Table Of Content
Living and working in close proximity with colleagues from all over the world can lead to lifelong friendships. The shared experiences and camaraderie built on board can create a unique bond among crew members. One of the main challenges of working on a cruise ship is being away from family and friends for extended periods. Contracts can last for several months, meaning you may miss important events and special occasions back home. While working on a cruise ship can be an exciting and rewarding experience, it’s important to recognize that it also comes with its fair share of challenges. It’s not all smooth sailing, and adjusting to life on board can be a significant adjustment for many crew members.
Crew drills
Secrets of Cruise Ships From Crew Codes to Sex to Norovirus - Bloomberg
Secrets of Cruise Ships From Crew Codes to Sex to Norovirus.
Posted: Wed, 31 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Employees on cruise ships are typically contracted for several months at a time, meaning they spend extended periods away from family and friends. This separation can lead to feelings of isolation and homesickness — particularly during holidays or family milestones — which they have to miss. Cruise lines often also hire workers from other countries to capitalize on currency conversion rates and pay lower wages. In this article, we will take a closer look at what it’s really like to work on a cruise ship. We’ll explore the various job positions and responsibilities, the work schedule and hours, the challenges and benefits, and the social life and career opportunities available on board.
6-8 week vacation in between contracts
For many crew positions, you won’t be able to request a specific ship or itinerary for several years. On Royal Caribbean, an hour of internet for the crew is USD 4 and expires within 24 hours. This happened when I was in Bermuda and multiple female crew members were stopped at the port security checkpoint by staff who requested a pat-down and weird strip search.
Internet Connectivity at Sea
450 positions are available on a ship including commanders, care workers, performers, physicians, cooks, cruise directors, cabin attendants, and wellness therapists. Working on a cruise ship you’ll enjoy some things and also some aren’t that enjoyable. In fact, most cruise ship servers have to take care of up to 30 diners at the exact same time. Alina Wang is a staff writer at Cheapism covering travel and personal finance. Prior to joining the Cheapism team, Alina worked as a U.S.-based correspondent for Vision Times and interned for several media outlets during college. Crew members who demonstrate commitment, consistent performance, and a positive attitude are more likely to be considered for promotions and higher positions.
Long Working Hours
Recreational facilities on cruise ships are well-equipped to cater to various interests and hobbies. Crew members can make use of gyms, swimming pools, sports courts, and even dedicated crew bars and lounges. These spaces serve as areas to relax, unwind, and socialize during downtime.
Getting a job on a cruise ship
However, one may extrapolate that working on cruise ships is a desirable occupation by looking at the large number of workers who remain with the same cruise company for a significant amount of time. We've seen some people working from cruise ships on the down low, essentially hiding their location from employers. To cope with all of the hard work, cruise ship employees usually form tightknit relationship and friendships with one another. Bruns shares that it’s easier than ever to make friends with other cruise ship employees from all over the globe. Believe it or not, there’s a lot of training involved before you’re ready to work full-time on a cruise ship.
Career Opportunities and Advancement
While this period is unpaid, it does provide ample time to travel freely for more than just a week. Depending on the ship, crews have their own gyms, lounge areas, dining rooms, and decks. Almost every ship, however, has a crew bar, where workers spend most of their precious free time.
Job Positions and Responsibilities
You may not always be able to work in your cabin as the signal might not be strong enough. Find where the routers are (usually the strongest signal is at Guest Relations) and settle in there -- ideally with headphones. It's a helpless feeling, in this day and age of constant connectivity.
Watch: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami — here's what it's like on board
This can enhance feelings of isolation and make it harder to manage personal affairs while working for months on end. In fact, some cruise lines don't even offer free wifi to their employees, says one user. Cruise ship employees often work incredibly long hours, sometimes up to hours a day without a day off for weeks. "Customers will treat you like a servant, and you'll work insane hours without ANY days off for 6-10 months," writes one former cruise worker on Reddit.
But if you can do that, there’s not much else you’re not psychologically capable of. Us staff had divided activities and games to host between us, and I got to help out with face painting the kids. The crew was briefed on the situation and we were informed that we’d be supplying food as well as evacuating as many Bahamians as we could. During Hurricane Dorian, the ship that I was on (Mariner of the Seas) was called to provide assistance to the Bahamas.
Meanwhile, the Internet on the ship is considerably slower than what’s used at home. So, for example, uploading an image to a post that might take five seconds normally can take seconds. Multiply that times all the little elements that go into researching, writing, posting, and updating an article, and it takes considerably longer than on land. It can be difficult if people are using it at the same time you want to be productive. Prices will vary, but you should expect to pay at least $15-20 per day for basic access.
Scary Cruise Ship Facts That Will Make You Never Want to Travel by One - Business Insider
Scary Cruise Ship Facts That Will Make You Never Want to Travel by One.
Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Crew members essentially have no privacy — they sleep, work, and eat with the same group of people for months on end. Finally, if you have work you need to do, then having it done in the morning means you can enjoy the rest of the day without having the office weighing on your mind. This one is going to completely alter the game for you, particularly if you are staying in a bunk cabin with a companion.
On top of the grueling schedule, the work can also be physically and mentally-taxing, with almost no time left for recreation and personal relaxation. Working on a cruise ship also offers the opportunity for personal growth and development. Interacting with guests and colleagues from diverse backgrounds helps to broaden cultural understanding and communication skills. The experience of working in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment enhances problem-solving abilities and adaptability. Working on a cruise ship entails a different schedule and set of working hours compared to traditional land-based jobs. The nature of the industry requires round-the-clock operations to cater to the needs of guests.
Apparently, every single night in a crew bar is like a college frat party. In that case, there are plenty of places around the ship to get a little work done. The ship’s library is quiet and usually has few people in it most of the day. As well, if you prefer to work outdoors, there is plenty of deck space around the ship. Promenade decks that wrap around the ship have plenty of chairs available and lots of space allowing you to work without others being nearby.
Even though you’re surrounded by thousands of guest and coworkers, Bruns shares that it can still be an isolating experience. Depending on where you come from, many cruise ship employees don’t even have to pay taxes on their income. Fortunately, there are laws in place to make sure that every cruise ship employees get to take breaks for meals and snacks. Imagine trying to get ready for the day at the same time as your bunkmate!