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......
Looking for new challenge
at the same time tired working at this hotel, working the lower position and need to take care too much stuff like working as management.
In my experience, the job is similar to working at a large hotel except that we worked 12-16 hour days for 30 straight days,... that and your coworkers go home with you whether you like them or not.
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.
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......
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.
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.
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.
Pay is low, but you no time nor place to spend your money, unless you blow it gambling in staff poker and dice games. Also because you have no expenses, it is easy to bank your pay.
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
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.
Thanks all chef advice, i will take noted for the interview soon
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