Thoughts on Heading Back to Sea

In just over a week I will be flying across the country to join a cruise ship. I haven’t been on a cruise ship since the restart during the pandemic. It will have been 1 year and 9 months since I was onboard and…it feels weird to be heading back to sea.

It feels weird because the last time I was onboard the ship was a ghost town, slowly working on disembarking crew members, sitting on Manila Bay in the Philippines with 20+ other cruise ships. Now I’m about to fly to a ship that is sailing with normal passengers.

It’s also weird because I wasn’t sure I was ever going to work on cruise ships again. The pandemic hit and when it became obvious that cruises weren’t going to start up again for years instead of months, I didn’t know where my life would be when they came back. Sometimes even when life doesn’t go how you planned you end up right where you’re supposed to be. Even when in the middle it leaves you wondering about the meaning of life and where your life is going and all of the existential thoughts that I think everyone in the travel industry (or restaurant industry, or any other industry that was completely decimated by the pandemic) probably had.

And now, I’m heading back to sea and ready to go on another adventure. It’s not quite the same as when I was 22 going to join my first cruise ship as a crew member. I’m definitely different than I was then. When I joined the ship at 22 I wasn’t that worried about how much I got paid, or having a roommate, or whether or not I’d have health insurance.

Let’s just say a decade later my thoughts on these things are a bit different. Thanks to things like mortgages and taxes and adulting in general how much I get paid absolutely matters. Same with having a roommate – I don’t want to climb to the top bunk anymore. The only roommate I want onboard a ship is my husband. Otherwise, give me my own space and don’t make me climb to the top bunk. And, ideally, don’t have me in a bunk cabin at all. I hate to say it, but at this point in my life I’m just not into it. Oh, and health insurance! Stupid USA health insurance situation. Gosh I hate it so much. I would go so far as to say I loathe it. So, yes, whether or not this job had health insurance mattered to me.

Lastly – would I be able to sail with my husband? I’m not sure where any of you stand on relationships and marriages and such, but in my ideal world I will actually get to see my husband for a good chunk of time. I’m pretty fond of the guy. Does my love of working on cruise ships outweigh my want of being able to see my husband? Gonna be honest with you – no. Now, I’m flying to a different ship than my husband to start out with – for a few weeks of training, but then I get to spend the rest of my contract on the same ship as him. That works for me. I understand that contracts can’t line up day to day or even week to week, sometimes even month to month, but if the bulk of the contract is together that works for me.

P.S. I realize that I live in a super privileged life that I get to consider these things and think about these things. I understand that so many going back to work on cruise ships can’t say “I want to work on the same ship as my spouse”, or not want a roommate, and are really just thankful to have a job. I understand what a privileged place I’m in.

Getting Ready to Head Back to Sea

It’s felt like there is simultaneously so much to do to get ready to head back to work and then just long pauses of waiting. It’s also been expensive. I’ve had to pay for a few things up front that will be reimbursed when I get onboard but it hasn’t been cheap.

I had to renew my medical certificate (standard for anyone working on a cruise ship, this is also one of the things that I’ve had to pay for upfront). It was a bit of a scramble to get an appointment that would work out and get them all the documentation they needed. After the scramble to get it all done, it becomes a waiting game. Waiting to get a digital copy of my certificate, then waiting for the original copy to show up via FedEx.

Note: There are multiple paths to getting a medical certificate. Some countries you will get the original copy of your medical certificate issued to you at your appointment. If you’re unsure about your situation, contact your hiring manager/on-boarding specialist.

I’ve got to get a PCR test prior to sailing – again, hurry up to make the appointment and then wait until it happens (and pay for it ahead of time and then get reimbursed).

I’ve got to pack – well, this isn’t necessarily a hurry up and wait thing. For me it tends to be more of a wait and then hurry up. And, while I am consistently a last minute packer, I do have my list of things I need to get before traveling and am going shopping on Monday to get them.

Heading for your first contract and not sure what to pack? Here is a packing list for those going to their first contract.

The other part is spending time with my family. I know I’m leaving for months so I want to spend as much time as possible with family and see friends and all of that. But, let’s be honest – it can all be kind of exhausting. Figuring out that balance can be a bit challenging, too. As I want to see everyone, but I also have to do all the things to get ready to head back to sea, plus my taxes (whoop, whoop?), buy a house (yup, that’s happening this week), and hopefully write a few things on this blog and maybe even film a YouTube video.

Bonus element of trying to see and spend time with all the people I want to see and spend time with – I need to very much so not catch COVID before I leave (so unmasked crowded places are out) So, there’s that added bonus.

Anyways, it always feels like there is so much time and then it’s suddenly gone. It’s amazing how time keeps going even when we’re not paying attention.

I’m sure I’ll have some other rambling thoughts as I’m heading back to sea. Even though there’s all sorts of things to get ready and do and think about I am excited. Not quite like I am 22 again excited, but I’m still excited. And, huge bonus – I’m going to get to visit a new country!!