Restaurant Owners Thank Staff By Taking Everyone On An All-Expenses-Paid Cruise

April 28, 2026

Instead of the usual staff holiday party, the owners of an Ohio restaurant decided to do something their employees will likely never forget: they shut down the restaurant for a few days and took the entire team on a cruise to the Bahamas.

Employees on the cruise / @thestandard419

The unforgettable getaway was organized by married couple Jeff Dinnebeil and Megan Lingsweiler, co-owners of The Standard Restaurant in Toledo. In early January, they treated dozens of employees, along with a few former staff members and loyal customers, to a three-day Royal Caribbean cruise that stopped in Bimini and Nassau in the Bahamas.

The couple paid for flights and cruise tickets so the staff could simply relax and enjoy the experience together.

For some employees, the trip marked major life firsts.

Cook Andrew Jackson, nicknamed Duke, had never flown on a plane, gone on a cruise, or even stepped into the ocean before the trip.

“At first, I was nervous because I’ve never been on a cruise. I’ve never been in a plane. I’ve never been anywhere,” he told the Toledo Blade. “I had never been in the ocean before.”

He said Chef Dinnebeil encouraged him to finally step into the water.

“But once I got in there, it was everything,” Jackson said.

The Standard Restaurant / Photo via Facebook

What stood out even more than the tropical views was the sense of connection the trip created among the staff. Jackson said the experience transformed the team dynamic in a powerful way.

“Everybody went on there as employees, and when we left and went back home, everybody was like family,” he said.

Server Allison Latta shared a similar feeling, calling it one of the best jobs she’s ever had.

“My co-workers are like family,” she said. “It is honestly incredible.”

Another server, Dejah Griffith, praised the restaurant owners for genuinely caring about employees beyond the workplace.

“They not only care about you as an employee, but also truly care about your overall well-being as a person,” she said.

To make sure no one missed out financially, The Standard Restaurant closed during the trip so employees would not lose shifts or wages. Staff members also received holiday bonuses on top of the vacation.

The cruise included karaoke nights, beach visits, scavenger hunts, basketball competitions, and large group dinners where coworkers got to bond outside the busy restaurant atmosphere.

The idea for the trip came to the owners while they were on a family cruise the previous year. After seeing how meaningful the experience could be, they decided to share it with the people they say are responsible for the restaurant’s success.

“It was the best thing we’ve ever done,” Dinnebeil said. “Our staff is everything. They’re the blood, life, and the heart of that restaurant.”