It’s Good Friday, and by 8:00 a.m., we’re already cruising across the English Channel on the brand-new P&O superferry, Spirit of Britain. The ferry looks spotless, but with breakfast time approaching, that won’t last long.
Powless, the food and beverage manager, is gearing up for a busy shift. Around 500 passengers are expected to eat this morning. The kitchen, staffed by 13 chefs and two kitchen porters, preps everything from eggs to bacon. Shane, one of the porters, will be cleaning up nonstop. With over 2,000 passengers on board, it’s no surprise he stays busy.
In the dining area, plates, knives, and forks pile up. Simultaneously, the 80 toilets see frequent use, and trash bins fill quickly. It’s not just the diners making a mess. There are also travelers who are ready to hit Eindhoven and might drink a bit too much.
As breakfast winds down, the crew shifts into cleanup mode. It’s chaotic, like a locust invasion. This ship runs on tight schedules; every minute is accounted for. Dropped crumbs? Shane’s on it.
But breakfast cleanup is just the start. The entire crew—including waiters, shop staff, and even the boss—transitions into cleaning mode. Nearly 2,000 passengers will disembark, leaving behind their mess, and the team has just 45 minutes to scrub the ferry clean before the next set of passengers comes aboard.
Janine, who normally sells perfume, grabs a vacuum. Everyone pitches in. On the car deck, where 180 trucks were parked, the cleanup is even quicker. The freight driver showers, essential after long hauls, get a thorough chemical scrub.
Blocked toilets are a given with so many people. The crew has seen it all—false teeth, money, even underwear. Today, someone discovers an unpleasant surprise in the shower. They handle it quickly; there’s no time for hesitation.
Back in the galley, chefs prepare for the next wave—500 lunches. The pressure is immense to stay on schedule. A broken toilet seat needs urgent fixing, and John, the handyman, tackles it without fuss. With the next batch of 1,000 cars boarding, Campbell manages car deck chaos.
Finally, Shane looks out the window for a brief moment of calm. Inside, the last vehicle parks, and the crew returns to their regular duties.
In 45 minutes, the Spirit of Britain looks pristine again. The ship sets sail, right on time, ready for the next leg of its journey.
