This Woman is a Seafarer

Alexa Christine Sale in Ang Pinoy Stories

Mar 27, 2021 • 4 min Read

March is Women’s Month, and this is my contribution as a woman who has worked on board a cruise ship.

W — Welcome to a New Adventure!

Right after graduation in May 2016, I worked at Makati Shangri-La, Manila as a front office associate. I stayed for three years, met amazing people, and gained valuable experience. I adored the hotel — I considered it my second home, literally and emotionally — and my colleagues.

However, I needed to go out of my comfort zone and explore. That was the time that I decided to become a seafarer with the help of my family. It was a bold decision and probably the best I ever made. 

O — Overcoming Difficulties 

It was a tough journey throughout the application process from getting the requirements, joining required trainings, to dealing with long queues in getting certificates. I successfully managed balancing all these while still employed. Then it was time to go on board as a legitimate seafarer.

For the first few weeks, I had to juggle being homesick, dealing with the ship’s mixed culture, meeting new people from different nationalities, and being seasick. I was groggy at work, but I must get used to these difficulties to be able to survive and finish my first contract.

I had constant communication with my family in the Philippines and that comforted me even with the miles and oceans between us. As to the new culture and environment onboard, I quickly adapted with the help of my colleagues and kabayans who guided me and gave advices on how to cope with common challenges. The seasickness is a different story. Until now, ocean swells really make me weak, but green apples, medication, and ginger ale tend to lessen the effect. I survived my shift with flying colors. Sadly, I avoided the happy hours at the bar to catch up on my sleep and regain my strength.

M — MS Volendam

My first cruise ship was MS Volendam owned by the Holland America Line.  It was launched September 1998 as the third of four Rotterdam-class vessels and has 10 decks, of which six are passenger cabins. It is a magnificent and sophisticated vessel which can hold up to 1,432 passengers and 647 crews. Volendam is also the name of an old fishing village in the North Holland province of Netherlands. It has a lovely harbor and is a terrific tourist destination throughout the year.

I joined the ship in January 5, 2020 and my world changed. I was immersed in the ship’s culture, worked with different nationalities, and reached exciting destinations. I became part of the Guest Services family. 

E – Enjoyable and Exciting

My job is exciting! It was an adventure. In the course of the voyage, I had a chance to visit places and experience cultures.

My first voyage was the Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage 2020. It is a 74-day voyage to visit countries in South America and Antarctica itself.

I loved Brazil, specifically the port of Rio de Janeiro where I saw the Christ the Redeemer statue. When night came, I saw beautiful floats and locals in their unique costumes dancing during the Samba Festival parade. I also adored the scenic cruise along the icy coast of Antarctica — so amazing and surreal to look at the beautiful ice-covered scenery.

N — Nostalgic 

I treasured the experiences aboard MS Volendam.

When the pandemic caught up on us and countries were on lockdown, ports were closed, and our company decided to cancel the next voyages of all its ships and repatriated their crew members using the same vessels. Technically, it was a voyage. The ships were bringing crew members home and because there were no passengers, we did not work.

During the so-called Grand Repatriation Voyage of Volendam, crew members from South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines became guests on board. Social distancing was observed and the whole ship underwent disinfection and sanitation. We had our regular temperature checks, went on voluntary quarantine. We checked the health of each crew member to prevent the spread of the virus among the crew.

The voyage of Filipino crew members took 90 days, we disembarked at the port of Manila. Each one of the repatriated crew members tested negative. 

This was my first voyage. It was an unforgettable and epic journey, and I will always treasure the memories and experiences with the crew and the passengers. This made my 2020, and I am thankful, despite the pandemic.

And yes, the ocean has captivated my soul.