Can you find True Love on a Cruise Ship?
Yes you can, and it happens when you least expect it. When Cassandra and I met we were in our 20’s and living a carefree lifestyle on the high seas. We’d been working on cruise ships for years before our paths finally crossed on Carnival’s Ms. Holiday in 2001. Our home port was Puerto Rico and our weekly routine involved stops at 7 beautiful Caribbean Islands. Cassandra sold diamonds & jewelry at the ships boutique. I was the DJ, Ship Emcee, Volleyball Instructor and Wedding Specialist. On formal nights key staff would be allowed to dress up and visit the ship’s disco.
Cassandra got a little to close to the DJ booth one evening and a whirlwind romance ensued. We kept this tryst a secret for months and would communicate via walkie talkie when we planned to “accidentally meet up” for meals, laundry or late night strolls on the top deck.
We kept this tryst a secret for months and would communicate via walkie talkie when we planned to “accidentally meet up” for meals, laundry or late night strolls on the top deck. Our first date was on Virgin Gorda off the coast of Tortola. On our dates we would disembark separately to deter cruise ship gossip. We met in a pre determined shop and then snuck off onto a boat that whisked us away to the Baths. Our next rendezvous was at Stingray City in Grand Cayman. Sneaky getaways to Playa Del Carmen, St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Kitts and Barbados soon followed.
It almost fell apart as quickly as it started. Our ship was dry docked for maintenance in the Bahamas. Carnival transferred me from the Caribbean to Los Angeles on my birthday and put me to work on the Ms Elation the next day. After two weeks of sailing from LA to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, the assistant cruise director called me into his office. He informed me that I was to stay on the Ms. Elation and he was having the rest of my belongings flown in from the Ms. Holiday. Knowing that meant I would probably never see Cassandra again, I explained my situation and refused to stay in LA.
I was in limbo for a few hours – packing my bags and preparing to be fired. Carnival had already flown in another DJ from Canada to take my position in the Caribbean. Amazingly, Carnival didn’t fire me. Instead, they gave me a promotion and flew me to Miami to rejoin Cassandra on the Holiday! I’m always grateful to Carnival for that outcome. A few weeks later that assistant cruise director in LA was promoted to Cruise Director and joined our ship in New Orleans. The secret romance of Sean & Cassandra was soon out of the bag, but we didn’t care- we just felt lucky to be together again.
Was leaving Cruise Ships Easy?
No it was not. Cassandra worked 10 month contracts and mine were for 6. The next contract is always around the corner and you get used to having a staff chef, a cabin steward and a car free life. Its hard for unmarried couples to stay together on ships- one usually ends up in the Mediterranean while the other is dispatched to Alaska. We were fortunate once, but we knew we’d be separated if we stayed at sea. I had timed my contract to be back in Ocean City (OC), MD for the summer. Carnival was flying Cassandra back to London a few weeks later. If you complete your contract, Carnival pays for the flights. I helped Cassandra book a stopover in Baltimore before her flight home.
We spent two amazing weeks in Ocean City. We had worked every night on the cruise ship and finally had our first night off as a couple. I showed her all the sights of Ocean City, hoping she would fall in love with it. I still DJed at Fager’s Island she would visit me at work. Alas, when she returned to England we were at another crossroad. Visa issues were complicating our relationship. When Cassandra finally returned to the states, she wasn’t allowed to stay long. Winter was approaching and she’d always wanted to visit Australia. We decided to apply for J1 student visas and find jobs down under. A few weeks later, we joined the mile high club on a 20 hour flight to Sydney.
How was the move to Australia?
It was challenging. Our J1 Visa included discounted airfare, a work permit and a two night stay at a youth hostile. The 12 hour time difference was exhausting but we hit the ground running. We purchased Australian mobile phones when we landed and passed out resumes to every nice restaurant we saw. Our youth hostile was chaotic. We were on the top bunk of a small room we shared with 3 random travelers. Multiple thefts were reported and police frequented the lobby. Jet lag hampered our housing search. Our last morning, we reluctantly asked the front desk to stay for another night. It was New Year’s Eve and even this dive was fully booked. An hour later we were out on the streets with our suitcases. We checked every hostel, apartment and hotel we could find. Nothing was available and the sun was beginning to set There we were, exhausted and homeless on the streets of Sydney.
