Meet the Professional Extrovert Who Looks After Solo Travelers on a Luxury Cruise

Ashlea Halpern
·8 min read

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Annie Davidson

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 here I am—full circle. I feel blessed to be back at sea, traveling and doing what I love again.”

What does a typical day on the job look like?

“Every day is completely different. If we're in port, the social hostess will generally assist the Destinations team. So when the ship docks, we help with the tour dispatch—we say ‘good morning’ to people and have a chat with them while they're waiting to go out on their tours. People always ask, ‘How are you so bubbly at this time in the morning!?’ [Laughs] After that's done, you'll often have the rest of the morning free to answer emails, do a bit of inventory or other admin things, and maybe go into port or to the gym. In the early afternoon, I host a MENSA quiz and some evenings have an early cocktail event like the Captain’s Welcome Party or our Seven Seas Society Party, which is for our returning guests. So once I'm done with my afternoon duties, I'll put my sparkles on and get dolled up for the evening. I meet my solo travelers at 6:45 every night; we talk about our day and I see who has dinner plans and who doesn’t, and then I'll spend the rest of the evening with them until showtime. Along with the cruise director and assistant cruise director, we are always on the doors to greet our guests and welcome them into the theater. And then after the show, sometimes there's karaoke or late-night quizzes and we’ll host those. And between all that, there might be a vow-renewal ceremony that I host.”

What is your favorite part about this job?

“Dressing up! The ships are just so opulent and luxurious; this is my chance to wear all of those ball gowns that I don’t always have the opportunity to wear at home. Dressing to the nines fits my role and matches my surroundings, which are just so elegant. Getting to and from the ship is the hardest part. I travel with three large suitcases all maxed out on the kilograms, including two dozen pairs of shoes and more than 40 ball gowns, cocktail dresses, and pantsuits. The floor of my cabin is a sea of high heels and there is an extra clothing rail installed at the end of my bed because the [standard-issue] wardrobe cannot accommodate everything.

My second favorite part is making relations with my guests, especially my solos. The solo traveler program is such an important part of their cruising experience—knowing that the social hostess is there to look after them and be an icebreaker and a friendly face throughout their cruise. It’s quite a nerve wracking thing for people to travel on their own, so it fills me with joy to see somebody really coming out of their shell.”

What is the most challenging part about working at sea?

“Sometimes it’s a struggle to maintain regular-life connections with people. I always say to myself, ‘I'm going to be better [about staying in touch with loved ones on land] on this contract.’ But then of course you get busy with work. Friends and family understand that but it’s still hard. That’s why having our shipboard family—both crew and guests—is so important; we help each other out. You still feel like you have your family close to you, even though they might not be your family family.”

What is the coolest or weirdest thing about living on a ship?

“The coolest thing definitely has to be waking up in a different place every day. You just look out the window and it's like, ‘Oh my goodness, today I'm in wherever I am and tomorrow I'm going to be in a different place’ and that is just super cool. Every day is a new adventure. The weirdest thing is completely losing the concept of days of the week. The guests do too: They’re on holiday and [time] just isn’t relevant. We’re all just living in this gorgeous bubble together.”

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled so far?

“I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan recently: Tokyo, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka. When I arrived, I was hit straight away by the kindness of the people, the architecture, the food—it was a huge eye opener for me, I loved it. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful country.”

What is your favorite place to hang out on board the ship?

“The gym. I go as often as possible. Working out helps me release—and just do me. I was a dancer in a past life and I still dance for fun, too, so sometimes I grab my tap shoes or dancing heels, put on some music, and just kind of jam. It brings me a lot of joy.”

Tell us about a memorable passenger interaction that sticks out to you.

“It was one of my first contracts as a social hostess. A gentleman had recently lost his partner [with whom] his cruise was booked. He wasn't sure if he was going to take the cruise but decided to go in honor of his loved one. So of course he was one of my solos. When I met with him on the first evening, he was very shy; I could tell that everything was still very raw. But he really blossomed during the cruise. He was friendly and open to embracing the experience. And by the end of the cruise, I remember him saying to me, ‘Rachel, this has been a wonderful time. Now that I know I can continue cruising even without my partner, you’ve [inspired] me to look into booking another cruise with Regent. Thank you so much.’ We still keep in touch and I've cruised with him two times since. He’s a different person now. And for me, that's just so rewarding.”

What’s your top tip for first-time cruisers?

“Regent is an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive brand, so I would just urge guests to experience everything: the pre- and post-cruise trips, the shore excursions, the shows, and everything else on the ship. When you're so busy in the ports, you might miss the tea time, or the infinity pool in the spa, or all the dining options. There’s honestly something for everyone.”

Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler

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