My First Day Onboard a Cruise Ship in 1995
A time of dial-up internet, grunge music, and the rise of the Spice Girls
But for me, 1995 was marked by an unforgettable experience—my first day as a crew member onboard a cruise ship the SS Atlantic for Premier Cruise Line the original Disney Cruise Line!
I remember like it was yesterday at 18 years old arriving in Cape Canaveral from Manchester all by myself ready to work as a Busboy on $300 per month!
Join me as I take you on a nostalgic journey back to that thrilling day.
Stepping into a New World The moment I boarded the ship, I felt like I'd stepped into a floating city. The grandeur of the lobby, with its sweeping staircases and shimmering chandeliers, was breathtaking. Passengers were milling about, their faces alight with the excitement of the impending voyage.
For me, it was the start of a grand adventure, and I was eager to dive in after coming from the UK for the first time on a plane.
The Crew Quarters Before reporting for duty, I was shown to my cabin which was for 6 people!!! No windows, No aircon, No TV just 6 bunk beds and 6 very tiny wardrobes. I got a little worried as being on an American ship the names are spelt backwards outside of the cabins and one of the names was Rose, Karl so I thought they were mixed berths!!!! Safe to say it was an amazing Jamaican guy that became a great friend.
Sharing the cabin with fellow crew members was part of the experience, and it didn’t take long for everyone to welcome me. The is the ship spirit always has been and always will be.
The first job was to get my towels and bed sheets from the laundry on deck 1 which was an experience in itself. The next was finding out that I had to wake up at 5am every morning on a rota as the cabin was not big enough for everyone to get ready!
The restaurant team was a lively mix of nationalities and personalities, each bringing their unique flair to the table.
Our Restaurant Manager was Slavko at the time who unfortunately has now passed away but he was a great mentor for me in the restaurant. My next manager Eric together with the head waiters really trained me and showed me the ropes but i picked this up quite quickly.
My first shift was a whirlwind. A 3 day cruise to Bahamas and I was preparing for the welcome dinner and my first passengers (40 in total on the 1st seating) and i was so nervous.
The dining room, adorned with elegant table settings and twinkling lights, looked like something out of a fairy tale.
As a newbie, my initial tasks were straightforward: refilling bread baskets, pouring water, and clearing plates. But the fast pace and high standards were exhilarating. The passengers, dressed in their finest, were all smiles and eager to start their vacation.
It got to 2nd seating and just after dessert my manager told me its now time to sing..... I then realised that we did parades in the restaurant and this is when I knew I had found my calling!
The first song was "That's Amore" with the napkins flying in the air for Italian night.
This was me for the next 5 years, working hard to progress to become a Head Waiter to then eventually in 2001 moving into Duty Free with Greyhound Leisure (Starboard) and then Hardings+ where I made my career on my first ship the P&O Aurora. Thanks to the guidance of my Area Manager Mark I quickly became one of the top managers due to my targets, people skills and man management. I was very lucky to have worked also on the Queen Mary2.
I was lucky enough to travel the world, Sing as Elvis in the crew shows, managed ships as a fleet manager, lived in London but now even more excited for this next journey being back in Manchester.
The lessons I learned and the memories I made have stayed with me ever since. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work on a cruise ship, I hope this glimpse into my first day gives you a taste of the excitement and challenges albeit things have changed dramatically since the 90s!
Whether you’re considering a career at sea or simply love a good story, remember that every great journey starts with a single step—or in my case, a single shift.
Get in touch with the Cruise Retail Academy to see how we can illuminate your career!
Robi
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