You may find it exhausting to work on a cruise for that long. When people think of cruise ships, they think of the fun in the sun, the waves, amazing itineraries, and nightlife. Characteristics. Rules – Rules can feel suffocating at times, particularly as you are living by them everyday. While working on a cruise ship is truly a once in a lifetime adventure, and pretty luxurious (imagine port time off in Tahiti one day and an overnight in Maui a few days later) in the end it is still a ‘job.’ If you show up onboard expecting to get weekends off and to see each and every port then you will be disappointed. . You are also busy most of the time, so less time to spend let alone think about spending it. How much does a cruise ship cost to build and how much is the per berth price. Working on Cruise Ships vs. Superyachts – A Vast Sea of Difference. . The hours, pay and additional duties that come with this form of work while travel. Cabin Size – More than likely you will be sharing a cabin, if you are lucky like me, you will be in a “flip flop” cabin which meant I had my own private space but I had to share the bathroom. . There are many reasons why working on cruise ships is a wonderful opportunity, not limited to getting paid to travel, exploring new places, meeting rad people from all over the world and seeing the sun set over the water in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. . Disney Packing List – Things You May Forget To Pack. Likewise, while there are crew parties organized every week or two, working on a cruise ship does involve real responsibilities, and anyone who doesn’t take their job seriously will find themselves … Working on a cruise ship involves long hours for sure, but every crew member does have free time, and there are always crew activities organized to ensure that ship life involves much more than just work. . From crazy hours to lots of partying, here's what they had to say. . . Cruise ship workers with lower-paying jobs, like bartenders and waiters, are often at the mercy of the crew cafeteria. In April of this year she felt sick and went to the ship doctor on Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas while the ship was in Europe. Austin, who writes about his travels on Man Travels World, spoke to INSIDER about what working on a cruise ship is really like. So is it worth it, you ask? You also work 7 days a week which might feel a bit much at times! Although Bruns had never boarded a … The choice is yours! Your room mate will probably be from a different country as well which may make communication difficult too. No cruise ship or cruise line is the same. Cruise company: I found a job at one of the largest four cruise companies in the world. #melbourne #australia #es, Somewhere between Icy Straight Point & Hubbard Gla, Tatacoa Desert, Colombia. My name is Dan Claydon, a travel blogger from the UK. Unless you are medically cleared not to work. The lack of space and privacy may cause you to go a bit insane after a while. At the top of Mount Maunganui If you're thinking of working on a cruise ships, it's wise to know the pros and cons before accepting that position. I worked on a Cruise Ship for 6 months in the entertainment department as a "Showband Vocalist" Cruise ship life is quite strange. Sea Sickness – Sea sickness can be a problem but usually you get used to it. Copyright © 2017 by WanderPig.com | Scholarship | Contact Us | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, Ziplining in Costa Rica rainforest. Very few people will be thinking about the hard work it takes to make a cruise successful and enjoyable for its passengers. . Slow & Expensive Internet – Internet on-board is extremely expensive and slow, most crew members will purchase a sim card to use when the ship is close to land or to use in port. Photo courtesy of Thinkstock. How many cruise ships are there? Type of program: work abroad on a cruise ship. Everything Is Paid For – Everything is paid for while you are on-board. I think you will find this type of job easier to do if you are easy going and can roll with the punches. However, if you are a Westerner, you may find the pay is low, depending on the job you do. Get insider knowledge on the benefits you receive while Staying in a Suite onboard a Cruise. Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site, 23 Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Have More Money for Travel, Giving Back: Please Check Out These Social Impact Organizations, a lot of people said they wouldn’t cruise because of their poor labor practices. When you think of a cruise ship – you think of relaxing in the sun, visiting new places and enjoying yourself. . In these cases, it would be impossible to comply with each country’s laws if the cruise line allowed passengers to bring weed on their trip. Yes, for me it was worth ... Do not compare it to luxury cruise ships or to functional car ferries. You Get To See The World For Free – You get paid to travel! since i don't have much experience in anything those are my only 2 options. . 