Jess Peterson Recalls Early Cruise Experiences and Industry Mentors
A family ship visit, a short voyage to Ensenada and an internship with Carnival Cruise Line helped shape Peterson’s introduction to cruising.
Jess Peterson has reflected on the experiences and mentors that marked his early connection with the cruise industry, beginning with a family visit aboard Royal Viking Sun at the Port of Los Angeles.
Peterson said his grandparents were preparing to sail across the Pacific to Sydney when his family joined them aboard for drinks and a tour before departure. The visit occurred before security changes introduced after Sept. 11, when visitors could more readily board ships in port.
His first cruise as a passenger, Peterson said, was a three-day Royal Caribbean International sailing from Los Angeles to Ensenada aboard Viking Serenade, a ship converted from a car ferry.
Peterson later worked for Carnival Cruise Line as an intern focused on itinerary planning. He named Renata Ribeiro, Ugo Savino and Christian Deese as mentors during that first cruise internship, saying they were generous with their time.
He also credited Sander Groothuis, then working at Windstar, with guiding him through his first Seatrade Cruise event in Fort Lauderdale. According to Peterson, Groothuis walked the conference floor with him, facilitated introductions and helped him learn how to navigate the industry gathering.