University News Last updated 12 March
After completing their studies at BCU, many graduates end up working all over the globe, but one alumnus prefers a floating home for over eight months of the year.
Liam Fletcher, who graduated with a degree in Applied Performance in Community and Education in 2018, is now a Cruise Director for Marella Cruises, one of the biggest cruise lines in the world operated by TUI which sail to over 100 destinations.
As a Cruise Director, it’s Liam’s role to be the life and soul of the party at sea, and his responsibilities include everything from managing the entertainment team and planning the packed programme, to socialising with guests, hosting parties and so much more.
But the graduate never planned to live his life at sea.
He said: “Shortly before graduating, I secured a job as a Show Cast Member for a holiday company with a seven-month contract in Spain.
“After the contract ended, I planned to return home to start a teaching career, but one of my good friends, who worked for Marella and RWS Global, which is the entertainment company who contracts entertainment staff all over the world, told me about what it was like working on a ship and said that I would be perfect for life at sea.
“A week later, I was flying to Barbados for my first contract. It was all a bit of a whirlwind! Six years later, I’m still loving every minute.”
After starting as a Host, Liam has worked his way up to become a Cruise Director, where he excels at working with people from across the globe.
He said: “A lot of what I do is working with people. I started as a Host, so initially it was being with guests and ensuring that they were enjoying their holiday.
“Nowadays, I work very closely with other heads of department within the ship’s management, and I also see the Captain every day to do departure announcements from the bridge, which was nerve racking at first!
“The person I work with the most is the Assistant Cruise Director who is literally my right arm. As I’ve worked my way up to head of department, the role is split between managing the team and planning the entertainment programme and the other part of my job is still being with the guests, hosting parties and the main shows, and I still like to host game shows as that is part of the job that I really enjoy as I get to meet so many people.”
But what is it like to live away from home for over eight months of the year, and what really happens below deck?
Liam said: “Living at sea is the best thing in the world. When we have new crew members, I often say to them that it is the strangest thing living at work, as you create bonds with people, and you do all become family.
“Living below deck isn't what you'd image from TV shows either; when I first started, like many people, I did share an inside cabin with someone else from my department, which can be very daunting. But after an hour of living with someone, you end up being inseparable and usually end up being lifelong friends with them too.
“Luckily, now I have my own cabin with a window, which doesn't seem like a lot, but being a crew member, this is the equivalent to having a three-bed house in a city centre!
“Cruise contracts can vary between anything from three to 10 months! I'm very lucky that I now have a rotation of four months at sea, then two months leave, which is wonderful.”
Thanks to his life onboard a cruise ship, Liam has been able to travel and meet people from all over the world.
He said: “There are so many things that I love about working on a cruise ship, but the biggest one has to be working with so many different people.
“From the guests on holiday and ensuring they’re having the best time, to the rest of the crew, it really opens your eyes to how small the world is.
“I’ve also been so lucky to have seen so much of the world. From America, Canada and the Caribbean, to places like the Norwegian Fjords and the vast majority of Europe.
“But if I had to choose my favourite spot, it would be New York. We used to get two days there with an overnight stay, which was just incredible.”
Thanks to his time studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Liam was well prepared for working at sea.
He said: “University definitely prepared me for what I do now. Working with so many people in many different situations made me very prepared to work with the public.
“Performance is at the heart of everything I do, and I love making it enjoyable for all our guests. I was never particularly good at being someone else in acting, so having a role where I can just be myself and use my personality to engage people on board was how the course helped to prepare me for working at sea.
“My advice to those who are keen to follow in my footsteps is to just apply and go for it, the world is such a small place and there’s so much to see and do!
“Living and working at sea can seem like such a wild idea, but it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”