E4s

Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck is a brand new series on E4 charting the lives of young workers on luxury liners

A brand new reality travel series has arrived on screens, charting the lives of young workers on cruise ships.

Perfect for fans of reality shows like Below Deck and Below Deck Down Under, the new E4 series, Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck will see brand new episodes released every Thursday at 9pm.

Having been filmed across luxury liners belonging to Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, last week’s introductory episode focussed in on the young teams aboard the Star Princess ship.

A synopsis reads: “The series follows the highs and lows of working life at sea, from demanding shifts and missing home to late-night camaraderie with colleagues and off-duty adventures as the ships call at some of the world’s most spectacular destinations.

“For the crew it’s a glamorous, all-encompassing job which sees personal and professional lives intertwine – and the Cruising Paradise cameras will cover all the fun, friendships and romance that unfolds during a season onboard.”

Now, one crew member featured on the show has spoken to the Mirror’s Screen Time team, and revealed what it’s really like being followed by TV cameras whilst being on the ship.

Guest services manager Magda admitted she was excited for viewers to see the “back of house”, the crew side of things, adding: “And how chaotic it actually is, but in a very energetic and flexible way just to see how much we put into it.”

Confessing the cameras caught it all, including the “strong sides, weak sides and what makes it all come together”, Magda revealed there is one misconception about her job.

Dealing with customers every day, she said: “The main one being a guest services manager means you deal only with negative guests but that’s not quite true. I think I often deal with 10 very happy guests, and maybe, maybe one.”

However, there are some downsides to the job, the main one being away from loved ones for up to weeks at a time. Magda revealed: “It is quite hard because time here feels like it goes so fast but the reality of the outside world that things are happening, moments are happening, birthdays, celebrations so it is a different time world. We live in a different universe.”

But for Magda, she would not change a thing, admitting the staff really are as close as what viewers see on screen, becoming what she would describe as a “very close family”.

She said: “We really are close and we know what we have to do. When it comes to work everyone knows what their job is and we know that if we all achieve the target our lives become easy, working together makes it easier.”

Magda, who does get time to explore destinations – with the Europe itinerary being her favourite so far – added: “The best part of my job is between the guests and my team.

“My team, making them laugh, making them smile and knowing that they’re supported by me is a fulfilling moment for me.

“And with the guests same thing, meeting different guests from all over the world who are here for different purposes and different travel reasons whether it’s leisure or something personal for them. I love hearing their stories, so I love every aspect of my job.”

Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck airs Thursdays at 9pm on E4. Stream on Channel 4.