Meet the Cruise Crew: What It's Like Working for Regent Seven Seas

07.01.2025 - 19:55 / cntraveler.com

This is the second installment of our new bimonthly column Crews on Cruise, spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.

“As Social Hostess we wear many different hats—as well as dresses,” says Rachel Boxall, a 33-year-old performer from the United Kingdom who has served in this unique role for Regent Seven Seas Cruises for nearly three years. Working alongside the Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director, she helps lead the ship’s world-class entertainment department, where one of her primary responsibilities is running the solo travelers social group, a nightly gathering of guests who are either traveling alone or with someone who can’t (or perhaps won’t) partake in certain onboard social activities. These guests receive an invitation from the Social Hostess at the start of their cruise and are welcomed to join the group for cocktails, conversation, or dinner if they wish. Boxall is also in charge of hosting numerous events and social activities around the ship: karaoke, trivia, crafting sessions, and more.

A former showgirl in Paris, she began her career in cruising in 2012 as a dancer in the production cast. Though her background is in performance, initiating small talk and facilitating meaningful connections among guests isn’t an act for Boxall. “This just comes naturally to me,” she says. “I could chat to people for hours and hours about anything and everything.”

We caught up with Boxall on holiday outside London, two days after disembarking the Explorer, to talk about what first drew her to ship life, where she feels the most like herself onboard, and exactly how many ballgowns one person needs for a role this fabulous.

Why did you decide to work on cruise ships?

“I was more of a dancer than a singer-dancer; I didn’t aspire to be on West End. So when I was training to be a dancer, I auditioned for a few different companies. [The idea of] working on a cruise ship, traveling, and being paid to do what you love—like, what a wonderful career, especially when you're young and just starting out. [My first contract] was on Mariner, which is one of our older ships; it was around 10 months, sailing around South America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean and it was my first time being properly away from home. I was 21 at the time and that was a big change.

After doing a couple of contracts, I took some time away from ships to pursue other dancing opportunities. Then the pandemic hit and I stopped dancing completely because the whole industry closed down. Post-COVID, I felt ready to travel again and, of course, return to Regent, a company I love. They offered me the job and