Cunard’s onboard Recognition Programme ‘Star of the Month’ helps us recognise and celebrate fleet colleagues for delivering an exceptional service to our guests through our White Star Service Values and living our Culture Essentials (now our Core Values).
Every month, we celebrate and reward our colleagues onboard at the recognition event – where a White Star Service and a Culture Essentials winner is announced. Everyone can nominate each other and there are great prizes to be won.
Each year an overall White Star Service winner and an overall Culture Essentials winner is chosen, and we’re pleased to announce our Cunard Stars of the Year for 2025!
White Star Service winner:
Ryan Mateo, Dining Steward
Ryan’s nomination:
Ryan is second-in-command at a particularly challenging restaurant station. At a time the restaurant was undermanned, Ryan stepped up to manage the station with remarkable confidence and enthusiasm. The transformation he brought to the station was nothing short of extraordinary.
Feedback from guests began pouring in, with many approaching the front desk to express their gratitude for the elevated service they received and to commend the swift changes we implemented to enhance their dining experience.
Ryan’s ability to seamlessly transition from his role as a Dining Steward to effectively managing the responsibilities of a Waiter not only showcased his exceptional capabilities but also significantly improved the guests’ perception of our restaurant. He exemplified our commitment to White Star Service and maintained this exceptional performance throughout a long voyage, handling the pressures of the role with grace and ease.
Ryan’s positive attitude didn’t just save the day; he uplifted the entire dining experience for our guests and reaffirmed their trust in our commitment to excellence.
Thank you and congratulations, Ryan!
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Ryan’s prize as our White Star Service Star of the Year:
- Certificate
- Star of the Year pin
- $1,250 USD or a two-week Cunard voyage of Ryan’s choosing
- Star for the Day treatment!
Culture Essentials winner:
Rhodel Sarno, Waste Disposal Supervisor
*Rhodel was nominated during his time on Queen Anne, but received his award on board P&O Cruises Ventura.
Rhodel’s nomination:
During the recent United States Coast Guard (USCG) inspection, Rhodel was singled out by the inspectors for his exceptional knowledge and professionalism within the Recycling Centre.
Despite only being onboard Queen Anne for three weeks, Rhodel quickly demonstrated his expertise and commitment to his role. The inspecting officer asked Rhodel numerous questions about the operation, segregation, and storage of waste. Rhodel answered confidently and clearly, impressing the officer with his thorough understanding and communication. This was noted during the closing meeting, where Rhodel was specifically mentioned for his efforts.
Rhodel’s dedication extended beyond the inspection. He worked diligently to ensure that waste accumulated during the final Southampton turnaround was offloaded as late as possible, resulting in the ship departing almost empty of waste. This proved to be a crucial decision, as the waste offload in New York faced significant challenges due to late arrivals and a busy baggage operation. He also contributed to streamlining waste processing and optimizing the use of the aft baggage storage area. His proactive approach and team-focused attitude have made a noticeable difference.
Additionally, Rhodel was praised by the USCG inspectors for his comprehensive knowledge of the ship’s safety equipment, his environmental awareness, and his overall positive attitude. His confidence, friendliness, and pride in presenting the Recycling Centre and safety systems reflected the values of the company, respecting and protecting both people and the planet. Rhodel’s great start onboard Queen Anne and his outstanding contributions have been highly recognised.
His performance truly embodies the culture of teamwork, excellence, and environmental responsibility.
Rhodel’s prize as our Culture Essentials Star of the Year
- Certificate
- $1,250 USD or a two-week Cunard voyage of Rhodel’s choosing
- Star for the day treatment!