The Crew Bar - Life on a Cruise Ship

Memoirs + Travel Stories/Photography from my life on a Cruise Ship.

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Stumbled across this pic. This is what friends are like on ships. You may not see run into them in months or more realistically, years. But when you do meet up again, its like you never left.

I was told once.. "its not how great you are at your job, its who you're sitting next to at the end of the night in the crew bar."

Words I lived by from my first contract to my last. Thanks Rory! 

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2013.

May 2013 be your best year yet!

2012 was an alright year for me I guess. I had trip of a life time to Australia (which I didnt have to pay for). Switched from one great company to an even greater company. Got to know this fantastic woman - not dating her by any means but she is a special one. Hopefully 2013 can be great. I can be great, You can be great and the year is just great all around...

Watching the NYE celebrations from around the world was interesting. Picture from London, Sydney, Taipei 101 were extraordinary. I for one am not for NYE celebrations. I dont look it as a day to get shitfaced. I never have. I think it fits in along with Valentine's day. 

Anyhow, my favourite scene was Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. I had the pleasure spending a few over nights there. Had some fun in Lai Kui Fong (entertainment district). Im not sure if it is still tradition however, every night at 8pm they did (or may still do) a laser show combined with a sound track of the sky line. Last nights NYE Celebration was completely over the top of Awesomeness...they did it well! 

Here's one from the archives I shot of the Victoria Harbour laser show.

Happy 2013.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR AUSTRALIA!!!

Well its already 2013 in Australia.

Happy New Year to my peeps Down Under!

I wanna go back!

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NYE.

As New Years is coming up I've actually been reminded of the awesome events I've either hosted (in The Crew Bar) or where I was when 0:00am hit.

One of the memorable in recent years, 2011 I spent in Pittsburgh but 2008 I was in French Polynesia living it up and was able to do one of my many Scuba dives. 

Im not sure which port of call we were heading to but heres a shot of Huahine - a quaint little isle that was so relaxing you could sleep standing up!

Not sure what I'm doing for 2013 but I'm pretty sure its not gunna compare - especially with this winter weather we're having here.

Happy New Year Peoples.

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Why I left!

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine

First question I always get asked is why did I go, how did I get there, where did I find out about it!

Why did I go?

Well quite simple. I was bored. Hated the career I was in (computers and telecommunications) and I badly needed a change before I was gonna go insane. Saw an ad one fall about Cruise ships needing experienced photographers. But I didnt apply for it. Didnt feel my part time skills were up to it - left it at that and forgot about it.

Spring time rolls around, saw the ad again in the back of the Toronto Star. Didnt think anything of it. Again, left it at that. Came home from work a few days later and Mom pulled out the ad and mentioned it to me along with one other person I cant remember. Might have been my cousin. So, 2 people suggested it, I decided to apply.

Less than 48 hrs after applying I was given a ring by the Canadian agent for this particular line asking for my availability the following Wednesday for an interivew. I said no problem I'll bring my portfolio.

So there I am on the Wednesday filling out all these forms and such, had the medical done previously as well as per their request. sat in the waiting room with 3-5 others from what I can remember and they played us a video about Life at Sea.

What a crock of shit that was. Not only was it barely what I was getting myself into (they left out all the good shit) but I ended up working with 2 or 3 of the same photogs on my first contract.

Anyhow, Mr. Photo Director gave me quite the interrogation about my portfolio. Now knowing he was never a photorapher I coulda gave him all bullshit and Im sure he still woulda hired me on the spot regardless.

Keeping this short, interview on a Wednesday, I was on my first ship 10 days later setting sail for 6months in the Caribbean.

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First.

So I'm relaunching the blog which I had way back in the day when I first left for cruise ships. Only its much nicer, prettier, sexier, easier, kinda like the newies (new joiners) as we called them.

This is gunna be about mostly my memoirs (from what I remember) and some random travel junk too from my time on cruise ships. Buckle up, this is gunna be hilarious (probably only for me though) and enjoy...especially my photos. Cause most will be pretty bad-ass!!!

Business to take care of first...I will not reveal where the Crew Bars are, nor will I use complete full names or the cruise line I was 'employed' by. Some things should be kept confidential.

Anyways, get ready cuz im starrrrtiinnnngggg......................................now.