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If you've worked on a cruise ship I'd be interested to hear about it. Thanks.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not a glamorous job. You work your butt off. The upside is that you can make a very good amount of money and since your room and board is taken care of, (and you rarely have a chance to get off the ship), you don't have much chance to spend your cash.
You also get a good amount of days off in a row when you are "off" because you work 7 days a week when you are working. The people I knew who worked cruise ships typically worked a three, five, seven or 10 day cruise. They usually worked three weeks straight and then got a week off, sometimes two depending on staffing availability.
The down side is that when you are on the ship there is no other life. You have to have someone pay your bills for you because you cannot rely on having internet or cell phone connections when you are at sea. If you have a house or an apartment, you are only there one week out of the month. You cannot have a pet unless you have someone care for it when you are gone.
Make no mistake, the work is hard. Most cruise ships are sailing under a flag that is not US so they do not have to abide by any American labor laws. Some times you have to work 10 or 12 hours straight for the entire cruise. And you have to share small living quarters with strangers (they aren't strangers for long). You pray you don't get a roommate who snores loudly or has other bad habits. You cannot bring many personal clothing or other items because space is very limited.
Also, many cruise ships who service Americans hire Europeans and people from other countries because they seem to understand the service mentality better. When we cruised all the stewards (maids) were from Germany and other European countries. All of the wait staff were Italian or French or Portuguese and ALL (and I mean ALL) of the crew were Filipino. The only people who were American were the activities and entertainment staff.
But one nice thing is that you generally have good weather and if you love the ocean, it's the place to be. And the money is good.
20yrsinBranson , you never clarified if you ever worked on a cruise ship.
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Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson
Also, many cruise ships who service Americans hire Europeans and people from other countries because they seem to understand the service mentality better. When we cruised all the stewards (maids) were from Germany and other European countries. All of the wait staff were Italian or French or Portuguese and ALL (and I mean ALL) of the crew were Filipino. The only people who were American were the activities and entertainment staff.
Your experience as a vacationer is much different from mine. Almost all of the lower level positions (stewards, laundry, kitchen etc.) were staffed by people from utterly impoverished countries. They rarely speak English.
I understand that every cruise ship is different, but lower level positions being staffed by people from third world countries seem to be the norm instead of the exception.
OP, I have not worked on a cruise ship. I found this excellent article about working on cruise ships. It says that the best jobs are the jobs that don't work when the ship is in port---because you get more time off and can see the world.
Here's a clip from the article. It provides much more information so take a glance at the link below:
Quote:
What About the Hours?
A cruise ship worker works seven days a week. There are no days off, but there is time off every day. For the most part, you are a salaried worker, but some cruise lines have jobs now that pay overtime if you work more than your contracted number of hours.
Some employees never or rarely work when the ship is in port, because casinos and shops must be closed due to local laws. Entertainers work at night, as do casino workers. Shoppies work days and night, but only while sailing. Therefore, if you want to see the world, those jobs are pretty good. Entertainers are almost always off duty while the ship is in port, except when a rehearsal is called, or at night. Many nights in port feature local talent, so the stage crew works, but not the entertainers.
Naps are an integral part of almost every cruise ship worker's life. Next time you are on a ship, notice that your room steward or waiter may have that "I just woke up" look during early evening hours. A room steward works hardest in the mornings to early afternoons, takes time off during the late afternoon, and then turns down your bed while you are at dinner.
Who Works the Hardest?
The hardest jobs are those that crew members still have to work even when the ship is in port. They not only get to see less of the world -- they can't even take a break. In port, far fewer waiters need to be on duty, but some of them do. Room stewards always have to work. The guest services desk is manned 24 hours a day, but they work on a rotating basis.
From 1994 through 1998 I worked on a "cruise ship" but the term I prefer is "ocean liner" ... because the ship I worked on was the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) - which is arguably one of the most luxurious ships in the world.
