What Working on a Cruise Ship Actually Taught Me About People

By TJ Mitchell | Yup! It's TJ Mitchell — The Blog

Y'ALL… if there's ONE thing working on cruise ships has taught me, it's that PEOPLE ARE SOMETHING ELSE!

And I mean that in the best way possible.

Well… MOST of the time.

Because when you put thousands of people from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and personalities on one floating hotel in the middle of the ocean, BABY… you're going to learn some things!

I've met some of the kindest people imaginable.

I've met people who made me laugh until my stomach hurt.

I've met people whose stories completely changed how I looked at life.

And yes, I've met people who made me question whether I was actually speaking English.

But somewhere between hosting trivia, welcoming guests, working with international crew members, and traveling around the world, I started realizing something.

Cruise ships don't just take you to different places. They introduce you to different versions of humanity.

And honestly?

That's been one of the most valuable parts of my journey.

Everybody Has a Story

One of my favorite things about hosting is meeting people.

If you've ever attended one of my events, you already know I'm going to talk to somebody.

Actually, let's be serious.

I'm probably going to talk to EVERYBODY.

But there's something fascinating about the stories people carry.

You might meet a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

A family taking their very first vacation together.

Someone traveling alone because they finally decided to do something for themselves.

Or someone taking a cruise to celebrate getting through a difficult chapter of life.

And sometimes, the person sitting quietly in the back of the room has the most incredible story of all.

That's taught me not to make assumptions about people based on what I see.

Because you never know what somebody has experienced before walking into your life.

Everybody has a story. Sometimes all they need is somebody willing to listen.

Kindness Doesn't Need a Translation

Working aboard MSC Meraviglia in the Mediterranean was an experience I'll never forget.

I was surrounded by people from different countries, speaking different languages, and experiencing the world in completely different ways.

And let me tell y'all…

There were definitely moments when communication became an ADVENTURE.

But I also witnessed something beautiful.

People helping each other even when they didn't speak the same language.

Crew members going out of their way to make guests feel comfortable.

Strangers sharing laughs despite barely understanding each other's words.

And friendships forming between people who might never have crossed paths anywhere else.

It reminded me that kindness isn't limited to one language or culture.

Sometimes it's a smile.

Sometimes it's patience.

Sometimes it's taking an extra minute to help somebody understand something.

And sometimes it's simply making someone feel like they belong.

You don't have to speak the same language to make somebody feel welcome.

Patience Is a Skill, Y'all!

Now let's talk about PATIENCE.

Because cruise life will TEST IT!

Working in guest experience means interacting with people who have different expectations, personalities, and ways of communicating.

Some guests are excited.

Some are confused.

Some are frustrated.

And some have apparently decided that YOU personally control the weather, ocean conditions, and every decision made by the cruise line.

Sir… I promise you I did not schedule that thunderstorm!

But jokes aside, I've learned that patience is one of the most important parts of hospitality.

Sometimes the person standing in front of you isn't actually upset with you.

They're tired.

They're overwhelmed.

They're disappointed.

Or something hasn't gone the way they expected.

That doesn't excuse disrespectful behavior.

But it does remind me that responding with understanding can sometimes change the entire conversation.

And I've learned that you can be compassionate while still having boundaries.

That's a lesson I carry with me beyond the ship.

Your Coworkers Can Become Your Family

Now THIS is one of my favorite parts of working at sea.

The crew.

Imagine meeting someone from a completely different part of the world and, within a few weeks, feeling like you've known them for YEARS.

That's cruise life.

You work together.

You eat together.

You celebrate birthdays together.

You complain about being tired together.

You explore ports together.

And sometimes, you become the support system each other needs while being thousands of miles away from home.

I've been fortunate enough to meet some incredible people throughout my cruise career.

People who started as colleagues and became genuine friends.

People who encouraged me when I needed it.

People who made difficult days easier.

And people whose friendships I hope to carry with me long after our contracts end.

One thing I've learned is that family isn't always about sharing the same last name.

Sometimes family is the group of people who show up for you when you're far away from everything familiar.