As desperation set in, hope arrived in the form of a tiny middle aged Asian woman. We were slumped over our luggage on the stairs of yet another sold out traveler’s lodge when she greeted us in broken English with “You need room, follow me.”
Out of options we, grabbed our suitcases and chased this tiny firefly as she darted quickly through the dark side streets and back alleys of downtown Sydney. We finally emerged underneath a Pagoda pulsating with exotic Asian rhythms and an intoxicating aroma of spices. We tried to decipher Asian signs as we sped past bustling shops and restaurants before disappearing into a high rise apartment building. As the crowded elevator sped us towards the top, our tiny guide smiled at us and said “Welcome to Chinatown.” We love Asian food, but this wasn’t the plan. We followed the little old lady down a long corridor before she knocked on the last door. She disappeared inside for a few moments and returned with a man. She said “This is Bill the Kiwi, you stay here now.” A moment later she was gone, stuffing some bills in her pocket as she buzzed back down the dimly lit corridor.
New Year’s Eve with Bill the Kiwi
Bill was from New Zealand. Aussies call New Zealanders Kiwis – its usually more playful than rude. Bill gave us the tour. It was a three bedroom apartment over looking the Harbour and the Sydney bridge.
We appeared to have hit the jackpot as he promised us a bed for a fair price. Thirty minutes later we were drinking Toohey’s New lagers and playing chess on the balcony with Bill the Kiwi and his eastern European girlfriend. We had lucked our way into front row seats for the most iconic fireworks display in the southern hemisphere. It was a surreal experience and our most unforgettable New Year’s Eve to date.
As the night went on, the apartment’s other residents returned from work. We soon realized the remaining bedrooms appeared to be rented by other European backpackers. When the show finished, we asked which room was ours?
Bill the Kiwi’s girlfriend led us down the hallway and stopped at a closet door. A pocket door slid open and exposed a mattress lying on the floor, which could be ours for only $100 Australian dollars ($75 US) a week Our luggage would need to fit in the closet and we could use the bathroom down the hall. We lived in that closet for two weeks until one of Kiwi Bill’s proper bedrooms became available.
We got jobs at Wildfire overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. Cassandra worked in the restaurant and I worked in the bar. It was a celebrity hot spot and we got to see Christopher Reeves (Superman) Jessica Alba, Usher, Pearl Jam and the cast of Sex and the City. We spent a month in Chinatown using our prime location to climb the Harbour Bridge, sail to the Taronga Zoo and see Orpheus in the Underworld at the Sydney Opera House. Our favorite spot was a trendy pub district called The Rocks. We joked that if we ever got married we’d legally change our names and become “The Rox”.
After a month in Chinatown, we left downtown Sydney and moved to Manly Beach. The beach was our natural habitat and we thrived in this picturesque surfing community. The Aussies love beach volleyball and I felt right at home. Cassandra worked in a romantic Italian restaurant and I bartended at an exotic African restaurant. In our free time we explored the coast, hiked the Blue Mountains and sampled the local wineries.
The Proposal
At the end of April, my Australian Visa ran out and we flew back to the States. We spent time in San Francisco before moving to my hometown of Ocean City, MD. That summer it was Cassandra’s turn for Visa issues.
It was right after 9/11 and US immigration had really tightened up – even for the Brits. I came home one afternoon from the DVD store and found Cassandra in tears. She was holding a letter from the US government that she would be kicked out of the States. I dropped to one knee, handed her the 8 Mile DVD in my bag and proposed.
The Secret Elopement
I needed to plan an epic elopement to make up for my sub par proposal. I could only get three nights off from work and money was tight. We booked an inexpensive elopement package through a Bed & Breakfast in Niagara Falls. Our lone vehicle was an oversized wedding van that probably wouldn’t make the trip. The next morning we rented a sedan. It did not have a GPS, just some printed directions from MapQuest. We drove 12 hours in the rain to Niagara Falls and bought Cassandra’s wedding dress at a small shop along the way.
