Why I started working on Cruise Ships

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 from the toxic cycle I had become trapped in.

Here I will tell you part of my story.

It's amusing how destiny unfolds; by selecting a particular path, you're already shaping your future. That's exactly what happened to me, guiding me to embrace my destiny: Cruise Ships.

When I was 21 to 22 years old, I needed to begin working in my career field to gain experience before graduating. This is known as Professional Practices, where you must complete a certain number of hours to pass and receive credit from the University. I selected a place, and with that decision, my future path began to unfold. I had several dreams and goals I wanted to achieve in my chosen field. While I encountered amazing people, I also met The Wolf! Yes, that's how I will refer to this person.

Initially, my experience with “The Wolf” was fine; it was merely a friendship. However, after persistent persuasion, I found myself entangled in a situation that was pulling me away from home. This turmoil unfolded partly during my time at the University, but I was able to step back temporarily, fulfill my commitments, and eventually graduate. After that, my life returned to normal.

After graduating from university, I started my job search and began working on a morning show. However, the income wasn't sufficient to cover my expenses, so I teamed up with a friend (at least she was at the time) to create our own TV program. We handled the editing, gathered all the content, secured advertising, and paid for airtime on a local TV channel. It was going alright—not perfect, but it was something I truly enjoyed.

My friend and I began encountering minor problems, such as investing more money than we were earning. This is when cruise ships first entered my life. My best friend mentioned that she knew someone working for a cruise ship company who was earning money without spending much of it. She suggested that we could apply for a contract, save money, and then return to pursue whatever we wanted to do.

I talked about this with my business partner, and she became somewhat upset because she truly believed in her project. However, I was also under pressure at home to pursue something different, something that would generate substantial income. So, I suggested, "You know, I could save money and see how things unfold." Despite this, she remained unhappy, and we eventually went our separate ways. I have no idea where she is now or what she's doing.

Oh well! I applied to the Cruise Ship company, but I guess it wasn't my moment since I didn't get any response and didn't follow up. At that time, I was working on a radio Morning Show and seeking something different. And guess what happened? Yep, The Wolf showed up and offered me a job, and why not? I accepted it, what could possibly go wrong, right? Ha.

Anyway, events transpired, drama ensued, my parents discovered everything, leading to a major drama at home, cutting off communication with the outside world, and then thoughts of Cruise Ships resurfaced.

I approached my mum and mentioned that my best friend had previously talked to me about Cruise Ships. I considered applying again, traveling, exploring the world, saving money, and escaping my toxic routine. It seemed like a good chance to distance myself from everything and everyone, and then return home. My mom thought it was a great idea, so I applied again and said, "Let’s see what happens, it is better than nothing." And guess what? Three weeks after applying, I was on my way to join my first ship, an amazing first contract, where I met Prince Charming (next blog will be about that).

So, I ended up leaving home because my life there was pretty chaotic. Before the issues with my parents, I was in tears almost daily. I had made poor decisions and wasn't happy with who I was becoming, yet I felt unable to change. It was overwhelming. I'm thankful for my mom because she pushed me to move forward, change, and strive to be a better person, or at least to try.

I can't deny that all of that impacted me, and I only became aware of it about six years ago. I suppose I just kept everything inside and convinced myself that everything was fine when it really wasn't.

I am also thankful for my friend who suggested the job to me. Although she never applied herself, she directed me to what turned out to be a fantastic job. There, I have met wonderful people and visited incredible places, and as I always say, I found the love of my life (right after Covid).

Before I conclude, be cautious about whom you entrust with your heart. If you sense that you're compromising your values, your true self, or feel the need to change negatively to be with someone, DO NOT STAY. I understand it's easier said than done, and sometimes you might have to reach rock bottom before choosing to leave, but keep trying!

So, that is my story, in a  short version, I did not put a lot of the details, but maybe one day I will speak freely of what went on.

Thank you all, and LOVE YOURSELF ALWAYS! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! : )

PS. If you are a crew member? Why did you start working on ships? Am I missing any other reasons?