Puebla, Mexico · October 16, 2026

Before the global pandemic, Lili was living in Puebla and working at ProArt, but she dreamed of a career that would allow her to travel. Determined to make it happen, she took a bus to Mexico City and flew to Cancún for an interview—successfully securing a role just as the world began to change. Fast forward to September 2021, as cruise ships slowly began to restart. Liliana set out to join the Carnival Valor in Miami, navigating strict COVID protocols and eagerly awaiting her turn to board. At the terminal, she was welcomed by the ship’s Cruise Director… none other than Martin. Due to quarantine rules, Lili spent her first two weeks onboard confined to her cabin. Each day, she looked forward to the morning show hosted by Hotel Director Jason and Cruise Director Martin—complete with (questionable) dad jokes and daily quizzes. Lili would often message in with answers or her approval of the jokes, unknowingly beginning their connection. As the ship prepared to return to service, the crew had a rare opportunity to build friendships in a way that wouldn’t normally happen. Martin and Lili quickly formed a strong bond—competing in shuffleboard and sports games, sharing jokes, and laughing through Martin’s less-than-perfect dance moves while teaching line dancing. A few months later, during a stop in Cozumel, they went with friends to see Spider-Man: No Way Home—an unofficial first date. The energy in the cinema, filled with cheering fans and even a few “Spider-Men,” made it unforgettable. From then on, movie nights, exploring new places, and discovering favourite restaurants became a regular part of their story. It wasn’t until they both (coincidentally!) caught COVID at the same time that Martin finally made things official. From there, their journey truly began—spending four years travelling the world together across the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Australia, Europe, and Alaska while working onboard six ships. Between contracts, they split their time between England and Mexico, bringing their families together and building a life across two cultures. After four years together, Martin proposed in Mexico during a private dinner accompanied by a mariachi band—beginning the next chapter of their lives together in the UK.