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Cruise Ship Romance:
The Mo’orea Rox Story
The true story of a whirlwind international romance between American Cruise Ship entertainer Sean Rox and British Cruise Staff Cassandra Rox led them to 70 nations on 6 continents.
They named their daughter after the loveliest of all, Mo’orea.
Can You Find True Love on a Cruise Ship?
Yes you can, and it happens when you least expect it. When Cassandra and I met we were in our 20’s and living a carefree lifestyle on the high seas. We’d been working on cruise ships for years before our paths finally crossed on Carnival’s Ms. Holiday in 2001. Our home port was Puerto Rico and our weekly routine involved stops at 7 beautiful Caribbean Islands. Cassandra sold diamonds & jewelry at the ships boutique. I was the DJ, Ship Emcee, Volleyball Instructor and Wedding Specialist. On formal nights key staff would be allowed to dress up and visit the ship’s disco.
Cassandra got a little to close to the DJ booth one evening and a whirlwind romance ensued. We kept this tryst a secret for months and would communicate via walkie talkie when we planned to “accidentally meet up” for meals, laundry or late night strolls on the top deck.
Our first date was on Virgin Gorda off the coast of Tortola. On our dates we would disembark separately to deter cruise ship gossip. We met in a pre determined shop and then snuck off onto a boat that whisked us away to the Baths. Our next rendezvous was at Stingray City in Grand Cayman. Sneaky getaways to Playa Del Carmen, St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Kitts and Barbados soon followed.
It almost fell apart as quickly as it started. Our ship was dry docked for maintenance in the Bahamas. Carnival transferred me from the Caribbean to Los Angeles on my birthday and put me to work on the Ms Elation the next day. After two weeks of sailing from LA to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, the assistant cruise director called me into his office. He informed me that I was to stay on the Ms. Elation and he was having the rest of my belongings flown in from the Ms. Holiday. Knowing that meant I would probably never see Cassandra again, I explained my situation and refused to stay in LA.
I was in limbo for a few hours – packing my bags and preparing to be fired. Carnival had already flown in another DJ from Canada to take my position in the Caribbean.
Amazingly, Carnival didn’t fire me. They gave me a promotion and flew me
to Miami to rejoin Cassandra on the Holiday!
I’m always grateful to Carnival for that outcome. A few weeks later that assistant cruise director in LA was promoted to Cruise Director and joined our ship in New Orleans. The secret romance of Sean & Cassandra was soon out of the bag, but we didn’t care- we just felt lucky to be together again.
Was leaving Cruise Ships Easy?
No it was not. Cassandra worked 10 month contracts and mine were for 6. The next contract is always around the corner and you get used to having a staff chef, a cabin steward and a car free life. Its hard for unmarried couples to stay together on ships- one usually ends up in the Mediterranean while the other is dispatched to Alaska. We were fortunate once, but we knew we’d be separated if we stayed at sea. I had timed my contract to be back in Ocean City (OC), MD for the summer. Carnival was flying Cassandra back to London a few weeks later. If you complete your contract, Carnival pays for the flights. I helped Cassandra book a stopover in Baltimore before her flight home.
We spent two amazing weeks in Ocean City. We had worked every night on the cruise ship and finally had our first night off as a couple. I showed her all the sights of Ocean City, hoping she would fall in love with it. I still DJed at Fager’s Island she would visit me at work. Alas, when she returned to England we were at another crossroad.
Visa issues were complicating our relationship. When Cassandra finally returned to the states, she wasn’t allowed to stay long. Winter was coming and she’d always wanted to visit Australia. We decided to apply for J1 student visas and work down under. A few weeks later, we joined the mile high club on a 20 hour flight to Sydney.
How was the move to Australia?
It was challenging. Our J1 Visa included discounted airfare, a work permit and a two night stay at a youth hostile. The 12 hour time difference was exhausting but we hit the ground running. We purchased Australian mobile phones when we landed and passed out resumes to every nice restaurant we saw. Our youth hostile was chaotic. We were on the top bunk of a small room we shared with 3 random travelers. Multiple thefts were reported and police frequented the lobby. Jet lag hampered our housing search. Our last morning, we reluctantly asked the front desk to stay for another night.
It was New Year’s Eve and even this dive was fully booked. An hour later we were out on the streets with our suitcases. We checked every hostel, apartment and hotel we could find. Nothing was available and the sun was beginning to set.
