pension, the promotion prior to retirement is a form of thanks, but theses days cost cutting could mean an end to the role which really is ceremonial.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Not sure it can be about cost. SB was a working Captain to his retirement as well as Commodore, so even if there was a modest pay rise to go with the title I doubt it was much compared to whatever a long serving and much experienced Captain gets anyway. And let's face it they have to have one Captain per ship at sea plus those on leave at home ready to do their stint, so I doubt the extra cost is significant in the scheme of things.

As others have confirmed there has not always been a Commodore in the past so not having one at present is not really news at all.

[david63]

A thought - SB was Commodore to P&O's fleet but all of the Captains are employed by Carnival - so does that mean that SB was employed by P&O?

[Southwinds]

My reply was based on what staff in The company have said, so could be rumour. Which is why I said " word is"

[davecttr]

I am given to understand that captains on leave do not get paid, is this true?

As Paul Brown has got the plum job of working up Britannia is he P&O's favourite captain at the moment. Or did the other captains not want to touch the job with a bargepole?

[david63]

I am given to understand that captains on leave do not get paid, is this true?

Only one of the Captains will be able to give a definitive answer to that - but my understanding is that they employed (possibly under contact) to Carnival. Whether they get paid leave or not I am pretty sure that they will be well recompensed.

As Paul Brown has got the plum job of working up Britannia is he P&O's favourite captain at the moment. Or did the other captains not want to touch the job with a bargepole?

It may be that he is the Captain with the best level of experience to do the job, or it could be that it is the right career move for him at this moment in time - or it could be when volunteers were asked to take a step forward everyone else took a step back

[Mervyn and Trish]

My understanding is that unlike cabin stewards etc, who are paid for the duration of the contract and not when on leave, and have to re-apply to join their next ship, senior officers, such as Captains, Cruise Directors, are "staff" and get an annual salary, with paid leave. Okay it's not 9-5 with weekends off and 6 weeks holiday a year, but the principle is the same.

As for the idea that the current lack of a Commodore is a cost cutting measure coming from "staff at the company", I would treat that with a huge pinch of salt. It would not be the first time that insider knowledge/rumour turned out to be tosh!

[Silver_Shiney]

I used to be a Commodore but I tend not to mention it on this Cruise Forum ...

So, tell us, what was it like working with Lionel Ritchie?

[Manoverboard]

iT sAw ' COOL '

[melsea]

On our last cruise we had on our table at the Peninsular Lunch the Commodores daughter & her husband who is an officer with P&O. She said he is semi retired because occasionally they need him for some of the ships to sail as he is the only one that can drive all of the ships fleet. I wonder if Captain Brown has had the additional training to sail the new ship in 2015. Until all Captains have had the extra training they will continue to only be selected for certain ships.

[Gill W]

Maybe it's just a curtesy title, bestowed on long a long serving captain, a couple of years before retirement.

They don't seem to hold the title long before they retire.

[Dancing Queen]

I used to be a Commodore but I tend not to mention it on this Cruise Forum ...

So, tell us, what was it like working with Lionel Ritchie?

I was tempted to ask that question too Alan

[Manoverboard]

I used to be a Commodore but I tend not to mention it on this Cruise Forum ...

So, tell us, what was it like working with Lionel Ritchie?

I was tempted to ask that question too Alan

' Dancing Queen ' also used to be a Commodore but Silver_Shiney did not ... .