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 signed on, my Lead Youth/Teen Coordinator met me on the gangway, walked me to my cabin, and immediately began filling me in on ship details and the schedule ahead. We had to be unpacked and ready by 3:00 pm for a full lineup: Cruise Director’s weekly meeting, boat drill, sail away, dinner, youth and parent meeting, doors for the evening show, and finally, the teen gathering and activities. NCL had brought in extra coordinators for the busy season, so I shared a passenger cabin—cozy but comfortable enough for the week.

As Youth/Teen Coordinators, at that time, we were part of the Cruise Director’s staff, which meant we had responsibilities beyond kids and teens. That included working theme nights (Caribbean, Country Western, and 50’s), greeting guests before and after shows, helping with tours, and manning the gangways on port days and embarkation/disembarkation. It was a lot, but it kept things exciting.

Our youth and parent orientation took place in the theater, while daily activities were scattered throughout the ship—under stairwells, tucked in corners, or wherever space was available. Programs ran morning, afternoon, and evening for four age groups: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12, and teens. Families had meals together, giving kids and parents time to reconnect in between. 

The first day at sea set the tone: a full slate of activities, Captain’s Cocktail (where we mingled with passengers — or as we called it, ‘swanning’ — which simply meant striking up conversations, getting to know them better, and helping them feel at home), evening shows, and teen programming. Busy didn’t begin to cover it—it was non-stop. But it was also fantastic. We barely saw our cabins, instead jumping into everything we could alongside our main role of entertaining kids and teens. With no dedicated kids’ club space and limited supplies, creativity was key—and honestly, it was an absolute blast.

My cabinmate turned out to be someone I already had a surprising connection to—the daughter of an RCRA Board of Directors member. We both landed the job and quickly became best friends. She was hilarious, full of energy, and even offered to connect me with her dad if I ever had questions about the recreation field. I eventually took her up on it, and he became an incredible mentor.

That week also brought one wild first: bungee jumping in Jamaica. A group of crew decided to check out a new vendor on the island, and I tagged along. The setup? A crane with a basket that swung out over the ocean before you jumped. Terrifying. The ship’s doctor and nurse went ahead of me, which I took as a questionable sign of safety, and then it was my turn. I jumped. My heart raced, the adrenaline was unreal, and I came back up thinking, Wow… what a rush!—and also, never again.

Beyond the adventures, the people were what made the experience. The Cruise Director’s staff were welcoming, talented, and just plain fun. And with a large Filipino crew onboard, I found myself reconnecting with the Tagalog I’d learned as a high school exchange student in the Philippines—a sweet reminder of my time there and a way to feel instantly at home.

Looking back, I also realized that infamous interview question I’d been asked—“What would you do with 30 kids in a room for two hours with no supplies?”—was meant for ship life. That challenge became a foundation for my own training philosophy later on: always have filler games ready, especially when supplies are limited or schedules run long. Over time, I came to organize them into five activity categories—Icebreakers, Cooperative Games, Group Games, Quiet-Time Activities, but not the fifth…arts n crafts. That’s for another blog when you have supplies.

A few no-supply favorites I used often:

• Tag games: Elbow Tag, TV Tag, Tunnel or Freeze Tag, and the all-time favorite, Toilet Tag.
• Trivia: Quick-fire questions on fairy tales, animals, or fun facts. (Ex: Who lost her glass slipper? Who found a magic lamp? Who thought no one could guess his name? What kind of animal is Bambi? Miko? Paddington? What’s Barbie’s boyfriend’s name? What’s the front of a skateboard called? How many holes are in a Nabisco Saltine Cracker?)
• Circle and running games: Categories, Choices, Screaming Toes, Zip Zap Zop, Ah So Ko, the good old Telephone/Operator and Octopus Octopus.

I’ll keep sharing more of these in future blogs because they’re lifesavers in any recreation setting. If remembering games isn’t your strong suit, type them up on a business card or luggage tag–sized sheet, laminate it like a luggage tag, and clip it to your belt loop for easy access whenever you need a quick game. You can even create separate sets for different age groups.

By the end of the week, I’d already learned so much—about programming, about ship life, and about myself. I knew that we would be rotating through different age groups in the future and would be gaining more confidence, even with teens (which had originally intimidated me). And one practical lesson? Don’t overpack. On a 7-day cruise, you don’t need nearly as much as you think. Formal dresses and theme-night costumes repeated just fine, and cabins were tiny. (The guys had it easy for formal nights—one tuxedo, a few bow ties, done!)

Exhausting? Absolutely. But that first week was unforgettable—full of new friends, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and the start of lessons I still carry into recreation programming today.

Favorite Quote: “Be open to the amazing changes which are occurring in the field that interests you.” – Leigh Steinberg

Next up: Lessons Learned and New Opportunities