Meet the people who work on a cruise ship

The pianist

Callum Bradley followed his dream of being a performer. Credit: Joby Sessions

Callum Bradley, 26, works as a pianist and singer in Raffles, one of Ambience’s 11 bars and lounges.

“There was a time not long ago when I was standing in a classroom teaching a class of secondary school kids. Now, I’m sitting on a piano stool, entertaining people on their holidays. It’s a funny old life sometimes…

I’ve been drawn to music since I was 12, getting involved in choirs and musical productions at school. But it wasn’t until lockdown that I learnt to play piano, hoping it would be my path to performing.

I was right – before long, I was spending my weekends gigging in pubs across the West Midlands. I wanted to do it full time, but finding regular work around there as a musician is really difficult. Then this job came along, and I haven’t looked back since.

It still doesn’t feel real sometimes. I’m spending every evening doing what I love, singing and playing piano – with a few dad jokes sprinkled in! If you haven’t been on a cruise before, you simply have to. Every night is like a Saturday, and there’s something for everyone, whether you want to spend it chilling out to classical music or dancing away at the disco.

I love the bar staff at the lounge I play in, Raffles. They all work incredibly hard, yet they’re always smiling – we have some great banter. The guests are brilliant, too. Once, I was playing Valerie and a lady in her seventies sat on my lap and started singing along, because her name was Valerie! I get to know our guests really well over each cruise, but then suddenly, they’re out of your life. For me, that’s one of the toughest parts of the job.

Working on board the ship’s given me the travel bug. I’ve enjoyed everywhere we’ve been, but I’ll never forget the first time we sailed into the Norwegian Fjords – a proper goosebumps moment. Another unforgettable day was when we docked in Civitavecchia and went to see the sights in Rome and eat some carbonara! I’d love to go to South America one day: perhaps I’d get some inspiration for setlists.

If someone had told me – a teacher from Dudley – that I’d end up travelling the world doing what I love, I would have laughed. I’m living the dream.”

The singer

Rose Storey performs for audiences on Ambassador cruises. Credit: Joby Sessions

Rose Storey, 23, has spent the last two years entertaining audiences in Ambience’s 700-seat theatre, The Palladium.

“Singing has always been my dream. As a child, I was so nervous about performing in front of people, but a stint at musical theatre school built my confidence, and I landed this job soon after graduating. Being accepted by one of the UK’s top live entertainment agencies was a massive thrill – they provide talent to cruise ships and other venues. I loved the idea of travelling and it felt like a dream come true.

I’m part of an ensemble performing West End-style productions, showcasing numbers from both classics and lesser-known shows. My favourite production is Masquerade, which is set at a lavish masked ball in Vienna. I love the music, the costumes – the whole extravagance of it.

My day usually starts with a class – meditation is my favourite – followed by a few hours ashore if we’re in port, though we’ll sometimes stay on board to run guest activities like fitness classes. Then it’s time for a rehearsal – we rehearse every day to keep the standard high – before performing two shows at night.

Performing on a cruise ship is very different to doing it on land – it can be full of surprises. Once, while crossing a choppy Bay of Biscay, we had to do the show sitting down. That was a first for me! At the end of many performances, we’ll stand at the doors to chat with guests about the show and they often tell us how much they enjoyed it, which is lovely.

It can be scary to bite the bullet and go away for such a long time, but once you’re at sea you make so many friends in the same boat… literally. The entertainment team becomes my second family – we do so much together that everyone forms really close bonds. And another great thing about this job is never having to cook your own dinner!

I’ve travelled to so many incredible places, including Norway, Brazil and Tobago. My favourite itinerary is the Caribbean, it’s so exciting to wake up in a different tropical port every morning. I still go away on my own holidays so I can spend more time exploring one place, but cruising is a great way to get a flavour of lots of different destinations.

I wish I could tell my younger self I’d be singing my heart out to big audiences while travelling the world. It would have really boosted my confidence.”

The chef

Shone Mathew adds the finishing touches to desserts. Credit: Joby Sessions

Shone Mathew, 42, is a seasoned cruise worker from Kerala, India. He’s executive chef on board Ambience, heading up operations across its six restaurants.