There we were, exhausted and homeless on the streets of Sydney.
As desperation set in, hope arrived in the form of a tiny middle aged Asian woman. We were slumped over our luggage on the stairs of yet another sold out traveler’s lodge when she greeted us in broken English with “You need room, follow me.”
Out of options we, grabbed our suitcases and chased this tiny firefly as she darted quickly through the dark side streets and back alleys of downtown Sydney. We finally emerged underneath a Pagoda pulsating with exotic Asian rhythms and an intoxicating aroma of spices. We tried to decipher Asian signs as we sped past bustling shops and restaurants before disappearing into a high rise apartment building. As the crowded elevator sped us towards the top, our tiny guide smiled at us and said “Welcome to Chinatown.”
We love Asian food, but this wasn’t the plan. We followed the little old lady down a long corridor before she knocked on the last door. She disappeared inside for a moment and returned with a man.
She said “This is Bill the Kiwi, you stay here now.”
A moment later she was gone, stuffing some bills in her pocket as she buzzed back down the dimly lit corridor.
New Year’s Eve with Bill the Kiwi
Bill was from New Zealand. Aussies call New Zealanders Kiwis – its usually more playful than rude. Bill gave us the tour. It was a three bedroom apartment over looking the Harbour and the Sydney bridge.
We appeared to have hit the jackpot as he promised us a bed for a fair price. Thirty minutes later we were drinking Toohey’s New lagers and playing chess on the balcony with Bill the Kiwi and his eastern European girlfriend. We had lucked our way into front row seats for the most iconic fireworks display in the southern hemisphere.
It was a surreal experience and our most unforgettable New Year’s Eve to date.
As the night went on, the apartment’s other residents returned from work. We soon realized the remaining bedrooms appeared to be rented by European backpackers. When the show finished, we asked which room was ours?
Bill the Kiwi’s girlfriend led us down the hallway to a closet door. A pocket door slid open and exposed a mattress lying on the floor, which could be ours for only $100 Australian dollars ($75 US) a week.
Our luggage would need to fit in the closet and we could use the bathroom down the hall. We lived in that closet for two weeks until one of Kiwi Bill’s proper bedrooms became available.
We got jobs at Wildfire overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. Cassandra worked in the restaurant and I worked in the bar. It was a celebrity hot spot; we got to meet Christopher Reeves (Superman) Jessica Alba, Usher, Pearl Jam and the cast of Sex and the City.
We spent a month in Chinatown; a prime location to climb Harbour Bridge, sail to Taronga Zoo and see Orpheus in the Underworld at Sydney Opera House. Our favorite spot was a trendy pub district called The Rocks. We joked that if we ever got married we’d legally change our names to “The Rox”.
After a month in Chinatown, we left downtown Sydney and moved to Manly Beach. The beach was our natural habitat and we thrived in this picturesque surfing community. The Aussies love beach volleyball and I felt right at home.
Cassandra worked in a romantic Italian restaurant and I bartended & DJ’d at an exotic African restaurant. We loved exploring the coast, hiking the Blue Mountains and sampling wineries.
A Decent Proposal?
At the end of April, my Australian Visa ran out and we flew back to the States. We spent time in San Francisco before moving to my hometown of Ocean City, MD.
That summer it was Cassandra’s turn for Visa issues.
After 9/11 US immigration tightened up – even for Brits. I came home from the DVD store and found Cassandra in tears. She was holding a US government letter stating she must leave the US. I dropped to one knee, handed her the 8 Mile DVD in my bag and proposed on the spot.
The Secret Elopement
I needed an epic elopement to make up for my sub par proposal. I could only get three nights off work and money was tight. We booked an inexpensive elopement package through a Niagara Falls Bed & Breakfast. Our lone vehicle was my oversized DJ van that probably wouldn’t make the trip.
We rented a sedan. It didn’t have GPS; we printed directions off MapQuest. We drove 12 hours in the rain to Niagara Falls and bought Cassandra’s wedding dress along the way.
We spent three amazing nights in Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Rainbow House B & B on the American side. We were married at Terrapin Point on September 3rd of 2003. Our package included an officiant and a simple video. They took a few pictures for us on our disposable camera. We strolled the falls before enjoying a romantic dinner at the Red Coach Inn.
Our last day we explored the Canadian side and rode the Maid of the Mist. The drive home only took 10 hours and I made it to work that night. We told people about our trip to the Falls but didn’t breathe a word about our secret marriage.
