My Ship Story

In 1995 Kerem leaves hotels in Istanbul to join the Nordic Empress as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager with Royal Caribbean. He tells about getting forgotten on the Legend of the Seas, going to the Monarch to improve USPH inspections, a fire in the galley, life in the Windjammer buffet, the comment card mobile app idea, the melting pot of ships, and the evolution of work life onboard.         

In 1989 James borrows 2000 pounds and sets out for Paris to get a job working on a cruise ship. He goes to work as a busboy for Premier Cruise Lines and joins the Oceanic in Port Canaveral. He quickly gets promoted to waiter and tells stories of his adventures in the dining room, Mick The Fish and the stoned Canadian pianist, yellow warnings, and that one degree of separation. He wrote a book under the name James Spencer titled "Cruiseline Confidential" 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-spencer/cruise-line-confidential-part-1

Nico has a dream to get out of Romania and see the world. He gets a job in the bar department working for Renaissance and joins the R5 in Saint-Nazaire for her maiden voyage. He quickly gets a girlfriend and gets promoted, has a problematic roommate, wants to be a crew member again, and now in the U.S. running a winery.

https://www.maisondamis.com

Rob leaves Texas in 1991 to work for Royal Caribbean on the Nordic Empress as an Assistant Purser. He admits to pushing a dancer in a wheelchair and cast into the pool at the Marriott, tells some stories when Eric and Rob were cabin-mates, resigns from RCCL to work for Flagship Games, Diane makes a cameo, he then goes to Disney Cruise Line shore side and shipboard Hotel Mgr, tells about the Disney start up issues, and meets his wife on the Majesty.

Melanie leaves Wisconsin in 1998 to join the Celebrity Elation in Los Angeles as a musician.  She tells about Lumpy the snake, a riotous millennium cruise, hangs out with celebrity entertainers, and tours Bob Marley's house.

French leaves Peru in 2008 to work as an assistant waiter on the Spirit for Norwegian Cruise Line. She tells about her one and only contract that completely changes her life forever. #cruiseshipoflove  

Stephanie makes a life changing decision to leave Michigan and work for Carnival Cruise Line as a production singer.  In 1994 she joins the brand new Fascination in Helsinki. She tells about shows that went awry, a fire in the engine room, and a man overboard.         

In 2013 Erica decides to leave a high profile job in New York City to work on cruise ships. She joins Royal Caribbean as Cruise Staff on the Grandeur of the Seas where she is given her famous nickname. She tells about going to her first Filipino Party, finds a secret room on the Jewel, comparing crew life then and now, attracts a mysterious stalker, a complaining pax, gross #1 story, gross #2 story, and her huge TikTok success.  @EricafromAmerica        

The first female navigation officer on the show, Cassie starts her marine career in New Zealand at a young age. After years of rigorous study and training she goes to work on yachts in Europe and then eventually gets a job with Celebrity. She tells about being on the all women's bridge team, working with Captain Kate, navigating ships around the world, and the last man standing. Follow her on Instagram @cas.sea_onboard

Mike goes to work for Carnival as a Youth Staff in 1996 aboard the Inspiration sailing out of San Juan. He tells about a bad first day on the job, terrible Cones, if I were not upon the sea..., almost misses the ship #AMTS - and a Kathie Lee Gifford problem.