FAQ About Working on a Cruise Ship
Q: What jobs are available working on a cruise ship?
A: Cruise ships offers a wide variety of employment opportunities.
Some of the positions that are often available are: bartenders, shore
excursion directors, retail clerks, youth coordinators, child care
staff, musicians and entertainers, casino staff, cruise staff, restaurant
staff and hosts, merchant marines, able seamen, engineers, to name a few.
To view a more complete list of cruise ship positions, follow the link!
Q: How much can I earn working a cruise ship job?
A:Earnings and benefits vary according to your position,
the company you work for, the ship's size and its clientele. Many people who
work on cruise ships save most of the money they earn because they have so
few expenses. Your room and board is usually provided for free. Most companies
also offer a generous benefits package that often includes: medical and dental
insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401K plan, profit sharing
plans, travel benefits for you and your family and vacation time, etc.
Monthly wages
range from $1,500 to $8,000 or more.
Again it is important to remember that you have the opportunity to save most
of the money you earn, unless you spend too much time in the bars, the casinos
or spend too much when you are in port. Another perk is that some of the cruise
ships even have bar allowances for their staff, so this will limit your bar
expense.
Q: What are the ships like? Are there alternatives to working on one of those huge ships I've seen on TV?
A: Definitely! Ships come in different sizes and are built for a variety of purposes. Your experience as an employee will vary greatly depending on the size of ship and the employer's 'mission.' We profile:
Q: What are the living conditions like aboard a
cruise ship at sea?
A: While it is true that accommodations are sometimes cramped,
especially on smaller vessels, and you'll be sharing your cabin with
little or no privacy, most find the experience similar to their fist year
in college dorm, but without the homework. Usually staff have their
own dining room, away from the passengers and on days off, employees
can hang out by the pool, sunbathe, or use the spa. Some ships provide
extra amenities for employees, such as televisions for each room, a special
crew bar and lounge and special recreation lounges near the crew quarters.
Q: What are some of the places a person may get to see as an employee
aboard one of the larger cruise lines?
A: The ports of call and sheer number of destinations reached
by cruise lines today offer cruise employees an unparalleled opportunity for
travel. For instance, last year a Princess Cruises cruise ship traveled
from Acapulco, through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean, across
the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Then headed down to North Africa,
around the British Isles, through the Baltic Sea, and back across
the Atlantic to New York.
Today, cruise ships are sailing all over the world, so you have
the opportunity to visit a number of exciting destinations.
Q: How much time do you spend off the ship?
A: The amount of time you spend off the ship depends on three
main factors 1.) The contract you hold with your employer and 2.) The amount
of time your ship allows passengers to visit ports. 3.) Your position on the
cruise ship. Crew members working in departments and positions that are slow
or closed when a ship is in port, generally have more free time in each port.
When your ship stops at ports most crew members are allowed (and in most cases
encouraged) to get off the ship and explore. Generally, crew members are allowed
to be out in port until one hour prior to departure (of course, unless they
are on duty).
Most cruise line contracts typically require a four to six month
commitment for new employees. Some cruise lines allow you to take a limited
amount of vacation time during a contract and other do not. If this is important
to you, it should be discussed prior to accepting the position.
Q: Do I need to be an United States Citizen to use CruiseJobFinder or to get a job on a cruise ship?
A: JobSeekers from any nationality can use the employment resources on CruiseJobFinder. The website is written in English, so it is important that you are able to read English in able to get the most benefit out of a membership to CruiseJobFinder.
Most cruise ships are foreign flagged and do not need to operate under the strict US labor laws. So cruise lines are free to hire people from all over the world to fill their positions. Because the majority of cruise ship passengers speak English, cruise lines generally like to hire crew with a good command of the English language for positions that have a high degree of passenger contact. This would include cruise staff, casino staff, gift shop and other sales people, host, hostesses, disc jockeys, fitness instructors, lecturers, youth counselors, water sports instructors, photographers, art auctioneers, cosmetologist, hair stylists, massage therapist, doctors, nurses, purser department, and the bar department.
On most cruise lines, the crew can be very diverse with crew members from 25 or more different countries.
There are a handful of cruise ships that are flagged in the United States and hire almost all their crew from the United States. These cruise ship usually sail around Hawaii, Alaska, the Great Lakes or on US rivers. We cover all of the US flagged and foreign flagged cruise ships in the members section of CruiseJobFinder.
