I’ve Been Here For 5 Years!

Where does the time go eh?

Yes last week I celebrated five years working for Cruise.co.uk, and quite frankly that time has gone in the blink of an eye.

Loyal to the core, I worked in my last job for 8 years, and I find myself quickly approaching that marker, which factoring in the months of starting and ending, will total 14 years in the cruise industry.

At 33 years old, it means I have spent almost half of my life learning about every conceivable product there is, building up relationships with my fantastic clients, and booking several thousands of customers aboard some of the most glorious ships afloat. Long may it continue.

Back when I started in the industry, I had just turned 19 years old, coming out of college with A level equivalents all related to the tourism industry. By then I had studied short courses in subjects such as ABTA Licensing, ATOL Memberships, basic air cabin crew, and of course even touched on Cruising. So you could say from the moment I left school I was destined to have a career in travel.

I had as much interest then as I still do today. Making my lifelong ambitions all centered around various different global destinations.

My Bucket List is enormous, and quite frankly there is no chance I will complete even half of it in my lifetime, the world is just too big a place. But working in travel just makes you add to it anyway, so it’s always getting longer!

A few years ago after getting married I was able to tick off one of my top 5; The Maldives, on our honeymoon. Paradise. Not many words can describe it’s beauty. But it was an amazing and emotional experience that was incredible.

Top of my list is actually a holiday and cruise deal that I sell regularly to my clients, making it all the more difficult, knowing they are going there and I’m not!

But it’s a costly affair, something that I am nowhere near being able to afford still having a mortgage and now having a son.

I’m talking about Alaska. The Rocky Mountaineer, and Denali.

This for me is the absolute pinnacle of experiences, but it’s likely I will be well into retirement before I can afford to do it properly. Dreams are there to be achieved however, and this place will always be in the back of my mind. I will get there one day.

On a more realistic note. My wife and I have already discussed our retirement gift to ourselves. A complete coastal journey of Italy. Not on a ship. But in a convertible car all the way around the boot from East to West. Bit of petrol money and a few nice meals along what I think will be one hell of a ride!

Anyway I have digressed massively once again and started rambling!

Happy 5 years to me, and here’s to many more!

Thanks for reading, and as always, until next time….