1. We’ve covered the benefits of cruise ship jobs, and we’ve covered the disadvantages.We’ve written of the specifics of cruise ship employment, and we’ve written of the general characteristics.One thing that we haven’t touched on in too much detail, however, is the amount of money you can expect to earn while working on a cruise ship. So it’s a completely different experience every time you cruise. . Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil It’s a massive industry that wants to hire adventurous people just like you. It’s kind of beautiful. You’re more likely to work longer hours on sea days and embarkation day. The bad part is about being stuck on a cruise for a longer time period. If you're thinking of working on a cruise ships, it's wise to know the pros and cons before accepting that position. Working on a cruise ship is a great way to see the world, save money and meet new people from many different countries. . It is unpaid but you should have saved plenty to cover this. This is due to working in such a closed environment for long periods of time. If you're living on a cruise ship full-time, $3,000 per month can seem expensive. If that isn’t your personality, this type of job may just force you into being more relaxed or send you stir crazy. It isn’t always the easiest to make contact to home either. A new Reddit thread asked crews around the globe what it's like to work and live on a cruise ship. I worked on a Cruise Ship for 6 months in the entertainment department as a "Showband Vocalist" Cruise ship life is quite strange. . You also have safety duties on top of your job role, as the crew is responsible for dealing with an emergency situation. Most cruise companies have websites where you can search for and apply for jobs. On Disney Cruise Line ships, one MB costs 35 cents. Type of program: work abroad on a cruise ship. It depends on the duration of the trip. Depending of your previous working experience you may be offered one of the following positions with respective salary. For many Nationalities, your salary is tax free and often much more than what you would make back in your home country. Here Mr. Baya shares his experiences working on Norwegian Cruise Line's cruise ships. In 3 contracts I was able to see most of South America, Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Alaska and the west coast of the USA and Hawaii. . Cruise company: I found a job at one of the largest four cruise companies in the world. Working on a cruise ship is starting to sound pretty good, but life at sea isn't for everyone. In actuality, they hire many people from around the world for a whole host of positions. What made you decide to work on a cruise ship and how did you make it happen? The first being that your first month is quite intense when it comes to safety training, any cruise line needs to make sure that each and every crew member needs to know exactly what to … I met my girlfriend on a cruise ship, so romance can definitely bloom. He also offers these tips for others looking to break into the cruise industry. . This is definitely a great thing to have to break up the monotony of being a crew member. There is no need to pay for rent, food or any bills (unless of course you are tied to something on land). I was lucky to have a job that afforded me a single room and lots of down time. It is a common misconception that ships only hire people from 3rd world countries. #cos, A day at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo in Queensland, Trekking in Chang Mai, Thailand. Many crew are not ashamed to admit that they are married on land, but because they are away from their wives and families for most of the year, they have ship girlfriends. Perhaps the biggest difference is the fact that cruise ship employees live where they work. Privacy – There is not much privacy as a crew member. You Can Save All Your Money – This means, even if the pay is slightly lower than you had envisioned, you can save a ton! But it does help take the sting out of the payment -- which can be hundreds of dollars for a cruise -- when you understand what they are and how they work. Like death and taxes, it's something that we simply can't avoid. Here’s an excerpt from The Insiders’ Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess: Confessions from My Years Afloat with the Rich and Famous: I Must Confess… They give us a chance to get a pick at what’s going on behind the scenes, meet new people, and hear fascinating stories about their way to the dream. I want to work on a cruise ship at the gift shop or be a waitress? Will I have internet on my cruise? Cruise Critic toured Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s new crew training and housing facility in the Philippines. You can get a bigger room depending on the position you do, however you spend very little time in it anyway, so you might as well not care. