So for those of you who have followed our blog through the past year, you'll remember John and his unfortunate dinghy accident. The accident ultimately cost him his lower left leg. He's done a phenomenal job of getting back to the life he loves - being on the water on his boat Timepiece. He returned to La Paz in September. Not long after his return, we waved as he left the dock for some short day cruises, and a couple of overnighters.
Christmas and New Years came and went - a new year underway. It was time to take a closer look at what the accident really meant to his cruising budget. Since it pretty well wiped it out - time to get a job.
He agonized over having to fill out an application, spent several weeks 'researching', and finally found something that he thought would be a good fit.
The universe seemed to line things up just right for him..... he left La Paz on the 15th of February, for a week in Los Angeles.... and now - John's story!


"It's time to update everyone on my new adventure...working....on a cruise ship....not a bad gig!

So I officially started Feb. 24th and spent two weeks in Miami, FL for training in the corporate office. Then on March 8th I joined the Royal Caribbean 'Independence of the Seas' as the Compliance Officer. This is a new position for Royal Caribbean and I was the second hired in the fleet. Onboard I was introduced to the ship's executive team by both of my shoreside bosses, which help show the importance of the new position. I have been made very welcome onboard by the Captain and other management personnel. One of the delays was getting my computer setup, turned out to be a shoreside issue and finally after two weeks I'm online. Online really means I have access to the company's intranet and limited access to the internet, so my email is very slooow....pre-dial up!

OK, life onboard.....

I have a nice cabin with an ocean view, tv, refrig, it will sleep four, and I don't have to clean it!....basically the same size as 'Time Piece'. I have full run to the ship with access cards and keys, semi-private office, eat at any of the restaurants, and my laundry is done for me. I guess there is something to be said about having three stripes and reporting directly to the Captain.

My work schedule varies every day, which keeps it interesting. I respond to all guest injuries and investigate as required. I am visible to the guests as I walk around and talk with them, mainly in the evenings. The Captain likes that I do my walk arounds since most of our guests are from the USA or Canada and I'm the only USA Officer onboard.
The Captain requests that I'm on the bridge for all departures and arrivals. He asks for my review of the bridge team and the evolution. Now you also need to know that the Captain has only ever worked for Royal Caribbean since he was eighteen and has worked his way up to Captain; he is thirty-nine years old. Matter of fact, only the Staff Captain is older than me on the bridge team, but they are very capable. The Captain knows that I have my USCG Masters license, but even though it is a 100 ton rating that doesn't matter, it's a Masters License and that was how he introduced my to the bridge team as holding a Masters License....but believe me I don't try to pretend I know more....this is the worlds sixth largest cruise ship! So when it comes to the bridge team I'm in a very cool position, I get to observe and learn, plus give feedback. I met privately with the Captain everyday at 17:30 and the meeting lasts from as short as thirty minutes to as long as five hours. He is very interested it what I have to offer him and the ship in terms of bring it to the next level with regards to injury prevention, bridge resource management, and in other areas of operation.

The other part of the job, which isn't as fun, is reading manuals and policies so I can know them and improve those that really need revisions.

So even in my short two weeks onboard I've started to impact the ship in a positive way, made a couple small changes that so far have paid back well. The staff and crew seem glad to have me onboard. All my socializing is done in public areas or with Officers and some staff, which is fine since then I can go hide in my cabin and play ukulele.

So that's my brief update on how it is going. And since I need to work now, this is a cool gig! Heck I've already logged aprox. 5,000 sea miles, circumnavigated Cuba twice and seen some nice places in the Caribbean.

Cheers!
John "


Photo:
On the Bridge for an arrival into Grand Cayman.