What is the coolest or weirdest thing about living on a ship?
“The coolest thing definitely has to be waking up in a different place every day. You just look out the window and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, today I’m in wherever I am and tomorrow I’m going to be in a different place’ and that is just super cool. Every day is a new adventure. The weirdest thing is completely losing the concept of days of the week. The guests do too: They’re on holiday and [time] just isn’t relevant. We’re all just living in this gorgeous bubble together.”
What is your favorite place you’ve traveled so far?
“I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan recently: Tokyo, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka. When I arrived, I was hit straight away by the kindness of the people, the architecture, the food—it was a huge eye opener for me, I loved it. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful country.”
What is your favorite place to hang out on board the ship?
“The gym. I go as often as possible. Working out helps me release—and just do me. I was a dancer in a past life and I still dance for fun, too, so sometimes I grab my tap shoes or dancing heels, put on some music, and just kind of jam. It brings me a lot of joy.”
Tell us about a memorable passenger interaction that sticks out to you.
“It was one of my first contracts as a social hostess. A gentleman had recently lost his partner [with whom] his cruise was booked. He wasn’t sure if he was going to take the cruise but decided to go in honor of his loved one. So of course he was one of my solos. When I met with him on the first evening, he was very shy; I could tell that everything was still very raw. But he really blossomed during the cruise. He was friendly and open to embracing the experience. And by the end of the cruise, I remember him saying to me, ‘Rachel, this has been a wonderful time. Now that I know I can continue cruising even without my partner, you’ve [inspired] me to look into booking another cruise with Regent. Thank you so much.’ We still keep in touch and I’ve cruised with him two times since. He’s a different person now. And for me, that’s just so rewarding.”
What’s your top tip for first-time cruisers?
“Regent is an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive brand, so I would just urge guests to experience everything: the pre- and post-cruise trips, the shore excursions, the shows, and everything else on the ship. When you’re so busy in the ports, you might miss the tea time, or the infinity pool in the spa, or all the dining options. There’s honestly something for everyone.”
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