My Ship Story

After a random encounter with a former cruise ship employee, Fraser leaves Canada and joins the Celebrity Zenith in 2003 as a shop attendant. He tells about doing a "blitz" contract, an #AMTS in St. Martin, has a big night out with a friend-guest and discovers that the paperwork isn't quite right, which leads to a captain's hearing. Then gets landed in Mexico and has a couple nightmare auditions trying out for a new gig, but still has good memories on ships.

Jon happens upon an important early cruise ship connection after graduating from university and goes to work as a diver on Coco Cay. He travels extensively on and off ships until eventually taking a job as Shore Excursion Manager on the Sovereign of the Seas in 1992 just as Hurricane Andrew hits Miami. He tells stories about going to Bob Marley's home, #AMTS, has a wild night in Dominica that leads directly to another wild night Miami, an Aquavit story, and hijacks a villa in Saint Martin.   

Richard leaves France to join the Viking Serenade in 1991. He tells stories about the tough working conditions onboard for a waiter, gets harassed by the Filipino mafia, and decides to jump ship toward the end of his first contract. When he gets back to France he starts working at his dream job on private yachts. He now works as a purser on ferries and has his own podcast passing on information young French people about how to get a job on yachts and ships.

We welcome the first Printer Purser and first Filipino guest. Auggie has to leave his wife and 1 year old child to join ships in 1987 and goes on to serve 32 years with Royal Caribbean. He takes us through the duties of a printer, tells stories about the worst time on The Jewel of the Seas, curses at Al Martin, gets caught smoking in the print room, has a major printing disaster while President Carter was onboard, hates European ports, makes a racy crew Christmas card, Brad remembers learning about photography from Auggie, and the guys discuss the Filipino cultural influence onboard. Follow him on IG @voyager_once

The first Security Officer on the show, John transitions from the Royal Navy to cruise ships and joins the Seabourn Spirit in 1990.  Soon after he gets a contract with Royal Caribbean on the Sovereign of the Seas.  He tells stories about the fire in the show lounge, a couple of very stupid smugglers, the boxes of drugs welded to the hull of the Majesty,  the Snoopy Group robbery, solves a telephone card scam, and the Cuban refugees.

After a short stint as a flight attendant, Jennifer joins the Nordic Empress in 1990 and then does seven more years with Royal Caribbean. She tells the story of her first day onboard, bringing out the Legend of the Seas, has a crazy night and morning in Venice, the Shanghai Zoo, the Century Club, wins the Limbo contest on a booze cruise but didn't know it until later, the engine room, gets a written warning, brings out the Rhapsody, and fond memories of Vietnam.

Tom leaves Dallas in 1992 and goes to San Juan to join the Carnival Festival. He tells stories about a booze-cruise on The Bajan Queen, the male lingerie contest, "Phil the-pretty-good", Cones-Coning-Coner, the dating game, boat drills, Purser's Disease, the Passenger Talent Show, Hurricane Andrew, and meeting his wife onboard.

Alex was working for Euro-Disney in Paris when he gets a job with Royal Caribbean on the Majesty of the Seas in 1994 with Brad and Eric. He recalls the dead body in Coco Cay, tells a story about kidnapping a teddy bear, being kidnapped himself, dealing with difficult passengers, romantic encounters, streaking deck 7, Christmas in the disco, more fake utility bills, the Majesty's major list, ski-jumping onboard, and CC breaks his knee. Check-out Alex's suturing device coming soon! 

Valerie moves from Chicago to Florida and takes a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl where she meets an American photographer who gives her a tip on how to get a job on a cruise ship. She gets a job in 2017 with Park West Gallery and joins the Grand Princess in San Francisco.  She gets a tattoo in Hawaii, has a run-in with security involving a wheelchair on The Independence of the Seas, the Nina incident revisited, #AMTS , finds out about COVID-19, and leaves ships from the Ruby Princess in Sydney March 19th just before the lock-down.    

Neil leaves Brooklyn for Florida and eventually gets a job on the Majesty with Royal Caribbean in 1997. He tells us about life onboard as a stage staff, doing things while drinking, a shore excursion in Jamaica, scuba diving in Cozumel, jet skis and Frankie Valli, and a disco night leads to a new life.