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.