Employee profiles

As part of the Transat Holidays Cruise Operations team in Montreal, Pasqualina Verrillo is the one making sure the customers’ cruises run smoothly from start to finish. “We basically take over after the cruise is booked”, she says. “Anything that affects the cruise itself or the itinerary, the flight to get to the cruise, we take care of it.“

After observing friends of hers who were part of the industry and realizing she was interested in pursuing a career in the same field, Pasqualina completed a year in tourism as the John F. Kennedy Business Centre in Montreal.

Until 2003, she was an employee of Americanada, a Transat business unit whose operations were later integrated into Transat Tours Canada. She is now responsible for managing cruises on the Norwegian Epic ship. Pasqualina is friendly and easygoing, yet also independent and resourceful; she’s the person to count on for a job well done. “When you know what needs to be done, people can depend on you,” she says.

Cruise Operations is a tight-knit team, and while Pasqualina says her priorities at home are her two children, she has come to feel very close to her colleagues. “You see them every day, so they become family,” she explains.

When she has the chance to travel, she enjoys being able to wind down, which is why Aruba is a favourite destination. “I just find it so relaxing, the beaches are so beautiful,” she says, adding “I didn't get to visit much of Europe but that’s something else that I would like to do once the kids are older!” Although she spends much of her spare time with her kids, doing “whatever they would like to do,” she has a weak spot for “sappy love stories;” her favourite movie is the 1980s romantic comedy Pretty in Pink. As for music, she says: “How can I forget Bon Jovi?”