I began driving buses and giving tours and honestly, it was quite challenging. I am quite an extrovert when the situation demands but it was taxing being “on” day in and day out. What kept me going were those truly kind and truly excited passengers. I also enjoyed my new group of 30 friends who I could always sit in the front yard or down on the dock with and recount the day’s adventures. And then there is the history and natural beauty of the Skagway area up the Klondike Highway and into the Yukon.

At the end of my first summer, I felt that although it had been a life changing experience, being a tour guide was a one season deal. I tend to be a bit hard on myself and needed time to process how I had grown during the summer of 2004. What I found was that it had been a lot! More than I ever expected and I started to think that continuing the challenge could only be more beneficial. I had been finishing up my degree in community recreation and every opportunity in Skagway had built up my leadership and reinforced the importance of travel in people’s lives. Why wouldn’t I go back?!

I called my division manager and told her (at quite the last minute) that I would be interested in doing the scheduling and occasionally driving for the upcoming season. She welcomed me back and now it is 2007 and I am the Transportation Services Manager. Each season has been different and each has brought new challenges and joys. I have never been so busy. I have never laughed so much. I have never made better friends. In the words of one of our returning drivers, “I love my job!”

To end, I would like to say that tour guiding or working with tourists is probably not everyone’s dream job. Still, I have been so surprised by how much I have grown and learned.

(P.S. Traveling is one of the great loves of my life and this fall I will be taking a “friends and family” discount Princess cruise through Rome, Naples, Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul, Mykonos, Cairo, Alexandria and back to Rome! Another great thing about working for Princess!)

I learned and grew a lot that first summer. I drove a bus with 44 passengers up into the Yukon Territory of Canada. I met interesting people from all over the world and entertained guests with stories, jokes, and tales of my adventures in Alaska during my free time: Kayaking Glacier Bay -seeing orcas, humpbacks, seals, and otters so close that I could touch them (but didn’t); driving up the Dempster Highway thru the fall colors of the alpine tundra all the way to the Artic Ocean and; hiking the Chilkoot Trail with four of my best girl friends.

I also enjoyed living in company housing, where I became fast friends with the 20 other drivers on the same adventure…many of whom I am still friends with today. In fact, one of those drivers is now my husband. We met our first summer, got engaged at Jewell Gardens in Skagway four years later, and have been returning ever since. Now I am the Division Manager and he is a Brakeman on the White Pass Scenic Railway…I never would have thought that first summer that one day I would be managing the division. Over the years, I have worked in several different positions with the company- Dispatcher, Driver Instructor, and Transportation Services Manager. I enjoy the incredible people that I work with and the opportunity to travel that working for a leader in the hospitality industry provides. Now as the Division Manager, I enjoy encouraging all the new arrivals as they start out on what I hope will be as memorable and life-changing experience as my own.

The flight from Seattle to Juneau was a blur. I was so nervous…which is not like me. I like to try new things and I like to just go and do! But Alaska?!? When we landed in Juneau we immediately got onto a tiny, tiny plane destined for Skagway. The flight from Juneau to Skagway was worth the trip already! It was beyond beautiful. When we flew into the valley of Skagway, it seemed so tiny. By then my nerves had calmed down and I was ready to get started! I had not been trained prior to coming to Alaska…so I spent the first three and a half weeks training in a bus. It came pretty easy! By the time I had earned my CDL and was certified to drive passengers, I was ready to go! I was so excited to give my first tour that I could hardly stand it! I love talking to people and I love driving; so what better job than being a driver/guide. The summer went forward with no problems and here I am three summers later…still working in Skagway for Princess and Holland America.

After my first summer, I returned to school at Brigham Young University – Idaho. I am studying Outdoor Recreation Leadership. After talking with one of my professors about my summer adventure…he mentioned that the experience would count as my Beginning Internship. At my school, the Rec. students must go through two separate, 400 hour internships before graduation. I definitely had worked over 400 hours, so I talked to the internship office, then to my manager back in Alaska…and all was figured out. I was done with my beginning internship. The next summer I came back as a driver/guide again. I had so much fun my first year that I could not find a reason why I shouldn’t have come back. Once again, my summer was full of driving, fun, and well…fun!

