My Journey at Sea: A Reality Check

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 were speaking behind my back. Initially, they spoke highly of me, but then their opinion changed. The issue was that they didn't keep their thoughts to themselves. They talked to other "important" people about me, even those who hadn’t worked with me. It was frustrating to see others form opinions about my work ethic, despite my 15 years with the company. I am grateful to those who ignored the gossip and remained professional, letting my work speak for itself. As for those who didn’t give me a chance, well, whatever!

I even witnessed this behavior returning onboard. This person used the work chat to tell the person I replaced as Activities Manager that the ship hadn't had a good Activities Manager in years. That person knew I had been there almost a year. Fortunately, the person I replaced just laughed and didn’t say anything. I took a picture of the conversation, and while I’m not allowed to post it, I keep it as a reminder of how one person can change the perspective of others, especially when they are well valued.

The Exhaustion of Proving Myself

To be honest, I was tired of proving myself every single day. With every new contract, I had to fight against the gossip and the personal opinions of others. After 15 years with the company and countless evaluations, I still had to demonstrate my worth. It got to the point where I had to think clearly about whether I truly wanted the job. Did I want to keep fighting to prove my value to others?

A Turning Point in 2020

2020 opened my eyes to a lot of things. Life on ships took a toll on me; I even had to go to therapy back home because I got really depressed. It wasn’t just about ship life, but that certainly didn’t help. I was in an internal battle, constantly facing people trying to put me down, and it was exhausting. That year showed me what I really wanted. When I returned to the ships in 2021, everything felt different. I was done making everyone else happy except myself.

I remember a guest complaining about a movie playing in one venue instead of another. They spent 30 minutes expressing their disappointment. That’s when I thought, is that what I want? The answer was a resounding no. I had come full circle with the company.

Reflecting on My Journey

I don’t regret my life at sea. It brought me countless adventures, happiness, and the chance to travel the world. I met incredible people and even the love of my life. I am thankful for many things, but life has a way of letting you know when it’s time to move on.

I appreciate my experiences with the company, but there are definitely certain people who should be more mindful of their words and actions. Life at sea is tough. You work constantly, with no days off until you go home on vacation. It’s a job where you give and give. Staying there wasn’t my dream. If it had been, I would have fought to stay. But the reality is, it stopped making sense to me.

New people came in with "new ideas," and everyone was trying to prove themselves better than others. I was 100% tired and done.

Embracing a New Chapter

Now, I’m in a new chapter of my life where the only opinion that matters is mine. I am happy, enjoying life, and following a different path. For now, it seems I’m on the right one. Who knows what the future will bring? As I always say, I am allowed to change my dreams and my path in life!

Everyone, please be safe and take care. I wish I could say more, but this is the last part of why my life at sea became a reality check. Remember to be happy, take care of yourselves, and if you feel alone or sad onboard, please talk to someone. Go to therapy, and if possible, give yourself a break from life at sea. Surround yourself with the people who love you.

P.S. I don’t want anyone to think I’m saying I was perfect at my job. Like everyone, I made mistakes sometimes, and my emotions got the best of me. But in general, I was really good and knew my way around my duties! :)

My good-bye dinner with my last team.