“I’ve worked on various cruise ships since 2009. My background was in big hotel kitchens, but I’ve always been curious about the world and different cultures. When I realised I could combine my passions of travel and cooking, cruise life made perfect sense.

Transitioning from land to sea was interesting – it’s a completely different way of working, but I adapted quickly. Over the years, I’ve taken on different positions across various cruise lines, but I’ve spent the last decade as an executive chef. It’s much less hands-on than my first job in the kitchen – more focused on planning and overseeing day-to-day operations – but I still find time to get stuck into some cooking.

My days start early. After a quick bite to eat, I head to the ship’s galleys to check that breakfast is running smoothly, before spending the rest of the morning on things like inventory checks and practising pre-shift briefings. Then it’s time to turn my attention to lunch services across our different venues, from the five-course menu at Buckingham, Ambience’s main restaurant, to our casual buffet, Borough Market.Evenings are busiest as I’ve got to be in multiple places at once – tasting dishes, checking presentation and overseeing service at our buffet, our main restaurant and the two speciality restaurants: Indian-inspired Saffron, and the seven-course, fine dining Sea & Grass.

When all our meal services are finished for the day, I wind down with a book or film. Unlike on land, where you get to go home at the end of a shift, you’re living at work and I miss the everyday things like family dinners and walking the dog. I video call my wife and three kids back home whenever I can.

The plus side of working on a ship is that there are so many activities going on it’s impossible to get bored. We have dedicated crew areas where we can socialise in our down time, and you really get to know everyone.

I love being part of people’s holiday memories, too. If I were picking a cruise itinerary for myself, I’d go with one that mixes vibrant cities with scenic, less crowded spots and natural landscapes – something like the Mediterranean or the Norwegian Fjords. I think they’re perfect.”

The beauty therapist

Marina Wahben receiving a treatment in the Green Sea Spa. Credit: Joby Sessions

Marina Wahben, 30, from Poland joined Ambassador as a nail technician in Ambience’s Green Sea Spa in 2024.

“I’d never thought about working in a cruise ship salon, but once I heard about it I knew it was what I wanted to do. Who wouldn’t want to combine their career with the chance to travel the world?

Sea days as a beauty therapist are packed with back-to-back appointments – I do all things nails. But on top of this, we do everything from managing the spa’s protocols to covering reception. We work directly with guests and have to handle unexpected situations like late arrivals, which can set off a whole chain of delays. These moments test our teamwork but we always manage to make it work, and you soon learn to love the fast pace and multitasking.

There are plenty of lighthearted moments, too. Sometimes, guests are so relaxed after their spa treatments that they fall into a deep sleep and don’t wake up. Once we even had to call a guest’s husband to come and wake her! Luckily, we had another room ready to start the next appointment on time.

Of course, I miss my friends and family at home in Poland. I’m just about to finish my first cruise contract, and I can’t wait to spend time with them when I’m done. In the meantime, internet access means I can keep in touch every day.

What’s interesting is that lots of people actually end up missing ship life when they’re back at home. There’s a strong sense of community on board – it’s one of the first things you notice on a cruise ship. We’ll often meet at the crew bar or watch a film together after work, though sometimes what you need is a quiet night in the cabin.

The biggest difference about working on a cruise ship is waking up in a different part of the world every day. On port days, our appointment schedule lightens, and we alternate time off to give everyone a chance to explore each destination.
My favourite places are the warm ones, like Greece, the Canary Islands and Spain – I love a good sunset picture! Travelling is the best part of my job – it’s like being paid to explore. And when you’re passionate about the wellness industry, it’s a double win.

I’m still fairly new to cruise life, but I’ve heard stories of people who never planned on making a career at sea, only to end up staying much longer than they expected to. So for now, I’ll go with the flow and see where this adventure takes me!”

Boundless members can save on an Ambassador Cruise

Here’s some good news for you: if you’d like to experience the entertainment on board an Ambassador cruise for yourself, its special offer for Boundless members means you can save an additional 10% on its voyages. Find out more in this sponsored article.  

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Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.  

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. 

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to The Ramblers' extensive walking community, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.