The Time I Chose Bullhorn… on a Cruise
Every time I post about working from a cruise ship, someone inevitably asks:
“How did that even start?”
So let me take you back… way back… to 2002.
I was working at a staffing firm and got handed what felt like a huge assignment at the time:
👉 Find new recruiting software for the company.
We narrowed it down to two vendors. One of them was Bullhorn.
The other? People always ask — and I always say… it doesn’t matter.
Now here’s where this story gets fun.
At the time had a “wild” idea that one day everyone would work remotely. The C levels rolled their eyes at me.. But let’s just say.. I was right.. Yeah that felt great!
Yes. In 2002.
Before “the cloud” was even a word. Before Zoom. Before Slack. Before working in yoga pants was socially acceptable.
So I say:
“Let’s do the final test on a cruise.”
Yup. An actual cruise.
The test was intentionally fair. I had a list of clearly defined tasks — same steps, same expectations — that each system needed to complete. Once onboard, I splurged on the best internet package (which, let’s be honest, was… ambitious for 2002) and headed straight to the ship’s internet lab.
Yes. An internet lab. With rows of computers.
I am fully dating myself here.
I logged into both systems on two different machines, pulled out my task list, and got to work.
Five minutes in?
I was done.
I was already making a placement before I even reached the “document interview notes” step for the other company.
Game over.
Decision made.
Bullhorn won — not because it was flashy, but because it worked, it was intuitive, and it trusted the user to just… do the job and lastly the CEO and founder who was so passionate about his company and was ahead of their time with cloud based software, even if no one knew right away exactly what he is talking about.
Fast-forward to today.
Here I am, boarding my first cruise of 2026, doing what I usually do:
✔️ Working
✔️ Traveling
✔️ Smiling at how full-circle life can be
Working from a ship isn’t accidental. It takes practice. It takes trust. And it absolutely requires:
Rock-solid internet
Plenty of co-working spaces
A company that believes adults can adult
I genuinely love it — and I never take for granted that I work for a company that makes this possible.
Later this year, I’ll be doing it again on a transatlantic cruise, where yes… I’ve already confirmed my list of secret onboard workspaces with plugs.
Nope. Not publishing those.
That intel is Roam with Rosen Sailors-only 😉
The Real Secret to Working Remote (Especially at Sea)
Here’s what people don’t always realize:
Working remotely isn’t about location — it’s about focus.
Cruise ships actually taught me this early. When you work from a ship, you have to compartmentalize. There’s no pretending. You’re either:
Fully present for work
Or fully present for the experience
The magic is knowing when to switch.
A few lessons I’ve learned along the way:
1. Create clear “work containers”
I don’t half-work all day. I block focused time, knock things out, and then I’m done. Knowing there’s an end makes it easier to go all-in.
2. Eliminate decision fatigue
Same tools. Same setup. Same rituals. When your scenery changes daily, consistency elsewhere matters.
3. Focus beats hours
Some of my most productive work happens in short, intentional bursts. No meetings. No multitasking. Just deep focus.
4. Compartmentalization is a muscle
You build it over time. You learn when to say “not now,” when to unplug, and when to trust yourself to step away because the work is handled.
5. Trust goes both ways
Remote work only works when trust is mutual. I’m incredibly grateful to work at a company that values outcomes over optics — and I don’t take that lightly.
The result?
I get my work done. I enjoy the journey. And I don’t feel pulled in a hundred directions at once.
That, to me, is the real luxury.
And yes — huge credit to @artpapas, whose vision is a big reason my company bought Bullhorn in the first place, and why I continue to proudly talk about it as one of the best places to work.
From internet labs to cloud-based everything…
Turns out that cruise test in 2002 wasn’t just about software.
It was about the future of work.
And apparently… I’ve been cruising toward it ever since. 🚢✨
✨ Curious about working remotely at sea — or joining one of our curated sailings?
👉 Learn more & request info here:https://travefy.com/f/6ws9rquqwfuara2uwxztkaqxjs59wkxjbq
