Sharing Your Vision
Up until now, I’ve shared my journey in order—starting with the early days of ship life and all the lessons that came with it. But with this topic, I’m going to veer off course and fast-forward a few years. I may stick with this direction for a while, focusing more on leadership insights and programming […]
Youth & Teen Coordinator Training
Every May, Norwegian Cruise Line gathered all of us Youth & Teen Coordinators (YCs) for summer training aboard the S/S Norway. Sally Evans, our fearless leader, hosted the week, and she had a way of making every single one of us feel both inspired and accountable. For returning staff, this week felt like a reunion […]
New Level Responsibilities
It was a brand-new ship contract, and this time my travels took me to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was set to join the M/S Starward. This smaller vessel would be sailing to the southern Caribbean, with only one sea day on the itinerary and the rest spent in port. Right away I could tell […]
New Opportunities to Share Ideas
I was picked up at the Miami port by a member of the South Seas Recreation staff, who filled me in on everything I’d need to know about working in their department. It felt a little surreal—South Seas had dorm-style housing for staff (much bigger than ship cabins), while others commuted from Ft. Myers. It […]
Lessons Learned and New Opportunities
I survived my first seasonal contract on the M/S Seaward—and I was hooked! Even though I didn’t get to spend Christmas with my family, I celebrated with an amazing ship family. We had a Secret Santa exchange, the kids had the best Christmas ever, and New Year’s was an absolute blast. We worked hard and played hard! […]
Let’s Go Cruising
I arrived in Miami and headed straight to the port where the M/S Seaward was docked, ready for a 7-day cruise to Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Mexico, and NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. I’d been to Mexico before, but the other stops were brand new to me—and I was more than ready for the adventure. Once I […]
A Recreation Conference #2
After my interview, I met Patti back in the room so we could get ready for dinner and the evening festivities. I was thankful to have the interview behind me—but then came the “what happens next?” moment. All I could do was say a little prayer, cross my fingers, and hope for the best. Dinner […]
A Recreation National Conference
Heads up—this blog is a little longer than usual. Let’s just say I had a few side conversations with myself and had to keep reeling it back in. Hang in there—it’s worth the ride! So, picture this: my intern buddy Patti and I had just wrapped up an unforgettable summer internship. We were both headed […]
A Degree in Recreation
“Wait…You’re Getting a Degree in What?” When I first told my parents I was getting a degree in Recreation, their reaction was pretty classic: “You’re getting a degree in what?” They’d never heard of such a thing—but they were supportive and genuinely happy that I was pursuing higher education. I told my dad I’d do whatever it […]