My Ship Story

The Carey Sue Majors Vega Story: Madamoiselle's Hatboxes

Carey Sue leaves Ponca City, Oklahoma, and joins ships with Norwegian Cruise Line in 1990 as a Youth Coordinator and quickly works her way to Cruise Director. She tells stories about life as a "newborn adult" after Cruise Ships, working on 12 different ships, taking kids ashore, the challenges of shipboard relationships, "popping the top" through the Kiel Canal, Carey Sue's luggage, an Elvis themed cruise, and dinner with Kenny Chesney. She now teaches manners and etiquette to young people - plus Brad, Eric, and Scott.

The Tanya Maloney Zaufi Story: All Over the Map

First guest from Renaissance R-ships, Tanya originally joins with Princess on the Regal in 1997.  She goes to Renaissance, and then Disney. She tells the story of a very abnormal first contract, an almost missed the ship story in Cartagena, has a first degree of separation connection, and a dry-dock/road-trip to NYC. A letter to Ellen turns into a book - All Over the Map: Two lovers, Six continents, and a Date with Destiny.

The Rhoda Coffin Story: Laying it on line

Rhoda joins us with co-guest and partner in crime, Mary Giuliani, they tell stories from their many years onboard as pursers with Premier and Royal Caribbean. Rhoda goes from shore-side to onboard with Premiere Cruise Line in the late eighties and later meets up with Mary who threw her keys overboard. The episode is packed with stories that reference previous episodes. Psycho "B"s from hell parts I and II,  Brad and Taylor Dayne, name tags pranks, a six-fingered chef, Resuscitation Annie, an April Fool's prank that results in a written warning, Sleezy the 8th dwarf, SugarDaddy Eric, Fred Cariano reference, Mary has a department type, Scott's great carpet heist, Papa Smurf, P.A. games, Sam Evans reference, Anita Parti reference, Paul Nelson's desk, and Rhoda makes a tough call.  

The Annette Bodden Whisker Story: Sailor - Soldier - Nurse - Knockout

Our first guest from the Housekeeping department, Annette joins the Song of America in 1988 as a stewardess. She has a noisy unidentified neighbor, loses something, learns about shipboard horse racing, runs down a day in the life of a Cabin Steward, tell about housekeeping wicked tricks, a crazy third party sex-slave story, a crazy pax hook-up story, a storm story, the perils of water-tight doors, and the ignominious bum blow. Exits ships unexpectedly but soon starts a few new lives. "Old Salt: Adventures and Escapades below deck on a Cruise Liner"

The Pippa Story: Dealer's Wheel

Our first guest from the Casino department, Pippa gives us some gambling tips, joins ships in 1996 with Cunard, loses a big bet, Bushwackers, Besties, Bungee Jumping, another Ship board romance, the Ultimate Wedding Crash, and Notes! Oceantime.com

 

The Olaf Jacobsen Story: Das Liebesboot

Our first guest from Germany, Olaf is inspired to work on ships by the German love boat TV show, "Das Traumschiff" (The Dream Ship).  He tells us what is was like working on super high-end ships as waiter, bar waiter, bar manager, and and eventually port lecturer.  He was on the maiden voyage of the The Berlin, worked on a river boat, distilleries in Scotland, and modern cruise sailing ships with Sea Cloud. We hear about shaving cream parties, a sad story about the Concord, a poorly timed shipboard Octoberfest, and funny passenger questions.  Whiskey Onboard.

The Gordan Whatman Story:The Cheeky Englishman

Cruise Director, Gordon Whatman, leaves England and joins the Viking Serenade in 1990. Gordon tells us stories from his 30 years working for Royal Caribbean.  Always hustling, and always charming, makes Joan Rivers laugh, mends a skirt for Susan Anton, has a wardrobe snafu, a performance that turned a mistake into hilarity, and gives everyone some important words of wisdom.

The Alex Pilepic Story: The Big Babaloo

First guest from the Dining Room, Alex leaves Croatia and joins the Nordic Empress in Miami. He tells stories about what it was like working in the dining room on many Royal Caribbean ships, wins three bottles of Crystal on a bet, makes a tipsy announcement in the middle of the night, a VERY special bracelet, and serving the most difficult passengers ever. Babaloodesign.com

The Eva Grabner Story: Unofficial Ship's Godmother

The first guest from Australia, Eva joins ships as a purser with Radisson Song of Flower and the Premier Oceanic before working for Royal Caribbean for many years.  She tells the story about "Splash and Flipper" in St. Thomas, surviving a Captain's hearing, she and Mary Giuliani christen the Vision of the Seas and become the ship's unofficial godmothers, an almost missed the ship story. #AMTS  And Scott hijacks a child's bicycle.

The C.J. Romano Story: Iron Maiden

Former Stage Manager and current ACD for an HVAC company, CJ Romano, tells about her pre-family life in entertainment, joining the ships as a dancer in 1988. Creating Rock n Roll night with Jeffrey Arpin, the Ship Shape program, dealing with Jerry Lewis (again!), RAIN, Ben Vereen (again!), Liza Minelli, Labadee, the Haitian Voodoo god, and Fire story on the Sovereign.