Disney forged members—the corporate’s staff on land and at sea—all the time try to make magic for his or her company. However generally, the roles reverse, and it’s the visitor who makes magic for the crew member.
When Nikki Kennedy, her husband Tanner, and their 18-month previous daughter, Blair, launched into a 10-night Mediterranean crusing onboard Disney Magic in 2019, the household fashioned a particular bond with their server, a sort man named Aaron.
All Disney Cruise Line ships characteristic a rotational eating program, which signifies that the servers comply with their households and {couples} to completely different eating places every evening of the cruise. This enables them to essentially get to know their patrons, higher anticipate their wants, and provide customized service.
However Aaron went above and past Disney’s normal for top-notch service, making the cruise so magical for his or her household – and their younger daughter particularly – that they requested the crew member to pose for a photograph with Blair.
They saved one copy for themselves and used a transportable printer to depart Aaron a duplicate as a token of appreciation.
When Nikki returned to Disney’s first cruise ship in the summertime of 2024 for a work-related journey as a part of her job as a journey planner, she by no means anticipated to reunite with Aaron—or that they might each bear in mind one another 5 years later.
In a video on her TikTok (@yourfamilytravelplanner), which has been seen practically 200,000 occasions since its posting on June 20, 2024, the journey skilled detailed their heartwarming reunion.
Within the video, Nikki noticed Aaron from throughout the eating room and was shocked that her favourite server was nonetheless making magic onboard the two,400-passenger vessel. The pair immediately acknowledged one another.
“I went over and advised him he was our server and earlier than I may proceed he says, ‘Wait I do know. Kenn…Tanner Kennedy. I nonetheless have the image you left me in my cabin, will get me by way of laborious days,” Nikki wrote in textual content over a brand new photograph from her reunion with Aaron.
Her quick however candy TikTok concluded with the unique photograph of Aaron smiling as he posed together with her toddler and excessive reward for Disney Cruise Line’s wait workers.
The Professionals And Cons Of Life As A DCL Solid Member
Whereas it’s unclear which crusing Nikki undertook, as she says the candy reunion with Aaron came about just a few weeks previous to posting, the 83,000-gross ton ship has been spending the summer season working 4-5 evening Bahamian cruises out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The sailings primarily name on Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s Lighthouse Level, the cruise line’s new non-public Vacation spot within the Bahamas that simply opened on June 7, 2024. Longer sailings additionally embrace stops at Castaway Cay, Disney’s first non-public island within the Bahamas.
However whereas being a crew member on a Disney ship comes with many perks—together with seeing the world and collaborating in landmark occasions just like the opening of a brand new non-public vacation spot—it’s additionally not simple.
Learn Additionally: How A lot Do Cruise Ship Staff Make?
Disney Magic is dwelling to roughly 950 crew members, who decide to working and dwelling on board for 3 to eight months at a time. In keeping with Disney’s profession web site, the typical contract size is between 4 to 6 months.
Engaged on a cruise ship isn’t all that luxurious both, particularly for an entry stage place like waiter or meals prep roles.
These positions usually entail lengthy hours with no days off, strict guidelines to comply with, demanding (and generally impolite) company, and tiny cabins which might be typically shared – with no privateness and no home windows.
Being away from their households and dealing in these situations can actually take its toll, however these constructive visitor encounters – such because the one Aaron skilled with Nikki’s household – can present hope and motivation for crew members once they want it most.
