My Ship Story

The Lisa O’Connell Story: Canuck in Paradise

Lisa adapts new technology in 1990 to get a job with Royal Caribbean on the Song of Norway as an assistant Purser. She goes on to work numerous positions on ships as Purser, Port Lecturer, Shore Excursion and more. She tells about meeting Jimmy Buffet in Margaritaville, a shigellosis outbreak on the Viking Serenade, bringing out the Majesty from France, the Michael Jackson Suite, secret captain codes, a cabin beach party, and unique charter groups.   

The Amy Minches Manalo Story: I Like Filipinos

Amy goes to work for Royal Caribbean shore-side in 1987 doing inventory control. She cruised frequently and met many onboard personnel. She leaves shore-side 1994 and goes to work onboard the Norway as an assistant purser. She tells stories about her many positions with Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Delta Queen, meeting her husband, a brush with death in Ketchikan, Bill W, Filipino parties, and an expired ship's certificate. @myshipstory on Instagram

The Manny Garcia Rubio Story: Mass Exodus

While still in High School, Manny starts working for Royal Caribbean as a shore-side embarkation personnel.  After college he goes to the ships as an Assistant Purser on the Song of America. He tells about a narrow escape from a Hotel Manager, messing up Michael Bayley's date, working in HR for Disney, Festival Cruises in Greece, and Carnival and then finally ending up in higher education.

The Behram Tavadia Story: Chronicles of Disco Bob

In 1986 Bob gets hired via telegram by Royal Caribbean as a purser aboard the Song of America. He tells about his first cabin being the brig, a passenger's cure for seasickness, a brush with aquavit, pranks on new staff, and how he got his nick-name. Bob left Royal Caribbean in 2020 after working for 34 years.  

The Kirk Detweiler Story: One Year Turned Into 35

After college Kirk begins his entertainment career and soon goes to work in a cast for American Hawaii Cruises. From there he moves to Admiral Cruises and becomes Cruise Staff and then quickly up the ranks to Cruise Director for Royal Caribbean and Silver Seas. He tells about a murder onboard the Viking Serenade, stranded onboard at the start of the pandemic, the evolution of socializing with passengers, Duffy's Love Shack, and friends of Karen W.  

The Chris Romine Story: One Night in Bali

Chris leaves the Pizza House in Michigan and joins the Song of America in 1992 as a purser. He tells stories about a brush with violence, a cabin crawl, a Sega Genesis, an almost missed the ship story #AMTS, meets a passenger, favorite ports, and ship dreams. 

The Chris McNeill Story: The Golden Rivet

Chris joins the Navy soon after high school and goes to submarine training. He tells stories about what is was like working on a nuclear submarine, getting pranked by the engineers, almost misses the boat, strawberry jack, a missile launch drill and cruising the Arctic Ocean.

The Julie Jaeger Luxton Story: Ask More Questions

Julie has a wild time joining the Sovereign of the Seas in 1990 as a dancer. She goes on to work as Cruise Staff, Hostess, and Asst. Shore Ex, she talks about the pre-internet bonds formed with fellow shipmates, crosses paths with a stowaway, leaves some pax in Haiti, the ship-shape police, a Bachelorette party, the American Gladiator and the speedway museum, and bringing out the Majesty.  

The Shari Morningstar Story: Champagne & Specters

Shari joins Royal Caribbean in 1973 performing with her husband as a singer. She soon becomes a Social Hostess on the Sun Viking and tells an "almost missed the ship story. #AMTS She gets assaulted by a passenger, wins a champagne bet with the Chef, has two boyfriends, tells a ghost story, and she is still performing.   

The Michelle Doran-Sanderson Story: Ensenada’s Revenge

Michelle leaves Virginia in 1988 to work with Chandris Cruises as a dancer. She goes on to work for many other cruise lines in many different positions and now works for Disney Live Entertainment. She tells about having to cover for the lead singer that was unable to perform, gives an ultimatum to the Cruise Director about a hard partying neighbor, and gets married in Barbados.