After that second summer, I had to start preparing to graduate from school…so I needed to find a Senior Internship. I talked with the company and found out that a position in the office would be opening soon for the summer of 2007. I applied and had to wait forever to find out if I got the job. Once I did, I arranged it with the school and work for my internship to count. In order for my senior internship to count, I had to have a little more responsibility than a driver…so it was perfect that I was hired for my current job.

Being a dispatcher is nice because I’m slowly starting to see more aspects of what really makes Princess and Holland America run! It is definitely different than being a driver…the florescent lights give me headaches. And I miss driving like crazy because driving is never stressful…it’s just easy. Working in the office is hard. But I am learning a lot and I really am enjoying myself. Because of this internship, I will finally be able to graduate from college in April! Whenever I tell people about my last few summers, they are always intrigued as to why I keep coming back. To be honest…it is like a paid vacation. Who gets to spend their summers in beautiful Alaska? Who gets to go camping and hiking whenever they want? When do you get to see glaciers on a daily basis? What is wrong with loving a company who really strives to take care of their employees? The question is, why wouldn’t you want to come back? And after I graduate in April…will I come back? Who knows…

Well, two weeks later I couldn’t handle the stories another minute! I borrowed some money from my sister & hopped on the next Alaska Airlines flight out of Portland. When I arrived in Skagway, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was truly the most beautiful landscape I’d ever seen. It didn’t take long before I was hooked. The next summer I became a driver guide for the company. I was actually earning money while laughing at my own jokes, it was brilliant! My favorite tour was our Yukon Expedition. Showing tourists this remote part of the world was such an incredible experience. The Klondike Highway leading to the Yukon Territory has all the remote mystery of a true frontier. I enjoyed giving tours each day, but still sleeping in my own bed each evening. Skagway’s location was perfect for me!

This is my fourth season in Skagway.  I married that boy who had this great idea to begin with. Together we’ve made Skagway our summer home and have enjoyed adventures we would have never had otherwise. Top on my list? Definitely driving the Alcan Highway from Bellingham, Washington to Skagway, Alaska! Wow. This season I am the Passenger Services Manager and am constantly surprised that even a self-proclaimed Indoor Person can find their niche in beautiful Southeast Alaska.

Hopping into the car in the mornings, we were always excited to see what the day at Princess had in store for us. Now, 3 years later my daughter is still working with me, along with 2 of my other children. Lots of us employees come back year after year. The wide variety of duties down at the pier makes our days interesting. No where else could we find the flexibility of a seasonal job with the employee recognition Princess gives us. The organization is quick to reward us for a job well done. This attitude has brought all of us together as a team and we share great camaraderie.

The last day of the season at Princess is always laced with tears and the first day back is loaded with hugs. I love seeing the familiar faces and meeting the new ones that will be joining the team. The variety of people I meet- from all walks of life, young and old continue to teach me about myself. Whether they be passengers heading off on their dream vacation, or peers working along side me, I like being with them. They have all broadened my interests and given me something to look forward to in the morning. Princess has provided a great life experience for me and three of my children.

I LOVE THIS JOB!!!!!!!!

Orientation that first season was typical; we got the basics, had a sing-a-long with the Love Boat theme (actually that was rather dreadful, but we all seemed to survive) and met all kinds of folks with all kinds of stories. From 18 years of age to slightly more so, we met and felt each other out. Several had never cruised before, some a few times and a few had done, well lets call ‘em a “boatload.” One thing that stayed with me more than anything else – was how much genuine enthusiasm and energy there was among most of the “veterans.” This I took as a good sign and decided to stick around for a while, at least for one season. Again shows how much I knew….. Oh yes, one other thing – the start time was to my way of thinking, the middle of the night. (How true this was to become.)

Basically I am a shy retiring person. One however who loves to laugh and get people to enjoy them. Seems when I am doing “comedy” (if one is being kind) I can pretty much say things that one wouldn’t normally say and not get punched in the nose. Having been on a few “boat rides” it always stuck me how much the guests hunger for entrainment (along with the buffet). Doesn’t even have to be good – just present it and most folks will laugh. After rotating through the various positions I was placed during the disembark (yes – a bit of genuine “cruise terminology”) greeting the passengers and reminding them to have their documents and proof of citizenship ready. I felt that this would be a great time to make them forget that A) they got up at an ungodly hour and B) they were leaving the ship and getting back to reality. Several routines or bits came to be real crowd pleasers. For example –“Welcome to Pittsburg,” and “You traveled all that way to buy a tee shirt?”

