Cruise Sales Specialist,
Seabourn Club members returning on board are often surprised and delighted to encounter Mihaela Cotoanta in some new and unexpected setting. That’s because in the seven years since she first joined Seabourn, she has excelled at a variety of different roles on board different ships.
“Since 2009, I have gone from being a spa therapist to a receptionist on our small sister ships, then moved on to the positions of Guest Services Specialist, Assistant Destination Manager, and now I’m a Cruise Sales Specialist,” she says.
Mihaela was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. Growing up, aside from a school trip to Italy, she didn’t have much opportunity to travel. She had never been overseas until, when she was 18, she took a trip to Israel with her father, a journey that proved to be a real eye-opener.
“That truly changed my life,” she says. “It was the first step towards the countless possibilities of the world. I earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and subsequently worked as a Sales Manager in a Health Center. But there was something missing. I wanted to travel to other countries, discover the world and experience different realities and cultures, get to know the people living in other countries. I started to dream bigger, to envision a life filled with adventure. So, one day I just decided to stop dreaming and start acting. That’s when I started to work on cruise ships.”
Mihaela is an avowed sun-worshiper and beach lover, who is “addicted to traveling.” She enjoys surfing the beaches of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, basking in the Greek Isles and the Adriatic Coast, but she says that Antarctica will always have a special place in her heart since she visited there on Seabourn Quest.
She still lives in Bucharest, which she describes as “…rather like an awkward teenager who is stuck between childhood and adulthood. It is not uncommon to find beautiful French-style buildings right next to grey blocks of cement.” She goes home there to visit her friends and family, and her pet rabbit Micha.
It is notable that, in all of her various roles with Seabourn, Mihaela has always had extensive guest contact. She says it makes her feel proud and honored that returning guests whom she has known since she was a spa therapist often compliment her on her progress in the company. She also takes pride in knowing that her parents are proud of her decisions and accomplishments.
“Being with Seabourn for so many years has been an amazing experience, my colleagues became my (second) family and the guests have become my friends,” she says. “At this point in time, I look forward to continuing my journey with this great company that I now call home.”
When asked whether there is anything else she’d like Seabourn guests to know about her, Mihaela responds, “Just tell them to always check in with me, because I know where all the best beaches are on every Seabourn itinerary!”