Cruise Ship Stories

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was sent home for vacation, as the ship was still not ready for service. The scheduled time for cruising had to be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances; basically, the ship was not up to Royal standards yet. The ship had spent nearly a month and a half in Cadiz, much longer than originally scheduled. The concerning aspect was that we had to depart Cadiz, as our time there was up, and cross the Atlantic to the Bahamas to complete the dr

Before I start about my adventure on the Empress of the Seas, I must mention that I was originally supposed to join the Splendour of the Seas (another fantastic contract) and help close the ship. By closing the ship, I mean it was sold, and everything needed to be packed, cleaned, and prepared for whatever process it undergoes when transferred to another company. I won't deny that I was really excited about that opportunity, but I was called to serve on the beautiful Empress

Hello beautiful people, hope everyone is ok, almost ready for Halloween and then Christmas, LOL. Today, my photo gallery brought back memories of my time on the Empress of the Seas, one of my favorite ships. I could say it was among the best contracts, but looking back, it was also one of the most emotionally challenging periods. It was the ship that helped me hit rock bottom, and I believe something in me changed right after that contract. I would be eager to discuss that pe

This is a question I used to get a lot, and I believe every crew member gets it as well. I worked 15 years in the industry and I have come up with 3 reasons: 1.       Running away, could be from a person, issues, parents, family, you name it. 2.       Money, it is kind of an easy way to earn it. 3.       Travel the World For me, it was all the options, but primarily Number 1. I was escaping from home, making poor decisions, and needed to create new experiences to break free f

My last 70's Party onboard Ovation of the Seas Hello, beautiful people! I took my time to write part III because I wasn't sure if I should share it. In this part of my story, I need to talk about someone who is great at their job but sometimes lets their insecurities show. I really wanted to express how I felt a bit betrayed and disappointed, but honestly, at the end of the day, I don't think it matters anymore. The Weight of Words I was hurt by this person, unaware that they

Embracing New Challenges Welcome to Part II of how my journey led me to the life I have today. Perhaps it wasn't life guiding me; maybe I simply didn't want it enough. Keep in mind that everything I share comes from my personal experience and perspective—this is my truth. Some might think I have it wrong, but the stories I'm about to share are the ones I've lived, and I'll explain how they impacted me. As noted at the conclusion of Part I, my primary focus was on my team and

Hello wonderful people, this blog might become a 3-part series, as there were various moments during my life at sea that indicated my time at what was once my dream job had come to an end. Let's begin from the start. Don't worry, I won't recount my entire 15 years at sea. I'll keep it brief, just to introduce how and when I began my journey at sea, how much I initially loved it, and how I eventually became disillusioned, frustrated, sad, and occasionally angry with my job and