Cruise ship jobs working pattern?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have not worked on a cruise ship but I have talked to many people who do as I have done more than 20 cruises. Your conception of the normal "working pattern" is completely incorrect.

Normally persons who sign on to work on a cruise ship will sign a contract to work for 6 to 10 months continuously, depending on the position and cruise line. Then after that time you would get a month to 6 weeks off. Then you come back on ship for another long stint. The daily work schedules are not 8 hour days but more like 12 to 14 hour days with split shifts. Depending on your job you may go to work at 6:00 Am, work until about noon, have several hours off in the afternoon, and then go back to work at 4:00 Pm and be on duty until 10 PM.

Cruise ship are used 24 hr a day 7 days a week and there is no downtime between cruises except to clean the ship and prepare for the next group of passengers to board. The ship will be in the departure port about 12 hour to discharge passengers, then load new supplies and passengers and then set sail again.

When the ship docks in scheduled ports and at the departure port you may or may not be able to get off the ship, depending on your job and work schedule. But crew members do occasionally get to take a few hours off in port stops and shop, go to the beach or do whatever. Its just that they do not have a firm regular schedule.

Go to this Royal Caribbean web link and click on the various options to see what the employment process is like: http://www.royalfoodandbeveragecareers.com/

Here's an example for an entry level position on Royal Caribbean:

TO JOIN OUR TEAM: (for entry level or management positions)
â€¢ Applicants must be 18 years or older
â€¢ Be able to speak, read and write English, fluently
â€¢ Be able to obtain a valid passport and United States C1/D visa
â€¢ Be willing to commit to at least a 6 month or 4 months on 2 months off schedule
â€¢ Be able to work with a diverse international crew
â€¢ Have related experience for the job applied
â€¢ Be flexible with your work schedule, job duties and job locations
â€¢ Be willing to share a cabin
â€¢ Be willing to work 7 days and up to a possible 70 hour work week
â€¢ Appreciate diversity among guests and crew

This is from the Norwegian cruise line web site:

" How long is the assignment?
Assignments vary depending on the position and brand. It can be anywhere between 4 months thru 10 months. Working on a ship means you live and work onboard. This also means it is a 7-day work week with 10+ combined hours per day. "

Kevin L

It depends on the position. Most common is a 6/6

So, 6 months on, 6 weeks off. Although you are seeing more 7/2 for crew now. So 7 months on, 2 months off.

Some of the department heads have a 4/2 . So they are on ship for 4 months, then off for 2 months.

Only the Captain has what they call a 1/1 schedule. So the Captain might be on ship for 12 weeks, then off for 12 weeks.

But, you do not go home during your contract. Unless it's an emergency. Once you are on the ship, you are there for the duration of your contract.

ggcj.new1

I work on the cruise ships and I would suggest, contact the main cruise lines and find out more. But it is really to do with the sort of work you are looking at, as they all vary, mine is 4 months on 2 off, but some are 6 months on and 2 off, with the more junior post as cabin stewerds, bar staff etc it can be as much as 10 months on 2-3 off. Also on the company web sites there are buttons to the vacancies, but all are not apparent, some are called 'about us' etc. so keep searching. I also contacted a company that supplied a very good guide book with job profiles, how to get work, contact addresses etc and you got a bi-monthly news sheet with all latest vacancies. They are based in Glasgow, so plug it into a search engine, they were helpful. The service does cost a few quid but in my mind well worth it.
But be prepared for some long work hours and not large pay as itâ€™s made up with tips in the areas you are looking at.

Just done some research for you as it was a couple of years ago I used them and the company can be found on www.cruiseservices.co.uk

The other thing to think of is 10 hours a day is a good day in some jobs on the ships with 11 and 12 being more like it, with the accommodation and bar work, other jobs have less work time, or if you have experience in something and get offered a supervisors position, or go for administration on the Pursers side of life, the working hours are less. but the company I mention will check your CV and suggest the options.

Good Luck

James L

8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off 8 months 6 weeks off

dave.greg

I know two people who work on cruises One was 3 months on then one month off and the other was 6 mounths on and 3 months off. They all have a variety of conditions depending if they have to fly you from Home and back and how far is the flight.
Contact each line they will be glad to supply you with all info

Sali

it is a hard job like pilots although it is amazing at the beginning then you get board and always away from fome.

Anyway find out online.

Matt

They normally operate a similar pattern to 4 on, 4 off.
Instead the shifts are much longer; you normally get the same amount of time at home as you spent on the ship. So yeah, 15 on, 15 off.

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