We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chessine Nugent a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chessine, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Taking Risks is always something that is better taken. Otherwise, I would not have been as fortunate to have the life I have lived.

I have always loved traveling for most of my life. But how do you get paid for it?

I was eating one day reading the LA Times and looking at the retail want ads. I was looking for a change in my life when I came across a tiny ad that asked if you would like to start up retail operations on a cruise ship; please apply. I applied and forgot all about it.

Three weeks later, I got a call from New York at 5 in the morning asking if I was still interested in interviewing for the shop’s operations in one week. In a week, I received a call from the retail operations director saying she would be in Los Angeles to hold interviews; I interviewed, received a job offer, said yes, and never looked back.

My life changed in 7 weeks. I needed to rent out my condo, sell my car, buy some formal wear, and be in Manhattan ready to go to work, coinciding with my 25th birthday.

This was my first time in New York City. I would have to call the roach hotel home for two weeks before flying to Saint-Nazaire., France, to help set up shop operations. I will have to save for another time to let you know about my adventures with other Los Angeles and San Francisco shipmates that staffed the beauty salon, masseuse, and shops in New York.

Two weeks later, I found myself walking thru Charles De Gaulle Airport on my way to a connecting flight to Saint-Nazaire, where the ship was being built. A small local hotel would be our home till we cruised to Le Havre for the christening.

The days were long in getting retail inventory from the dock to where they would be displayed and stored in 3 different stores. The gift shop, high-end jewelry, and clothing boutique, We also had to ensure the beauty salon and spa were set up and operational.

Trouble appeared after three weeks when we were told that the shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique union workforce would go on strike, which would delay the ship’s release to the cruise line (Holland America). This meant all our hard work would have to be unloaded and put back in the warehouse until the strike was over.

With every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. I approached the retail operations director and asked what could be done instead of sending us back to Los Angeles or New York to only turn around in 2- 3 weeks to start all over and redo what we had just finished. I requested that I and others could stay and give us the airfare cost, and I would make sure we all would be at the shipyard within 24 hours of being told to report for duty. We were approved. I joined the Navy, and no one told me.

The adventure began; I was off with our motley crew to Paris, Italy, and Switzerland.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

After 23 years of being in the technology world, knowing I would make a lousy retiree. I decided to start my own business because of a previous passion and degree in recreation and leisure: Travel! So I became a travel advisor. Earlier in my life, I was fortunate enough to see the world and be paid for my adventures while working in the cruise industry for seven years. I had the nickname “Sea Hag ” when I left. Unsurprisingly, I met my husband while working on a cruise ship.
So at the end of 2019, “Chessine’s Travels” was born. Little did I know that COVID would happen in less than six months of my startup. When COVID hit in Feb 2020, besides living in Hawaii, the travel and hospitality industry stopped, and lucky I was not one of the advisors that had to spend hours on the phone to cancel vacations and trips.

When you are given lemons, you make lemonade! From 2020 to the end of 2021, I took what I learned from being in the technology business. I mapped out a business plan since I had minimal startup funds and created a travel blog to get an idea of how social media platforms work. It is now my website. The biggest thing since a lot of people have time on their hands. I educated myself on how the travel industry worked; I contacted suppliers’ I was interested in to learn about their products, selling tips, help with marketing ideas, etc. I reached out to tourism boards to get specialist training- I have the following training.

Asia Pacific – New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tahiti, and Hawaii

Accessible Travel Advocate ( I have a disabled brother from a major stroke)

With COVID, I needed to figure out how the travel industry would change and what type of niche clients I wanted to target; I discovered as time went on all the constant changes, rules, and regulations, to wear a mask or not, international country internal rules, and travel insurance the need for help in these concerns and to take out all the guesswork and stress on traveling is where a travel advisor can be a great asset.

I have traveled to over 32 countries. Besides being able to book short trips to places like New Your, Las Vegas, and Alaska, I specialize in customized adventure-wellness vacations and small-ship cruising. ( I do give 25 min free consultations)

I love helping people enjoy the wonders of travel and open their minds to what differences in other cultures can bring. The need for more sustainable ways to see new locations is also a significant change in the future. I see it starting up.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When you are given lemons, you make lemonade! From 2020 to the end of 2021, I took what I learned from being in the technology business. I mapped out a business plan since I had minimal startup funds and created a travel blog to get an idea of how social media platforms work. It is now my website. The biggest thing since a lot of people had time on their hands. I educated myself on how the travel industry worked; I contacted suppliers’ I was interested in to learn about their products, selling tips, help with marketing ideas, etc. I reached out to tourism boards to get specialist training- I have the following training.

Asia Pacific – New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tahiti, and Hawaii

Accessible Travel Advocate ( I have a disabled brother from a major stroke)

With COVID, I needed to figure out how the travel industry would change and what type of niche clients I wanted to target; I discovered as time went on all the constant changes, rules, and regulations, to wear a mask or not, international country internal rules, and travel insurance the need for help in these concerns and to take out all the guesswork and stress on traveling is where a travel advisor can be a great asset.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I am still new on social platforms and will admit this is where you should hire help. I know not one person knows everything, and I was overwhelmed by my lack of social media skills. Over the past year, I hired a social media manager who has helped me build out my website, looking at the value of Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. The need to build out an email list, design supplier information, and work as a team on current travel offers. You always need to put information out and personally contact everyone to build trust and share your expertise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chessinestravels.com
• Instagram: nugent,chessine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessinestravels
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chessinenugent4155

Image Credits
All my Photos are ones that I have taken myself since I am a Travel Advisor I have gotten from my suppliers or people