I Wrote A Book – Sea More: Caribbean

I used to say I wanted to be a writer. But I had one big problem, I never wrote. Before long it just became a far off dream or a backup plan. I thought if my next job didn’t pan out I could always follow my passion and write. When I was honest with myself though, I was too scared to try. What if I wrote something and everyone thought it was terrible? What if I was a huge failure and my dream was now dead? What if I never become a successful writer?

Then I realized I already wasn’t a successful writer and the only way I could guarantee failure was to not write anything. Was I really willing to sacrifice a dream because of my own insecurities and fear of failure? I don’t want to look back on my life from the end of the road and think about all the things I didn’t try. So I jumped…or rather I sat.  I sat at my laptop and wrote.

In uniform, on the top deck of the Explorer of the Seas.

Sea More: Caribbean

My first book, “Sea More: Caribbean” is part guidebook and part travel memoir. As most of you know, I spent nearly four years working on Royal Caribbean’s fleet of cruise ships. I’ve been back on land for less than two years and I’ve discovered that my memory of my adventures is starting to fade.

I’ve had several friends recently go on cruises and I tried to give them advice on what to see and do, but it often times came out like, “Oh, there’s this great place along the water. What was it called? It has tables outside. I think it’s blue. I loved it. You should go there.” Obviously not the most helpful piece of advice I’ve ever given. These friends would also typically book their tours through the ship before they talked to me and sometimes I knew of a better tour or a way they could do their tour cheaper.

I wanted a way to package all of my experiences and random island knowledge in a concise, and hopefully fun, way to help people have better vacations. So I sat down at my computer and researched all the names of places I’d forgotten. I looked through my archive of photos and read old blog posts. I asked shipmates from around the world for help. My hope is that Sea More: Caribbean will lead to more fun and less stress on future vacations for my family and friends.

I don’t think Lonely Planet or Rick Steves are in any danger. My book is probably not going to change the landscape of travel writing. And I don’t need it to. I only need it to give people the tools and the courage to take a trip they’ve always wanted. Not long ago, I too was only dreaming of these places. My entire life changed when Royal Caribbean offered me a job. I saw sights and explored places that I had expected to only ever see in documentaries or read about in someone else’s books. But my years of adventure have shown me how accessible travel really is. In fact, is it possible that it’s not money that keeps most people from traveling but it’s a fear of the unknown?

I would love to go on a cruise with each and everyone one of you and be your personal tour guide for each port of call. Unfortunately, that’s a bit unrealistic (but call me if you want to set that up). So I wrote the book I wished I had on my first trips to the Caribbean. I wish I had found my favorite pizza shop in San Juan on my first trip instead of one of my last. I wish I knew to skip downtown in St. Maarten and go all the way down to the beach bar on the edge of town. I wish I knew where I could swim out and be surrounded by sea turtles in Barbados. Now I know. And so will you and everyone who reads Sea More: Caribbean.

One of my sea turtle friends in Barbados

Chase Your Dreams

The most important take away I hope people get from my book and the way I live my life is, “Chase Your Dreams.” No one else is going to chase them for you. If you want something, do the work and start chasing. If you want to write a book, stop dreaming and start writing. If you want to take a trip, start saving and start planning. There is always an excuse to not do something. What do you want determining your life: your excuses or your dreams?

Thanks for helping me make my dream a reality by participating in the launch of my book. It’s FREE Sunday, May 31st through Wednesday, June 3rd. Please download a copy and tell your family and friends about it. If you’ve found the information helpful, consider leaving me a quick review on Amazon. Just head back to the book page, scroll down, and click on the “Write a Customer Review” button below my bio.

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You readers of The Road Lots Travelled have been with me from the beginning. How many of you remember my posts from my seat on the Silver Ring Thing bus? It’s because of your constant love and encouragement that I found the courage to chase my dream and publish a book. A huge thanks and a virtual hug to each and everyone of you.

Now it’s your turn, start chasing. Tell me in the comments what your dream is and how you’re going to start chasing it. I’ll help you in any way I can.

Go. Live.