My ship (which I affectionately call "The Old Tub"):
My primary job on the QE2 was not very glamorous - I was the manager of the jewelry shop onboard the ship - but anyone who has worked on ships will tell you that you have multiple jobs. My other jobs included being a member of the Captain's social staff (I was required to attend most of the Capt.'s cocktail parties in a tux and chat up the old single ladies), a fire warden (had to take courses on fire safety and use of the three different kinds of fire extinguishers), a tour escort (accompanied passengers on land tours and reviewed the quality of the excursion, including rating the tour guides abilities and fluency in English. I liked this job best because I got to go free on tours that cost the passengers thousands like a tour to Provence, France; one to Agra, India to see the Taj Mahal; another on a grand excursion around the island of Bali; among others.)
Now let's get one thing clear: I had one of the very best and cushiest jobs anyone could have on a ship. My employer was a world famous international jewelry company which owned the leased concession on the ship. I did not have to sleep in the crew dormitories or even have to share a cabin which was the case of other shop managers ... I had my own private cabin; and best of all I did not eat in the crew mess ... I ate in a passenger's restaurant and could partake in the midnight buffets. I had the privileges of a "2 and 1/2 stripe officer" which was very high. Other crew members were considered my subordinates and I was a member of the officer's club (the Brits are very class conscious, you know).
Here I am on the deck whilst we were going through the Panama Canal. Note that I am wearing a business suit - I was working that day - while the passengers are in casual attire. Remember this was a job. I was being paid to work. I was not on vacation.
Because the QE2 flew under the flag of the United Kingdom, I was given membership in the Royal Merchant Navy of the UK. Besides my US passport I also have a British Seaman's Passport. I was required to take courses on "safety at sea" and practice things like jumping into the ocean and operating a life boat.
The most important thing is that for 95% of the crew members who did not have the perks and privileges I enjoyed, it is a hard job. Nearly all crew members live in dorms. They shower in communal showers. They eat in the crew mess. The bars, night clubs, etc are off limits (although most ships have a "crew bar" below decks ... at the QE2 we had three: a straight one, a gay one, and the officer's club which I was a member of.)
If you've worked on a cruise ship I'd be interested to hear about it. Thanks.
I never have, but a girlfriend of mine's sister worked on a Disney Cruise. They got to cruise for free I believe and went on like 6 cruises a year. She also worked in a gift shop. One time she was really excited before a former boy band star (cant remember who it was) and bought something at her shop.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not a glamorous job. You work your butt off.
ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!
The upside is that you can make a very good amount of money and since your room and board is taken care of, (and you rarely have a chance to get off the ship), you don't have much chance to spend your cash.
CAN'T AGREE WITH YOU HERE ... only waiters and bartenders make a fair amount of money ... because they get tips ... not so much the cabin stewards because they have to share their tips. Typically crew members will have a contract that pays something like $800 - $1000 a month. The wages are way below US minimum wage. A lot of young people take the job because they want to travel. Others are from 3rd World countries.
The down side is that when you are on the ship there is no other life. You have to have someone pay your bills for you because you cannot rely on having internet or cell phone connections when you are at sea. If you have a house or an apartment, you are only there one week out of the month. You cannot have a pet unless you have someone care for it when you are gone. TRUE.
Make no mistake, the work is hard. Most cruise ships are sailing under a flag that is not US so they do not have to abide by any American labor laws. Some times you have to work 10 or 12 hours straight for the entire cruise. And you have to share small living quarters with strangers (they aren't strangers for long). You pray you don't get a roommate who snores loudly or has other bad habits. You cannot bring many personal clothing or other items because space is very limited. VERY TRUE. HOW ABOUT A 16 HOUR DAY??? ... Not that unusual working on a ship. Waiters will usually get to work by 6 AM, work the breakfast shift to 10 AM, take a 1 hour break, work lunch shift 11 to 3 PM, take a 2 hour nap, work dinner shift 5 PM - 10 PM, and usually work midnight buffet 11 PM - 1 AM.
Also, many cruise ships who service Americans hire Europeans and people from other countries because they seem to understand the service mentality better. When we cruised all the stewards (maids) were from Germany and other European countries. All of the wait staff were Italian or French or Portuguese and ALL (and I mean ALL) of the crew were Filipino. The only people who were American were the activities and entertainment staff.
There is a decline in European crew members. Most won't accept the long hours and low pay. Below decks the crewmembers who work the laundry, maintenance, waste disposal,plumbing, etc may be Filipino, Chinese, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, etc.Passengers rarely see these crewmembers.
