Ex-Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line workers reveal the things they couldn't live without on board

"Being able to wash your face at the end of a 16-hour day just felt so good," said Abigail Segner, a former regional training manager for American Cruise Lines.

Having good socks was essential because her job required her to move a lot, Segner said.

Like Segner, a former photographer for Norwegian Cruise Line said she was on her feet a lot, so it was important to have shoes that were comfortable and easy to put on.

"You are away for so long and it gets lonely," the former Norwegian photographer said.

"You have roommates walking in and out all night because their schedule is different than yours," said Kapri Hockaday, a former waitress for American Cruise Lines.

"If you're not good at making friends or you don't have people to hang out with, it can be very isolating because you're thousands miles away from your family and friends," said a former bar server for Norwegian Cruise Line. 

"If you can't talk to your friends or your family once in a while and say, 'Oh my god, this is what's going on then,' then what?" said a former learning and development manager for Princess Cruises.

A former Carnival Cruise Line youth staff worker said she would not have been able to sleep as well if she didn't bring a pillow from home.

"I don't think the pillows on the ship were that comfortable," she said.

• Read more:
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• Ex-Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line workers reveal what they wanted to tell passengers but couldn't
• A former Royal Caribbean worker reveals the one question you should always ask cruise ship employees
• Carnival cruises have banned 'offensive clothing' featuring 'nudity, profanity, or sexual innuendo'