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Stoyan Stefanov
Casino | Odyssey of the Seas
Stoyan Stefanov is living his dream – sailing the globe while running a successful onboard casino. This lifelong dream has been in the works for many years; Stoyan worked for three different cruise lines before finally joining Royal Caribbean International.
Stoyan thinks people would be surprised how employees feel about the company. “It certainly doesn’t feel like working for a huge corporation. You feel like you’re at home, among friends” he said. “Many thousands of employees stretch around the globe, and no matter where you go, you feel like you’re amongst friends. That’s something I really appreciate; this is my home away from home.”
Why work for Royal Caribbean Group? Stoyan’s answer: “Working for Royal has always been my dream career. In every regard, Royal is the best company to work for!” He wants others to be inspired by the Propelled by People: Our Stories portrait series by Steve McCurry. “I hope they’ll get inspired and choose Royal,” Stoyan said. “One of my greatest regrets is not starting my career at Royal sooner!”
Working in the Casino, overseeing operations might be a bit challenging, but for Stoyan, it’s very enjoyable, and he sees his job more as a hobby, rather than a just a profession. He works closely with his diverse team, which sometimes includes more than 15 nationalities, ensuring that company policies and procedures are strictly followed. His staff is always treated with respect; as he puts it, “my staff is my family, they are all my kids!” He also prioritizes creating a welcoming atmosphere in his casino, ensuring that all guests feel at home. He laughed while sharing this sentiment, but it’s true—Stoyan and his team uphold the highest casino standards.
For Stoyan, being able to travel the world, visit over 220 cities in over 90 countries (narrowly missing several natural disasters) and spend Christmas with his wife and daughter onboard makes working for Royal Caribbean Group worthwhile. “I take great pleasure in signing up as an escort for shore excursions. I have climbed volcanoes, enjoyed fishing in Alaska, set foot on six continents, visited nearly every iconic landmark, and explored nearly all major coastal cities around the globe.” Stoyan said. When asked what his favorite destination was, he laughed. “There’s been so many countries, you can’t really compare them. You can’t compare apples to cheese!”
And how does Stoyan contribute to the continued growth of the company? “By consistently working to improve our staff performance and guest satisfaction, we ultimately enhance our overall success and contribute to the company’s growth.”