Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Cheesman. Them and their team share their story with us below:
The founder of Seven Seas Preparatory Academy, Marcus Cheesman, spent many years working in the cruise industry, from driving large cruise yachts & cruise ships and found a passion for training seafarers. The idea was to make training relatable, so crew can be better prepared with specific knowledge prior to joining their ship. With that, Marcus wanted the company to grow to more than just deck and safety side. What if we made an introduction to life at sea accessible to all. With his wife and partner spending over 20 years in the entertainment industry, they wanted to expose and give the tools for a successful ship contract to all. Seven Seas Preparatory Academy was created with the idea to introduce and mentor those seeking a career at sea. We are able to find a way to make training flexible and accessible by providing multiple locations and online classes. All courses and instructors are of the highest quality, strictly adhering to the most current STCW and United States Coastguard requirements.
Marcus started his Maritime training in 1987 at the early age of 13, attending the UK’s only Nautical school, Trinity House. Upon graduation from the school Marcus was selected for a deck cadet apprenticeship with P&O Cruises and continued to further progress through the ranks ultimately obtaining his unlimited Master Mariners license in 2002. Marcus gained further experience shoreside, responsible for Training and Maritime operations for Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line. Marcus always had a passion for teaching and sharing his professional experience and so it seemed natural to start his own Maritime Training School.
Passion, hard work, and positive attitude is the base of what Laura Karklina lives by. With many years in the Entertainment industry, Laura has performed with many renowned choreographers and shows all over the world. She has performed on Cruise Lines, Commercials/ Film, and Broadway. Laura has also had the pleasure to be an adjudicator with many competitions and has had an opportunity to choreograph on multiple projects throughout Orlando, Florida. Inspired by her own mentors, Laura found her passion for helping other dancers early in her career, which inspired her to develop the Entertainment Training Department for Seven Seas Preparatory Academy. Laura and her team are excited and ready to get Performers prepared and motivated to follow their dream!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a business owner, there is no such thing as a smooth road. From the beginning, we were looking at how we can improve training in the cruise and yachting industry. This led us to the realization that time, or lack of, is the ultimate challenge. That’s why we created the 2 Day Blended STCW basic training course, and other hybrid/blended training courses. For example, Instead of spending five full days in a classroom, the basic training course is split between online and practical training. This gave us the flexibility to offer this required training in multiple locations for crew convenience. With COVID-19, we also have had to stay on our feet and adjust to changes as they happen. In such an uncertain time, it was very important for us to stay flexible and roll with whatever challenge was handed to us. The cruise industry is in a constant state of change, so we are constantly adjusting to our client’s needs.
As you know, we’re big fans of Seven Seas Preparatory Academy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Seven Seas Preparatory Academy offers STCW and professional maritime training, specializing in the 2 Day Blended STCW Basic Training.
We also offer introductory Deckhand courses, Introductory Interior Yacht Course, as well as STCW Navigation Watch Rating Course.
Along with Maritime training, we also offer entertainment workshops for singers and dancers wishing to work for cruise lines. Recently, we have created a company of dancers, Seven Seas Stars, that offer entertainment for local venues and events.
Our goal is to continue to grow and offer training in all departments of ships to have crew truly prepared for their life at sea.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
It is almost impossible to run a business by yourself. It is important to recognize how valuable people can be, these are mentors, partners and peers. It is important to recognize that there are only so many hours in the day, so how you spend those hours is extremely important with the direct relationship on the desired business output. Communication is key, you need to communicate effectively laying down expectations and reducing misunderstandings, also important to solving problems.
Contact Info:
- Email: courses@sevenseasprep.com
- Website: www.sevenseasprep.com
- Instagram: @sevenseasprep
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenseasprep
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpl2XSoyiFj1ObPLYZCgCGw