In the afternoons at embark (yet another of those “cruise terminology words) I soon landed at my next permanent home, check-in (yet more cruise terminology words) for the Preferred Passengers; those who had obtained platinum and elite status. Here as before, humor was the key and it helped set the mood for the week. (Especially describing some of the sights they would see on Deck 14.) One of the best things about being here is the service recognition employees receive. Whether from fellow employee, supervisors, or passengers, it serves as a benchmark of what we do and why. Pins are awarded based on the level of service achieved each month and it truly means a great deal to all. In addition, at the end of each month an employee is chosen as “Employee of the Month.” Not that we aren’t all doing a good job, but someone has truly stood out. I had received the first level and was expecting to receive the next level. (OK, I knew I had received a few positive comment notices from guests.) On and on the names were called off. Yet not mine. I was getting really frantic when they announced the new “Employee of the Month.” Yep, yours truly. It felt really good to be recognized for doing a job and having a whole lotta fun doing it.

Ok by this time I had a reputation of being a bit of an “outside box” kind of guy – so I started harping for a tiara. After all I was a Princess of the Month and I deserved it. Heck I had earned it…. Sure enough a few weeks later, I received my tiara. (Now every “Princess of the Month” gets one.) In fact since we started this tradition in Seattle I heard that in San Francisco, when they employee are chosen to go aboard for lunch they wear them onboard. Naturally I wore it during work and got even more laughs from our guests (most of them anyway.) People would ask if it was my birthday and I would tell them no, but that it was part of our low cost marketing plan. Also I would be asked why and I would simply point to the ships name or tell them that if they had to ask, they really wouldn’t understand and so on. The guests loved it, and the little ones got a real hoot as well. “Mommy, he’s a boy – why is he wearing a tiara?” During check-in people would ask to take my picture. Now my wife doesn’t even have a picture of me and I HATE having my picture taken, but how can ya turn down these requests. My end of the hall would fill with laughter.

But the best was yet to come. The company gave us a mid-season picnic at the terminal. That alone was pretty out there but it was a good time and they gave us little gifts. Among them were water pistols shaped like fishes. Hmmm – this had real possibilities. The following weekend I was at my post wearing my tiara and fish in hand. Squirting people became a way of life – especially the kids. Also as I explained it was a great form of crowd control or making people dance. The startled look on the folks was hilarious and as soon as the shock of he really squirted me wore off they joined the laughter. And I made sure that my co-workers joined in the fun. It was not all that uncommon during the check-in process for me and another co-worker, to run from behind the counter and have a “Shootout.” But to me even more important than the laughter or the cruise benefits are the friends I have made. These people have become a large part of my life and I truly consider them family.

I am completing my third season in a job that I never figured I would stick to, and having the time of my life. Even when I moved “’cross the pond” and have to wake up at 3:00 AM to catch the ferry, I can’t picture not being here. As I look forward to the end of the season and sleeping in – I know in a few weeks I will be chomping at the bit waiting till next year. After all Princess is not a job- it’s an attitude.

The year I was formally introduced to the cruising had been a particularly hard one for me. I had been working for an airline, and due to restructuring, was forced to leave my job and move back to Seattle. Fortunately, I had friends looking out for me, and was able to land an interview with a start-up travel agency here….as a cruise consultant. “Cruising? Isn’t that for old people?” I had no idea what was involved in a cruise vacation, much less how to sell one to the public. I did have the mind to go to my local bookseller to pick up a few books on the subject so I didn’t sound like I knew as little as I actually did! And seeing that I was as driven as I was, the company hired me on the spot!

A perk of the job: ship inspections! Since the new job was in Seattle, I didn’t have to go far to see the luxury of the floating resorts I had been selling for two months. And the first ship I was able to inspect? The brand new Star Princess! And was she beautiful! But what made the lasting impression of this experience? The passenger service staff! They were very kind and courteous, directing yet another confused travel representative to the correct waiting area for the inspection. Nothing like I had experienced from airline service members in various airports throughout the world. I would come to learn why the following year.

