Ballard-born Carnival Cruise Line hotel director Ron Ness, center, with Capt. Rocco Lubrano, far right, and crew members in the Pharaoh’s Place Show Lounge on the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit at Smith Cove Terminal.
Ballard-born Ron Ness has been a hotel director for Carnival Cruise Lines for 15 years. He was recently in town on the 960-foot Carnival Spirit cruise ship, ready to sail to Alaska May 11 for a seven-day cruise to the Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and back through Victoria.
This was Carnival’s first cruise from Seattle and had a full ship of 2,124 passengers. This was also the first of 18 cruises that will bring some 42,000 passengers to the city this season for cruises departing every Tuesday from the Port of Seattle's newest cruise terminal, Smith Cove at Pier 91.
Many have heard the modern cruise ship described as a floating hotel. So what does Ness do?
"I encompass 825 crew members," he said. "I'm in charge of food and beverage, entertainment, all the concessions and housekeeping. My being from Seattle and our bringing one of our favorite ships into Seattle is incredible."
Ness grew up in Crown Hill. He said his grandfather had his fishing boats in Ballard and would go up to Alaska regularly.
Now, Ness is doing the same but in a fancier craft.
