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Working as a Tour Manager - Trying Something New

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  Working as a Tour Manager This year I made the decision to step out of my 'comfort zone' and challenge myself to something new. It's not that I am unhappy with the things that I do but the desire to 'explore new horizons' always makes me push my boundaries. Is this a good thing? In some ways, yes it is. I see more of life, meet new people, find more adventures and opportunities that may never have arisen if I didn't take risks. In some ways no, maybe not. I put more pressure on myself, my stress levels rise, the discomfort of facing the unknown, and the energy draining effects of travel. The job of a Tour Manager is to make the group you are travelling with feel assured. You are a person of knowledge to answer questions, you are the organiser of days out, the 'go to' for hotel check in procedures and the helper if someone falls ill, has an accident or forgets to pack their medication. A Tour Manager is many things to many people and to be a good Tour...

Finding your Personal Retreat for Self Care and Wellness

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  Your Personal Retreat The word retreat envisions luxury, indulgence and expense. But a personal retreat is more 'a short break' from everyday life. A place you can escape from stress and reconnect with yourself and your thoughts. This is not pure luxury and over-indulgence but more like self care, a re-balance and reset.  A personal retreat can take place in your own home , a weekend break in a lodge or cabin or even a mini-break overseas, whatever feels right for you. To be free from stress just make sure your choice is within your budget and at a time when you feel you have the freedom to give 'time' to yourself. A retreat needs to be relaxing so you can clear your mind and focus on the things that bring you joy. This may be a total rest where the joy is to sleep with no interruption, giving your body a complete reset or you may have a hobby that brings you joy and creativity. Perhaps a few days of connection with your spiritual self by prayer and meditation or a t...

Working Cruise - Cruising Around Croatia

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Cruising Around Croatia It's Springtime in the Mediterranean . The nights are getting lighter, the mornings are becoming brighter and another working cruise lies ahead as we enter the month of March.  This is our Croatian Captains homecoming cruise with some beautiful ports of call and some I have never visited before. I love to cruise and I love to combine both my passions - travel and fitness. I work a full day at sea teaching fitness and yoga classes plus a morning and an afternoon walk around the promenade deck with the passengers. I co-host tables at lunch times and dinner times on formal nights and I socialise with the passengers at meal times most evenings. On the port days I escort the passengers on the tours ashore. I love to be busy with both the teaching of classes and socialising with the officers and passengers. I meet some amazing people and have made some 'cruising' friends that I see regularly when on the ships. I feel I have two totally different lives - on...

A New Adventure - Working onboard a Luxury Yacht for the First Time

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Working Onboard a Yacht I was so pleased to be offered the position of Guest "Fitness and Wellness" Instructor on a brand new yacht sailing from Malaga to Miami on her Inaugural cruise. I was very fortunate to have previously worked with the Cruise Director onboard whose recommendation to the Enrichment team secured my place on the yacht.  This adventure is very new to me and the fact that my embarkation port is outside of the UK meant I had to be organised and plan a lot of travelling to get there. I have been so used to a short journey from my home to the port with no worries of planning a travel itinerary. I also had to research for any additional documents I may need to travel. This ever changing world of rules and regulations need to be scrutinised to ensure you are covered to enter and exit the countries you are visiting. When I travel for work, I now have to ensure that my cruise itineraries are stamped by the clearance officer as proof of travel. I also ha...