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Would i get alot of hours and no free time working at the gift shop? There are cruises … You get to see the world and explore for free. The Disney Magic was the first of the Disney cruise ships, launched in 1998, and renovated in 2013; this month will see another “reimagining,” including a Rapunzel-themed restaurant. You’ll also meet and work with people from all over the … . Cruise ship jobs have a number of distinctive features that separate them from land-based jobs. Cruise ship guests are one of a kind though and can be very demanding, of course there are nice guests too. 2016#tatacoadesert . Hopefully these will help you gauge exactly what is involved in this work and what it takes to be a part of the crew. MSC Cruises (Italian: MSC Crociere) is a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva.It was founded in Naples, Italy, in 1989.It is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC), the world's second biggest container shipping operator. You will most likely share a room with someone else and they may not be considerate or thoughtful while you’re sleeping and they are getting ready for their shift. Finally, we got the chance to experience a 7-day Disney Cruise to Alaska. Despite all the negatives that come with cruise ship life, I really enjoyed my time doing it otherwise I wouldn’t have done 3 contracts in 2 years! Long Contract – The long working hours aren’t helped by the fact you have a long contract usually between 4-10 months (again, and even longer depending position and extensions). To be honest, it’s already hard enough to work at a restaurant on land. Russell Fjord on route to Hubbard Glacier It was then that I started working on cruise ships full-time. Love & Relationships – As well as friendships you may find that you even find the love of your life. Cruise ships hire a crew to work in every aspect of the ship's maintenance, staff to manage the ship and concessionaires to work in the shops. Maintenance Issues– If your A/C breaks in your cabin, you will have to wait a while for it to be fixed, this can make it extremely difficult to sleep. That said, I’ve found ships to be the most welcoming places to work because everyone is literally in the same boat. . Sometimes the ship can be rocky and you feel fine, other times it’s only a little bit and you feel sick. Having worked on cruise ships myself for the last two years, I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of what I consider the pros and cons to the cruise ship lifestyle. One year you might try one of the Bolsover Cruise Club luxury cruises down the Nile, the next you could try a more budget-conscious affair around the UK. But at sea, it’s a whole other story. Crew activities – There is normally one smoking bar and one non-smoking bar for crew, this will of course depend on the ship you go to though. Training & Boat Drills – Attending training and boat drills are mandatory. I hear bad things about working on a cruise ship but then i hear good things. A typical ship has crew represented by 60 countries. This is definitely one of the best parts of the job. In addition, cruise ships travel from port to port, often visiting different countries at each stop. Discounts for family members to come aboard. . Working on a ship is pretty much like being in college -- we work hard, we play hard, and we throw crazy parties that go well into the night. It’s a job Dr. John Bradberry knows well. How to Get a Cheap Cruise for as Little as $30 Per Day, Why This Independent Backpacking Nomad is Going on a Cruise, http://www.wanderingearl.com/travel-resources/work-on-cruise-ships/. Very few people think of the hard work it takes to make a cruise successful and enjoyable for the passengers. Before delving into the perks of working on a cruise ship, here are some of the negatives, or cons. Depending on position once again, you may be able to eat in the guest areas. The basics of working a cruise ship job. Homesickness is a major problem for those working on a cruise ship, especially if they are new to the job. . If you are suffering really badly from sea sickness, you also have the option to get a shot or to wear a special wristband. Herring’s book ranks somewhere behind those two. Keep in mind, though, that you'll also be saving money in other areas. It was 11:15 a.m., and our cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, was transiting the strait between Sardinia and Corsica, taking almost 6,000 passengers and crew on an eastward course to mainland Italy. 3. For example, if you are from the Philippines and you decided to work on a cruise ship doing the lowest level job you could get; the likelihood is you would be making more than you would in your home country. Guests – You may find guests difficult to deal with but this is usually an issue with most service jobs. The following table represents salaries offered by MSC Cruises for crew members working in different departments. . While living on a cruise ship might be a dream for many, there are actually several cruise lines that offer cabins you can buy and use as a permanent residence. While Austin said the job is not for everyone, it was a great way for him to learn new skills, meet new people, and live a completely different lifestyle than he ever had before. 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