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Pollak credits Oceania Cruises’ crew as a support system during his grief. He’s been on 133 cruises since her passing, including the Oceania Allura’s maiden voyage. One trip that always brings tears is the christening of the Oceania Vista in May 2023—his first time stepping onto a ship without Karin.
Pollak had feared sitting alone at dinner and shows, but during his first show on the cruise, a hostess surprised him by asking to sit next to him. At the end of the performance, seven crew members were waiting with hugs and tears. That night, another long-time Oceania employee talked Pollak into dancing in the Horizons lounge instead of retiring to his room. “It was the first time in six months I felt human,” he said.
Navigating his grief and re-entering travel has been challenging. Yet, family, friends, and especially the Oceania crew have provided a lifeline for finding joy again in travel. Oceania Cruises holds a special place in Pollak’s heart, as they were avid travelers together.
Bill met Karin through her work as his travel agent when he was in aviation. They divorced their respective spouses and married each other in 1991. During their 32-year marriage, the couple traveled extensively, often on cruises after retirement for up to six months a year.
Some of their most cherished memories involve Oceania Cruises, such as renewing their vows during a world cruise and being unexpectedly stranded in Barcelona post-cruise due to a volcanic eruption. Another memorable sailing was in 2008 when the Nautica was attacked by pirates off Somalia and Yemen. Pollak jokes that Karin was in the spa during the stressful moment.
Pollak still thinks of Karin often, with many places reminding him of her. While he can’t return to some like Paris, ships from Oceania Cruises offer solace. For Bill, home is where the heart is, and those ships are his homes.