Q: If Hired, will the cruise line buy my uniforms?
A: It depends on the cruise line. Some companies will pay for crew member's uniforms and some will require their crew members to purchase their own uniforms. Almost all of the cruise lines require their crew members to purchase their own shoes that are in accordance with uniform regulations. Make sure you determine what the company policy is on uniforms prior to accepting a position.
Q: Are crew members allowed to use guest amenities?
A: Most of the cruise lines will allow their crew to use
guest amenities on their time off. However, passengers always take priority
when using the pool, gym etc. Most cruise will also offer their crew a mess
or recreation area/ dining hall and in some cases a crew bar where drinks are
sold considerable less than in passenger's bars.
Q: What happens if I decide to break my contract?
A: If you decide that cruise life is not for you and break your contract you will have to pay for all costs to get yourself home.
Q: What if I become really sick or get injured on the ship?
A: While you are working for the cruise line whether it be
onboard or off you are covered by them medically. If you are at sea and become
ill, you may see the nurse and/or doctor for free in the ship's medical facilities.
If you become so ill or injured that you are no longer able to finish your
contract, you will disembark and absorb the costs of ongoing treatment yourself
(often covered by your health insurance). It is always best to inquire about
the medical coverage you will receive prior to accepting a contract.
If the company you are going to work for does not offer a comprehensive health
insurance policy, you may want to keep (or get) your own health insurance policy
or take out a traveler's insurance policy through a private company.
Q: What kind of training regarding safety and emergency protocol will I receive?
A: Crew members will be required to attend a safety course following embarkment on ship. Instruction on lifeboat/raft safety, fire drills and understanding of fire safe and watertight doors will be taught. You will encounter routine emergency drills throughout your employment on the ship.
Q: What happens if somehow I miss the ship when I am at port?
A: This is never a good idea and could result in a demotion
or loss of job. Most companies require their crew to be on-board an hour prior
to departure. Pay close attention to the sailing schedule and keep an eye on
time. If you do however, for some good reason miss the ship your cruise line's
agents will help you find the ship and board again. However, there may be some
expense to you.
Q: Can I apply for a specific ship with a cruise line?
A: The best course of action is to apply to the various cruise companies of your choice. After you have made a strong impression on the company and they indicate they would like for you to work for them, politely request a ship you would like to work on.
Q: Can I work on the same cruise ship as my spouse or friend?
A: Yes, this may be possible. However, you don't want
to make a whole bunch of requests before you are hired. We recommend that you and your spouse/friend each apply to the same set of companies. But you should each apply separately and then during to the mid to later stages of the interview process, you should let your recruiter/human resources representative know that your spouse/friend is also interested in working on the same ship. If a position is available that he/she is qualified for, many companies will try to make things work out.
Please note, that companies are more likely to accommodate married couples, but
often they can help arrange it so you can work with a friend as well.
Q: Can I live with my spouse on the ship?
A: Yes, this is usually possible. It will be important to
let the company know that you are on the ship with your husband/wife prior
to making room assignments so the company has plenty of time to plan accordingly.
Q: How can I remain in contact with my world at home?
A: Many cruise ships do offer internet connections for laptop
computers and also have a computer lounge for those without computers (however
there may be a fee for both of these options). If the cost is more than you
want to pay, it is common for crew members to visit one of the many internet
cafes that are in each of the ports of call.
You may keep in touch with people from
back home through e-mail, cellular phones, phone cards and mail. Mail goes
to the company agents in various ports and is delivered to ships when they
dock there and distributed on board. The internet offers many ways to stay
connected with the world when you are away. Online banking, shopping and
correspondence can keep your life up and running.
Q: I have never been at sea for very long, what happens if I get seasick?
A: Most cruise ships are large and seasickness is usually not a problem. There is some generic over the counter medicine that can
help you with seasickness. Most people find that getting some fresh air on
a deck that is in the middle of the ship and lower will be a little less rocky.
Additionally, many find that their seasickness goes away after their body has
had some time to adapt.
Q: The travel opportunities sound great, but what about people who
are not comfortable being out at sea, especially for extended periods
of time?
A: People who would rather stay on land can still take advantage
of the lucrative travel industry for summer jobs or year-round jobs. There
are over 300 land tour companies in North America (and many more in Europe and
throughout the world) that hire tour guides and managers. These companies provide
guided tours to all corners of the globe, offering excursions such as scenic
bus trips, river rafting adventures, and trolley car tours.
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