Season Romances: Are They Doomed Before They Even Start?

Ah, seasonal work. Long, sweaty shifts, late-night drinking sessions, chronic fatigue, and romantic choices that wouldn’t hold up under normal circumstances. Are season romances ever a good idea, or are they doomed from the start?

couple skiing

We’ve all been there... After a few too many tequilas or Blue Moons, Catherine from admin starts to seem strangely alluring. The chef who always saves dessert suddenly has an air of mystery. Even the deckhand - who, until now, has been insufferable - appears almost heroic as he inflates the giant trampoline, biceps flexed. There’s something about exhaustion, dehydration and the limited dating pool that creates this illusion of options. Suddenly even the most unlikely candidates seem appealing.

Season Goggles

At the start of the season, standards are high. Preferences are specific - tall, dark-haired and handsome. But give it a few weeks and the pool of options dwindles. Suddenly, someone previously dismissed as utterly unappealing and not funny at all, becomes a person of interest. Once the season goggles are on, they might as well be prescription. Loneliness, boredom, and the madness of the season all play a part in these questionable decisions (it's no one's fault really...)

The Drama, The Tears, The Job Loss…

Seasonal flings are an HR minefield - some boats ban them outright whilst other companies strongly discourage them. Minor disagreements escalate into catastrophes and workplace flirtations have a habit of spiralling into full-blown scandals. Fewer things are more humbling than being caught by a bunch of teenagers mid-romp in the tennis shed after hours. If it all goes south? Passive-aggressive breakfast encounters become the norm, and at least one resignation letter will be dramatically submitted before the season ends.

It's A High-Stales Game

So why do people do it? Because it’s exciting... The thrill of sneaking around, organising sly meet-ups on the beach or rendezvousing in storage units - the ever-present risk of being caught adds to the appeal. When time alone is scarce, resourcefulness becomes a necessity. The derelict bunk in the boy's quarter soon becomes an Airbnb for mid-season hookups, badly decorated by cheap fairy lights, a mattress on the floor and a long waiting list.

There’s No Such Thing as a Secret

The moment two people exchange so much as a knowing glance, everyone around them transforms into amateur detectives. There's no point in even denying it. Before long, entire camps, crews, and roommates are speculating and what was once a discreet tryst is now public property. Within hours a song is drafted about Susan and Ryan being totally obsessed with each other and soon becomes the lunchtime anthem (sung by 200 kids... summer camp kids don't mess around).

Common Pitfalls

If someone is professing undying love after two weeks, it’s not romance - it’s a red flag. Misjudging how intense things can get is common. Flirtation can escalate to co-dependency, toothbrush-sharing and making plans to go off-grid as soon as the season is over. Picking someone who isn’t in it for the right reasons can also result in unwarranted upset unless it’s purely physical (in which case, fair play).

The Consequences of Poor Choices

Breakups in normal life are bad enough. Breakups in seasonal work are inescapable. Après-ski turns into an exercise in tactical avoidance or the opposite when too many Fireballs result in embarrassing confessions or drunk text messages.

Watching an ex move on is unavoidable and even worse if it's another crew member. Ghosting isn’t an option - there is no ‘out of sight, out of mind’ when working and living together. The only options? Smile and bear it even though it sucks, jump ship (quite literally) or develop an impressive level of emotional detachment (maybe not the healthiest option).

The Wild Cards

For every disastrous situationship, there is always a couple that takes everyone by surprise. The resident flirt and the chief stew. The HR manager and the basketball coach. The roommates who, it turns out, weren’t just watching Netflix. These relationships emerge late in the season - often alongside grand announcements of moving abroad together or hearsay of raunchy nudes.

Is It Worth It?

If two people get along, why not? Enjoy it for what it is. Travelling the world with a hot beau isn't too shabby and having someone to spoon at night makes an intense working environment a lot more bearable. Not everything is built to last, and that’s fine providing everyone is on the same page. If there is meaning to it, then who knows what will happen. Season romances can turn into long-lasting relationships and marriages because bonds are created in the most dramatic and intense environments. If a relationship can withstand back-to-back charters, working weeks without a day off and sharing a single bed, it can probably handle the drab dramas of the real world.