Some of the best people in my life started as strangers on a ship.

Not Everybody Will Like You… And That's Okay

Now, if you're somebody who enjoys making people happy, this lesson can be a difficult one.

Because naturally, you want everybody to have a good experience.

You want people to enjoy your events.

You want people to appreciate your effort.

And you want to leave a positive impression.

But here's the reality.

Not everybody is going to like your personality.

Not everybody is going to enjoy the same activities.

Not everybody is going to understand your humor.

And not everybody is going to see things the way you do.

AND THAT'S OKAY!

It took me some time to understand that somebody else's opinion of me doesn't automatically define who I am.

I can listen to feedback.

I can improve.

I can learn from mistakes.

But I don't have to completely change who I am just to make everybody comfortable.

Because let's be real…

You can be the sweetest peach in the world, and somebody is still going to say they don't like peaches.

The Smallest Moments Can Mean the Most

One of the things I love about entertainment is that you never know which moment will stay with somebody.

Sometimes it's a big event.

A packed venue.

An exciting show.

A celebration.

But other times?

It's something incredibly simple.

Remembering someone's name.

Inviting a shy guest to participate.

Taking a moment to listen.

Making someone laugh after they've had a frustrating day.

Or simply saying, "I'm glad you're here."

I've learned that people don't always remember every word you say.

They might not remember the exact activity you hosted.

But they often remember how they felt when they were around you.

And that's something I never want to forget.

Because whether I'm holding a microphone, working behind a desk, creating content, or simply having a conversation…

I want people to feel seen, welcomed, and appreciated.

Sometimes People Are Only Meant for One Chapter

This might be one of the harder lessons cruise life has taught me.

Goodbyes.

When you work on ships, people are constantly coming and going.

Guests leave after their vacations.

Crew members finish contracts.

Friends transfer to other ships.

And people you've spent almost every day with suddenly return to lives on the other side of the world.

It's a strange feeling.

One week, you're laughing together over dinner.

The next week, you're saying goodbye at the gangway.

And you don't always know when you'll see each other again.

But I've learned that the length of a friendship doesn't determine its importance.

Some people are in your life for years.

Others are there for a season.

And some people enter your life for a short time but leave you with memories you'll carry forever.

That doesn't make those connections any less meaningful.

It just means you have to appreciate people while they're here.

We're All More Alike Than We Think

After meeting guests and crew members from so many different backgrounds, I've realized that people have more in common than we sometimes acknowledge.

We want to feel respected.

We want to be understood.

We want to laugh.

We want to belong.

We want to be appreciated.

And we want to know that our presence matters.

Sure, our traditions, languages, personalities, and experiences may be different.

But underneath all those differences, we're human.

And sometimes the world would be a much better place if we remembered that before judging somebody else.

The Biggest Lesson? People Matter.

When I first started working aboard cruise ships, I was excited about the entertainment.

The microphones.

The events.

The destinations.

The opportunities.

And don't get me wrong…

I STILL LOVE ALL OF THAT!

But the longer I've worked in this industry, the more I've realized that the most meaningful part of the experience isn't always what happens onstage.

It's what happens between people.

The conversations.

The friendships.

The laughter.

The unexpected connections.

The moments when someone makes your day better without even realizing it.

And the opportunities we have to do the same for somebody else.

Cruise ships have taken me to some incredible destinations.

But more importantly, they've introduced me to some incredible people.

And those connections have taught me lessons that no training manual, classroom, or job description ever could.

At the end of the day, it's not just about the places you go. It's about the people who make the journey unforgettable.

And I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.

Until next week,

TJ

Yup! It's TJ Mitchell.

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Let's Talk!

Have you ever met someone while traveling, working, or simply going about your day who left a lasting impression on your life?

What's one lesson another person has taught you that you'll never forget?

Share your story in the comments!

Because sometimes the most unexpected people leave the biggest impact.

Whatever you choose to do...

Do it with a smile

Make new memories

Embrace every adventure

and until I see y'all, ciaoooooooooooooo! 💜