My office was buzzing about the new Alaska season. Princess announced they would bring the Diamond Princess to Seattle for the summer, but the excitement was over something else. The second ship in Seattle, a first for Princess, was to be the Sapphire Princess. And they were going to christen her right here in my home town! I had to figure out how to be a part of the festivities and excitement! On a particularly slow day at my office, I found myself daydreaming about cruising and maybe looking for another job with a cruise line. After a few internet searches, I found www.princesjobs.com and learned that Princess was looking for Passenger Service Representatives for the Alaska season. I thought to myself, “What the heck? I have nothing to do on the weekends anyway, why not make some money?” So I applied! To my shock, the very same day, I received a phone call from the recruiter asking when I would be able to come in for an interview. WOW! Nothing had ever worked that quickly for me!

The day of the interview was nerve wracking. I had to go to work prior to that, and not being very good with directions, I was LATE! I knew this would never be accepted in this industry, but I knew that I had to make an appearance just to say that I had at least tried to get the position. Susan and Sandra met me in the lobby, and after profusely apologizing for being late and promising to NEVER be late again, they offered me the position! YES! I was going to be one of the people with the kicky uniforms and great smiles standing behind the counter!

I had no idea what to expect on my first day of the job. Sure, I thought it would be fun and exciting, but I had no idea what the job entailed other than standing behind the podiums and speaking with passengers about their cruise. And the early mornings! WHAT WAS I DOING TO MYSELF? But arriving at the pier and seeing the sleek beauty of the Diamond Princess cruising smoothly up to the gangway was spectacular, and I knew that I was going to have a lot of fun. After the morning meeting, it was time to get started. I had been assigned to the INS hall. I know…Immigration? We’re in the United States…we don’t need immigration! I came to learn that the Diamond had been in Vancouver the night before, so everyone needed to be cleared, and done in 4 hours. WHAT? Everyone on the ship had to pass through this hall and speak with an immigration officer in the next 4 hours? How was this to be done?

I was amazed. The operation was smooth and ran like a well oiled machine. Twelve immigration officers were quick witted and warm toward our passengers, and they were able to clear TWO ships in the span of just under 4 hours. WOW! I had always told my clients that they would need either a birth certificate with photo identification or a passport to get on a cruise, but I had no idea that they would need one to come off of one too! It was great to be able to speak with the passengers and find out what they liked and disliked about the cruise! Some of them even shared some of the pictures they took from their balconies and on shore excursions!

The afternoon was shaping up to be an exciting one! Now was the time to shine….CHECK IN! This is what it was all about! After a brief run through of the check-in process, I was shown to a podium and left to the masses. The first few guests were a little rocky, but with more and more practiced, I became confident in my abilities! And it helped a lot that there were other team members always somewhere around that were more than happy to help the new guy out. Time just seemed to fly, and before I knew it, the ship was sailing and it was time to leave.

One thing I always remember about my first day was the feeling of family around the pier. Sure, it was just a little weekend job, but these people were genuinely interested in your wellbeing and ability to perform your job function to the top of your ability. I had inadvertently been adopted by the Princess family, and it was an awesome feeling.

Then Sunday came, and the Sapphire was in town. Reality set in like a ton of bricks. I signed myself up for 5 months of getting up early on the weekends and missing all the fun night time actives my friends had planned? WOW! I must seriously be deranged or something! But a deals a deal! So down to the pier I went to go through the whole process again!

The weeks began to blur together, and before I knew it, the season was over and it was time to say goodbye to my Princess family. It was a bittersweet ending to a very long season, but I came away from the experience with some great memories, great friends, and a whole new understanding of cruising experience that I took with me back to the “real” job.

“How’d you get from Texas to Alaska?” This is a question I have heard more times than I can count this summer. It seems every tour group I take out wants to know the answer to this question. My reply? “Surfing the Internet!” I get responses from blank stares to out-right laughter, but it’s true.

