Crew member shows what it's like to sail on an empty cruise ship with no passengers

Have you ever wondered what it’s like for crew members to sail onboard an empty ship with no passengers?

It is not uncommon for ships to change home ports to offer a wider variety of itineraries. This is why you will see ships make transatlantic and transpacific voyages throughout the year, so that they are able to offer voyages in different regions of the world, including Alaska, the South Pacific, and Europe. 

Oasis of the Seas recently sailed from Miami, Florida to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, where she will remain until November 2023. She’ll return to Florida for a couple of months before crossing the Atlantic Ocean in April 2024 to start her summer season in Europe. 

When Oasis of the Seas repositioned from Miami to Cape Liberty, the ship operated without any guests, meaning that the crew had the entire Oasis Class vessel to themselves for a few days. 

Related: 15 reasons to book a cruise on Oasis of the Seas

Lera, a crew member onboard the ship who has been working with the company for five years, recently posted a YouTube video shedding some light into what these passenger-less days were like. 

Three days without guests

While Oasis of the Seas sailed from Miami to Cape Liberty, crew members got to enjoy the ship’s amenities without any guests onboard. Synchro said that it felt like a mini-vacation. 

The first day started with a crew sail away party in the Royal Promenade, but before festivities on the second day could begin, they had to complete a crew drill. 

Once that was over, though, they were treated to a street food festival on the Boardwalk! This event was organized by the HR team, and crew members from different countries prepared their national food for everyone to try. 

According to Synchro, her favorite dishes were those from South Africa, Mexico, and Romania! Some other featured countries were Jamaica, India, and the Philippines. 

Plus, they didn’t have to wear their crew uniforms. From what she documented, it looked like a fun event for guests.

They were also able to enjoy the arcade games on the Boardwalk and in the ship’s arcade on Deck 15, as well as partake in a game of bingo in the main theater. 

“It’s just [those] little that you don’t feel that you’re on a ship.” Synchro said these moments are the most priceless, especially after spending nine months onboard as a crew member. 

Passenger cabin auction

While she did not participate in this, there was an auction for crew members to potentially win a stay in guest cabins.

When the pandemic was ongoing, Synchro said that she spent a lot of time in passenger cabins, so she did not feel like she had to spend money to experience this! She was, however, happy for those that got the opportunity. 

She visited some friends who were staying in cabin 9260, which is a Grand Suite, and were having a mini dance party!

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

After showing viewers around the stateroom, which she considered to be pretty luxurious considering it had a dual sink and bathtub, she stepped out onto the balcony to take in the beautiful sunset and hang out with her friends. 

If you are interested in seeing more crew member content, check out Synchro’s YouTube channel. She currently has a little over 7,000 followers and posts a wide variety of videos, including those showcasing her crew accommodations, day in the life vlogs, and more. 

In the past, she has posted other videos of what it’s like for crew to be alone onboard a Royal Caribbean ship. In 2021, she gave a tour of Harmony of the Seas when it was empty.