Highlighting Entertainment Staff Member (and Part-Time Sunset Photographer) Gary Brierley
September 25, 2007 -
John Heald
Can you tell us how long you have been working for Carnival Cruise Lines? What year did you start and what is your current position?
I started with Carnival in February of 2005, and I am currently part of the entertainment staff
Where are you from and what is the best thing about living there?
I was Born in Rochdale, England, but brought up in Manchester since I was 4. The best thing about coming from there is it has everything to offer people, great shopping, nightlife, restaurants and entertainment. Also I can’t forget it is home to the greatest football (sorry soccer) team in the world…..Manchester United!
Are you married and tell us about your family?
I’m not married but my girlfriend is a dancer with Carnival. My mum is named Lynda, she is a dance teacher and examiner and my father who is named Tony is an electrician. I have one older brother called Simon who is 27 and also an electrician.
What does your job involve? Describe what you do each day?
My job is to ensure that all the guests who come onto a ship where I am working have as much fun as possible. I host activities, game shows and competitions and also I am there to answer any questions that may be on people’s minds. Another highlight is I get to compare Carnivals fly on entertainers which is also a really fun part of the job for me personally.
What is the best thing about working on a cruise ship?
Definitely the travel! At 24 years old, I have seen all the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe! Also you make some of the closest friends whilst working on a cruise ship.
What is the hardest thing about working on a cruise ship?
Well apart from missing my family the hardest thing for me working on a ship is the ability to remember what day of the week it is.
Favorite things….
Food
A home-cooked Sunday roast with Yorkshire puddings mmmmmmmmm
Movie
James Bond….any of them….they’re great! (is that cheating?)
Music
I like all different kinds of music, it would be easier for me to say I don’t like house music, but anything else I like, it all depends what sort of mood I am in.
Way to relax
The great thing about working on a cruise ship is it gives you many ways to relax that wouldn’t be available to me normally back home in Manchester. For example there is nothing more relaxing than being able to lie in a hammock on a beach in Barbados with the sun beating down and a cocktail in hand…..it’s heaven
If you could do any other job on the ship for a day what would you like to do and why?
This is a tough one for me as I honestly think I am extremely lucky to have a position now that is extremely fun. After a bit of thinking I would like to be a musician for the day. It’s another job where you wake up knowing your job is doing something you love to do. Of course I would have to learn to play an instrument first but that’s just a minor detail, right?
Favorite Port?
Barcelona in Europe for sure. It has great shops restaurants and entertainment. I do love the beaches in the Caribbean, though.
If you could meet one famous person in the world who would it be and why?
If I could meet one famous person in the world I would probably choose Morgan Freeman. Only for the reason I think he is a great actor, and I love “almost” every film he has done. Although I wouldn’t mind meeting Kirsten Dunst for a day either mind…..just don’t tell my girlfriend I said that 
)
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Gary, since I’m a retired fellow “SPARKEY” I like your dad and brother already. The sunset pictures you’ve taken are beautiful. I have them posted on my blog in their own album. Here is a link;
http://www.photoworks.com/photo-sharing/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A307262C461&cp=ems_shr_alb_pml&cb=PW
“BIG” ED
Since we have booked our first ever Carnival Cruise for April 2008 to the Western Caribbean, I have been reading your blog everyday and getting a kick out of you. We can’t wait until that cruise and to meet you and Heidi. Reading your blog will make the long Montana winter go fast. Congrats on your Seatrade Award. I have read about the “unpleasant” people you have to deal with to the ones who enjoy life and make your job easier. You have a great gift of dealing with the public and I commend you. That is a difficult job. Once again, we hope April arrives quickly and we can finally meet you!
Gary!! Hola!!
Just a note to let you know that you were one of the special people we meet on the Carnival Freedom and made our vacation unforgetable. You were always around and available, you are very nice and funny. I think you have what it takes to have a great future onboard cruises and most of all you have the blessing of being with the “master” and I saw you are learning a lot.Keep up the good work.
The girls(salsa dancers) from PR (I hope you remember us)
Hey Gary
Hug.
Sunsets are just so beautiful, a fleeting moment of any of them is spectacular. Depending on the camera, some of them keep well. You, sir, have an artist’s eye, and have taken advantage of the happenstance to include the lighthouses and fishing and sailing boats to perfection. Bravissimo.
And, the day is: a Good Day. Any day on a cruise ship is a good day.
John: I am impressed with this young man, sight unseen. Is he on a fast track for a tenure?
Gary, Thanks for the great pictures. We had such a good time on our cruise in May thanks to you. John(Mt. Holly) is still hard to live with but he is starting to come back down to earth. Thanks! Keep up the good work with the camera and all you do in entertainment.
Leona
John,
Please tell Gary how wonderful his pictures are!! Please keep posting pictures. I love the pictures.
We remember Gary from our May 13th cruise on the Carnival Freedom! Hello from two of the “Mellow Yellows”!!
Nice photos, Gary….and it appears as though the Freedom was “gaining” on another cruise ship, each steaming off toward the setting sun!
Terri & Larry
Wow. We were on the Carnival Pride with Gary and “Noonan” In March of 2006. I have a great picture of Gary in the pool durring a bellyflop competition gone awry.
I loved the interview with Gary! During our cruise in June, he was so charming and took time out several times to chat with our group. All of the activities became just so much more fun with Gary involved (and he’s just too cute to boot!). However, there was one time, during a trivia game, that Gary wanted to know if I knew that I was one of the most hated people on the ship (I was a multiple gold plastic ship on a stick winners). I definitely hope Gary keeps climbing the ladder, as he will make a wonderful cruise director!
Well done Gary, Nanette is right you are learning from the best but we think you are pretty good too! The photos are beautiful!
Gary, your photos are beautiful. So glad you enjoy what you do. Keep up the good work.
Love the pictures Gary like everyone else here. Please keep them coming.
Nice interview. Its great to see how much he adds to the table.
By the way, I’d love to be in a hammock in Barbados right now as opposed to staring at a bunch of computer screens.
Sometimes life just isn’t that bad on a ship
David
Beautiful pictures Gary! I really do enjoy them all!
I was wondering if there is the goofy “horse racing” thingy on the Freedom? That is the one with different guests moving horses along a path and people bet on the winner. I may be speaking of yeasteryear but it was fun.
Thank you Marilyn
i love ur photos i love ur blog write more whats it like in the uk
looooove photos loooooooove ur work keep it up loooooove ur jokes
i sailed on the valor on april18 2010 and gary was now a cruise director he is so fun to talk to its soooooo cool going on a cruise ship and meeting people from around the globe keep the pics comin
i love the pics keep posting more gary is now a cruise director and he is doing a wonderful job its soooooo cool to meet people from around the world i sailed on april18 2010 on the valor
hhhiiiiiiiiiiii
love ur pics
i love the pics keep them comin
whats it like in the uk i want to go
what is the uk like love pics want more
im reading about the england it is soooooo pretty from what ive seen more pics please
love pics so send more
send more pics
send send send more pics
make more pics soon
make more pics soon love em keep up the good work
i love ur work
want more photos from u
want more photos from u and more bloging
whyyyyyyy
love ur presonality
love ur photos personality blog too
i might go back on the valor soon hope to see u if i go