Was working on cruise ships a perfect experience? No, it wasn't. Still, looking back, I only see how much the job positively impacted my life.

Sometimes, guests can be really annoying and rude, and you still have to smile and be nice to them. I've known people who have gotten in big trouble and even fired for receiving a rude comment with their name attached. 

The cruise ship is like a small city. It's an enclosed circle of people around us. When you work for many months in that circle, there are increased chances for a romance at sea, or some people even find a life partner on the cruise ship. Generally speaking, for the crew members on board the ship, there are two kinds of relationships:

Outside in the waiting area, there was an older man from Guatemala holding a sign with my name on it. He seemed like a nice person. We shook hands, greeted each other, and went to the nearby shuttle bus. From Miami airport to West Palm Beach, it took around a two-hour ride.