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Planning working at Cruise Ship soon

2K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  avez 
#1 ·
I was planning working in Cruise Ship soon, anything need to take note? 

Any pros can give me some advice? 

Current i working at 5 star Hotel.
 
#2 ·
You need to take note:

Most cruise lines offer a 3 mth contract.  You will be working typically 12 hrs every day, there are no days off.  You will get 4-5 hrs shore  leave, provided you don't have to stay on board to work.  Most likely you will bunk 4 to a cabin.

You will fear/hate/ loathe the words "Norwalk" or "Norovirus"

On the other hand, bevvies for the crew are pretty cheap......
 
#7 ·
Or family once became friends with the magician on a cruise ship and spent significant time ashore with him, and he had stories to tell.  The crews can be very factionalized by country/region of origin and there is a great deal of backbiting, theft, and generally obnoxious behavior.  Watch your tools like a hawk.  OTOH, if you are any good at poker, the crew games can be very good.  Also, don't be too optimistic about how much actual traveling you will do when ashore.  Cruise ships generally are not in port long and the area near the dock is essentially a tourist trap.  Our friend said sometimes a few crew members would rent a car and get into the "real" parts of the country.  That sounds like a good option if you can set it up.  
 
#8 ·
You need to take note:

Most cruise lines offer a 3 mth contract. You will be working typically 12 hrs every day, there are no days off. You will get 4-5 hrs shore leave, provided you don't have to stay on board to work. Most likely you will bunk 4 to a cabin.

You will fear/hate/ loathe the words "Norwalk" or "Norovirus"

On the other hand, bevvies for the crew are pretty cheap......
12 hour days for 3 months with no days off. Thats pretty brutal, do they pay you in gold?
 
#9 ·
Depends where you were hired/signed on. If in the U.S. you get paid u.s. $, not a lot, they charge for room and board, but you don't pay ANY taxes.

However, if you signed on in the Phillipines or Ivory Coast, your salary would be much, much, much lower than the guy hired in N.America or Europe, even if your jobs are identical.

Look, working on a ship is not romantic or awe inspiring. People work there for two reasons, firstly work experience, and secondly those with financial problems.

Please don't take issue or argue with me, check out the H.R. sites on the big lines like Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, or Princess. I don't make any rules, I don't even dream any of them up.

Hope this helps....
 
#10 ·
Depends where you were hired/signed on. If in the U.S. you get paid u.s. $, not a lot, they charge for room and board, but you don't pay ANY taxes.

However, if you signed on in the Phillipines or Ivory Coast, your salary would be much, much, much lower than the guy hired in N.America or Europe, even if your jobs are identical.

Look, working on a ship is not romantic or awe inspiring. People work there for two reasons, firstly work experience, and secondly those with financial problems.

Please don't take issue or argue with me, check out the H.R. sites on the big lines like Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, or Princess. I don't make any rules, I don't even dream any of them up.

Hope this helps....
Nobody is taking issue with you man, not sure where you got that from. Im just surprised at how much work being a ships cook would be,it probably would be a good way to make some money if you're willing to graft that hard.
 
#13 ·
Don't do it. I have phillipino and South American friends that have done it. Its a great job when you are used to making 500 dollars a month. Also if you like to stand in the same spot for 15 hours a day making 2000 of the same thing over and over. Most cruise lines have a couple european big name chefs that walk around and talk to the passengers. The rest of the 300 + boh crew is from 3rd world countries just making money to send back to their family. I cook on yachts. That's where the money and innovation is. You should look to do a summer med season
 
#14 ·
Some of this cruise ships are a racket. My friend has done it, no days off and than at the end you find out that there is a charge for bed sheets, pillow cases, uniforms etc all at extortionate prices. Often they are registered in countries that have no labour laws and they can basically do anything they want. NOTE I said some of them, other people might have other experiences. Crises are getting cheaper though and I bet it is because practices like this. Another thing is they do random drug tests, and if it shows you have taken anything they might leave you in the next port with no money, so careful if you decide to do it. 
 
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