Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest...... These are just some of the media platforms we use to research subjects or just simply come across as we are scrolling. But what are we really seeing.. Is it reality or perceived reality? Well just like ship life, Its not all that it appears to be. (Before I continue, this is my opinion from my own experience so take your negative comments elsewhere.)

​It all started in my interview, when they show you this awe inspiring, elaborate video montage of 'life at sea'. It almost makes you want to be picked for that lifestyle so desperately that you feel so god damn priviledged to be chosen when you are. A lot of people have amazing experiences onboard and dont get me wrong, I am one of those people, but there are defnitely some hidden realities that you cant understand before you have fully immersed yourself there.

​Picture Perfect- All those amazing photos that you see, are in fact taken during the few hours you have off the ship when it is in port. Having travelled extensively for a long period of time before ships, this part frustrated me a lot. 'Travelling' for me does not involve visiting a resort for an hour or two, eating a meal so fast you hope you make it back on time before your ship sails away and your given a warning and need to make your own way to the next port of call.

The heartache of arriving to somewhere youve always dreamed of going only to realise you are either not off work that day or you are 'IPM' (In Port Manning, meaning you are restrcited from leaving the ship that day, on a rotation basis). If you arrive somewhere with a tender to the mainland and the weather turns out to be too bad so the port day turns into yet another  day at sea and not to mention to terrible seasickness you may have to endure (whilst working).

​Being restricted to crew areas only (from my experience on two 6* vessels) meaning you can sit on the small top deck, your cabin, crew bar or... well thats it... Both of my ships restricted crew to any of the guest areas which made you feel even more of a prisoner than usual.

​Being in a relationship onboard is extremely hard. It reminds me of the big brother house, lots of drama, heartbreaks, cheating, fights, walk of shames, awkwardness etc in such a small space. If you do however find the man of your dreams (like me), be prepared that spending quality time is almost unheard of. You either drink in the crew bar after work until the wee hours just to have a conversation, you whisper silently in each others cabins as to not wake the others cabin mate, or you try and catch 5 minutes here or 5 minutes there with your loved one inbetween guests or on a break. And when you work almost opposite schedules its even worse. My boyfriend and I have been together almost 6 months now and we have proven that if you can make it through ship life, man, you can make it through anything.

​Food- On my ship we coudnt eat in guest areas, so what you were given in the 'crew mess' was it. On my first ship the food was so bad that i would make food in my cabin or not eat. Luckily when i met my chef boyfriend things changed (just a coincidence lol). On my second ship the food was a lot better including lots of fresh foods, lots of variety and many vegetarian options, even delcious ice cream daily and lots of nice treats.

​Fitness- This can be done of course when you have the time but the trick is finding the time, and the energy when youve worked a 70 hour week. The guest gym could be used by certain crew and the crew gym for everyone else.

​Hours- Each department is different but our company that hired for the spa and fitness centre employed us to work 70 hours a week on a commission basis with a very low basic wage. Some people would cringe at this and say that has to be illegal, which i would have to agree, but if it was, would they still have thousands of people willing to chop an arm off to work for them.

​Time off- As a spa employee we got 1.5 days off in a 7 day week. Baring in mind a normal day for us was 7:30am-9:30pm. Depending on your manager you can sometimes have a full day off or three half days. I never knew a full day off until i joined my second ship. In my opinion to fully relax and destress, an employee NEEDS a full day off to rest.

​Bar- On both my ships we had one crew bar, extremely small for 300-400 crew. Cheap drinks and okay music but nothing to write home about. Once in a while you would have the best night ever though it was all about the company you kept. On my first ship our crew bar was like a smokey gentlemans club and the second ships bar was brand new more chic but way smaller for even more crew.

​TV- Our tvs went from being a set sequence of channels which played the same movies over and over, to a new interactive tv complete with the newest movies and tv shows. Not to mention wifi, we were lucky enough to have free wifi on our first ship but then went back to the crew wifi plans on my second ship which racked up your ship tab.

A collleague of mine once said to me on my first week at work- Life onboard cruise ships is really just a glorified prison. As we shuttled our way into the town we had stopped in, she said- Look at us being transported into town for our few hours on land before we are ushered back on time for the curfew, only to get back to work or go back to your cell.. I mean cabin...
​Ship life is not all bad, every ship has different rules but its still worth preparing yourself for.... And one thing I have to say is, i will never take freedom of choice, chilling with my boyfriend or working a 40hr week for granted again.