20yrsinBranson
Good post.
The best jobs are: Captain or officer of the ship, Director of Activities and Social Events, Social Staff, Travel Excursion Agent, Entertainers (such as band members). The Casino workers had a pretty easy job, but they too had to live in the dorms and eat in the crew mess
20yrsinBranson , you never clarified if you ever worked on a cruise ship.
Well, that is complicated.
I personally, did not work on a cruise ship. However, my husband was a featured entertainer on many cruises and I was fortunate enough to go along for the ride.
My experiences were only on ocean cruise line and on one domestic cruise line. I found the circumstances of crew life to be essentially the same.
One disclaimer however, the ocean cruise line that we went on was very expensive. Not your usual Carnival or Celebrity or even Princess or Holland America. This cruise line was targeted at the very elite. Therefore, perhaps this fact had something to do with the European workers rather than having third-world workers. Also, there were some crew that I did not see, which very well may have been third-worlders.
This may also account for the higher wages. One Portuguese bar tender that we became good friends with made the comment to us that he had gotten his job to pay off some debt and that he would be putting more than $30,000 in the bank that year from working on the cruise ship.
The cruise line that we were on did not have tipping, which I understand is a huge part of the total income. It would seem to me that on a ship that holds 2,000 or more people that this would represent a pretty large sum, even though it has to be split many ways.
If I were a young person I would certainly consider it but I would make sure that I picked one of the "cherry" jobs so that I did not have to work 16 hours a day and while in port.
One disclaimer however, the ocean cruise line that we went on was very expensive. Not your usual Carnival or Celebrity or even Princess or Holland America. This cruise line was targeted at the very elite. Therefore, perhaps this fact had something to do with the European workers rather than having third-world workers. Also, there were some crew that I did not see, which very well may have been third-worlders.
This may also account for the higher wages. One Portuguese bar tender that we became good friends with made the comment to us that he had gotten his job to pay off some debt and that he would be putting more than $30,000 in the bank that year from working on the cruise ship.
The cruise line that we were on did not have tipping, which I understand is a huge part of the total income. It would seem to me that on a ship that holds 2,000 or more people that this would represent a pretty large sum, even though it has to be split many ways.
Thanks for clarifying.
As for the great pay, that 30k per year isn't a lot of money for the hours they work.
If they are working 12 hour days, that 30k comes to $6.87 per hour. If they are working 16 hour days, that 30k comes to $5.15 per hour.
Most people on cruise ships don't even make minimum wage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson
If I were a young person I would certainly consider it but I would make sure that I picked one of the "cherry" jobs so that I did not have to work 16 hours a day and while in port.
I'd do it too if I were young and could get a "cherry" job. Traveling the world would be worth it if there was time off and the ability to actually see the world.
I'd do it too if I were young and could get a "cherry" job. Traveling the world would be worth it if there was time off and the ability to actually see the world.
If you're 20 years old and living at in your parent's home then it can be a good job. Your food, lodging and even medical care is covered.
See the world? Well I would say the majority of crew members for the big companies like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Carnival get to see the Caribbean and Mexico ... maybe Costa Rica. Those of us lucky enough to work for Cunard or P&O, which does around the world cruises do get to see the South Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, etc.
As the manager of a duty free shop I got to go ashore every single port. The other "shoppies" (I had staff to do those chores) had to do duties such as housecleaning or inventory work and got to go ashore on 1/2 of the ports; in other words if we were doing a Mediterranean Cruise that took in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Sardinia, Naples, Corfu and Athens, typically you would get to disembark the ship at three of those ports.
Please be aware that your wages are still reported to the IRS and you have to arrange to have Social Security and taxes taken out.
It all depends on which line you work for. I briefly worked on a ship in the IT department and made decent money. I work 6 months on and 6 weeks off. It can be a fun experican cause you can learn a lot about the world from the other crew members. You can go on shore if you have the time but you have to be back on board the ship at least an hour before it leave and if you buy anything then you would have to store it in you small cabin.
If I had the chance it would do it again.
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Thanks.
I worked on a cruise ship
