From Daycare to Deck Life: How One Woman Swapped Her 9-to-5 for a Life at Sea

Kailey Milhorn traded her traditional daycare job for an adventurous career aboard Royal Caribbean cruises—and hasn’t looked back since. Now working as a youth staff member, Kailey oversees entertainment for kids and teens, but her responsibilities go far beyond babysitting. “It’s more like summer camp at sea,” she explains.

“One day I’m managing the slide or rock wall. The next, I’m helping with the surf simulator or bartending at a guest event.”

After juggling exhausting online teaching shifts and daycare work post-COVID, Kailey craved change. Though she considered being a flight attendant, her dislike for flying pushed her toward the cruise industry—a decision that’s since taken her around the world.

Her job includes rigorous training, weekly safety drills, and unique challenges, like navigating smoke-filled rooms or flipping life rafts. But it also brings perks: exploring ports, forming tight-knit friendships, and even meeting her partner.

“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” Kailey says. “I finally love what I do.”