My Journey to Becoming a Cruise Ship Nail Technician

 

People often ask me, "How did you get your first cruise ship job?" The truth is, it wasn't an easy journey, but it changed my life forever.

I was incredibly lucky to be offered a job at Dream Nails and Body in Canal Walk, Cape Town, even though I had no experience. The owner, Dora, saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself. She saw my determination and gave me an opportunity when many others would have said no.

I started with the basics—performing manicures and pedicures. Every chance I got, I shadowed the experienced nail technicians, watching them carefully as they created acrylic nails, gel nails, sculptured nails, and other advanced treatments. I was constantly learning.

Dora believed in me so much that she sponsored my professional NSI nail technician training. After completing the course, I continued working at Dream Nails and Body for about a year, gaining valuable experience and building my confidence.

When I felt ready, I decided to chase my dream of working on a cruise ship. I applied online through OneSpaWorld.

To my surprise, only a few days later I received an invitation to attend an interview at Foreshore in Cape Town.

Back then, the interview wasn't just about answering questions.

We had to complete a practical examination by creating a full set of acrylic nails within a strict time limit. We also had to write a theory test covering nail knowledge and professional standards.

Thankfully, I passed.

But passing the interview was only the beginning.

The next step was an intensive training programme in Bellville. Just because you passed the interview didn't mean you had secured a job. You still had to prove yourself during training.

Those nine days were some of the hardest of my life.

Every movement was assessed. Every treatment had to be performed correctly. Every product, every ingredient, every benefit had to be memorised. We spent long nights studying because the next morning we had to demonstrate everything we had learned.

Each morning we also had to stand in front of everyone and practise public speaking. Confidence was just as important as technical skills.

The pressure was enormous.

About 20 of us started the training, but only nine completed it successfully.

The most stressful part was knowing that if you didn't make it through the programme, there was no refund for the training costs. Every single day felt like an exam.

When I finally graduated, I felt an incredible sense of achievement.

Then came the moment that changed my life.

I was the very first person in my training group to be assigned to a ship. Based on my personality and customer service skills, I was matched with Disney Cruise Line.

It was a dream come true.

Receiving my starter pack made everything feel real. After all the hard work, sleepless nights, pressure, and self-doubt, I was finally about to begin my cruise ship career.

Looking back today, I'm grateful that Dora believed in me before I believed in myself. One opportunity, combined with hard work and determination, completely changed the direction of my life.

And this was only the beginning of my cruise ship journey.

Follow for Part 2, where I'll share what happened next—from arriving at the ship for the first time to my first days working onboard Disney Cruise Line.