​Bon Voyage

Life onboard Seabourn Encore, the brand new ship in the fleet, instantly proved to be amazing compared to Silversea. Firstly I was shocked to have them cover my dental fees in Venice when i really needed treatment but apart from that the surprises continued during the contract including amazing personalized Christmas gifts, fancy Christmas and New Year parties, a crew appreciation party, delicous selection of food and overall a genuine happy crew that got a long well. The vibe here was different.

​The stress ran high for everyone from the beginning, but being in charge of setting up a brand new ship for its maiden voyage does that sometimes. Joining in the shipyard was a great experience despite the stress of it all. It was amazing to see the ship come together day by day and with a group of cool people on my team, we made the most fun out of it all. On my part, there was a lot of pressure on me to launch the brand new Mindful Living Program. For the first few weeks onboard I worked tirelessly to perfect hour long seminars, rehearsing at every given chance, even speaking over our ships alarm system being tested all day long. I was constantly going over scripts and yoga sequencing and there were media and big bosses from all the wellknown ship companies all of whom wanted to be immersed in the details of the program. The beginning of the cruise was the most stressful until it all died down and we finally set sail on our maiden voyage with a group of Seabourn guests. My role proved to be amazing, finally I got to travel the world and deliver inspirational messages to people along with guiding meditation and teaching yoga. It was a dream come true.. Wasn't it? 

Steiner- the company we were employed by, have always had mixed reviews when it comes to employment etc and they dont have the best reputation out there. Knowing this, I was wary at the beginning about taking on such a role to do with 'Mindfulness' which i take seriously, under a company that could not be more opposite to the concept. Looking back, I feel that they took great advantage of me starting out with this program that was brand new and continuing to urge me to be patient with the minor dysfunctions i began to notice from the beginning. I wont go into much detail about my issues with Steiner, because I cant be bothered really and ive wasted so much energy on them recently, but I will outline my experience overall.

​The impact I made on the guests, the amazing experience I got, the people i got to meet, the confidence i built withing myself, the knowledge I recieved, the media platforms ive been portrayed on- these are all some of the great benefits I recieved from taking a leap and going for this position. The immensely kind words of inspiration I recieved from guests were propbably the best memories of this part of my contract on Seabourn, but because of the ongoing problems I encountered with Steiner and lack of support with major issues, I guess the road ends there and with good timing, right at the end of my contract in New Zealand. I am super happy to have had this chance but even more than that, I am excited for the path it has led me down. I will be using every ounce of knowledge and skill I have under my belt working in the land downunder, as myself and my boyfriend Gerald make the big move to set up roots and explore the far side of the world.


Life moves in mysterious ways... Just go with the flow...
​

So it's been a long while since I blogged about adventures onboard. Since I last wrote, so much has happened. We crossed over from Europe and the Baltic's to Canada stopping off at amazing places such as Greenland and Iceland. I also managed to go home for a visit for the day and my family came onboard for the evening. We arrived in Canada in mid September having had a few days of crazy rough seas which destroyed the entire ship including our spa. We celebrated my 28th birthday in beautiful Quebec City with Marilyn, and the entire crew at a local club! We even stayed in a fancy hotel. It was amazing.

So many changes happened including the start of a new incredible relationship and a new dream job opportunity. My life was completely turned around and the changes came exactly when they were needed. I met Gerald the first day we both joined the ship and it's as if life was waiting for us to start this when the timing was right for both of us. Although i had taken this new job onboard the brand new seabourn encore ship, our relationship grew strong from the start and still continues to be as strong as ever. My contract will only last a few months on the new ship as it is just considered a transfer so it won't be long until we are both travelling the world together starting in his homeland South Africa. Life is pretty darn great right now and I have just completed my first of two weeks training today back at the steiner academy. My new title is mindful living coach and our whole team is being immersed in this new wellness concept which I will be launching for the first time ever. It's a huge deal and I have a lot to learn and master. I will be teaching yoga, breathing techniques and meditation to ournguests which is definitely my dream come true. My team are all gelling really well here in London and we cannot wait for the beginning of our new journey starting with two weeks in Venice.