Ten years working in the cube-rat maze had driven me to extremes. I had to escape the 9-to-5, clock punching dreariness. So I’ll drive trucks, says I! And off I went. Driving big trucks across the nation was all well and good but after about three years, I realized that I had been everywhere twice. And I never was able to do any of the cool stuff, like see the Liberty Bell or visit the Lincoln Monument. But I did get to see all of our nation’s lovely, picturesque truckstops. Another change was in order so I started surfing. Where hadn’t I been? Hmmm… Alaska! Never got a load taking me there! And there was a link to alaskatourjobs.com on one of the countless pages I browsed, taking me from Dullsville to Ketchikan!

I have the greatest job I’ve ever had. I take groups from all over the globe on excursions all over the island, and taking them out to Totem Bight State Park is the most fun of all! Could the summer get any better? Well, on May 27th, I found out when I married my wonderful new bride, Victoria. We met in the Driver’s Housing, and well, one thing lead to another. We pooled our tips together to pay for the marriage license and wedding and, thanks to the other drivers in the housing that put together a BYOWR (bring your own wedding reception), we had a great time at our wedding on Sunday, May 27th, 2007. Now she drives motorcoach 801 and I drive coach 790 and when people ask how married life is treating us, I tell them that it’s just like driving a bus! And I also tell them, come to Alaska for the summer and change your life forever!

The beauty here is unmatched and though all of Alaska holds treasures, I have found a home in Ketchikan. The people here are so amazing to be around and the mountains of Ketchikan are incredible at any time of year. Deer Mountain is covered with snow when I first arrive each year and by July the snow is melted. That allows hiking of Deer Mountain to the top of its 3001-foot peak. The vistas are incredible and you feel an awe and amazement viewing the world from there that I have not been able to equal anywhere else.

Being the first city of Alaska, many of the ships stop here first and it is up to us as tour guides to present Alaska in all its glory and beauty. There are so many different tours in Ketchikan that we can participate in that all my days off are filled with excitement and experiences that will last me a lifetime. I have watched many people of all ages and backgrounds come to Alaska to work for Princess and Holland America and all of them leave here a different person. Some are much more outgoing, some are more rounded individuals, and some are persons to be admired leaving me to hope they come back again to work for Princess and Holland America.

I have made friends for life in this job, and have kept in touch with many, many of our former drivers over the years. It is wonderful to meet drivers from all walks of life and see how they all bring part of their world to show the cruise passengers how incredible Alaska really is. With what we all take away from Alaska each year, it leaves a profound impression on our lives and makes the path we choose for future adventures so much more rewarding. I only hope you will come to Alaska and experience what I am talking about for yourself. I cannot imagine not returning to Alaska and seeing the great land year to year.

If you enjoy adventure, this is certainly the job for you. The opportunity to fish, kayak, zip line, ride go-karts, travel by jet boat, or float plane, snorkel, jeep the back country, walk the rain forest, or go crab fishing, as well as learn and guide tours regarding native life and totem poles has sold me on Ketchikan. I hope you will come to Ketchikan and let us show you the experiences of Alaska.

It’s a question I’m often asked when I tell people that Ketchikan is one of the rainiest city in North America. I was standing there by my coach, loading passengers on a Saturday morning when the question came up again. It’s not an easy question, because there are so many reasons. The incredible beauty of southeast Alaska, with towering mountains rising out of the sea. The sense of community that comes with living in a small town on an island. The wonderful culture of the Native people who have lived here for thousands of years, their clan houses and their totems and their dancing. Hiking through the rainforest and coming upon a mama bear teaching her cubs how to fish for salmon. Kayaking in the early morning and having a pod of orca whales swim past. Raising our children in a town where everyone looks out for them. How the amount of rain here makes us appreciate the sunshine so much more.

I try and share all this with my guests as I drive them around, and they all appreciate the beauty of southeast Alaska, but coming here on a cruise you really only scratch the surface a little bit. This is my fourth year driving for the company. I’m one of many “townies” that come back year after year. And each summer we get a new group of driver guides that come up to work for the summer, they have lots of chances to go hiking, or fishing, or kayaking, sometimes we even get to go on the boat tours with our guests. The Driver Guides really get to know Ketchikan and learn why it’s so special. Some of them come back the next year, some don’t, but I think they all look back at the summer with fondness as they leave at the end of their season.

So I was standing there, trying to think of how to answer the question, and all of a sudden a bald eagle swooped down and flew right past us, not more than twenty or thirty feet away. I just smiled.