Meet the Parents
4 months after we eloped it was time to meet Cassandra’s family. We flew to England and I finally met her parents, sister, nephew and gran. Before Cassandra left to work on ships, her parents warned her not to marry a foreigner – especially a Yank. I checked both boxes and needed a good first impression.
Her Gran lived next door and invited me over for tea. She’d married a foreigner too (a 6 foot 8 Canadian cowboy). She made her tea with whiskey and we hit it off right away. At 6 ‘2 and with an American accent, I was a reminder of her late hubby. After that I always wore my Stetson cowboy hat when we Skyped.
Our plan was to spend a few weeks with Cassandra’s family before flying to south east Asia. On our last night, I decided to pop the question to her Dad. I told him I was planning on asking his daughter to marry me and asked for his blessing. I was probably not his first choice but he did say yes. The next day Cassandra and I were on a 13 hour flight to Bangkok, Thailand.
Proposal #2: “The Beach”
Southeast Asia was warm and cheap. We spent six weeks touring Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. We could live like royalty for $30 a day in Thailand. A decent room with AC was $15/night Thai women would stand on your back and massage you with their feet for $5 an hour. Lobster and coconut rice platters went for $6. Little bottles of Red Bull were only twenty cents.
In Phuket we rode jungle elephants and sailed on the June Bahtra junk.
We explored the Batu Caves and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. We celebrated my birthday over Singapore Slings at the Raffles Long Bar in Singapore. We witnessed ancient temples in Penang and Thai kickboxing in Bangkok. We soaked in the rejuvenating waters of Krabi’s hot springs and Emerald Pool. On the island of Sentosa took part in a brilliant night safari. These were all amazing spots, but I needed the perfect spot for my second proposal- this time I had to get right.
A few months earlier we had watched a Leonardo DiCaprio film called The Beach. The backdrop was amazing and I researched the location. It was filmed on a Thai island in the Andaman sea called Ko Phi Phi Le. The exact spot was Maya Bay. We booked a boat trip and snorkeling excursion to the island. The day before I snuck out and bought a wedding band to surprise Cassandra with. It was made of the finest wood and only cost me $5. I made that choice because I had to carry it in my bathing suit and it would float if I lost it.
We met some cool Aussies on the boat named Brad & Mandy. During our snorkeling session I told them my plan to pop the question before dinner. They were excited and volunteered to take pics with our $20 disposable camera. Cassandra was surprised and said “Yes” once again!
The four of us celebrated that evening at Tiger Discotheque on the Patong strip. A week later, Cassandra picked out a proper diamond at a Bangkok night market. The price was amazing and when we had it appraised it was actually real! (unlike the two “Rolexes” I got for $30 the same night :- )
When we returned to England we told Cassandra’s family the big news. My Yankee ways were starting to grow on them and they began plans for a traditional British wedding.
The Royal Wedding
OK, it wasn’t really a Royal wedding but we felt special that week. My tiny entourage of American guests were treated regally. Our rooms and rehearsal dinner were at Pelham House in historic Lewes; right across from the Castle.
The wedding was May 6th at Michelham Priory. Cassandra had 200 guests on her side. I had 12 on mine. It appeared the chapel was in danger of flipping on its side. The Priory was gorgeous and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on the grounds after the ceremony.
The Priory was gorgeous and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on the grounds after the ceremony. We had a large reception with dinner and dancing. Cassandra and I brought a CD from the states with our favorite songs to play during the dinner ( a relaxing medley of Dave Matthews, Rusted Root, Michael Buble, All Saints, etc.) Unknown to us, there had been a mix up in the limo that afternoon. Cassandra’s Mum brought what she though was our CD to the DJ before dinner. Little did she know she had accidentally picked up our after hours Club Rox mix instead.
The DJ invited everyone to be seated for dinner. Then he made an announcement about how we brought a special CD all the way from America for the guests to enjoy during the meal. He asks everyone to “sit back and relax” and puts in the disc. A moment later “I See You Baby, Shaking that Ass” blasts through this historic 700 year old monastery. The look on everyone’s faces was priceless.
We’d had quite a bit of champagne and weren’t sure how to react – so we got up and did our first dance to “Shaking that Ass” by Groove Armada. It was the not the first impression I had in mind for our British guests, but they had to admit I was “bloody fun for a Yank”. After that, someone went back in the limo for the correct CD and order was restored.