We spent three amazing nights in Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Rainbow House B & B on the American side. We were married at Terrapin Point on September 3rd of 2003. Our package included an officiant and a simple video. They took a few pictures for us on our disposable camera. We strolled the falls before enjoying a romantic dinner at the Red Coach Inn. Our last day we explored the Canadian side and rode the Maid of the Mist. The drive home only took 10 hours and I made it to work that night. We told people about our trip to the Falls but didn’t breathe a word about our secret marriage.
Meet the Parents
Four months after we were married it was time to meet Cassandra’s family. We flew to England and I finally met her parents, sister, nephew and gran. Before Cassandra left to work on ships, her parents warned her not to marry a foreigner – especially a Yank.
I checked both boxes and needed to make a good first impression.
Her Gran lived next door and invited me over for tea. She too had married a foreigner (a giant 6 foot 8 Canadian cowboy). She made her tea with whiskey and we hit it off right away. At 6 ‘2 and with my rough American accent, I reminded her of a smaller version of her late hubby. After that I always wore my Stetson cowboy hat when we Skyped.
Our plan was to spend a few weeks with Cassandra’s family before flying to south east Asia. On our last night, I decided to pop the question to her Dad. I told him I was planning on asking his daughter to marry me and asked for his blessing. I was probably not his first choice but he did say yes. The next day Cassandra and I were on a 13 hour flight to Bangkok, Thailand.
Proposal #2: “The Beach”
Southeast Asia was warm and cheap. We spent six weeks touring Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. We could live like royalty for $30 a day in Thailand. A decent room with AC was $15/night Thai women would stand on your back and massage you with their feet for $5 an hour. Lobster and coconut rice platters went for $6. Little bottles of Red Bull were only twenty cents.
In Phuket we rode elephants through the jungle and enjoyed dinner on the June Bahtra junk. We explored the Batu Caves and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. We celebrated my birthday over Singapore Slings at the Raffles Long Bar in Singapore. We witnessed ancient temples in Penang and Thai kickboxing in Bangkok. We soaked in the rejuvenating waters of Krabi’s hot springs and Emerald Pool. On the island of Sentosa took part in a brilliant night safari. These were all amazing spots, but I needed the perfect spot for my second proposal- this time I had to get right.
A few months earlier we had watched a Leonardo DiCaprio film called The Beach. The backdrop was amazing and I did a little research on the location. It was filmed on a Thai island in the Andaman sea called Ko Phi Phi Le. The exact spot was Maya Bay. We booked a boat trip and snorkeling excursion to the island. The day before I snuck out and bought a wedding band to surprise Cassandra with. It was made of the finest wood and only cost me $5. I made that choice because I had to carry it in my bathing suit and it would float if I lost it.
We met some cool Aussies on the boat named Brad & Mandy. During our snorkeling session I was able to tell them my plan to pop the question before dinner. They were pretty excited and volunteered to take some pics with our $20 disposable camera. Once again Cassandra was surprised and once again she said yes.
The four of us celebrated that evening at the Tiger Discotheque on the Patong strip. A week later, Cassandra picked out a proper diamond at a Bangkok night market. The price was amazing and when we had it appraised it was actually real! (unlike the two “Rolexes” I got for $30 the same night :- )
When we returned to England we told Cassandra’s family the big news. My Yankee ways were starting to grow on them and they began plans for a traditional British wedding.
The Royal Wedding
OK, it wasn’t really a Royal wedding but we did feel special that week. My small entourage of American guests were treated regally from the moment they arrived. Our accommodations and rehearsal dinner were at the Pelham House in historic Lewes. It was right across the street from the Castle. The wedding was at the Michelham Priory on May 6th. Cassandra had about 200 guests on her side and I had 12 on mine. It appeared the chapel was in danger of flipping on its side.
The Priory was gorgeous and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on the grounds after the ceremony. We had a large reception with dinner and dancing. Cassandra and I brought a CD from the states with our favorite songs to play during the dinner ( a relaxing medley of Dave Matthews, Rusted Root, Michael Buble, All Saints, etc.) Unknown to us, there had been a mix up in the limo that afternoon. Cassandra’s Mum brought what she though was our CD to the DJ before dinner. Little did she know she had accidentally picked up our after hours Club Rox mix instead.
