Just hired with a cruise ship Help!!

[bombolinis]

Anyone is or has worked for a cruise ship line?

Can you give me some idea of what the training will be, before the actual hiring? What is expected of a first cook to actually do? I have been working at my own restaurant for 20 years and really not sure what to expect.

Any help, pointers and advice will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Bijoink]

dont know anything bout training but congratulations

[kuan]

You've been cooking in your own restaurant for 20 years you should know what to expect.

Day 1: Chaos
Day 2: The crew quickly figures out the lazy one
Day 3: The walk in cooler goes down
Day 4: Two cooks get sick
.
.
,
,
etc.

Something like that

[chefmikesworld]

One of my former interns accepted a position on a cruise ship and only lasted three months, she said it was a nightmare

With my experience in volume cooking, I always said that I would like to work on one just to experience it and now that Todd English has started doing them I think I would be more than interested, even if just temporary, although the pay is not that great...

From what I understand they are operated by "SyscoKids"...

Meaning that everything comes from a package or can and it is just pumping out volume to feed the masses in a frenzy...

Just my two cents, not meaning to scare ya....

Ask the recruiter that hired you what the training consists of...

Cheffy

[Headless Chicken]

My godmother's daughter is currently working on a cruise ship doing mostly customer service training, her second job with Carnival Cruiseline, she also did the persers desk btw and hated it.

I too found the idea of a job on a cruise ship very attractive; no where to spend my pay, get to travel, living expenses is covered by the company, I mean...how sweet is that?!?! But my godsister (I guess I should call her that) detered me stating that its not worth working on a cruise ship as the lower ranks (prep, line, baker, etc) are usually filled in with cheap labourers from China, Philipines, the Carribean, and such where as only the higher ranks are worth considering. You work like a dog 7 days straight on a 6-12 month contract with low pay.

Food preperation wise I think will depend on which line your with. When I cruised with Norweigan earlier this year, their ships where equiped with several restaurants where Royal only had 2 (1 buffet and 1 banquet diner). In either case, everything is cooked in massive quantities. Most cruise ships will house a minimum of 1500 guests unless you went with one of those super luxerious cruise ships that have a 1:4 crew to guest ratio.

[panini]

Bombolinis,
Great name! Cruising is one of those jobs you either really like or really dislike. You're probably used to the long hours. As the first cook, you will probably have a few under you. Two things, just as other jobs, try not to be too friendly with your strangers/helpers, and for godness sake do not gamble!. Some ships it's a pasttime. Some lose their whole purse. Find something very self rewarding that you have wanted to do for a long time and make use of your off time. Language tapes, books,etc.
The very best of luck to you!
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Pan