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REPORT ON NORDIC EMPRESS

By
Christian Fournier
-The shooting schedule is: Monday: embarkation, no boat drill, sailing, clown (yes, 2 photogs, dressed as clowns, with good make up on and full length costumes, greet the pax as they exit the dining room: two doors, two clowns, two photogs, two sittings.) Tuesday: Freeport gangways (8 am to 12 am), 2 sets of portraits on main lobby, before captain, handshakes, walk-in lounge (-see enclosed pictures-with a Bowens flash head and an umbrella and a flash on slave behind the pax. shot on 35mm and enlarged to 10x8" for $16.95), sitting in lounge, 2 sets of portraits for in and out of the dining room, inside dining room: couples only. Wednesday: Nassau gangway (8-11am) An arrangement has been made with the taxi drivers, so there are no more frictions. Honey mooners: 7.30pm. Night gangway could be possible for many pax leave, dressed up, for the Nassau night club shows. Thursday: Cococay: tender-path shots, then beach shots with a pirate. Sail away/decks. dinners: couples and tables. Portraits 2 or 4 backdrops according to whether the pax are good spenders or not.

-The date of the cruise is printed on the embarkation boards (see enclosed pics).

-There is no staff introduction with photographers. The photographers do cruisestaff duties during passenger life boat drill.

-Portraits are all shot with tripods. Only brown backdrops are used (I think that more variety would create more revenue, and would also make it easier to identify your portrait on the wall). One backdrop is very long, which helps for large groups. (See enclosed pics of portraits set ups.)

-All portrait equipment is stored behind the stage of the "Strike the band lounge", on the right hand side as you face the stage. There is plenty of space, even for the very long backdrop. It is not locked, since it is also used for stage equipment. A trolley, also stored in this room, is used to carry the gear to the shooting area.

-They shoot 2 gangways: one in Freeport, one in Nassau. The two shots are the same except for the name of the port, written on the life rings. We should dress them up for variety, therefore more revenue.

-The photo gallery hours are as follow: Monday: 7-10am & 7-11pm Tuesday: 8-10 am &-11pm Wednesday:8-10am & 2-11pm Thursday: 8-10am & 3.30pm -midnight Friday: 7-10am &-11pm Saturday: 8-10am &-11pm Sunday: 8-10am & 3.30pm -midnight -There are announcements for the photo gallery every day through the P.A. system. -Slot tech./dancers/pursers/lecturers are employed as gallery help during formal nights -There are no D&P, no key chains. Reprint service is available.

-The photo gallery will be enlarged, but the new corner will not be visible from the cash desks. The existing fake video-security cameras must be kept ,or replaced, and one more added. Or the cash desks can be moved to better positions. -
Parts of the sales desks are damaged and should be replaced.

-There is no photo-gift shop. -The telephone number of the gallery is: 3766-Available 220 volt power (Amps) in the darkroom: film processors (17 + 17 + 17 amp.) drying cabinet (17 amp.) printers (17 + 17 amp.) D&P processors (29 + 40 amp.) cooler (17 amp.) plugs (17 + 17 amp.) All properly organized in a switch box. Other combinations possible.
-The darkroom is well ventilated and air conditioned.

-It is not a problem to remove the unwanted wall at the back of the Wainco processors: it is not a supporting wall, just a partition.

-The Fuji film processor, which was broken, was taken off in Miami two weeks ago. A Proco dip and dunk unit is used instead.

-The existing two Durst 5000 printers: one is 220v, the other one is 110 volts. There are voltage fluctuations, which affect the machine's performances on the 110 volt line.

-Two technicians and one supervisor (Mary) from Cruiseship Pics are on board this cruise to pack all equipment. They will try to have all equipment out by Friday 28th April 5PM. There has been no landing of photo gear in the Bahamas.

-The darkroom is situated mid-ship, deck one, stairs #29. Telephone: 3191 -The code to enter the security door to the darkroom is: 3444 -There is room for a tiny office in the film processing area. There is no room for an office in the cabins.

-There is no other storage room except inside the darkroom and the backstage space for portrait gear.
-The keys to darkroom and cabins will be handed over to the crew purser.

-There are three cabins, two photogs in each. No portholes. All in same area of the ship: deck 2 forward. Cabin 2023, 2025, 2027. Telephone numbers are: 8+cabin number.

-The senior photogs are: Paul Stocum, Andrew Rogers (I worked with him on the Viking Serenade), Jason Bull.

-There is no literature about the photo operation in the cabin literature, but there are some for the gift shops and the shore excursion.

-The total revenue is $45 000 per week at the moment. It goes to $55 000+ in summer. This info comes from the photogs. RCCL might give us the complete figures for the past year.

-The photographers wages make up 10.5% of total revenue. There are 6 photogs, well paid. There are 3 cabins. Photogs work hard. There seems to be a good team work.

-The crew purser said that I must have a letter of employment for dry docks. -How do I get my wage, and how much?

-Can we get some overalls to work (cleaning & painting & assembling machines) during dry-dock?


Christian Fournier


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