Courtesy of Ann Knypl
- Ann Knypl is a 32-year-old cruise ship worker from Quezon City, Philippines.
- Knypl began in housekeeping, moved to the casino, and is now a marketing and communications manager.
- "If I finish work and the ship is docked, I can go explore," Knypl said. "It's a lively way to live."
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ann Knypl, a 32-year-old cruise ship worker from Quezon City, Philippines. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Living and working on a cruise ship isn't normal. I've seen that firsthand, since my mom started working on cruise ships when I was 4 years old.
But even with what a strange life it can be — from working for months on end to sharing rooms with strangers — I still found myself following in my mom's footsteps.