Many people want to travel after college graduation, but few get paid to do it. University of Memphis alumni Brent Ostrom, 28, has met people and seen places all over the world and gets paid for it by being an employee of Norwegian Cruise Line.
While still in college, Ostrom went on his first cruise for a family getaway to visit his sister who was a dancer for Carnival Cruise Lines.
“When visiting my sister, I thought to myself once I graduate if nothing is really tying me down in Memphis, I would love to work on a cruise ship for a few years,” Ostrom said.
A year later, Ostrom signed his first contract with Norwegian Cruise Line. For the past couple of years, his job on the ship has been working within the entertainment department as a coordinator of teen activities. Each day is different for Ostrom.
His favorite days are when he is in port and able to go exploring off the shore.
“Whether it’s enjoying a nice local meal, relaxing at the beaches or going out for a shore excursion, I always enjoy my time off in port with my fellow crew members,” Ostrom said.
While working on the ship, Ostrom has been to 25 countries with an itinerary from the Caribbean Islands to the Mediterranean; crossing through the Panama Canal from Miami to L.A.; crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Europe back to the United States; and setting sail from Alaska and Hawaii.
Ostrom didn’t realize his passion for traveling until he started working on a cruise ship.
He lives each day by the anonymous quote, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” In a short time, Ostrom has seen sights from all over the world that many people aren’t able to witness in a whole lifetime. It isn’t just about the beauty of the world to him — it is also being immersed within a diverse community where the people love to travel. “That is one of the most unique aspects of working on cruise ships is the interaction I have with friends from all over the world whether that be going out in port, having a meal on the ship or enjoying the entertainment that is offered on your home away from home,” Ostrom said. Ostrom’s favorite place is Palma de Mallorca in Spain because of the beautiful beaches it has to offer and the unique architecture. St. Maarten in the Caribbean is his second favorite because one side of the island is Dutch while the other side is French. Since working on the ship, Ostrom has fun with a variety of activities on shore. “I have had many great experiences while working on the ship, like skydiving in Hawaii, exploring ancient Rome, swimming with turtles and sting rays in Grand Cayman, zip lining in Jamaica and many other shore excursions,” Ostrom said. “My all-time favorite experience is meeting and forming friendships with my fellow crew members from all around the world. They truly become your family while on board.” While traveling the world is uplifting, there are also a few downsides of this lifestyle, according to Ostrom. Not having WiFi, cell phone service and no days off from work can be pretty frustrating. But Ostrom said the biggest negative about his journey is being away from home for six months at a time, not being around for special holidays and missing out on family activities that are taking place back home. Demi Jacques, Ostrom’s cousin, said she has mixed feelings about his job. “In as much as I think it’s wonderful that my cousin is getting to see the world, the family really misses him, especially during the holidays,” Jacques said. “However, he’s still young and now is the perfect opportunity for him to experience this exciting life before he settles down with a family of his own.” Traveling and seeing the world can provide a source of education that is not typically taught in school, Ostrom said. “I have seen a lot of the world via cruise ships,” Ostrom said. “The world is our backyard, and we have to get out and explore.