Hey guys, this blog is coming to you from St Petersburg Russia. Once again I am here and once again I am restricted! Apart from a few hours off in Tallinn Estonia, I have been stuck on the ship this whole cruise which kind of sucks. We have been cruising the baltics for a while now and it's becoming a little bit tedious so believe me when I say I'm looking forward to a whole new itinerary come September. The team dynamic has changed a lot now since Marilyn left, we got a new manager and we received Hillary as Marilyns replacement. It's something you have to get used to quickly, the fact that people come and go so quickly before you've had a chance to even take a deep breath. You could even meet someone special to you and then they leave but It seems that everyone's answer to this is 'That's ship life'. It know most of you reading this want to know what to expect from ship life but it's hard to be totally honest on my blog without running the risk of getting myself into trouble. However I will do my best to give you the real story. Ship life is very very different to real life, you will soon get used to very little sleep and very long working days. Socialising with your colleagues and seeing the same people day in and day out. This can have its ups and downs but the important thing is to have close friends onboard that you can really relax and be yourself with. There is no point being here if you have to pretend to be something else, and although I feel that a lot with my job, I try to get back to myself outside of work hours and when socialising. Ship life has many advantages you can see so many parts of the world that others only dream of by beware that you may be restricted from some countries or not have a day off somewhere you've always wanted to go, so it can go either way. The time off the ship exploring and living the 'sweet life' makes up for all the shit you put up with onboard. Ship life is so extraordinary that even with all of these obstacles to overcome and changes to adhere by, at the end of the day it's a throughly unique experience to be able to hang out with mates so often and plan nights off the ship together so easily unlike real life when everyone's schedules are different. It's nice to get up for work half an hour before you start and still be early and have time for breakfast- that may just be a small ship thing though. It's also nice to feel comfortable and safe all the time onboard in your cabin and at work. The food may not be what I'm used to but im getting there and I'm making alternative choices. I may not have much time to work out in the gym but again, I am making it fit into my ship life. You can make this experience what you want and whether it works out for you or not, it is something you have at least tried.

For or the next few weeks we will cruise the baltics and eventually go back to mainland Europe where I will visit home for a day and see more of my own country which will be lovely. Then we will cross to Canada and the states which will be super exciting. If you have any questions please message my through my worldtravellerz Facebook page of the website.

Over and out 🌍

Blog 4 Ship life

This blog comes to you from Molde, Norway. We have been cruising around the Norwegian fjords for the past 10 days now and we have seen some incredible scenery and some wonderful picturesque little towns and villages. Sailing though the fjords is stunning and every day when we arrive somewhere new it's super exciting. Even when we are cruising on a sea day, the scenery outside is every changing and it's so beautiful to watch! I have had a few half days off since then and we've been lucky enough to be able to explore towns such as Alesund (where we explored the town and had group drinks together), Tromso (where I watched Ireland beat Italy in the euros), Trondheim (where I watched Ireland lose to France) and explored the cathedral and old bridge at the canal. Now we are in Molde where it is super rainy but I have the afternoon off and I am planning to find a cafe with wifi, food and coffee.

Life on the ship is going well. The cruises and the guests differ from cruise to cruise so we can have different experiences every week. This cruise has been quicker but once we get back to the Baltics where we will cruise back and forth until August, then it will be busier. I'm looking forward to September when I get to visit home for a day and then eventually go to Canada and celebrate my birthday overnight in Quebec. In the coming weeks we are overnight in Helsinki which is nice and we are all planning to enjoy our evening there together. Things will begin to change in the next few days and weeks as we get a new fitness instructor and then a new manager. It will change the whole dynamic of the team so we will see how it goes. Ship life is growing on me, but I'm contemplating a second contract or not. It's early days yet but I have some great ideas of what I want to do next so watch this space. For now, I will continue to enjoy the beauty of Norway and let's hope the rain clears up.

Blog 3
This blog post comes to you from St Petersburg in Russia, my 56th country. It could have been my 55th country last week but unfortunately I'm restricted to go to Russia without being on an excursion so this time I made sure to be an escort on the day tour. The city is pretty impressive with incredible cathedrals, fortresses and palaces to see but like anywhere, once I'd seen two or more cathedrals I felt like id seen enough. The weather here is super cold and raining compared to Copenhagen last week when it was 30 degrees and we were all sweating doing our standard embarkation boat drill.

Since my last blog post I have been to some amazing places including Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland which were both awesome. Helsinki had a very chilled out, friendly city vibe and Tallinn had a very medieval feel to it which was like somewhere I'd never been before. Both were places I would definitely go back to and lucky enough because my next day off is going to be in Heksinki and I'm super excited to chill out there again! The problem with being in the baltics is that there are amazing H&M ships everywhere and it is most definitely a weakness of mine.

