Onboarding: a Path of a True Hero

November 28, 2024 | River Insights | Author: Kristina Drebot

I am convinced, should you choose a career onboard long-term, inevitably, the hero you’ll become. However, this heroic journey is marked by significant trials and challenges.

Life Onboard: My Own Experience

Life onboard is unlike anything I’ve experienced ashore. It’s a self-contained world with its own distinct rules and microcosm, demanding adaptations that might be unfamiliar and daunting. It was very hard for me at first.

Sacrifices and Challenges

Life onboard requires substantial sacrifices. I was far from my family, my home and my comfort zone. Things did get rough. Differences with colleagues arose daily, and the job was quite intense, demanding my full commitment. Sometimes I felt isolated, overwhelmed and overworked. Often, I found myself in tears, questioning if the career I’ve chosen was too much. Years later I understood that this process is very common. Very few newcomers adjust easily.

The key to thriving in this career is acceptance and adaptability. I needed to embrace my new circumstances and adapt to the diverse crew community around me.  Adapting felt overwhelming. I knew that a career onboard isn’t for everyone and yet I needed to see if I could pull through.

Crew Diversity and Its Authentic Value

Imagine, a single ship might host over 15 nationalities from all over of the world. Everyone is different: diverse backgrounds, religions, traditions and levels of education. Yet, I could still share with each crew member a powerful desire for a better life. Crew diversity holds incredible beauty. I had the opportunity to learn from everyone and appreciate an abundance of cultures. Onboard, we don’t not need to become best friends (though that’s a wonderful bonus), but mutual respect towards each other and each other’s work is essential.

Ultimately, love and care make all the difference. Onboard, every individual contributes to creating a unique world driven by dedicated service to guests and support for one another. Some people may dismiss these thoughts as naive, as some ship communities may indeed be rougher than others. Yet, having experienced most of them, most of the time I saw unity and respect.

Experiencing the Full Spectrum

During my 6 seasons on board, I have witnessed everything—the good, the bad and the ugly. I encountered both darkness and light, tears, heartbreaks and disappointments. However, it was also so much more. I travelled to beautiful places, formed friendships that span continents, witnessed love stories that evolved into families (like my own 😊) and saw brotherhoods that grew stronger than blood.

Whenever I felt stuck, I reminded myself why I joined the fleet in the first place. As long as I contributed to a better, brighter and more prosperous community, I knew I could succeed. This philosophy applies to any industry or team striving for harmony and stability. I am a living example of how one, through devoted service and willingness to invest more, can grow from a junior position (my first job on board was a Receptionist) to Community Manager investing in wellbeing and growth of our entire community across all offices and all fleets.

Ready for the Challenge?

One thing I guarantee: a career onboard is anything but boring. It will make you stronger, more resilient and adaptable. Are you ready to give it a go? Then click here: Vacancies – River Advice

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