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What some others have said about cruise positions is correct as far as long hours, low pay and working on board being different from cruising as a passenger.
I suggest that you first go to the cruise line web sites (a bunch provided below) and see what positions they are seeking people for. Each web site has a link for jobs/ employment/ human resources or some such title. Some web sites have a notice that they are seeking staff. I know that several months ago Norwegian Cruise line was having trouble getting and keeping people for its Hawaii cruises; because the pay is low, and they may still need more staff.
I have never worked on a cruise ship but have talked with crew members on several occasions and learned that they must sign a contract to work for 6 to 9 months straight, 7 days a week. Then they get a couple months off before reporting back to the ship. While most positions are low paying, some like medical staff, entertainers and other staff are salaries and they make more. So just explore the web sites and see what you find. |
Lew
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Have a vacation on a cruise first, to see if you can handle cruising as a guest for a week or so. You will have the chance to see what working on a cruise ship entails especially as a waiter or bar staff.
The contract is usually for nine / ten months, the pay is not great, the hours are long and 7 days a week. Crew conditions are not at all like the paying passengers.
Go on a cruise and talk to the staff, find out for yourself what it is like working on a ship.
Have a look at the links for info |
Jeffrey C
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Well, your country of origin is going to make a difference in most areas of shipboard positions. If you are looking for work on shore (reservations, embarkation, etc.) obviously you need to live near a port city and it's a different story, but if you want to sail and see it as an opportunity to travel and be paid, here's the scoop.
Most areas except the low paying postions (food serving and housekeeping) have crews that come from a single country. For example, the command crew (Captain and officers) may be Italian, the casino crew may be British, the social hosts American, and the medical staff from India. The low ranking positions of food serving and housekeeping work every day for long hours, and only get leave every eight months. Shore leave happens, but it's not as often as you like. You'll be bunked tightly with cabinmates, and won't have many amenities. It's hard work, but on the plus side you won't have many expenses as food and lodging are provided. The lower ranking positions are usually staffed by Caribbean, South American, or African third world county citizens.
Americans generally only work in a few areas, usually as social hosts / cruise directors. Sometimes you'll find them as photographers, child care, entertainers, band members, or computer services, but those who do work usually are required to speak a second language fluently.
Life at sea is hard. You are essentially cut off from normal means of communication with everything. That means after a hard day's work, you can't go hope and watch this week's episode of "Survivor" or "CSI" on TV - you'll only have a few news channels and local programs in the local language. Phone calls are expensive, as is internet access. While the food may be good, you'll get what is left over from dinner service, and it repeats week after week. Shore leave is generally at the same city for months on end, unless the ship is repositioned. You'll probably make friends, but when you return from leave, you may be assigned a new ship and have to start over.
Also, forget anything you've seen on "The Love Boat" - you won't be mingling with the passengers unless you are in a customer service job.
Crew members I've talked to in the past tend to read quite a bit, and have found DVD box sets of TV shows to be godsends. They have players and share new series as they are released. However, forget about watching Monday Night Football. Relatives might tape some shows and give them to you, but that's the closest thing you can get. |
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