The DJ invited everyone to be seated for dinner. Then he made an announcement about how we brought a special CD all the way from America for the guests to enjoy during the meal. He asks everyone to “sit back and relax” and puts in the disc. A moment later “I See You Baby, Shaking that Ass” blasts through this historic 700 year old monastery. The look on everyone’s faces was priceless. We’d had quite a bit of champagne and weren’t sure how to react – so we got up and did our first dance to “Shaking that Ass” by Groove Armada. It was the not the first impression I had in mind for our British guests, but they had to admit I was “bloody fun for a Yank”. After that, someone went back in the limo for the correct CD and order was restored.
The Honeymoon
The next morning we flew to the Swiss Alps for our Honeymoon. We travelled through the country and crossed the Italian border into lake Como & La Isola Bella. Zurich was a beautiful city. Our favorite memories were learning to play an Alpine Horn in Lucerne, fondue tasting in Zermatt and a horse drawn carriage ride in St. Moritz. It was a beautiful trip. We had very little money at the time and were grateful Cassandra’s parents paid for the wedding and my parents sponsored the Honeymoon.
When we returned to the States we decided we needed to make a career change. I was still a DJ and would work as many weddings as I could. On the side I would umpire baseball and referee high school basketball. Cassandra was working in a nice hotel. We decided to start a beach wedding business in Ocean City, MD. There was no blueprint to follow at the time. We literally created the business plan out of thin air. We pooled together the last of our savings and bought a wedding van, 40 white chairs, some beach decorations and a nice camera. I taught myself how to build a website and Cassandra went to school for photography.
Rox Beach Weddings
We named our primitive start up Rox Beach Weddings. We ran it from a tiny apartment with a parking lot view. We joined the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and began pretending we knew what we were doing. We booked our first beach wedding in 2006.
We’d set up decorations and chairs on the beach. We’d put a sound system on a table and play the ceremony music. I would officiate the weddings and Cassandra would take the pictures. Eventually we became decent at our craft and began getting referrals. We expanded our tiny infrastructure to include additional photographers, several DJs and a video team. We would still travel in the winter – anywhere we could find that was warm and cheap. We spent one January in Brazil, Argentina & Uruguay. The next in Egypt, Jordan & Israel.
In 2007 we produced the first Ocean City Bridal Show and bought a white wedding limousine. Business took off much quicker than we anticipated. In 2008 alone we planned 212 weddings. By 2013 we had already planned 1000 weddings. Our 1000th couple won our Free Beach Wedding contest and made the local news. It felt great giving back. We look forward to celebrating our 2500th wedding with another giveaway in the next few years.
Our busy season was April through October but we worked year round six days a week. The DJ and Limo side of the business ran late into the night and created many headaches. I was the emergency Limo Driver. When our driver called in “sick” at 4 AM for a 4:30 pick up, I quickly swapped my PJs for a suit and made a 6 hour airport run to Philadelphia. After that we decided to scale back operations and develop a sustainable business model. We wanted more traditional hours to time to pursue new ventures. I became a Volunteer Firefighter and Cassandra volunteered at the Humane Society. In the winter we we sponsored and coached a youth basketball team. We adopted two beautiful cats named Zurich & Luxor. As we sailed through our late thirties we were enjoying life and travelling to England and Europe when we could.
We eventually sold the Limo and retired the DJ service. We discontinued our reception packages and focused exclusively on beach weddings and photography. We incorporated Honeymoon Planning into our packages and laid the groundwork for writing a book on travel.
Our favorite show was the Amazing Race. When they came to Seacrets we auditioned. Cassandra hoped to be the first British contestant but it wasn’t meant to be (2023 and still no Brits- what’s up with that?)
We didn’t make The Amazing Race, now what?
We took an online course to become certified travel planners. The “certification” ended up being a waste of time and money, but we had to start somewhere. We wanted to document the best wedding venues and honeymoon destinations that our budget would allow. We’d take a few weeks off in the winter and made the most of it.