I've been in the ship just over a month now and it feels like I've been here a lot longer which is a good thing I guess because I am adapting. The team will be changing soon though which is something you have to get used to on ships but that's life. It will be sad to see some of my friends leaving the ship but it will be nice to have a nice mix of new people too. Life is good right now and I'm enjoying seeing some amazing parts of the world that I might not get to see otherwise.

Viva Ship Life

Blog 2 Shiplife
This blog comes to you from somewhere in the French ocean! We are sailing from Bordeaux to Saint Malo today and tonight and sea days are always busy at the spa. And everywhere really! Today was a good day and I am proud of how well I did. Life onboard is hard and there are days when you have very little sleep and work 12-14 hour days. There are also days when you get annoyed easily like when it's your half day off but you have to attend a boat drill instead of getting off the ship. These are the sacrifices we make to live this life. It's a great experience waking up somewhere totally different every day and having tour days off in three different countries each cruise, so much so that you adapt so quickly you have to pinch yourself sometimes. This cruise we say goodbye to Megan our hair stylist and we will be joined by a male hairdresser which will be run a nice balance to the team. Our overnight in Bordeaux was awesome and I got to meet up with my friend Sophie who I met in New Zealand almost two years ago. She took me and the girls out and the next day I met with her for some city touring and a delicious French lunch. Bordeaux is beautiful! We will carry on the Southampton this cruise where we will say goodbye to our current charter guests and welcome our new regular cruise guests. Life is exciting onboard and I will keep you updated on the goings on of ship life throughout my time here.

Blog 1 Shiplife
It's been almost two weeks since I stared my new life onboard the 6* Silverseas ship Silver Whisper. I'm currently writing this blog in bed on my dinner break as we sail away from La Coruna, Spain. This has become the norm for me. Both the travelling and the napping that is. Days are long but when you work with a great team, there's no where else you'd rather be. The ship is small and we are no allowed in guest areas but we still have our fun. Our crew bar has events most nights and when we are docked in a city overnight we can go have dinner and go out there which is an amazing perk.

So far I have been to a few different cities in Europe and Africa and in just a few days I've ticked two more countries off my bucket list- Morocco and Portugal. I am now hitting 52 countries which is exciting, and many more to still see. Life is a mix of emotions on here but it's super fun and to be sailing or docked in a random city in the world while I'm working is incredible. Our spa is on the top deck and we have a view out to the world which is constantly changing for us.

Two of my friends who were brought on for the special charter cruise we just finished, have gone back to the academy in London and will be assigned new ships. It was so sad to break up the group but that's what happens in this kind of job regularly. Our cabins are small but my cabin in particular is actually one of the biggest so we are lucky to have that extra space. I am slowly getting used to being rocked to sleep, staying out late, sleeping on lunch and dinner breaks, waking up super early, waking up somewhere new every day, having annoying time changes, among other things that come with ship life. I am lucky to be on a ship with such great and kind people and I can't wait to keep you all updated on the next happenings!

Watford- The beginning...
Leaving home this time was pretty hard for me and it felt like the first time I ever left, for some reason. I was sad to go but knew that great adventures lay ahead. It was and still is hard to get excited as it's still so new.

I got here yesterday and was lucky to have had my overweight cabin bag taken and checked in for me and arrive exactly on time to catch the bus (every two hours that day) to the YMCA where I would be staying. Upon check in I made my first friend Jodie, a hairdresser starting training with me on Tuesday. We met our roommate Chloe who answered all our questions and gave us a heads up on what to expect. We both realised we needed to buy more things before our start day.

We were shocked by all the rules and regulations of the Steiner 'academy' and how strict the teachers were meant to be. It was all to come!

I headed out to find some food and water and had a stroll around town which seemed to have everything. We had our free dinner that evening which wasn't too bad and consisted of vegetarian options for me and Jodie which they provided every night for us.

We were super happy to be able to lie in this morning and have time to prepare a bit more. The three of us went into the mall located right at the YMCA and bought some necessities for training along with our Oyster card for bus travel and some food for breakfast. As I'm writing this we are all currently lazing on our beds. I've showered, put on a face mask and ironed my clothes for tomorrow and the girls are both writing in journals and watching tv shows. Tomorrow we have a Norwegian medical, X-ray and induction at the academy and will receive our uniforms.

I've also come to the conclusion that even though I've brought less than I had previously packed, I have too much stuff to take on the flight to my ship. That's left me repacking everything again and figuring out how to get the extra clothes home. I have 4 weeks to figure that out! Wish us luck tomorrow.