My Ship Story

Sam goes straight from school in 2006, at only 19 years old, to work on ships as an Entertainment Host. He worked for Thompson Cruises, Travelscope, Silversea Cruises, and Carnival. He tells about a round the world cruise, a bad accident on stage, stupid passenger questions, onboard deaths, and losing his virginity at sea. Since leaving ships in 2010 he has written a book called "Seems Like Smooth Sailing" and recently created the DeckTales Podcast. https://shows.acast.com/decktales

From an early age, Jessie knew she wanted to work on ships. Fresh out of university at UCF, she joins the Explorer of the Seas in 2016 doing a 22 repositioning from the US to Australia. Then goes to Disney in 2017 up to 2020. She tells about a Filipino-Mafia party, a mooring deck party, the Wave Phone, the Pirate Party, and the Five O' Clock Knock.

Jordan tells about joining the NCL Pride of America in 2005. And more!

Fernando is part of a family owned expedition company cruising in the Galapagos Islands since 1986. He tells us about how Quasar Expeditions operates in the islands, the amazing wildlife, snorkeling and scuba diving, naturalist guided tours, the working conditions for the crew, and a desperate porthole escape. Do Galapagos exceptionally! www.quasarex.com

Sean loses his land job in Canada and decides to go to work on cruise ships. He joins Celebrity in 2008 as the interactive television specialist on an epic first contract itinerary. He tells us about this dream job and how it gave him an opportunity to explore destinations all around the world.

In a fun departure from our usual ship story format, we talk with instructor John Ensley about sailing the seas. Check out his courses at: https://cruisenlearnsailing.com

Eric's younger brother Leo and his friend Rommel meet at Epcot as dancers in 1993. Very soon after they join Princess Cruises as Cruise Staff / Dancers on the Fair Princess. They tell about their stop at Christmas Island, the cruise staff bar tab, tender duty, Ship Shape dollars, the Papeete prostitute, the L.A. guy and Acapulco guy, and "the brick" ends their cruise career.

James gets disillusioned with his corporate job in London and decides to go to work on cruise ships. He joins Disney Cruise Line on the Wonder in 2003 as Youth Staff, goes to Royal Caribbean on the Legend and quickly goes to ACD, meets his wife onboard, becomes a Port and Shopping Guide, works on many different ships and cruise lines, and tells about how the Crew Bar Facebook page got created, destroyed, and created again. Join the Crew Bar on all their social media. https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialcrewbar/

Santana leaves Mississippi in 2011 to work for Holland America as a Youth Staff. She tells about hugging the Mexican toilet in Cozumel at the No Name Bar, her first brush with Tequila, works her way up to an assistant Cruise Director position, heading back to the ship ahead of the pack, her tough decision to finally leave ships, the rough transition from ships to life on land, and a crew member steals a passport stamp from Turkish immigration.

Paula leaves the most haunted town in South Australia to join the R4 in Papeete, French Polynesia as a bar waiter. She then goes on to bring the R8 out of the shipyard in France. She tells the story of the crazy aftermath on ships after the bankruptcy of Renaissance, a stint with Celebrity, an "Around the World" competition, an affair with the Executive Chef, the overboard of the NZ crew members, and a freak injury that ends her career.

Roger graduates from Notre Dame and decides to go to work on cruise ships. He leaves Texas and joins Renaissance Cruise lines as a Purser where he becomes cabin mates with Brad. He tells the story of the two crew members that jumped overboard on the R4 in Tahiti, going to the bank in Papeete, the pros and cons of Kusadasi Turkey, and the fun side of ship life.

Shane leaves the Gold Coast of Australia in 2003 to join Princess as a Casino Slot Tech without actually being a slot machine technician. He has a very long sleepless journey getting to the Carnival Glory - and then has even worse first week onboard. He tells the story about being selected for a random drug test after a crew party on the Diamond Princess.

After practicing on prisoners in jail, Stu leaves the NYCPD to become a comedian. He goes to work for Royal Caribbean in the early nineties and then on to many other cruise lines. He tells about encounters with other comedians and celebrities, working on the old Love Boat, Bingo Money, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, that time he missed the ship, and starting up a talent agency. www.stumoss.com

Sami starts his career on ships in 1990 with Cunard on the QE2 as a sommelier. He then goes to work for Royal Viking and Crystal Cruises as a Food and Beverage manager. With Renaissance he opens and closes all eight of the R-ships. He tells about working for Apollo Cruise Ship Chandlers, a Japanese charter company, a favor for a captain, good times in Australia, and crossing the equator.

From a very young age, Gabrielle wants to be a dancer. After becoming a professional dancer she gets a contract on the AIDAmar in 2019. Gabrielle packs a lot of adventure into one year before the pandemic shut things down. She tell about the culture shock on her first ship, meets a nice boy, dancing on a moving ship, German party game, Denmark is the Las Vegas of Europe, and escape from Ukraine.

From a long line of seafarers in Sweden, Lars first starts working on cargo ships. By chance he gets an engineer position with Commodore Cruise Lines working on the re-fit of the Caribe I in 1983. He goes on to have a long career working for many different cruise lines such as: Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and the Renaissance R-ships. He tells stories about having an incredible whale encounter, the disastrous christening of the R4, gives us a pig roast confirmation, two crew jump overboard, a ship fire, a woman scorned, and stripes make a difference.

Former cruise ship employee, writer, actor, blogger, and social media star, Sharon worked for Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines. She tells about a collision between two ships in Cozumel, the trials and tribulations of a Grope Coordinator, an incident with a fire screen door, Fountains, and her transition from ships into a social media creator. https://www.instagram.com/rodrigoflamingo/ https://www.instagram.com/thesharonicles/

From a young age Linda dreamed about going to sea. Finally in 1996 she joined the Nieuw Amsterdam with Holland America as a fitness instructor working for Steiner. She was on many different lines on 40 ships in many positions over her 15 year career. She tells stories about being fired from Steiner, getting back onboard as Social Host with Carnival, an epic birthday celebration and aftermath, a rogue wave, the reasons for leaving ships, karaoke blackmail, and deciding to write a book. For more stories check out her new book: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Porthole-Linda-Carol-Woodward-ebook/dp/B0BMC3QZZ7

Bas goes from working in Hotels to working for Royal Caribbean on the Brilliance of the Seas in 2012 as Cruise Staff. He tells about being on an arrested ship, ship pranks played on the Cruise Director, cleans guest staterooms during a norovirus outbreak, meets a passenger, and leaves ships after the pandemic hit.

In 2002 Brian falls in love with a woman and follows her to the Carnival Conquest. He tells about the trials and tribulations of being the only U.S. waiter to finish a full contract with Carnival. On his second contract, has a chance encounter that lands him a position as an Art Auctioneer, and ends up happily with a different Romanian woman. After ships Brian becomes a best-selling author with a series of books about his life on ships. https://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Confidential-4-book-series/dp/B074CFCNF5