We shortened the length of our trips and used the savings to stay at better places. We could usually get the information and pictures we needed with a three night stay in a great location. Cruises were often ideal for covering ground.
We sailed the Iberian peninsula, cruised the Nile, navigated the Panama Canal and made an Equatorial crossing from Tahiti to Hawaii.
Our travels took us through Europe, the United Kingdom, Latin America, French Polynesia, the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the most iconic cities in North America. We created a detailed itinerary for each trip and took lots of pictures. We compiled lists travel tips and document the best hotels and restaurants. After each trip we’d write an article for our Ports of Call travel column in the Coconut Times.
Some of our highlights were Christmas in Bora Bora, spa treatments at Das Rubezahl overlooking Neuschwanstein Castle, the Game of Thrones experience in Northern Ireland, hiking through Petra, seeing the Egyptian Pyramids on a camel, Tango in Buenos Aires, sipping wine above the Trevi Fountain and cycling through Copenhagen.
We white water rafted through Costa Rica, met Marquesas warriors in Tahiti, snowboarded in Innsbruck, watched stand up comedy on the Hollywood strip, March Madness in San Antonio, sampled Sherry & Tapas in Cadiz, black light theatre in Prague, Carnival in Rio, surfed Waikiki, flew over the Grand Canyon, floated on the Dead Sea, climbed Dunn’s River Falls, got robbed by monkeys in Gibraltar and celebrated our 10 year anniversary at Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec. We’d been to 70 countries on six continents and had grand plans to see the world………
“You Can’t go to Africa….. you’re Pregnant”
That’s what the nurse told us the day before a 17 hour flight to Africa. Cassandra had been having tummy issues that week. As a precaution, we went to the hospital for a few tests. Not sure what they were testing for, but the results were Cassandra was having a baby.
The nurse insisted we come back for more tests later that week. We flew to Africa instead. We had a lot to talk about on the non-refundable flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg. We had booked a four night river safari on Botswana’s Zambezi Queen and a four night stay at the Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia. The all inclusive dining was prepaid. Cassandra had to turn down complimentary cocktails and wine.
I felt guilty sipping pre-paid sundowners in front of her but was proud she was taking motherhood seriously.
Our little girl never got to see Africa, but she experienced it in Mummy’s belly. She got to hear hippos on the river, monkeys in the trees and elephants gallivanting in the mud. She could feel Mummy tense up as a family of rhinos spotted us on a walking tour. She could feel the rushing water of Victoria Falls as we waded across the Zambezi and into the Devil’s Pool. She could fee the love at the Mandela House in Soweto. A new Rox was on the way and were getting excited.
For Cassandra’s 40th birthday I had surprised her with a trip to Disney World. She’d never been and I had booked the trip about a year in advance. She’d wanted to go since she was a child in England. Her first visit was probably different than she had envisioned. I’d booked a table at Cinderella’s Royal Table exactly 6 months in advance. The castle was full of tiny toddlers dressed up as princesses that night. The princesses would patiently visit each table for a photo. We met all the Princesses. Cassandra wore her tiara and would rise up next to each princess. She looked beautiful at 40. A six foot tall princess with a cute baby bump standing proudly next to Snow White, Jasmine & the Little Mermaid. Changes were coming and we knew this would be our last trip for awhile.
Moorea Amarula Rox was born that summer. We became first time parents in our forties, absolutely clueless on how to raise a baby girl.
The Next Chapter
So far so good. Moorea likes to travel and enjoys taking pictures. Cruising is in her DNA and she has excellent sea legs. Perhaps she’ll work on ships one day – just like Mummy & Daddy.
We took her on the 20 hour round trip drive from Ocean City to Niagara Falls. She’s been to England several times and is learning French so she can see Paris. We’d planned a semester abroad in England for Moorea’s kindergarten year but that dream was Covidized and the window closed.
We’re not sure what the future holds but hopefully travel will be a part of it. We’re working on a children’s book but our artistic abilities need some fine tuning. In the meantime, we’ll keep helping couples plan beach weddings and taking pictures. It’s a beautiful day at the beach, hope to see you there!
Sean Rox
